11-06-2012, 09:14 PM | #1 |
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Kindle and epub conversion
I'm thinking of picking up the $69 kindle. The problem is that all of my books are in (DRM-free) epub. If I use calibre to convert said epubs to mobi, how good is the conversion process? I'd just hate to have an ereader that is incompatible with my entire collection. Does anyone here have experience with such format shifting?
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11-06-2012, 10:34 PM | #2 |
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I've converted a large number of ePubs to MOBI, most to the older legacy MOBI format, using calibre. In general, the conversions are quite good.
Conversions to the newer MOBI format, properly called "KF8" and compatible with all of the current Kindle models, generally have even fewer issues. Calibre allows you to convert to either version. |
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11-06-2012, 10:45 PM | #3 |
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I've converted 100's of ePub's to read on the Kindle (mainly to the older Mobi format) and everything has gone fine. This is for regular fiction books so I haven't done anything with any kind of complex formatting, but if you convert to KF8 even more complex formatting should come through OK from what I've read.
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11-06-2012, 11:00 PM | #4 |
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I do this all the time. If you convert to old mobi you may lose some not important formatting but on most books it's not a big issue and you can't really tell.
If you convert to KF8 it's pretty much looks the same. KF8 is Amazon's version of epub. If you get one make sure to get the new black K4. It's much better than last year's with better contrast and lighter screen. |
11-07-2012, 05:06 AM | #5 |
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how about using the feature "email to your kindle"? I am sure that Amazon helps to convert over to kindle format FOC at no cost.
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11-07-2012, 05:16 AM | #6 |
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epub to kindle format goes well in calibre in my experience but mobi to epub is a bit more tricky and doesn't work as well off the bat.
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11-07-2012, 05:50 AM | #7 |
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I convert to epub all the time from mobi. I've never had an issue. I have had issues getting the navigation on a mobi to work when converting from epub though.
Last edited by Blossom; 11-07-2012 at 05:52 AM. |
11-07-2012, 06:29 AM | #8 |
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Yes that works for non drm content but NOT for epub books. And if you are particular about how yoru document looks, you will not want to do it that way, because you can't check it first.
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11-07-2012, 07:44 AM | #9 |
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I have used both Calibre and Kindle Previewer to convert from epub to mobi, and I use Kindle Previewer exclusively now. Just seems to work better.
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11-07-2012, 05:07 PM | #10 |
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Just downloaded the updated Kingle Previewer. Menu has changed considerably with dropdown having eInk, KF8 and Kindle for IOS
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11-11-2012, 05:21 PM | #11 |
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Thanks for all the replies. Just one more question then.
It sounds like epub to mobi works well for most everyone. But what about the reverse? I'd still want to keep a DRM-free epub backup of whatever I purchase from the kindle store. Is that conversion also generally successful? And is calibre still the best method for doing said conversion? |
11-11-2012, 05:25 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Then again, I am not 'too picky' with the formatting of ebooks. But no weird characters, paragraph issues, or anything of the sorts, as far as I can tell. I have all my books on both Kindle and SONY readers - so they are all converted in one direction or the other, depending on the purchase. Never had any noticeable problems. I am not sure whether there are other, better, pieces of software. Calibre seems good enough to me... |
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11-11-2012, 08:53 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
There's a plugin called mobi unpack that extracts the epub from a KF8 without converting. It works great if the publisher made the Kindle book right. |
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