Adobe PDF eBooks?

peartree · 12-14-2010, 07:05 PM

First, a quick introduction. I've been lurking on this forum for a while as I was trying to decide whether or not to buy a Kindle. I took the plunge a week or so ago, and am loving it so far.

Anyway, since I'm cheap and I like to support my local library, I'm planning to download eBooks from them as often as possible. I know Kindle doesn't support library books natively, but I have no problem stripping and converting them through Calibre (I haven't done this yet but I assume it's easy enough). I'm curious about the different formats though. My library has most books in epub format, but they have quite a few in PDF eBook format too. Are those the same as regular PDFs? In other words, will Kindle view them as PDFs, or can they be converted to Kindle's format, including dictionary support, progress bar, etc?

wallcraft · 12-14-2010, 07:25 PM

They are regular PDFs, with Adobe DRM. Some PDFs can be converted to MOBI. e.g. by Calibre ot MobiPocket Reader, but others don't convert well. On average, PDF ebooks are more likely to convert that the "typical" PDF (whatever that is), but sometimes they don't convert.

If you strip the DRM, they should work like standard PDFs on the Kindle (i.e. probably ok on the KDX, probably not well suited to the 6" screen of a K3). Note that currently there is no Calibre plugin for Adobe PDFs, you have to use the stand-alone DRM stripping tool instead.

whitearrow · 12-14-2010, 07:27 PM

If you have the option for an epub book, pick that over pdf. Epubs will convert much better than a pdf will.

Yes, a pdf with no DRM can display natively on the Kindle, but whether it will look good and be large enough to read without zooming will depend on the formatting. The same applies to whether it will convert well -- it's basically a crapshoot based on that particular file and its idiosyncrasies. It might look great -- or it might have funny line and paragraph breaks.

If you have the choice, pick epub. Conversion is much easier and more consistent.

peartree · 12-14-2010, 07:28 PM

Thanks, that's what I figured. I guess I'll stay away from the PDFs for now. The library also has some Mobipocket eBooks too. Can those covert successfully to Kindle's format?

DiapDealer · 12-14-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

The library also has some Mobipocket eBooks too. Can those covert successfully to Kindle's format?

Mobipocket is the Kindle's format. You'll either have to 'fix' the DRM or strip it to read the mobi's on a Kindle, but no conversion is required.

peartree · 12-14-2010, 07:48 PM

Even better. The library website was a bit confusing: for epub, it has a link to a list of devices that read it, including Sony readers, Nook, etc. But for Mobipocket, it only lists PC. Thank you for clarifying.

12-14-2010, 07:05 PM	#1
peartree Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle WA Device: Paperwhite	Adobe PDF eBooks? First, a quick introduction. I've been lurking on this forum for a while as I was trying to decide whether or not to buy a Kindle. I took the plunge a week or so ago, and am loving it so far. Anyway, since I'm cheap and I like to support my local library, I'm planning to download eBooks from them as often as possible. I know Kindle doesn't support library books natively, but I have no problem stripping and converting them through Calibre (I haven't done this yet but I assume it's easy enough). I'm curious about the different formats though. My library has most books in epub format, but they have quite a few in PDF eBook format too. Are those the same as regular PDFs? In other words, will Kindle view them as PDFs, or can they be converted to Kindle's format, including dictionary support, progress bar, etc?

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12-14-2010, 07:25 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	They are regular PDFs, with Adobe DRM. Some PDFs can be converted to MOBI. e.g. by Calibre ot MobiPocket Reader, but others don't convert well. On average, PDF ebooks are more likely to convert that the "typical" PDF (whatever that is), but sometimes they don't convert. If you strip the DRM, they should work like standard PDFs on the Kindle (i.e. probably ok on the KDX, probably not well suited to the 6" screen of a K3). Note that currently there is no Calibre plugin for Adobe PDFs, you have to use the stand-alone DRM stripping tool instead.

12-14-2010, 07:27 PM	#3
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	If you have the option for an epub book, pick that over pdf. Epubs will convert much better than a pdf will. Yes, a pdf with no DRM can display natively on the Kindle, but whether it will look good and be large enough to read without zooming will depend on the formatting. The same applies to whether it will convert well -- it's basically a crapshoot based on that particular file and its idiosyncrasies. It might look great -- or it might have funny line and paragraph breaks. If you have the choice, pick epub. Conversion is much easier and more consistent.

12-14-2010, 07:28 PM	#4
peartree Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle WA Device: Paperwhite	Thanks, that's what I figured. I guess I'll stay away from the PDFs for now. The library also has some Mobipocket eBooks too. Can those covert successfully to Kindle's format?

12-14-2010, 07:48 PM	#6
peartree Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 38 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Seattle WA Device: Paperwhite	Even better. The library website was a bit confusing: for epub, it has a link to a list of devices that read it, including Sony readers, Nook, etc. But for Mobipocket, it only lists PC. Thank you for clarifying.

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