Which Format for books

jgt1942 · 02-19-2013, 12:59 PM

newbie question - I've seen books in epub and mobi format. Does it make any difference as to which I add to my Calibre library? For readers we have an iPad2, iPad mini and Kindle.

itimpi · 02-19-2013, 01:10 PM

Either (or both) can be used. mobi is Amazon's format used by the Kindle or the Kindle app under iOS. ePub is the format used by iBooks and many other iOS reader apps.

jgaiser · 02-19-2013, 05:22 PM

While it's true - either - I try to get an epub if it's available. Then I can convert neatly into either mobi or azw3 as my needs arise.

calvin-c · 02-20-2013, 11:36 AM

When adding I convert all to ePub. Since that's just zipped HTML I can modify it if I want to (correcting typos, linking to explanatory info, etc). (Although all, or nearly all formats can be modified if you know how I find HTML easier.) Then I convert it to whatever format is needed when loading it onto the reader.

fidvo · 02-20-2013, 02:26 PM

If you're asking about which format to download from sites that have multiple formats, I would first see if the site favors one format over another, because that would likely be their "original" format and all others are converted from that.

If not, then I would recommend epub just slightly over mobi, simply because there are more epub-only plugins for Calibre than mobi-only plugins, and you may decide you want to use these in the future.

Other than that, the two formats are pretty much interchangeable in Calibre and converting between the two is usually not a problem, so either one is fine.

jgt1942 · 02-20-2013, 05:27 PM

Thanks guys! In that the iPad uses ePub (this is what I understand) I've been going after ePub and converting when necessary. I've been downloading from news groups and sometimes I don't have the option to download ePub thus I download what is available and then convert to ePub.

02-19-2013, 12:59 PM	#1
jgt1942 Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: iPad	Which Format for books newbie question - I've seen books in epub and mobi format. Does it make any difference as to which I add to my Calibre library? For readers we have an iPad2, iPad mini and Kindle.

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02-19-2013, 01:10 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Either (or both) can be used. mobi is Amazon's format used by the Kindle or the Kindle app under iOS. ePub is the format used by iBooks and many other iOS reader apps.

02-19-2013, 05:22 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	While it's true - either - I try to get an epub if it's available. Then I can convert neatly into either mobi or azw3 as my needs arise.

02-20-2013, 11:36 AM	#4
calvin-c Guru Posts: 787 Karma: 1575310 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Moon+ Pro	When adding I convert all to ePub. Since that's just zipped HTML I can modify it if I want to (correcting typos, linking to explanatory info, etc). (Although all, or nearly all formats can be modified if you know how I find HTML easier.) Then I convert it to whatever format is needed when loading it onto the reader.

02-20-2013, 02:26 PM	#5
fidvo Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 1599870 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: none	If you're asking about which format to download from sites that have multiple formats, I would first see if the site favors one format over another, because that would likely be their "original" format and all others are converted from that. If not, then I would recommend epub just slightly over mobi, simply because there are more epub-only plugins for Calibre than mobi-only plugins, and you may decide you want to use these in the future. Other than that, the two formats are pretty much interchangeable in Calibre and converting between the two is usually not a problem, so either one is fine.

02-20-2013, 05:27 PM	#6
jgt1942 Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: iPad	Thanks guys! In that the iPad uses ePub (this is what I understand) I've been going after ePub and converting when necessary. I've been downloading from news groups and sometimes I don't have the option to download ePub thus I download what is available and then convert to ePub.

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