adding books to my amazon account for free?

[mommytsa]

I've been reading here for a bit, and have found a lot of great info, but am having a hard time figuring this out.

I have a kindle 2.  My hubby has an Ipod touch with the kindle app.  I have some books on my computer downloaded from sites other than amazon (baen free library-yay!).  How can I get those books into my amazon account without them charging me through the nose for it?  Is there a way?

Thank you so much for your help!
Theresa

[mommytsa]

FYI-I just downloaded calibre to attempt to convert a few things as well.  That's what actually reminded me to ask this, since it prompted me for an email address for my kindle.  I know I have an @kindle.com address, but it says they charge a fee.  Fees are not cool.

[sem]

You can load the baen books onto your kindle using the usb cable and your computer. The books need to be in the proper kindle format (no drm). Mobi and several others. You just drag and drop them into the document folder on your kindle. I think that you can also use calibre and the usb cable but I have not tried calibre yet. I am sure that there will be someone along with more knowledge than I have who can help out.

Welcome to the boards!

[GhiiZhar]

...... Fees are not cool.

Unfortunately my employer feels the same way. I am on salary and they do not feel like they need to pay me for the value of my work......

Image that, folks wanting to be paid for the value of their service!!

[dnagirl]

You don't have to use the Whispernet to transfer books to your Kindle.

With Calibre, add your books to the Calibre library (if they are Baen, they should be .mobi and non-DRM; you'll have to make sure your others are non-DRM as well).  You can edit the metadata if you wish once they are in the library.  If you need to convert from one format to .mobi, you can do that as well. 

Now, hook up your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable.  Calibre is smart enough that it will automatically recognize your Kindle.  Highlight the books that you've just uploaded into the Calibre library and send them to your Kindle device using the "Send to Device" button.  All done!  Your books should now be on your Kindle, and no fee!

[Ann in Arlington]

 How can I get those books into my amazon account without them charging me through the nose for it?  

If I'm understanding what you're asking, the answer is, you can't.

Folks have already given a variety of suggestions as to how to load content not from Amazon on to your Kindle.  BUT, that content will not be part of your "Amazon account".  Amazon will back up purchases you make there, and there are tools at Amazon to note when you've read books and how you liked them and all.  But a book purchased from elsewhere than Amazon is not stored there.

If you want to not risk losing access, your best option is to back them up yourself somehow on your own system.  Actually, there are a lot of people who back up their Amazon purchases as well. . .just be sure to keep track of which Kindle you're backing up because you can't load books from one Kindle directly onto another.

As to the 'I have no ATT access' question. . . . .it is fairly straightforward to load books you download via your computer.  NO third party software is needed, though many here find Calibre to be a useful program for managing their ebook library.  There is a PDF file of the Kindle Users guide that you can download and gives you step-by-step instructions for "side-loading".  Look under "Kindle Support" which is probably a link all the way at the right near the top of the Kindle product page.

Good luck!

[mommytsa]

Thank you for your help!  It looks like there isn't a way to do what I wanted.  Oh well, at least I can get them on the kindle.

[Tagbert]

For reading non-Amazon books on the iPod Touch, you can install the Stanza ebook reader software (free from iTunes app store). Then transfer the books to to Touch and read them in Stanza. You might be able to use Calibre on your computer to convert and transfer them. I think that it does that , now. If not, you can install a copy of Stanza on your computer and use it to transfer to the Touch.

this is not as seamless as if Amazon let you add any books to your Archive but it is the best option you have for now.