Kindle Scribe question...

[motorcyclist]

Hi, I'm a long time user of Kindle (from the original to the current PaperWhite) and I'm looking at getting the Scribe.
- Can I load my own PDF files to the Scribe and read and mark up and take notes?
- how secure are the confidential files loaded on the Scribe? Of course I don't want these files to be sync or stored anywhere on any server. Is that something I can do (make those confidential files stored only locally and encrypted)?
- If not, any other alternatives?
Thank you!

[Smoit]

I'll try to answer this question:
1) Yes, you can upload your own PDFs and write on them. Scribe is, in my experience, especially friendly for this.
2) I don't know the exact confidentiality level, but I can tell you that your files pass through Amazon's servers.

I don't know of any other alternatives; I'm a Kindle-only user.

[motorcyclist]

Thanks for the reply. So everything has to go through Amazon server first? From time to time, I need to review some PDF docs that are not allowed to be stored on unapproved server. Can I turn off the Wifi, then load PDF from the USB port like I do on my Kindle Paperwhite then read and mark/write on it so that the PDF files stay local on the Scribe?

[Frogm4n]

You can *read* PDF loaded over USB, but to write directly on them they need to go through Amazon's servers to be converted to their fixed layout KFX Print Replica format. With the Scribe you do not get your original PDF back with an annotation layer as you'd expect on other systems. You get your PDF double-converted with the annotation layer flattened down into it on that second conversion, back to PDF. If you need secure/offline and separate annotations on the original PDF then you'll need to find a different device/system to use.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custo...m13k3txFI4EvDV

Note: You can write directly on the page in PDF documents, or write on the page in other personal documents imported through the Send to Kindle service. Kindle Scribe doesn't currently support writing directly on the page in PDF documents loaded via USB-C or previously sent to your library before 11/11/2022.

[DNSB]

One of my last employers were looking at at replacements for their Sony devices for PDFs. We evaluated the Scribe but since getting an annotated PDF that could be shared (check out from the corporate library, read other's annotations, add your own annotations, check back in) was not possible without sending the PDF to Amazon, the evaluation died quickly. Other security issues around encryption didn't help.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by motorcyclist

Thanks for the reply. So everything has to go through Amazon server first? From time to time, I need to review some PDF docs that are not allowed to be stored on unapproved server. Can I turn off the Wifi, then load PDF from the USB port like I do on my Kindle Paperwhite then read and mark/write on it so that the PDF files stay local on the Scribe?

Any large model of Eink except Scribe, or any large Nxtpaper or similar based Android.

Only Amazon checks all the content when WiFi on, and requires Amazon servers for annotation and export of annotation for PDF.

[motorcyclist]

Thank you all for your inputs and I appreciate them all. I can already do all these on my HP x2 11" chromebook tablet (with a detachable keyboard): load pdf files locally from USB, read, make notes and write with the included USI pen, then save locally. I was looking at an eink only because the battery life of the tablet is shorter than I like (about 5 hours on battery). I guess I go back to my tablet for now :-)

Thanks again!

[solitarywolf]

Originally Posted by motorcyclist

Hi, I'm a long time user of Kindle (from the original to the current PaperWhite) and I'm looking at getting the Scribe.
- Can I load my own PDF files to the Scribe and read and mark up and take notes?
- how secure are the confidential files loaded on the Scribe? Of course I don't want these files to be sync or stored anywhere on any server. Is that something I can do (make those confidential files stored only locally and encrypted)?
- If not, any other alternatives?
Thank you!

Have you looked at the Remarkable 2 e-ink tablet? It's great for markups on a PDF.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by solitarywolf

Have you looked at the Remarkable 2 e-ink tablet? It's great for markups on a PDF.

It's terrible, but better than Scribe.

[jackm8]

Originally Posted by motorcyclist

- Can I load my own PDF files to the Scribe and read and mark up and take notes?
- how secure are the confidential files loaded on the Scribe? Of course I don't want these files to be sync or stored anywhere on any server. Is that something I can do (make those confidential files stored only locally and encrypted)?
- If not, any other alternatives?
Thank you!

If you sideload PDF files to Scribe, ie. transfer them from pc to Scribe vie usb cable. You will not be able to annotate them in any way. Scribe will be able to view the files, but with a slight crop.
You can use amazon services to send PDF files to Scribe, PDF's will then be converted into KFX format, and you'll be able to anotate them and write on them. There are some drawbacks to this, as file sizes are limited. There may be quality drop, and some files will outright refuse to convert.
You can also convert PDF's to KFX format yourself via KFX Output plugin. You get better quality than amazon, in case of very large files. Functionality wise, writing and anotating using pen on those KFX files, works, but there's no support for dictionary or highlighting text.

I'd not put any trust into Amazon regarding privacy. But look into e-ink if battery life is concern. After experiencing how long batteries last on e-ink devices, you never want to use anything else. You go from charging your device every day, to charging it every month.

[motorcyclist]

Thank you all! Yes I know about eInk as I have been using a Kindle since it first came out (now PaperWhite.) For my particular use case, I was hoping to get longer battery life but it seems that my specific use case is more appropriate with what I have been using (but with short battery life) with a HP x2 11 chromebook tablet. I can mark/write/draw with colors on any pdf loaded from USB or email then save it and share. While marking a pdf, I can also split screen to look at references on the web or email and I do need the flexibility.