I love my Kindle and use it often.  I’ve heard complaints that reading on a Kindle is limited to books bought on Amazon but this is not true.  Many online e-book stores such as FictionWise.com sell books in Kindle compatible format. 

Occasionally I’ll come across a free read or I’ll get a book request review that is PDF format.  Unfortunately PDF is not a format that is Kindle compatible (that is unless you have a Kindle DX, I don’t).  Amazon offers a conversion service for a small fee, but if you’ve got the geek gene like me, you’ll want to do it yourself. 

One way to convert PDF files to Kindle format is to use Stanza desktop. You can download it here for free. (Windows and Mac compatible)  With just a few clicks, you can convert your PDF’s.

Open your Stanza desktop.  This is what you’ll see.  I won’t do more screen shots since it’s very easy, only a few clicks.

Open the PDF file you want to convert by clicking file>>open file.  Now click file>>export book as>>Amazon Kindle.  Now save the file to the directory of your choice.  You can now connect your Kindle to your PC and move the .AZW file over to the ‘documents’ folder on you’re Kindle and you’re done.

The only drawback to doing it this way is that I’ve found some of the nice formatting is lost in the conversion.  While your document is still readable, it’s just not as pretty as it was as a PDF.

Another way to convert PDF files to Kindle format is to use Mobipocket Creator.  You can download it free here. (Windows compatible)

Note: when installing, be sure to choose the advanced installation. I automatically chose it but a friend told me that the options you’ll need for conversion will not be present of you choose the simple the installation.

Under the ‘Import From Existing File’ menu, select ‘Adobe PDF’

Click ‘Browse’ and navigate to the PDF document you want to convert.  Leave the other settings as they are unless you want to save our converted files someplace other than the default. Click ‘Import’.

You should now see your document.  Click ‘Build’ on the menu bar.

I leave all the settings at the default as seen above.  Now click the ‘Build’ button

You may see some errors at this point.  So far it’s only been a missing image file or something similar.  I’ve just ignored them and never had a problem.  Click the ‘OK’ button to open the folder containing your converted file.  There will be several files, you’ll want the .prc file for your Kindle.  Connect your Kindle to your PC and move the newly converted .prc file the the ‘documents’ folder on your Kindle.  You’re done!

I prefer using Mobipocket Creator over the Stanza desktop simply because the readable document seems to retain more of is original formatting and your end result is a nicer looking document. 

Perhaps there are more ways to convert PDF’s for Kindle but these are the two ways I’ve discovered so far.  If you know of another way, be sure to link me up in the comments section.

Now, if you’ve made it this far, lucky you!  Because The Kindle Vixen is sharing her absolute favorite software for all things Kindle on her blog today.  Yes, that right, she talking about Calibre, the complete e-library solution.  You’ll want to make sure you stop by her blog and check it out.

If you don’t have a Kindle, never fear, you can click here to purchase one.