In the rock-paper-scissors game of ereaders, Kindle is the rock. Most people choose rock – and Kindle – because they are generally the winners. Paper beats rock, and epub beats azw. Kindle 1 – with the SD card, web access, Kindle store freebies, and Amazon's legendary customer service – would be perfect if customers could download Google Books in epub files. Epub isn't supported for Kindle, but Calibre makes epub files work.
Downloading Google Books in Epub to Convert for Kindle
The Barnes and Noble Nook's strength comes from the native inclusion of and wireless access to Google Books, because Google Books free library is vast and growing. Kindle users can access Google's ebook library by choosing epub files and converting them.
There are two options for Google Book downloads: epub and pdf. Epub has an optimizable format, so it is easier to adjust to a particular ereader. If a book isn't in Epub form, the readability of the book is debateble.. Pdf files tend to be too rigid for the smaller Kindles, although Kindle DX can handle them. PDF files can be converted by Amazon, so it is not necessary to use Calibre to convert the books.
Finding Epub files on Google Books and Converting them with Calibre
Unfortunately, Google doesn't offer the option to search for books by file type. To find a free epub ebook in Google Books, the simplest option is is to buy a Nook. The more reasonable option for someone who owns a Kindle and doesn't want to buy another ereader is to search Google Books for the topic of interest. Here's how:
- Choose "Public Domain" on the left side. "Full View" books can be read through Google Books, but they can't always be downloaded. If they can't be downloaded, they can't be made into ebooks for the Kindle.
- Click on a book title. If the "Download" says "EPUB", it will work on the Kindle. If it says PDF, abandon all hope of reading it as an a Kindle ebook.
- Download the epub file.
Downloading and installing Calibre is easy, and it is available for Windows, Linux, and OS X. Donations help development and is a fair way show appreciation for the work involved, but the file is free.
Set up calibre through the simple walk through. There is a step to allow Calibre to send files from personal email accounts to your Kindle email, (kindleusername@kindle.com), which then wirelessly delivers books to the Kindle. Amazon charges .15 per megabyte.
It is free to download the book onto the Kindle directly, even after converting it by emailing it to (kindleusername)@free.kindle.com. Calibre works for multiple ereaders, and the Calibre software allows for ebooks to be added to ereaders through SD cards, wired connections, and email/wireless delivery, depending on the ereaders capabilities.
Reading Converted Ebook Files on the Kindle
The Kindle email account is set up in the "Manage Your Kindle" section of Amazon.com. In that same section, Kindle owners can check delivery status (the emailed Calibre files should show as "pending" until they are delivered to the Kindle via Whispernet. That is also the page to set up "Kindle Approved E-mail List" and "Personal Document Charge Limit" to avoid surprises.
Pictures from the converted files will have the same limitations as PDF file pictures, so they may appear too small or too large. Words will be converted into text, and the files are easy to read. Hypertexting sometimes appears and works beautifully. Jumbled or confused text might be from the OCR issues in Google Books, not from Calibre or Amazon. This also happens with Project Gutenberg books. It is all part of the adventure of ebook reading.
The Sony Reader, Kobo eReader, and Barnes and Noble Nook can handle Google Books natively, but for Kindle owners seeking a way to access Google Books as ebooks, Calibre is the way to go. Calibre's conversion system helps bring Kindles closer to what they should be by allowing many of Google Books public domain files to make their way as free Kindle ebooks.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
