I have been using a free software called Calibre to make PDF's into mobi files for Kindle and EPUB files for IBOOKS.  It is fairly easy to use, so thought I would post it in case anyone else could benefit.

~Heather

See if See if it is already converted on http://www.archive.org

You could also try mobipocket reader - it converts PDF files too (assuming not to fancy etc...)

I think you can also email it to the Kindle with CONVERT as the subject....

I have a bunch of pdf books that just aren't available for kindle yet. Is there any way to fix pdfs for a kindle so they are readable? I'm using a mac. I tried the calibre software conversion, but they just didn't convert nicely at all - the text is smashed together with unpleasantly close letters and lines. Thanks in advance!

Sorry, I'm just now seeing this.

I'm curious how large a file the 622 page book was you made, and how it compares to the space on the Kindle.

I just checked and the file is 1.15 MB.

manybooks.com has tons of books (assc. with Gutenberg) in loads of formats--many more than Gutenberg.  That site is a little more user friendly, although they do not have 100% of the books that are on Gutenburg.

I'm curious how large a file the 622 page book was you made, and how it compares to the space on the Kindle.  I've done some stuff like this with Gutenburg books to read off my laptop.  I am really looking into getting a Kindle...hoping someone plans that for my Christmas gift!

Thanks for posting about it!

bump  (my post was just freed from the spam trap, but now it is pages down...)

Yes (if you know what the file name is...)

2 choices....

email it to your kindle using the   [whatevername]@free.kindle.com

or

hook up your kindle with the USB port, and move the book file into the "documents" folder on the Kindle.  (The Kindle will show up like a drive...) - make sure you "eject" the Kindle when done with it - on Win 7, you right-click on the Kindle-drive and say Eject.  On some versions of Windows I think it shows a little USB thing on the statusbar near the time/date area on the computer and you click on that to eject it - but not sure.

Can you get downloaded kindle books off the Kindle PC on your computer onto the actual Kindle.  I had Kindle for PC long before I had the Kindle - but don't know how to get them from the PC into the Kindle - most of them were downloaded from Project Gutenberg - not Amazon.  Linda

Suggestion -- get the magic catalog for Kindle. It's truly magic!

http://kindleworld.blogspot.com/2009/04/tip-gutenberg-e-books-direct-to-kindle.html

http://www.freekindlebooks.org/MagicCatalog/magiccatalog.html

From this document on your Kindle, you can download (wirelessly) Gutenberg books.

That is really cool.  Shame it can't be free, although I guess they have to pay for the bandwidth to send it.  Blogs aren't available in Canada, so I can't try it anyway.

FYI, Just for fun I set up the SCM blog in the Kindle store so it can automatically be synced to your Kindle when new articles are posted. Unfortunately, Amazon won't let us set the price and they have it at a $1.99 a month subscription. We think that is ridiculous and would prefer to to make if free, but they won't let us. I doubt anyone will want to use it at that price but it's there if you want to try it at least for the 14 day free trial.

If you can get a Kindle specific file or mobi format file it will work much better on your Kindle. PDF files end up with the pages shrunk down to the Kindle screen. Depending on the original document, this can make the text very small and hard to read. Kindle or mobi format books reflow to your screen and also allow you to change the font size.

Although it is possible to convert from PDF to Kindle or mobi, none of the converters are able to do a really good job of it because of the nature of PDF files and the way they are constructed. If that's all you have it's passable, but it's always better to grab one of the other formats if it's available.

Also, keep in mind that places like Project Gutenberg already have a lot formatted for the Kindle.  Also, mobi format (with .prc or .mobi) work on the Kindle directly unless it has DRM protection on it.

To make Kindle books, you can look at mobipocket creator.  (check http://www.mobipocket.com)  It is a free program to make mobi books - which work on the Kindle.  (Don't buy books at http://www.mobipocket.com though, as they have the DRM protection and won't work for you.)

I haven't done a lot with the creator - but did create a book a few months ago (I used the free mobipocket reader program to read books on the computer), and it definately is good on the Kindle.

I have formatted a few books for my Kindle too.  Mainly the Among the ______ People by Clara Pierson.  I wonder if there is a way we can post the ones we've done for other people to use?????  Then we wouldn't have to duplicate books.  I like to use a larger font so it's easier for the kids to read.  

Heather