azw3 vs kfx?

kyrilson · 07-01-2020, 07:40 PM

I have been using azw3 to sideload my books to my kindles. However, I've heard about the kfx format as an option. Is this a better format for sideloading?

j.p.s · 07-01-2020, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilson

I have been using azw3 to sideload my books to my kindles. However, I've heard about the kfx format as an option. Is this a better format for sideloading?

You can only get it from amazon wirelessly.

There is a calibre plug-in that can output kfx, but it produces a single file, which might have some downsides,

Quoth · 07-02-2020, 04:44 AM

For most books the only difference between azw3 and KFX is artificial in terms of typesetting/layout because they use the same upload to KDP. The difference isn't great. The reason for KFX seems to be to increase DRM and optimise Whispernet delivery, especially GSM/3G/4G which unlike your laptop, tablet or WiFi, Amazon and the Publisher is paying for.

Please select Download via PC (a tablet or phone works as does Mac and Linux) as other wise the Publisher is being charged and books the Publisher has selected as DRM free are having KFX DRM added.

There is nothing visually that Amazon couldn't add to azw/KF8 rendering on all the ereaders that support KFX. There is no change needed to the actual ebook azw files.

So please boycott KFX. You aren't missing much (just slightly fancier rendering on screen) compared to KF8. It's a nasty format.

ps67 · 07-02-2020, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

For most books the only difference between azw3 and KFX is artificial in terms of typesetting/layout because they use the same upload to KDP. The difference isn't great. The reason for KFX seems to be to increase DRM and optimise Whispernet delivery, especially GSM/3G/4G which unlike your laptop, tablet or WiFi, Amazon and the Publisher is paying for.

Please select Download via PC (a tablet or phone works as does Mac and Linux) as other wise the Publisher is being charged and books the Publisher has selected as DRM free are having KFX DRM added.

There is nothing visually that Amazon couldn't add to azw/KF8 rendering on all the ereaders that support KFX. There is no change needed to the actual ebook azw files.

So please boycott KFX. You aren't missing much (just slightly fancier rendering on screen) compared to KF8. It's a nasty format.

I agree with You about all the bad things You say about KFX. And may be that Amazon could have added the "better typography" using AZW3.

But the question is: KFX will be cooler than AZW3 in my Kindle?

And the answer is: Yes. You will obtain hyphenation, ligatures, kerning and better handling of tables. And if I remember correctly only with KFX books there is the 9 pages preview. The only thing You could obtain with AZW3 is hyphenation and You must use soft-hypens (and funny things will happen if there are pop-up notes).

And IMHO (I don't want to boycott anything but if You desire to do it) You boycott KFX better using the calibre plugin: You buy Your books elsewhere and You read them on Kindle with the same quality of books purchased from Amazon.

Drawback of KFX produced by calibre plugin:

They are larger than files downloaded from Amazon because they are not compressed.

Not all books can be converted into KFX (but now a vast majority of them can be converted)

No Linux compatibility for the plugin.

Quoth · 07-03-2020, 04:39 AM

I read my books bought from Amazon on a Kobo

Which leads to the similar epub2 vs kobo proprietary kepub doing different rendering. And on it too, like Kindle, it's mostly about the rendering software, not KF8 vs KFX or epub2 vs kepub, as many KFX and kepub start as epub2 anyway.

I also migrated to Linux.

JSWolf · 07-03-2020, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I read my books bought from Amazon on a Kobo

Which leads to the similar epub2 vs kobo proprietary kepub doing different rendering. And on it too, like Kindle, it's mostly about the rendering software, not KF8 vs KFX or epub2 vs kepub, as many KFX and kepub start as epub2 anyway.

I also migrated to Linux.

Windows 10 vs. Linux (meh)

Quoth · 07-03-2020, 04:07 PM

Windows NT 3.5, NT 3.51, NT4.0, 2K, XP, Win 7 vs Win 10.

JSWolf · 07-03-2020, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Windows NT 3.5, NT 3.51, NT4.0, 2K, XP, Win 7 vs Win 10.

And Windows 10 is the winner by a landslide.

BookCat · 07-03-2020, 11:31 PM

I'm still with Windows 7 and I'm staying there as long as poss.

JSWolf · 07-04-2020, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

I'm still with Windows 7 and I'm staying there as long as poss.

Are you able to run Calibe 4.20?

rcentros · 07-05-2020, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I also migrated to Linux.

About 14 years ago for me. (Although I still dual-booted to Windows XP or used a VM for a couple years for a couple applications.)

BookCat · 07-08-2020, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Are you able to run Calibe 4.20?

Last night I downloaded the last Calibre update capable of running on Win 7. It's 3.48. I haven't installed it yet because the instructions on the web page are to uninstall the current version, and I'm a bit nervous about doing that, even though I'm having problems with it - it won't open easily. I have to spend ages telling the program to open.

JSWolf · 07-08-2020, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Last night I downloaded the last Calibre update capable of running on Win 7. It's 3.48. I haven't installed it yet because the instructions on the web page are to uninstall the current version, and I'm a bit nervous about doing that, even though I'm having problems with it - it won't open easily. I have to spend ages telling the program to open.

Try 4.20. If that doesn't work, you can uninstall it and install 3.48. When you uninstall Calibre, you don't lose your plugins, settings, and libraries.

BookCat · 07-08-2020, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Try 4.20. If that doesn't work, you can uninstall it and install 3.48. When you uninstall Calibre, you don't lose your plugins, settings, and libraries.

According to the Calibre website, 4.20 doesn't work on Win 7

https://calibre-ebook.com/download_windows

Under Note it says:

"If you are using Windows 7 or Vista please, use calibre 3.48, which works with all Windows 7/Vista machines, from here (this word is a link - BookCat). Simply un-install calibre and install 3.48, doing so will not affect your books/settings."

Janet56 · 07-09-2020, 11:36 PM

Just a quick note - I have my books on my 64 bit Windows 7 laptop and Calibre 4.20 is running just fine.

07-01-2020, 07:40 PM	#1
kyrilson Fanatic Posts: 539 Karma: 13511506 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH Device: Voyage, Oasis, Kobo Glo HD,iPad Pro, Sony 350 and T2	azw3 vs kfx? I have been using azw3 to sideload my books to my kindles. However, I've heard about the kfx format as an option. Is this a better format for sideloading?

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07-02-2020, 04:44 AM	#3
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,426 Karma: 87454321 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	For most books the only difference between azw3 and KFX is artificial in terms of typesetting/layout because they use the same upload to KDP. The difference isn't great. The reason for KFX seems to be to increase DRM and optimise Whispernet delivery, especially GSM/3G/4G which unlike your laptop, tablet or WiFi, Amazon and the Publisher is paying for. Please select Download via PC (a tablet or phone works as does Mac and Linux) as other wise the Publisher is being charged and books the Publisher has selected as DRM free are having KFX DRM added. There is nothing visually that Amazon couldn't add to azw/KF8 rendering on all the ereaders that support KFX. There is no change needed to the actual ebook azw files. So please boycott KFX. You aren't missing much (just slightly fancier rendering on screen) compared to KF8. It's a nasty format.

07-03-2020, 04:39 AM	#5
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,426 Karma: 87454321 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	I read my books bought from Amazon on a Kobo Which leads to the similar epub2 vs kobo proprietary kepub doing different rendering. And on it too, like Kindle, it's mostly about the rendering software, not KF8 vs KFX or epub2 vs kepub, as many KFX and kepub start as epub2 anyway. I also migrated to Linux.

07-03-2020, 04:07 PM	#7
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,426 Karma: 87454321 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	Windows NT 3.5, NT 3.51, NT4.0, 2K, XP, Win 7 vs Win 10.

07-03-2020, 11:31 PM	#9
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	I'm still with Windows 7 and I'm staying there as long as poss.

07-09-2020, 11:36 PM	#15
Janet56 Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 542 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kobo Glo HD, Libra, Forma (8 and 32 gb), Sage, Kindle Oasis	Just a quick note - I have my books on my 64 bit Windows 7 laptop and Calibre 4.20 is running just fine.

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