ePub to Mobi Conversion Quality

Logiedan · 08-14-2010, 09:36 PM

I'm aware that it's a very simple process to convert ebooks from .epub to .mobi using Calibre, but I'd like to know how well the conversion process usually goes. Is most of the original formatting usually conserved well, leaving the outputted .mobi file just as readable? The .mobi files created will be read on a Kindle, if that matters.

Thanks!

texasnightowl · 08-14-2010, 10:20 PM

I often convert epub to mobi to put on my Kindle. In 99% of the cases, the conversion is fine and preserves most if not all the formatting and is perfectly readable. In the remaining cases, I might run into problems but the reason for that is usually that the underlying html in the epub files is complete and utter crap.

Logiedan · 08-16-2010, 08:10 AM

Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

DoctorOhh · 08-16-2010, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logiedan

Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

They are both essentially containers for html so the conversion is straight forward enough. If you have no conversion options checked then the Mobi file will reflect the ePub file very closely. If the epub was garbage it will create an equally trashed mobi file and vice-a-versa.

Once you check options you are telling calibre to get in the middle and some things will change.

Try it and find out.

AnemicOak · 08-16-2010, 09:54 AM

I find it works perfectly for me 99% of the time. There are times I get a better conversion using either Mobi Desktop or KindleGen.

bjones6416 · 08-16-2010, 11:13 AM

Do you have a lot of epub books already, or are you just now building your library?

I started out using Mobipocket Reader on my PC, so I bought books in the mobi format. Then I bought a Jetbook Lite, and some of the books I bought from Fictionwise had some strange compression problem and wouldn't open on the JBL. For those particular books I used calibre and converted to epub, which the JBL reads equally well. Then I bought a Sony, which doesn't read mobi at all, so I converted everything to epub. Now I do most of my reading on my Kindle, so I use the mobi version and try to buy anything new in mobi format.

Bottom line: I keep both mobi and epub versions of ALL my books in my calibre library. When reading on my Kindle, I can't tell whether the original book was in mobi or epub. I don't generally mess with the conversion settings, though -- I just let the defaults happen, and so far it works for me!

Logiedan · 08-17-2010, 08:15 AM

Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like I should have no trouble with converting .ePubs to .mobi.

Brandobras · 08-17-2010, 08:40 AM

Hello,
and what about fb2 to mobi?
i've pre-ordered the new kindle3, but I'm concerned about my fb2 ebooks that are a few..

thank you in advance

Brandobras

anabelee · 08-17-2010, 04:02 PM

Hi, Brandobras,

I think Calibre is your best way to convert them. If the fb2are well formatted, you will not have any problem converting to mobi.

08-14-2010, 09:36 PM	#1
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	ePub to Mobi Conversion Quality I'm aware that it's a very simple process to convert ebooks from .epub to .mobi using Calibre, but I'd like to know how well the conversion process usually goes. Is most of the original formatting usually conserved well, leaving the outputted .mobi file just as readable? The .mobi files created will be read on a Kindle, if that matters. Thanks!

08-16-2010, 09:54 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 7,398 Karma: 18771935 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: AuraHD, Nook HD+, Kindle 2,3,T , Opus, TF101, Nexus7, iPT, iPhone5	I find it works perfectly for me 99% of the time. There are times I get a better conversion using either Mobi Desktop or KindleGen. __________________ ~Brian "The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible." — Mark Twain

08-16-2010, 11:13 AM	#6
bjones6416 ↓↓ Skirt!! Earrings!! Posts: 3,269 Karma: 13617816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Acer netbook, JetBook Lite, Sony PRS-300, Kindle 2, Kindle Fire	Do you have a lot of epub books already, or are you just now building your library? I started out using Mobipocket Reader on my PC, so I bought books in the mobi format. Then I bought a Jetbook Lite, and some of the books I bought from Fictionwise had some strange compression problem and wouldn't open on the JBL. For those particular books I used calibre and converted to epub, which the JBL reads equally well. Then I bought a Sony, which doesn't read mobi at all, so I converted everything to epub. Now I do most of my reading on my Kindle, so I use the mobi version and try to buy anything new in mobi format. Bottom line: I keep both mobi and epub versions of ALL my books in my calibre library. When reading on my Kindle, I can't tell whether the original book was in mobi or epub. I don't generally mess with the conversion settings, though -- I just let the defaults happen, and so far it works for me! __________________ Betty ...among the chocolate and undead (Worldwalker)

08-17-2010, 08:40 AM	#8
Brandobras Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Alicante (Spain) Device: Onyx Boox 60	what about fb2 to mobi Hello, and what about fb2 to mobi? i've pre-ordered the new kindle3, but I'm concerned about my fb2 ebooks that are a few.. thank you in advance Brandobras __________________ Brandobras Vieni a discutere con noi italiani Come and discuss with us Italians

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-14-2010, 10:20 PM	#2
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 619 Karma: 1001556 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In my head Device: K3(KKSO), iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, K1(sold), Cybook Opus(sold)	I often convert epub to mobi to put on my Kindle. In 99% of the cases, the conversion is fine and preserves most if not all the formatting and is perfectly readable. In the remaining cases, I might run into problems but the reason for that is usually that the underlying html in the epub files is complete and utter crap.

08-16-2010, 08:10 AM	#3
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

08-17-2010, 08:15 AM	#7
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like I should have no trouble with converting .ePubs to .mobi.

08-17-2010, 04:02 PM	#9
anabelee Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 583 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vigo, Spain Device: Woxter Scriba 150, pocketbook 360	Hi, Brandobras, I think Calibre is your best way to convert them. If the fb2are well formatted, you will not have any problem converting to mobi.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
.epub to .mobi conversion Kindle3	cyberdyne	Calibre	4	09-23-2010 08:41 AM
epub to mobi conversion problem.	lutwey	Calibre	0	09-18-2010 11:51 AM
Epub to Mobi conversion	MichaelGray	Calibre	2	08-12-2010 01:08 PM
Conversion to Mobi to ePub errors	erik_reader	Calibre	5	08-07-2010 02:03 AM
How good is Epub -> Mobi conversion really?	AdrianM	Amazon Kindle	26	07-31-2010 11:04 PM


Advertisement Enthusiast