Kindle PDF Conversion: How To Read PDFs On The Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle was touted as the must-have gadget for reading enthusiasts when it first came out but many individuals still found it lacking in some features, like for instance the problem of how to read PDF or Word files on it. While this issue was addressed in the latest generation Kindle, the DX, which has a native PDF reader, this remains to be an issue for Kindle 1 and Kindle 2 owners.

There are however, easy ways of doing it. One is by simply sending over your PDF documents to Amazon for conversion. And even with this option, you can choose between the paid or free service.

For the paid service which costs $0.10 per conversion, you just need to:

1. Send your document as an attachment to your Kindle email-address (“name”@kindle.com).

2. Upon conversion, Amazon will deliver the file directly and wirelessly to your Kindle.

For those who don’t want to shell out the additional 10 cents per file fee or are living in an area outside of Whispernet coverage, Amazon actually offers a free conversion service as well.

1. To avail of this, send your documents to “name”@free.kindle.com.

2. Amazon will send the converted file not to your Kindle but to the email address linked to your Amazon log-in account.

3. You can then load the converted document to the Kindle from your computer using USB connection.

If you want to a more do-it-yourself approach, you can opt to convert the file yourself. Here’s a step-by-step list of what you need to do.

For a PC user – MobiPocket Creator

1. You can convert your PDF and Word files using the Mobi Pocket Creator which is a free software. You need to choose the MobiPocker Creator Publisher edition.

2. When you run the MobiPocket Creator, you should see on the right side of the main page an option to Import From Existing File. Among the file types included are Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word Documents.

3. Choose a file from your computer and then click Import. This process should be done in a matter of seconds.

4. MobiPocket Creator will then take you to the next page where you can Build the document as an ebook.

5. Once the Build process is done, you are given the option to preview the file. Or you can directly choose to Open folder containing ebook.

6. You will find a .prc file of your PDF or word document in the folder and this is what you should copy to your Kindle’s document folder via USB.

For a MAC user – Stanza

1. Open your PDF document using Stanza.

2. Then attach your Kindle to your MAC using the USB connector that comes with the device.

3. Select File, then Export Book As, then Amazon Kindle.

4. On the Save File dialog, browse to the Kindle. Note that the Kindle will appear under the name you gave it when you first registered.

Even if you now know how to read PDF and Word files on the Kindle, you would still have to keep in mind that there is really no such thing as a perfect conversion, especially for PDF files. Even with the Amazon conversion, it could still be a hit or miss. If you intend to do a lot of PDF reading on your Kindle, then upgrading to an Amazon Kindle DX is worth considering.