Best Software for converting PDFs to be readable on an Ebook?

JimShep · 10-12-2007, 08:51 AM

I have been thinking about getting an ebook reader for a while now and I am about ready to do it, the sony Prs 505 looks pretty good unless I can find a substantial discount on the older model.

I have a ton of ebooks in PDF format, mostly formated for standard paper size, 8.5X11. So what is my best choice for making these readable on an ebook? Obviously free is best but I don't mind paying if it is worth it. I am on windows XP.

Thanks.

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimShep

I have been thinking about getting an ebook reader for a while now and I am about ready to do it, the sony Prs 505 looks pretty good unless I can find a substantial discount on the older model.

I have a ton of ebooks in PDF format, mostly formated for standard paper size, 8.5X11. So what is my best choice for making these readable on an ebook? Obviously free is best but I don't mind paying if it is worth it. I am on windows XP.

Thanks.

if you want a Sony Reader, pdflrf is quite nice.

HarryT · 10-12-2007, 09:06 AM

If you're able to spend a little more, and reading PDFs is an important thing for you, note that the iRex iLiad does a good job of reading A4/Letter PDFs without needing to do anything to them.

ereszet · 10-12-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

if you want a Sony Reader, pdflrf is quite nice.

I second this opinion. Pdflrf is marvelous and fast.

JimShep · 10-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you're able to spend a little more, and reading PDFs is an important thing for you, note that the iRex iLiad does a good job of reading A4/Letter PDFs without needing to do anything to them.

The $700 one

That's a bit to much for me. Even $300 is a bit of a stretch for an ebook reader.

Thanks for the tip on pdflrf. I came across this one that make all kinds of claims about how great it makes books look but at $50 it's a bit steep.

JSWolf · 10-12-2007, 11:49 PM

You won't find an eink ebook reader for less then $250 brand new. And I say $250 meaning the Sony Reader PRS500 where as the PRS505 is $299.99 without any tax or shipping.

ereszet · 10-13-2007, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimShep

The $700 one

That's a bit to much for me. Even $300 is a bit of a stretch for an ebook reader.

Thanks for the tip on pdflrf. I came across this one that make all kinds of claims about how great it makes books look but at $50 it's a bit steep.

A second hand Sony PRS-500 in Europe is even over USD 500 (at least the one I bought in UK on e-bay plus the cost of shipping by UPS to the country where I reside now).

As for the Michelangelo in the link you provided it is just a formatter for text based Word documents. Although the author claims that he tried in vain all kind of other utilities to remove line breaks and retain the typesetting, I believe that there are Gutenberg project utilities that can do the job.

Pdflrf is free and works with image based pdfs by removing the white margins, fattening the lines of text, rotating pages from portrait to horizontal and splitting pages in two (or four) to fill the screen horizontally with an image of text (plus a lot of settings for other refinements).

ereszet · 10-13-2007, 07:01 AM

I attach two sets of photos, respectively for Sony portrait and landscape mode. The left hand side photos in each set are original pdfs. The right hand side photos are pdfs processed by pdflrf (Sony lrf format).
While originally pdflrf produced only lrf output, now it can process and output zipped png images, that can be converted (externally) to a pdf, improved as the screen visibility is concerned in relation to the original.

For another example see:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...958#post105958

cherdman · 10-23-2007, 05:53 PM

You can also use Adobe Professional to convert them to another format (like HTML for example). But Adobe Professional is expensive and my trial is running out...

gmanacsa · 10-23-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ereszet

I attach two sets of photos, respectively for Sony portrait and landscape mode. The left hand side photos in each set are original pdfs. The right hand side photos are pdfs processed by pdflrf (Sony lrf format).
While originally pdflrf produced only lrf output, now it can process and output zipped png images, that can be converted (externally) to a pdf, improved as the screen visibility is concerned in relation to the original.

The PDF in landscape looks quite legible to me, and that's how I regularly read PDF-formatted ebooks now. Unless there are vision issues that would make it necessary, why go through the extra step to convert to LRF at all?

Here's another visual data point, showing a pdf ebook in landscape orientation on a PRS-500 (the image links back to the original post, with bigger photos, etc.):

nekokami · 10-24-2007, 08:47 AM

I like processtext.com Amber PDF Converter. It's quite reasonably priced and does a good job.

Linda · 11-11-2007, 12:44 PM

I have a new 505 and I love it. I have been reading forums all day to find out how to convert adobe PDF to be able to read it on the 505. Which gives the best conversion for PDF -the pdflrf, the Amber PDf or the Adobe Professional? I know this is a dumb question, but if I can figure out how to use the pdflrf - will the converted text them be ready to be read on the 505. If I use the Amber PDF or Adobe Prossional - will the output only be able to be read in Landscape?

10-12-2007, 08:51 AM	#1
JimShep Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: none	Best Software for converting PDFs to be readable on an Ebook? I have been thinking about getting an ebook reader for a while now and I am about ready to do it, the sony Prs 505 looks pretty good unless I can find a substantial discount on the older model. I have a ton of ebooks in PDF format, mostly formated for standard paper size, 8.5X11. So what is my best choice for making these readable on an ebook? Obviously free is best but I don't mind paying if it is worth it. I am on windows XP. Thanks.

10-13-2007, 07:01 AM	#8
ereszet Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 306 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500 Archos 704 wifi	Pictures attached I attach two sets of photos, respectively for Sony portrait and landscape mode. The left hand side photos in each set are original pdfs. The right hand side photos are pdfs processed by pdflrf (Sony lrf format). While originally pdflrf produced only lrf output, now it can process and output zipped png images, that can be converted (externally) to a pdf, improved as the screen visibility is concerned in relation to the original. For another example see: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...958#post105958 Attached Thumbnails Last edited by ereszet; 10-13-2007 at 07:04 AM.

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10-12-2007, 09:06 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're able to spend a little more, and reading PDFs is an important thing for you, note that the iRex iLiad does a good job of reading A4/Letter PDFs without needing to do anything to them.

10-12-2007, 11:49 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,947 Karma: 144284074 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You won't find an eink ebook reader for less then $250 brand new. And I say $250 meaning the Sony Reader PRS500 where as the PRS505 is $299.99 without any tax or shipping.

10-23-2007, 05:53 PM	#9
cherdman Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: T-E-X-A-S Device: Dell Axim X51v	You can also use Adobe Professional to convert them to another format (like HTML for example). But Adobe Professional is expensive and my trial is running out...

10-24-2007, 08:47 AM	#11
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I like processtext.com Amber PDF Converter. It's quite reasonably priced and does a good job.

11-11-2007, 12:44 PM	#12
Linda Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: N/A	I have a new 505 and I love it. I have been reading forums all day to find out how to convert adobe PDF to be able to read it on the 505. Which gives the best conversion for PDF -the pdflrf, the Amber PDf or the Adobe Professional? I know this is a dumb question, but if I can figure out how to use the pdflrf - will the converted text them be ready to be read on the 505. If I use the Amber PDF or Adobe Prossional - will the output only be able to be read in Landscape?

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