Re: How is Kindle for non-purchased content?

At 06:49 AM 3/8/2009, you wrote:
>Does anyone have, or can anyone point me to a summary, of how
>satisfactory the new Kindle is for delivering content that has not
>been purchased from Amazon in Kindle format?

I've had my kindle for over a year, my husband has had his for about 
6 months. I was previously ereading on my Palm but my eyes couldn't 
take it anymore. We both like the versatility of the kindle. I can 
compose, send files from my computer, and edit on it -- listen to 
music, search the web, you get the picture. Husband has a BlackBerry 
attached to his head but was so impressed with my kindle he bought 
one for himself. Well, actually, we started fighting over mine and I 
told to him to "get your own."

You might find this article helpful, it's what sold me. It's from 
11/07 but still relevant. I'm not sure how the kindle 2 differs.
Opinion: Why Amazon's Kindle is revolutionary
Surprising facts about Amazon's new Kindle e-book reader
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9048498

BTW, I wrote about mine on my blog when I first got it
http://advicefromacaterpillar.wordpress.com/2008/02/

>Specifically, what's your experience with:
>a) Texts downloaded from Manybooks.net in "Kindle (.azw)" format?

I can't speak to this because I have no experience with Manybooks, 
but I'll check it out. Thanks.

>b) PDF files that have been formatted for a normal page size, e.g.
>numerous academic reprints available online from their authors,
>articles downloaded from library database services like Academic
>OneFile, various authors that choose to offer their books free
>in .pdf format, etc.

I send my kindle PDFs all the time. I also review books so it works 
great for receiving review copies. Publishers can send the PDF to my 
email address and I send it to my kindle. I have found minor 
formatting issues that are easily overlooked. Every PDF I have sent 
to my kindle has formatted ok, and is readable.

The biggest problem I have with publishers and ARCs is too many of 
them are NOT ebook savvy. Smaller pubs have it over the big pubs in a 
big way when it comes to ebook availability. Even Amazon is missing 
the boat. I'm a Vine reviewer for Amazon and they don't even make the 
Vine ARCs available for kindle. I own a kindle yet they MAIL me a 
print copy to review. How stupid is that? Yet so Amazon ...

>c) Attempts to convert straight ASCII text (e.g. Project Gutenberg
>"plain vanilla" ASCII), or public domain ebook content available on
>the Web in .html format?

HTML transfers just fine. No formatting issues thus far.

>Is it "shut up and shop" like the GemStar devices?

Not in my experience. But this is admittedly my first real ereader so 
I can't compare.

>Or is the Kindle a
>useful portable way of carrying around all kinds of text documents,
>not just ebooks purchased from Amazon?

This describes my experience. It's why I love my kindle so much and 
use it all the time.

Hope this helps,
Peggy



==========================
Peggy Tibbetts

The Road to Weird
Rumors of War
http://www.peggytibbetts.net
http://advicefromacaterpillar.wordpress.com
http://fromthestyx.wordpress.com
http://www.myspace.com/peggytibbetts




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