The problem with formatting for the Kindle or any e-book reader is that everything changes when the user changes the settings. I have to have my text at the largest size and sometimes that makes the formatting look strange. But if I change the text size, the formatting looks better.

Smashwords has the best formatting requirements, though they’re a pain to follow. You remove all formatting and start with plain text. Then you can add some formatting—bold, italics, centered headings—but the idea is to keep it simple. When you do that, the formatting works for all the different formats Smashwords publishes to (including the Kindle). But if you try to upload a formatted document, it can come through poorly.

Amazon.com lets you upload formatted documents so there can be problems. However, they do provide an HTML proof and allow you to correct it. Some authors and publishers don’t go to that much trouble, though. However, poor formatting doesn’t bother me as long as I can read and make sense of the text. Someone who can read print, however, may be more sensitive to bad formatting. I can’t see well enough to read most print.

Are you finding that most e-books are formatted properly for the Kindle?
.-= Laura Spencer´s last blog ..Are You Trapped in the Writing Web? =-.

I haven’t tried the Barnes and Noble Nook. You might want to compare it before you make a decision. I’ve had my Kindle since long before the Nook came out so I haven’t looked at it closely. I’m happy with my Kindle.

I’ve been resisting getting a kindle, but I just may have to put it on my wish list.
.-= Laura Spencer´s last blog ..Are You Trapped in the Writing Web? =-.

I don’t read on computer, either, but I sure don’t read print. I read on my e-book reader, which I can take anywhere and get comfortable and set the font so my poor eyesight can read it.