Finally got 1

[Gandulf]

First thanks for the advice.

Ok, got my kindle a few hours ago. Been playing with it for a bit, will take time getting used to, 1 thing it is soooooo much lighter than my tablet, scared going to break it.

Anymore hints, tips advice ? Noticed it has the old firmware 5.12.1 should I download the new 1 ? Oh it's not registered so will have to wake up at midnight to take advantage of cheaper data rates.
Should I convert my books to mobi or azw3, have no clue if 1 has an advantage over the other or nor.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Gandulf

Should I convert my books to mobi or azw3, have no clue if 1 has an advantage over the other or nor.

Azw3 is better, mobi doesn't support many options newer formats do. Including custom fonts and boldness adjustment. The only negative side of azw3 is that you cannot email it to your Kindle, like you can with mobi.

If you want to send your non-Amazon books to your Kindle wirelessly, then don't convert at all. Change the file extension from .epub to .png and send that.

If you're going to connect your Kindle to your computer via USB and sideload this way, convert to azw3.

[Deskisamess]

E-ink screens don't take well to torque and pressure. Don't lean on it, or toss it in a book bag without a rigid cover.

If you load a bunch of books at one time, you can expect the battery to be chewed up rather quickly as the device indexes the books. You won't see expected battery life right at first.

[Gandulf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

If you're going to connect your Kindle to your computer via USB and sideload this way, convert to azw3.

Thanks AZW3 it will be then.

[Gandulf]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

E-ink screens don't take well to torque and pressure. Don't lean on it, or toss it in a book bag without a rigid cover.

If you load a bunch of books at one time, you can expect the battery to be chewed up rather quickly as the device indexes the books. You won't see expected battery life right at first.

Thanks, planning to get a cover, but they only have 1 type, generic but still expensive so will have to be on next month's budget.

Probably will ever only load 1 book at a time.

[Barbara1955]

Mobi for Kindles Awz3 for Fires

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by Gandulf

Thanks, planning to get a cover, but they only have 1 type, generic but still expensive so will have to be on next month's budget.

Probably will ever only load 1 book at a time.

3rd party covers are usually fine, you don't have to pay high prices for an Amazon cover.

Don't use mobi format unless you're going to use the email option to send the book from Calibre. AZW3 works just fine on a Kindle or a Fire tablet.

.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by Gandulf

Should I convert my books to mobi or azw3, have no clue if 1 has an advantage over the other or nor.

AZW3 as sirtel said. Never MOBI, unless it was for an ancient kindle that only supported that format.

[MrGimper]

Why do people suggest AZW3 and not KFX?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by MrGimper

Why do people suggest AZW3 and not KFX?

Personally I use azw3, because it's the only format that works with the font_ramp hack (custom font sizes). But overall, when converting epubs, azw3 retains the original formatting better, at least as far as I know. And unless you're a typography nut, you're not really missing anything.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by MrGimper

Why do people suggest AZW3 and not KFX?

One reason could be because Calibre doesn't natively support conversion to KFX. Why that is I don't know. There are calibre plugins for KFX. I don't know if there are any standalone programs that convert to KFX. Additionally the ebooks forums here don't accept KFX.

To me it's more important to debunk the antiquated and bogus idea that MOBI is the preferred format for Kindles. I suppose it's not so bad if it's a dual MOBI that contains both the old and new formats but then it's around twice the size of the AZW3.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

And unless you're a typography nut, you're not really missing anything.

The one thing that I liked is that I could switch to ragged-right instead of the book's fully justified. Or vice-versa if I preferred fully justified.

Although this is a Kindle sub I can't resist pointing out that on the Kobo it will let you switch between those two if there is no text-align justified or left in the css; center and right still work.

(I've never tested so it's possible that this only works with epub3 since that's what I start with when I redo a project gutenberg book.)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Mobi for Kindles Awz3 for Fires

That is wrong. KF8 works with the PW4 no problem. Mobi is obsolete so no on Mobi.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by hobnail

One reason could be because Calibre doesn't natively support conversion to KFX. Why that is I don't know. There are calibre plugins for KFX. I don't know if there are any standalone programs that convert to KFX. Additionally the ebooks forums here don't accept KFX.

To me it's more important to debunk the antiquated and bogus idea that MOBI is the preferred format for Kindles. I suppose it's not so bad if it's a dual MOBI that contains both the old and new formats but then it's around twice the size of the AZW3.

With the correct plugins, Calibre can convert to KFX.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

With the correct plugins, Calibre can convert to KFX.

What benefit would there be to using KFX over AZW3? I don't have that plugin installed.