Kindle Paperwhite/ Ereaders

Caitlin_Bree

Hey, I wonder if anyone can help with some answers to questions I have about E-Readers.
I'm looking for something to read various doc, txt, and pdf files that I already own, on.

The SA that I spoke to in HMV/Waterstones said I wouldn't be able to read anything on a Kindle that hadn't come from the Amazon store, that I wouldn't necessarily have to buy books from there as many were free, but the files would have to be from Amazon's library as it only supports its own format..

Anyway I'm looking at the Kindle Paperwhite spec on Amazon which says it supports:Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.

So why would there be a problem getting my own files on there if they haven't come from the store? Is there some kind of software on there that prevents you from loading anything that didn't come from there? Can you not just sync to PC with a lead?

Or has she got it totally wrong? (As the man in Currys said).
All I want is something to read my own files on.. I don't want to buy books for it, so is a Wifi facility really necessary?
I feel like I'm being pushed to buy an Ipod when all I want is an MP3 player. I'm not really interested in making them any more money.

On the other hand .. is the free library that great that it'd be worth having even if I kept the Wifi turned off?
Anyway, if anyone can answer my questions, give me some recommendations etc, I'd be very grateful. Thank you.

mr_fishbulb

I had the Kindle 3 (until it died last week - now it's a paperweight edition) and I had no problem reading pdf, mobi, and docx documents I had uploaded via the USB cable. I know it's a different version, but I haven't heard anyone complaining that they can't do this on the paperwhite one.

G42

There would be no problem doing what you want to do.

Nilrem

IIRC all the kindles can be used with content obtained from other sources, as long as they are in the correct formats.

What the Kindle cannot do (well not without some mucking around) is use content bought from other stores in the other main ebook format (epub), but even that can often be got around by using the wonderful Calibre software which lets you convert from one ebook format to another with ease.
Even just reading your own files on it can be easier wtih Calibre, as you can load your files in their native format into it, and then have it convert them to the correct format for the kindle if needed (IIRC it can convert from most of the standard text formats including txt, rtf and html).

On a related note, if you're interested in older books/classics the likes of Project Gutenberg have loads of them free (and even the Kindle store has some classics free).

G42

Not only classics or old books. There are lots of books for free at Amazon. Just enter 0.00 in the search and choose Books to see them all listed.

Jazzy_B

We have 4 kindles of various sorts in the house and have no problem with any format with a little help from calibre software

terra_ferma

can vouch for calibre, it has some interesting add ons which give extra flexibility
I think for me the essential feature is to back up books on my pc, so that files are permanently stored in my pc rather than on devices and online accounts that I cannot fully control
obviously I'm talking about drm free files
you can do a search on google and you'll find out how you can convert your books in different formats

cgk1

Caitlin_Bree wrote: »

Hey, I wonder if anyone can help with some answers to questions I have about E-Readers.
I'm looking for something to read various doc, txt, and pdf files that I already own, on.

The SA that I spoke to in HMV/Waterstones said I wouldn't be able to read anything on a Kindle that hadn't come from the Amazon store, that I wouldn't necessarily have to buy books from there as many were free, but the files would have to be from Amazon's library as it only supports its own format..

Anyway I'm looking at the Kindle Paperwhite spec on Amazon which says it supports:Kindle Format 8 (AZW3), Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, DOCX, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.

Just email them to yourself - when you buy a kindle you get an email address, anything that you email to that address gets concerted to a mobi and appears on the kindle.

Read more here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200767360

cgk1

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

I had the Kindle 3 (until it died last week - now it's a paperweight edition) and I had no problem reading pdf, mobi, and docx documents I had uploaded via the USB cable. I know it's a different version, but I haven't heard anyone complaining that they can't do this on the paperwhite one.

I have the paperwhite - works like any other kindle.