Kindle Paperwhite for Dummies (30 page)

At the bottom of the screen, your Kindle Paperwhite displays the original PDF document’s page numbers.

Why would you want to read a document in PDF format? Many PDF documents are highly formatted with columns, tables, and figures that do not convert well to Kindle Paperwhite format. Although you lose the ability to make notes and marks in a PDF, you are able to read the document as originally presented.

The Kindle Paperwhite does not support reading PDFs in landscape mode.

Do you want to use Kindle Paperwhite features such as changing font size and making notes? When e-mailing the PDF file, simply convert the file to Kindle format (AZW) by typing
CONVERT
in the subject line of your message. If you do this, look carefully at the formatting of the PDF to make sure that a converted file is going to be acceptable to you for reading.

Paying Fees for Transferring Documents

If you have a Wi-Fi–only Kindle Paperwhite, all your documents will be delivered by Wi-Fi without charge. If you are in an area where Wi-Fi is not available, your documents will be queued and delivered when Wi-Fi is available.

If you have a 3G device and Wi-FI is not available, the document can be delivered using Whispernet — that is, over a 3G network. Amazon does not charge a monthly fee for 3G, but you do incur a charge for receiving documents this way. At present, the fee is $.15 per megabyte for customers in the United States and $.99 per megabyte when traveling outside the United States.

Wireless file transfer isn’t available in all countries. For the latest availability information, go to
www.amazon.com/myk
, log in if necessary, and click the Kindle Support link. Scroll down to the Wireless Delivery section. Even if wireless file transfer isn’t available, you can still use the Kindle e-mail conversion service and then transfer the converted files to your Kindle Paperwhite via USB.

You can set a limit on the charges allowed for personal documents to be transferred. Go to the Manage Your Kindle page (
www.amazon.com/myk
), and click the Personal Document Settings link in the left column. Scroll down to the middle of the page to the section headed Whispernet Delivery Option. Choose Edit (on the right) to change the maximum amount that you will be charged (from $0 to $49.50 with a default of $2.50). If you try to convert a document that exceeds that charge, it won’t be delivered and you’ll be notified by e-mail. Some Kindle Paperwhite users set the limit at $0 to ensure that all personal documents are transferred via Wi-Fi and thus incur no charges.

Chapter 8

Accessorizing

In This Chapter

Dressing up and protecting your Kindle Paperwhite

Adding external accessories

Insuring your Kindle Paperwhite

K
indle Paperwhite accessories come in hundreds of varieties and colors. You can use a skin, screen protector, or cover to protect your Kindle Paperwhite, but these accessories can also be fashion statements. Accessorize your Kindle Paperwhite and give it your own personal pizzazz.

In this chapter, we discuss an assortment of accessories including vinyl skins, covers, and bags, plus lights, styli, plugs, adapters, and stands. We wrap up the chapter with a brief discussion of damage protection policies from Amazon and third-party sources.

Adding the First Layer

When you buy a Kindle Paperwhite, it ships in a simple box with a USB cable and a card of instructions. That’s it! Many people like to read the Kindle Paperwhite as is, right out of the box. But if you want to hide smudges and dirt while dressing up your device, a skin serves well as the first layer. To protect your Kindle Paperwhite from scratches, check out screen protectors. Are either essential? No, but that doesn’t detract from their popularity!

Vinyl skins

One of the major complaints of the first-generation Kindle was that it looked old-fashioned and bulky. Many people didn’t care for the off-white case. The solution?
Vinyl skins,
which are like a second skin and have been produced for all versions of Kindle e-readers. Because they’re vinyl, skins adhere to the device without glue or adhesive. Skin makers have responded to the demand with an astonishing array of designs.

Some Kindle Paperwhite owners have reported that the black bezel shows fingerprints and smudges much more readily than earlier models. A skin is the ideal solution for this issue.

The skin comes in two pieces for the front (with a cutout for the screen) and the back. To apply the skin, peel the vinyl from the backing sheet, place it on the Kindle Paperwhite in the correct place, and smooth out any air bubbles. That’s it!

Keep in mind the following hints to make skin application as effortless as possible:

Take your time.
Give yourself a few minutes to apply a skin. Don’t try to do it when you are in a hurry.

Use a clean and well lit work surface.

Wash your hands.
You don’t want to leave smudges or fingerprints on the skin. Also, the oil from your skin may make the vinyl not adhere as well.

Clean the Kindle Paperwhite surface before applying the skin.
Don’t use solvents or cleaners on the device. Just rub the front bezel and back clean with a soft cloth.

Adhere the back piece first.
The large back piece is easier to work with than the front. After you get the knack of placing a skin, adhere the front piece on the bezel surrounding the screen.

People with small, delicate hands usually have an easier time applying a skin. If that’s not you, consider asking someone with smaller hands for help.

If you buy a skin from DecalGirl, the piece for the back of the Kindle Paperwhite is a perfect fit for the inside of the Amazon cover. This might be a colorful option to dress up the inside front cover if you don’t plan on taking your Kindle Paperwhite out of its Amazon case.