Should ePub be the ONLY Ebook Format?

JEMelby · 08-03-2009, 11:50 AM

Sorry for the leading title....

EPUB sure seems to be catching hold as the defacto ebook reader format. It seems to be catching momentum for almost ALL the readers. I might have clapped my hands a few weeks ago, but now, I am not so sure. I've actuall read a couple books in EPUB format, and I have to say, I much prefer LRF on my Sony 505.

A couple points I don't like is the page numbers! I've read a couple other threads here, and think I understand why it is the way it is, but I still don't like it. I also can't seem to figure out how to change the font. It is VERY hard for me to read when compared to the font used in the LRF format.

If someone would like to give me a hint on how to fix either one of these, I might be lured back to using EPUB, but for now, I am solidly back to LRF, and am considering the Sony 300 over the Pocket Pro just to be able to keep LRF!

Thanksfully, Calibre handles them BOTH just fine.

zelda_pinwheel · 08-03-2009, 11:56 AM

be careful about confusing the format (epub) with the rendering engine (adobe). the things you mention disliking are due to the way sony uses the adobe renderer to display the files, not the files themselves, nor the format. for example on the cybook opus, i believe the page numbers are not displayed in the side margins.

having said that, to answer your question, i don't believe epub should be the *only* format (although i do believe it should be supported universally, meaning every device should be able to read it, and every book should be available in it). there are times when a simple .txt file is good enough, anything more would be overkill. there are some layout options which work better in pdf (for the moment, at least). i am glad to have epub as a standard format and it's the format i prefer, but that doesn't mean other formats should necessarily disappear.

pepak · 08-03-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEMelby

A couple points I don't like is the page numbers! I've read a couple other threads here, and think I understand why it is the way it is, but I still don't like it.

There is much controversy between those who hail the possibilities of EPUB and those who complain about actual implementations.

Quote:

Thanksfully, Calibre handles them BOTH just fine.

I wish it were so. Unfortunately, LRF output is not being developed anymore, despite several serious bugs in the current implementation. I can understand that as a developer - there really is little point in polishing something that's used by minority of users and is likely to die out soon. As a user who finds EPUB far less usable on his reader than LRF, I am not at all happy about this state, though :-(

itimpi · 08-03-2009, 12:37 PM

I do not think that Kovid has said that bugs in the LRF output will NOT be fixed - just that they are now seen as lower priority.

kovidgoyal · 08-03-2009, 12:39 PM

To be precise LRF output is now in maintenance mode. While I will try to fix regressions, changes in the fundamental behavior/new features will no longer happen. I just have absolutely no motivation to care about the LRF format any more.

JSWolf · 08-03-2009, 12:59 PM

I do hope the font size issues in conversion to LRF in 0.6.x get fixed.

JSWolf · 08-03-2009, 12:59 PM

Well if we had ONE format, ePub should be it and then we would not have this awful tower of eBable to deal with.

susan_cassidy · 08-03-2009, 01:47 PM

ePub as a format says nothing about DRM. Major publishers are going to want DRM (at this time, at least), and nothing says that different publishers or retailers cannot use different DRM schemes. Then you are back to the same problems as multiple formats.

rcuadro · 08-03-2009, 01:49 PM

I dont know if it should be ePub but I think there needs to be an MP3 for the eBook world

Nate the great · 08-03-2009, 01:52 PM

No.

Epub has a high hardware demand when compared to eReader, MSReader, or Mobipocket. Basically your proposal involves discarding a vast number of functional reading devices.

fjtorres · 08-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Considering its not even fully functional (Dictionaries, anyone?): heck, no!
MS had added nothing to LIT in five years and its still more functional than ePUB.
Maybe in ten years.

JSWolf · 08-03-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

No.

Epub has a high hardware demand when compared to eReader, MSReader, or Mobipocket. Basically your proposal involves discarding a vast number of functional reading devices.

And that's a bad thing to start over and do it right?

Greg Anos · 08-03-2009, 02:25 PM

Sometimes I wonder about the KISS principle. (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) I think EPUB is vastly over-engineered for it's purpose. But then again, I want something I fix with a flint rock. (I.E. Drop into a simple, common, and free word processor without going through extracts and rebuilds to fix a typo....)

JSWolf · 08-03-2009, 02:30 PM

Well, ePub is the only eBook format that when sans DRM, can be fixed/edited with a text editor without having to then be decompiled and then recompiled.

Greg Anos · 08-03-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Well, ePub is the only eBook format that when sans DRM, can be fixed/edited with a text editor without having to then be decompiled and then recompiled.

HTML? RTF?

08-03-2009, 11:50 AM	#1
JEMelby Save the Stone Tablet Posts: 31 Karma: 23 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Planet Earth (Mostly) Device: Coleco ADAM (With high-speed digital tape drive!)	Should ePub be the ONLY Ebook Format? Sorry for the leading title.... EPUB sure seems to be catching hold as the defacto ebook reader format. It seems to be catching momentum for almost ALL the readers. I might have clapped my hands a few weeks ago, but now, I am not so sure. I've actuall read a couple books in EPUB format, and I have to say, I much prefer LRF on my Sony 505. A couple points I don't like is the page numbers! I've read a couple other threads here, and think I understand why it is the way it is, but I still don't like it. I also can't seem to figure out how to change the font. It is VERY hard for me to read when compared to the font used in the LRF format. If someone would like to give me a hint on how to fix either one of these, I might be lured back to using EPUB, but for now, I am solidly back to LRF, and am considering the Sony 300 over the Pocket Pro just to be able to keep LRF! Thanksfully, Calibre handles them BOTH just fine.

08-03-2009, 01:52 PM	#10
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Should ePub be the ONLY Ebook Format? No. Epub has a high hardware demand when compared to eReader, MSReader, or Mobipocket. Basically your proposal involves discarding a vast number of functional reading devices.

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08-03-2009, 11:56 AM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	be careful about confusing the format (epub) with the rendering engine (adobe). the things you mention disliking are due to the way sony uses the adobe renderer to display the files, not the files themselves, nor the format. for example on the cybook opus, i believe the page numbers are not displayed in the side margins. having said that, to answer your question, i don't believe epub should be the only format (although i do believe it should be supported universally, meaning every device should be able to read it, and every book should be available in it). there are times when a simple .txt file is good enough, anything more would be overkill. there are some layout options which work better in pdf (for the moment, at least). i am glad to have epub as a standard format and it's the format i prefer, but that doesn't mean other formats should necessarily disappear.

08-03-2009, 12:37 PM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,552 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	I do not think that Kovid has said that bugs in the LRF output will NOT be fixed - just that they are now seen as lower priority.

08-03-2009, 12:39 PM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	To be precise LRF output is now in maintenance mode. While I will try to fix regressions, changes in the fundamental behavior/new features will no longer happen. I just have absolutely no motivation to care about the LRF format any more.

08-03-2009, 12:59 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I do hope the font size issues in conversion to LRF in 0.6.x get fixed.

08-03-2009, 01:47 PM	#8
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	ePub as a format says nothing about DRM. Major publishers are going to want DRM (at this time, at least), and nothing says that different publishers or retailers cannot use different DRM schemes. Then you are back to the same problems as multiple formats.

08-03-2009, 01:49 PM	#9
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I dont know if it should be ePub but I think there needs to be an MP3 for the eBook world

08-03-2009, 01:56 PM	#11
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Considering its not even fully functional (Dictionaries, anyone?): heck, no! MS had added nothing to LIT in five years and its still more functional than ePUB. Maybe in ten years.

08-03-2009, 02:25 PM	#13
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,248 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Sometimes I wonder about the KISS principle. (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) I think EPUB is vastly over-engineered for it's purpose. But then again, I want something I fix with a flint rock. (I.E. Drop into a simple, common, and free word processor without going through extracts and rebuilds to fix a typo....)

08-03-2009, 02:30 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Well, ePub is the only eBook format that when sans DRM, can be fixed/edited with a text editor without having to then be decompiled and then recompiled.

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