Smashwords - question about buying and formats

texasnightowl · 08-10-2010, 05:31 PM

So I have a couple of titles on my list of "books to buy" that are author direct books that are available from Smashwords and thru Amazon and/or B&N. So the first thing I was wondering is: are the files direct from Smashwords generally identical to Amazon/B&N? In other words, is the .mobi from Smashwords identical to the .azw from Amazon and is the epub identical to B&N?

Second, for those who buy direct from Smashwords...which is your preferred format to purchase and/or convert? Is it better to buy rtf or html and convert on your own or are the epub and mobi files pretty good?

susan_cassidy · 08-10-2010, 05:37 PM

The few that I've bought from Smashwords seemed fine. It is nice that they don't have DRM.

carld · 08-10-2010, 05:38 PM

Smashwords uses an automated formatting program for their ebooks, so if the author publishes through Smashwords then they should be basically the same. I believe authors can, if they choose, upload their own files to Amazon, which should in general be better formatted than Smashwords automated output. I don't know of any way to tell except to compare samples to see how they look.

I only buy or download mobi files. They don't require conversion, and since Smashwords formatting is automated, the files should all be basically the same.

I'm not that familiar with Smashwords, so I'm sure someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

grooks · 08-10-2010, 05:46 PM

I've never had any problems with the format of ebooks downloaded directly from Smashwords. Since I'm a Sony owner, I typically choose ePub or LRF. Getting the ebooks directly from them is good because they do not have DRM.

Hellmark · 08-10-2010, 07:30 PM

In my experience, the Smashwords copies are the same you get at B&N and elsewhere, only DRM free. Why not just go to the source and get the DRM free version?

Marioninyc · 08-10-2010, 07:53 PM

I've put books up on Smashwords and on Kindle. As an author I've found the smashwords "meat grinder" system a bit tricky. My mobis from Smashwords are okay but lack centering. I could just never get it to work. The Kindle formatting is fine. If you've got the Kindle and the price is the same, I'd go for the one in the Kindle store.

texasnightowl · 08-10-2010, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellmark

In my experience, the Smashwords copies are the same you get at B&N and elsewhere, only DRM free. Why not just go to the source and get the DRM free version?

Oh, believe me, I have no objection at all to buying the DRM Free version directly from Smashwords....but if the version at Amazon or B&N has better formatting for whatever reason, then I'd consider buying it there instead.

texasnightowl · 08-10-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marioninyc

I've put books up on Smashwords and on Kindle. As an author I've found the smashwords "meat grinder" system a bit tricky. My mobis from Smashwords are okay but lack centering. I could just never get it to work. The Kindle formatting is fine. If you've got the Kindle and the price is the same, I'd go for the one in the Kindle store.

Interesting, thanks. Does smashwords really call their system "meat grinder"

J. Strnad · 08-10-2010, 09:02 PM

My Amazon file is different, in that it went through Amazon's conversion process rather than Smashwords'. It's still DRM-free, which was an option when I listed it. I don't recall if the chapter breaks survived as a clickable Table of Contents or not.

The ePub created by Smashwords' "meat grinder" (yes, they call it that) does not include a clickable Table of Contents. However, I have a standing offer to send a custom ePub file to anyone who orders from Smashwords which does include the TOC (just PM me). That goes for orders through B&N, Sony and Kobobooks, too, since they are selling the Smashwords version.

GraceKrispy · 08-11-2010, 01:00 AM

I use smashwords a lot for my reading material. I have a sony and I have been very happy with the majority of the epubs that come out of smashwords. I also read on my blackberry, and use the .mobi (I have mobipocket on my bb). They often come up with a random string of letters/numbers as the title, which is annoying- (it looks like: tmp48292839283--I finally figured out how to fix that in mobipocket reader software). I don't have a kindle, but I do have an ipod touch, and I download directly from amazon for that machine.

sabredog · 08-11-2010, 01:19 AM

No problems here either. No DRM and a choice of any format at any time.

I have had some font issues with some ePUB format files, but nothing I cannot correct.

dreams · 08-11-2010, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

No problems here either. No DRM and a choice of any format at any time.
<snip>

I love smashwords. I buy almost exclusively from there. I have the Sony 505 and have been very happy with the downloads.

DRM free, my choice of formats (lrf and epub), and I can chose both if I want.

Joseph Mitchell · 08-11-2010, 09:06 AM

I may be wrong, but I think if you buy a book on smashwords, you buy it in all the formats they have available, so you can download the mobi and PDF versions, or even HTML, any time later after you've bought the title.

TallMomof2 · 08-11-2010, 09:10 AM

I'm pretty sure this is not Smashword's fault but frequently the metadata is terrible, at least on most of the freebies I've downloaded.

rlparker · 08-11-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

...They often come up with a random string of letters/numbers as the title, which is annoying- (it looks like: tmp48292839283--I finally figured out how to fix that in mobipocket reader software)....

Okay, so it's not just me. I just started getting stuff from Smashwords recently and a couple of them have the screwed up title you mentioned.

Do you mind sharing exactly how you fix it in mobipocket reader?

08-10-2010, 05:31 PM	#1
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 699 Karma: 1001556 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	Smashwords - question about buying and formats So I have a couple of titles on my list of "books to buy" that are author direct books that are available from Smashwords and thru Amazon and/or B&N. So the first thing I was wondering is: are the files direct from Smashwords generally identical to Amazon/B&N? In other words, is the .mobi from Smashwords identical to the .azw from Amazon and is the epub identical to B&N? Second, for those who buy direct from Smashwords...which is your preferred format to purchase and/or convert? Is it better to buy rtf or html and convert on your own or are the epub and mobi files pretty good?

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08-10-2010, 05:37 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The few that I've bought from Smashwords seemed fine. It is nice that they don't have DRM.

08-10-2010, 05:38 PM	#3
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Smashwords uses an automated formatting program for their ebooks, so if the author publishes through Smashwords then they should be basically the same. I believe authors can, if they choose, upload their own files to Amazon, which should in general be better formatted than Smashwords automated output. I don't know of any way to tell except to compare samples to see how they look. I only buy or download mobi files. They don't require conversion, and since Smashwords formatting is automated, the files should all be basically the same. I'm not that familiar with Smashwords, so I'm sure someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

08-10-2010, 05:46 PM	#4
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	I've never had any problems with the format of ebooks downloaded directly from Smashwords. Since I'm a Sony owner, I typically choose ePub or LRF. Getting the ebooks directly from them is good because they do not have DRM.

08-10-2010, 07:30 PM	#5
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,549 Karma: 3799999 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: O'Fallon, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3	In my experience, the Smashwords copies are the same you get at B&N and elsewhere, only DRM free. Why not just go to the source and get the DRM free version?

08-10-2010, 07:53 PM	#6
Marioninyc Marion Posts: 62 Karma: 70000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NY NY Device: KindleDX	I've put books up on Smashwords and on Kindle. As an author I've found the smashwords "meat grinder" system a bit tricky. My mobis from Smashwords are okay but lack centering. I could just never get it to work. The Kindle formatting is fine. If you've got the Kindle and the price is the same, I'd go for the one in the Kindle store.

08-10-2010, 09:02 PM	#9
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	My Amazon file is different, in that it went through Amazon's conversion process rather than Smashwords'. It's still DRM-free, which was an option when I listed it. I don't recall if the chapter breaks survived as a clickable Table of Contents or not. The ePub created by Smashwords' "meat grinder" (yes, they call it that) does not include a clickable Table of Contents. However, I have a standing offer to send a custom ePub file to anyone who orders from Smashwords which does include the TOC (just PM me). That goes for orders through B&N, Sony and Kobobooks, too, since they are selling the Smashwords version.

08-11-2010, 01:00 AM	#10
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I use smashwords a lot for my reading material. I have a sony and I have been very happy with the majority of the epubs that come out of smashwords. I also read on my blackberry, and use the .mobi (I have mobipocket on my bb). They often come up with a random string of letters/numbers as the title, which is annoying- (it looks like: tmp48292839283--I finally figured out how to fix that in mobipocket reader software). I don't have a kindle, but I do have an ipod touch, and I download directly from amazon for that machine.

08-11-2010, 01:19 AM	#11
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	No problems here either. No DRM and a choice of any format at any time. I have had some font issues with some ePUB format files, but nothing I cannot correct.

08-11-2010, 09:06 AM	#13
Joseph Mitchell Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, US Device: PC, other	I may be wrong, but I think if you buy a book on smashwords, you buy it in all the formats they have available, so you can download the mobi and PDF versions, or even HTML, any time later after you've bought the title.

08-11-2010, 09:10 AM	#14
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	I'm pretty sure this is not Smashword's fault but frequently the metadata is terrible, at least on most of the freebies I've downloaded.

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