Downloading Kindle ebooks to MacBook Air

paieye · 03-06-2014, 02:57 AM

I download all of my ebooks direct to this MacBook Air (Mavericks), and collect them into my Calibre library.
Last week, I acquired an utterly wonderful Kindle Paperwhite to replace a constantly-giving-trouble Kobo Touch, and wanted to get some new books.
However, the Kindle shop does not seem to permit me to do this. I downloaded a book, launched Calibre, and asked it to add the book to its library. The book, though, is shown in the Downloads folder greyed out.
Can any kind person help ?

HarryT · 03-06-2014, 10:38 AM

I'm afraid I'm slightly unclear about what the issue is. Where did you download the book to?

The easiest thing to do with a MacBook is to install the "Kindle for Mac" program, download books to that, and then add them to your Calibre library from that, using the appropriate DRM-removal plugins for Calibre.

pidgeon92 · 03-06-2014, 01:11 PM

If I understand correctly, you downloaded a book from Amazon onto your Mac's hard drive, and when you went to add it to calibre, the book was greyed out in the dialog box that pops up when you go to add the book into calibre.

I've found that this happens (a) when you click the Add to calibre button prior to the file downloading completely, or (b) if the file doesn't download correctly.

Close the Add to calibre dialog box and try again once the file is completely downloaded. If that doesn't work, try downloading the file from Amazon again.

eschwartz · 03-06-2014, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

If I understand correctly, you downloaded a book from Amazon onto your Mac's hard drive, and when you went to add it to calibre, the book was greyed out in the dialog box that pops up when you go to add the book into calibre.

I've found that this happens (a) when you click the Add to calibre button prior to the file downloading completely, or (b) if the file doesn't download correctly.

Close the Add to calibre dialog box and try again once the file is completely downloaded. If that doesn't work, try downloading the file from Amazon again.

Much more likely the book has DRM on it, so the Kindle PW cannot read the book.

Kindle DRM applies per device/app, NOT per account!!

google "apprentice alf" for more details. (Mobileread policy forbids in-depth discussion/guides to DRM removal, so if you have any questions, ask them at the place you get the tools from.)

pidgeon92 · 03-06-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Much more likely the book has DRM on it, so the Kindle PW cannot read the book.

The OP specifically said "downloads folder," and that the they were unable to add the book to calibre. They didn't say anything about not being able to open the book. Hopefully they will come back and clarify.

eschwartz · 03-06-2014, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

The OP specifically said "downloads folder," and that the they were unable to add the book to calibre. They didn't say anything about not being able to open the book. Hopefully they will come back and clarify.

Grayed out in the downloads folder! I read this, saw "grayed out" and my mind translated as grayed out on the PW. Because they do that now.

paieye · 03-07-2014, 02:47 AM

I installed Kindle for Mac, and downloaded 3 books from Amazon. Each is shown as being formatted in AZW.
I imported all 3 into my Calibre library.
I successfully converted 1 to MOBI, and uploaded it to the Kindle.
However, in the case of the other 2, I convert them, but they cannot be uploaded to the Kindle.
I get an error-message, a screen-capture of which I attach.
I shall persevere, and report back.
Thank you all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm afraid I'm slightly unclear about what the issue is. Where did you download the book to?

The easiest thing to do with a MacBook is to install the "Kindle for Mac" program, download books to that, and then add them to your Calibre library from that, using the appropriate DRM-removal plugins for Calibre.

pidgeon92 · 03-07-2014, 03:12 PM

Not that this solves the problem, but why on earth are you converting AZW files to mobi?

Are you stripping the DRM using the tools for calibre?

Do you intend to read books on both the Kindle, and Kindle for Mac?

eschwartz · 03-07-2014, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Not that this solves the problem, but why on earth are you converting AZW files to mobi?

... Since AZW files are already in the MOBI format, just renamed. calibre should automatically rename it for you, though.

pdurrant · 03-07-2014, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

... Since AZW files are already in the MOBI format, just renamed. calibre should automatically rename it for you, though.

No, calibre does not fiddle with ebook filename extensions. But the plugin from Apprentice Alf does.

But that doesn't explain that weird permissions error dialog, which I don't understand at all.

eschwartz · 03-07-2014, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

No, calibre does not fiddle with ebook filename extensions. But the plugin from Apprentice Alf does.

Oh I see.

Wouldn't know, I don't think I ever didn't have it installed.

pidgeon92 · 03-07-2014, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

No, calibre does not fiddle with ebook filename extensions. But the plugin from Apprentice Alf does.

I'm not familiar with this behavior. Calibre says my files are AZW, or AZW3, and the actual files in the folders have the correct extension.

pdurrant · 03-07-2014, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

I'm not familiar with this behavior. Calibre says my files are AZW, or AZW3, and the actual files in the folders have the correct extension.

There's no such thing as azw format really. Amazon uses it for Mobipocket and for KF8. They seem to only use .azw3 for KF8 files.

With Alf's plugin installed, .azw files that are imported are given .mobi or .azw3 file extensions when the DRM is stripped.

pidgeon92 · 03-07-2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

With Alf's plugin installed, .azw files that are imported are given .mobi or .azw3 file extensions when the DRM is stripped.

You are indeed correct. I looked again, and the AZWs were changed to mobi, and the AZW3s remain AZW3.

paieye · 03-08-2014, 02:23 AM

After adding the books to my Calibre library, I checked to see what the format was. expecting it to be MOBI. To my surprise, Calibre showed the format to be ePUB. I therefore converted them to MOBI. I expected the conversion to be blocked and to see an announcement that the files were DRM-protected, but that did not happen. I do not intend to read the books with Kindle for Mac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

Not that this solves the problem, but why on earth are you converting AZW files to mobi?

Are you stripping the DRM using the tools for calibre?

Do you intend to read books on both the Kindle, and Kindle for Mac?

03-06-2014, 02:57 AM	#1
paieye Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Amazon Fire	Downloading Kindle ebooks to MacBook Air I download all of my ebooks direct to this MacBook Air (Mavericks), and collect them into my Calibre library. Last week, I acquired an utterly wonderful Kindle Paperwhite to replace a constantly-giving-trouble Kobo Touch, and wanted to get some new books. However, the Kindle shop does not seem to permit me to do this. I downloaded a book, launched Calibre, and asked it to add the book to its library. The book, though, is shown in the Downloads folder greyed out. Can any kind person help ?

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03-06-2014, 10:38 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm afraid I'm slightly unclear about what the issue is. Where did you download the book to? The easiest thing to do with a MacBook is to install the "Kindle for Mac" program, download books to that, and then add them to your Calibre library from that, using the appropriate DRM-removal plugins for Calibre.

03-06-2014, 01:11 PM	#3
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	If I understand correctly, you downloaded a book from Amazon onto your Mac's hard drive, and when you went to add it to calibre, the book was greyed out in the dialog box that pops up when you go to add the book into calibre. I've found that this happens (a) when you click the Add to calibre button prior to the file downloading completely, or (b) if the file doesn't download correctly. Close the Add to calibre dialog box and try again once the file is completely downloaded. If that doesn't work, try downloading the file from Amazon again.

03-07-2014, 03:12 PM	#8
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	Not that this solves the problem, but why on earth are you converting AZW files to mobi? Are you stripping the DRM using the tools for calibre? Do you intend to read books on both the Kindle, and Kindle for Mac?

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