What format for ebooks?

[Specop 007]

So whats considered a "good" format to keep ebooks in? Mobi? Lit? Other? Does it really make a damn bit of difference when tools like Calibre are available to easily (and hopefully correctly) change to different formats?

 

[runawayprisoner]

PDF is the best, I think. Easily interchangeable and some systems can read it by default without installing anything.

 

[zerogear]

epub is supposed to be the 'standard' for ebooks. Though Kindle doesn't like epub format 🙂

 

[ilkhan]

lit or epub are probably best. PDF is ok if it includes diagrams, but I don't think PDF allows for reflow and the like.

 

[zerogear]

PDF does allows reflow (text-based), but it takes considerable more cpu power to do so than epub format. Which does matter if you're using a e-ink device.

 

[gorcorps]

I prefer epub

 

[Dulanic]

Probably any except pdf. I use calibre to convert anything to my kindle.

 

[zokudu]

I was under the impression that most of the ebook formats are just xml markup and because of this they can be changed without any issues from one format to another. The only one that is weird is PDF.

 

[Bateluer]

In the following order.

Epub, LIT, PDF.

These are standard formats are readable by nearly every non-Kindle device. You can convert to run on a Kindle, but it is an extra step. Any Android tablet, iPad, Android phone, iPhone, Nook device, Kobo, Sony e-reader/tablet, etc will handle those formats without any user intervention.

 

[DaWhim]

epub ftw for eink.

on a tablet, pdf would be better

 

[slag]

epub or mobi.

 

[dagamer34]

ePub for smartphones and e-readers, PDF for full-size tablets.

 

[pm]

I like epub too. That's what I've converted all of mine over to.

 

[MagickMan]

epub all the way

 

[Munky]

Epub for mobile gadgets, PDF for laptop/desktop PC

 

[DaWhim]

oh...for those who don't know, epub is basically a zip file which you can decompress, inside the epub, you will find http formatted text.

 

[pm]

Cool. I did not know that. Thanks.

 

[PrayForDeath]

epub is supposed to be the 'standard' for ebooks. Though Kindle doesn't like epub format 🙂

So Kindle doesnt play epub? Ive been considering getting a kindle, but if it wont play my epubs...

 

[gorcorps]

So Kindle doesnt play epub? Ive been considering getting a kindle, but if it wont play my epubs...

It does not play epubs natively, but using Calibre is one way to easily convert to something it reads in seconds.

 

[akugami]

epub is supposed to be the 'standard' for ebooks. Though Kindle doesn't like epub format 🙂

Don't quote me on this but I believe the Kindle format is similar to epub with a DRM wrapper. Similar to Apple's "new" ebook format they unveiled recently.

For me, if it's a magazine styled book with lots of pictures, PDF. If it's a normal book with mostly text then epub.

 

[Specop 007]

So Kindle doesnt play epub? Ive been considering getting a kindle, but if it wont play my epubs...

Calibre FTMFW. Seriously, its a programmers gift to readers.

 

[zerogear]

Don't quote me on this but I believe the Kindle format is similar to epub with a DRM wrapper. Similar to Apple's "new" ebook format they unveiled recently.

For me, if it's a magazine styled book with lots of pictures, PDF. If it's a normal book with mostly text then epub.

Kindle is mobi w/ DRM wrapper (azw), since Amazon owns MobiPocket