Project Gutenberg on Kindle 1?

Astabeth · 03-11-2009, 10:10 AM

Hi, all!

After everyone's help here at MR, I have decided to get a Kindle 1. So now I have a new question. I understand that Project Gutenberg texts can be modified / formatted somehow to use on Kindles. My question is, if I don't mind typos and formatting errors, can I use these on a Kindle? If so, which format do I download? Plucker, HTML, or one of the two plain texts (if so, which)? Or does it have to be converted somehow?

I appreciate the help and hope to help some myself once I get my reader and learn more.

Thanks,
Astabeth

HarryT · 03-11-2009, 10:18 AM

The plain text version can be read on the Kindle, but you'll get hugely better results if you spend a few minutes converting it to MobiPocket format, which is the Kindle's "native" format. I have written a number of tutorials which describe how to do that; they can be downloaded from the "Book Uploads" forum section.

Astabeth · 03-11-2009, 10:24 AM

Thanks! So looking here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17914 it sounds like I should download the HTML version of the books to get started? I am currently downloading and will have to convert from home. Mostly art history books (I am looking for some things for my students) but I don't have to have the pictures intact.

One other thing - do you know if the converting software works on a mac?

I am still reading... haven't found it yet.

AnemicOak · 03-11-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astabeth

One other thing - do you know if the converting software works on a mac?

I am still reading... haven't found it yet.

Book Designer will not run in Mac OS. If you run Windows via Parallels or Boot Camp (or maybe VM Ware?) it will run.

Be sure to check the books here that have already been nicely formatted. You'd want to use the Mobipocket/PRC version for the Kindle. You can also get a lot of the PG books at feedbooks.com

Both the Mobile Read and Feedbooks libraries can also be accessed right from your Kindle via Whispernet (or of course you can download to your computer).

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17465
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25268

Thomas Ryan · 03-11-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astabeth

[...]
My question is, if I don't mind typos and formatting errors, can I use these on a Kindle? [...]
Thanks,
Astabeth

if you haven't already, you might want to check the Kindle book store - many (but obviously not all) Gutenberg titles are there for free. sort by price - low to high to start; you can search for titles too.

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=12367936...011&sort=price

KindleDude · 03-11-2009, 03:40 PM

Harry is right, nicely converted books are better, but I have also downloaded and read plain text files from Project Gutenberg. They're usable and readable if you can ignore the lack of formatting. They're free, putting them on the Kindle is a very small investment in time, and the worst that can happen is that you won't like it, you'll delete it and start over.

I would also strongly second AnemicOak's suggestion to use the libraries here. I've been impressed with how good a job folks here do with the texts--often better than Amazon, I hate to say (but I must).

badgoodDeb · 03-11-2009, 04:59 PM

And in case you are as dense as me, the libraries here means "find that blue bar about an inch down from the top of this very page, it says EBOOKS on it. Click there! Then select format MOBIPOCKET." It took me several weeks to notice that very obvious blue bar!

pshrynk · 03-11-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

And in case you are as dense as me, the libraries here means "find that blue bar about an inch down from the top of this very page, it says EBOOKS on it. Click there! Then select format MOBIPOCKET." It took me several weeks to notice that very obvious blue bar!

And several months to catch on that psockpuppet was a sockpuppet.

badgoodDeb · 03-11-2009, 06:13 PM

Oh, hush up!! A vague memory says I may have originally known that (and the "ps" in the name should have helped) but lost that fact, as time progressed.

JSWolf · 03-11-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

And several months to catch on that psockpuppet was a sockpuppet.

So that's why it smells like dirty feet in here.

Sporadic · 03-11-2009, 07:02 PM

FeedBooks is pretty awesome for public domain stuff formatted for the Kindle.

http://www.feedbooks.com/

kevindorsey · 03-11-2009, 07:19 PM

It does take some time to get all the formatting down, but its worth it.

S.Canton · 03-11-2009, 07:37 PM

I think it would be well worth your time to convert the text to mobiformat, or simply see if the titles you're interested in are available through Amazon for free; I've found quite a few that way.

badgoodDeb · 03-11-2009, 09:57 PM

I know it's been said before, but always check HERE (mobileread) first, to see if someone has formatted a public domain book. There are more than 5000 books online here. (I forget the latest count)

pshrynk · 03-13-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So that's why it smells like dirty feet in here.

Nah. That's Adrian, who needs a bath. And I'm not going to be the one to mention it to him.

03-11-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
Astabeth Member who wants a reader Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Alabama Device: none	Project Gutenberg on Kindle 1? Hi, all! After everyone's help here at MR, I have decided to get a Kindle 1. So now I have a new question. I understand that Project Gutenberg texts can be modified / formatted somehow to use on Kindles. My question is, if I don't mind typos and formatting errors, can I use these on a Kindle? If so, which format do I download? Plucker, HTML, or one of the two plain texts (if so, which)? Or does it have to be converted somehow? I appreciate the help and hope to help some myself once I get my reader and learn more. Thanks, Astabeth

03-11-2009, 10:24 AM	#3
Astabeth Member who wants a reader Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Alabama Device: none	Thanks! So looking here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17914 it sounds like I should download the HTML version of the books to get started? I am currently downloading and will have to convert from home. Mostly art history books (I am looking for some things for my students) but I don't have to have the pictures intact. One other thing - do you know if the converting software works on a mac? I am still reading... haven't found it yet. Last edited by Astabeth; 03-11-2009 at 10:27 AM. Reason: I am nervous about it because I read a post here where someone said they could only convert one book per day!

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03-11-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The plain text version can be read on the Kindle, but you'll get hugely better results if you spend a few minutes converting it to MobiPocket format, which is the Kindle's "native" format. I have written a number of tutorials which describe how to do that; they can be downloaded from the "Book Uploads" forum section.

03-11-2009, 03:40 PM	#6
KindleDude Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 172 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle	Harry is right, nicely converted books are better, but I have also downloaded and read plain text files from Project Gutenberg. They're usable and readable if you can ignore the lack of formatting. They're free, putting them on the Kindle is a very small investment in time, and the worst that can happen is that you won't like it, you'll delete it and start over. I would also strongly second AnemicOak's suggestion to use the libraries here. I've been impressed with how good a job folks here do with the texts--often better than Amazon, I hate to say (but I must).

03-11-2009, 04:59 PM	#7
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,516 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	And in case you are as dense as me, the libraries here means "find that blue bar about an inch down from the top of this very page, it says EBOOKS on it. Click there! Then select format MOBIPOCKET." It took me several weeks to notice that very obvious blue bar!

03-11-2009, 06:13 PM	#9
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,516 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Oh, hush up!! A vague memory says I may have originally known that (and the "ps" in the name should have helped) but lost that fact, as time progressed.

03-11-2009, 07:02 PM	#11
Sporadic Banned Posts: 427 Karma: 2690 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 1	FeedBooks is pretty awesome for public domain stuff formatted for the Kindle. http://www.feedbooks.com/

03-11-2009, 07:19 PM	#12
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	It does take some time to get all the formatting down, but its worth it.

03-11-2009, 07:37 PM	#13
S.Canton Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle 2	I think it would be well worth your time to convert the text to mobiformat, or simply see if the titles you're interested in are available through Amazon for free; I've found quite a few that way.

03-11-2009, 09:57 PM	#14
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,516 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	I know it's been said before, but always check HERE (mobileread) first, to see if someone has formatted a public domain book. There are more than 5000 books online here. (I forget the latest count)

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