Which format is winning the "war" and other questions

crashed · 06-18-2011, 04:54 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm curious on something, which format is more widely used? The reason why I ask is that, generally, as it would help me decide on what ereader to get from the typical 2 Nook Touch or Kindled 3.

I'm assuming epub is most widely used, am I correct on this? And does the Nook Touch dropping PDB support a considerable loss?

Also there's a particular Perl Programming book (among a few other tech books) I would like that B&N do not sale, but supposedly I can get on Amazon, in a PDF format. While I know both Kindle3 and Nook Touch support PDF, is it generally a safe bet to buy a PDF based book online from a 3rd party store (neither BN or Amazon) and be able to read the ebook without any problems on either device?

Is a PDF ebook from a online store is better formatted for these devices so they don't have any reflow/sizing issues? Are the issues I read about PDF support on ebook readers due to just someone trying to load a PDF that was intended for PC use? Or are these issues involving any PDF no matter the source?

Sorry for the long rant, I just want a simple, and a decent life cycle on an affordable ereader. So far the nook touch seems like the winner, until I save up enough to get a ipad2...or 3.

Thanks everyone

HarryT · 06-18-2011, 05:03 AM

More stores sell ePub books, but Amazon have the largest bookstore; there are quite a number of books that are only available from Amazon.

PDF should be avoided if at all possible. Most PDFs are formatted for a Letter/A4 page size, and won't display at all well on a 6" screen.

I'm sure you'd be happy with either the nook or the Kindle; they are both very good devices.

crashed · 06-18-2011, 05:22 AM

Hi, Thanks for the response Harry, but one quick question to add. Do the Sony ereaders handle PDF better? I'm not going to buy one, but I'm just curious.

I noticed that between BN and Amazon, it's a mixed up, some books one has and the other doesn't, ect. I think the thing that pushes me away from Amazon is they seem a bit more controlling than BN and have done some lame deals on people such as erasing books off your device that you paid for, not being able to keep your back logged subscriptions, and now that there are new reports of spamming happening on their store. Just don't like that sort of control.

HarryT · 06-18-2011, 05:33 AM

Sony does have better PDF support than the Kindle, yes. From what I've read, PDF support on the nook is rather poor.

A lot of the stuff you read about Amazon is ignorant hysteria - I'd treat it with a pinch of salt if I were you. You're no more "locked in" with a Kindle than you are with any other device; you can load any file you wish, and it will read any DRM-free Mobipocket book. Not sure what you mean about subscriptions - you can keep subscription content for as long as you wish. The "spamming" thing is purely down to the fact that Amazon provide a digital publishing service, and the other stores don't, so naturally some people try to take advantage of this.

pidgeon92 · 06-18-2011, 11:59 AM

I have read PDFs on both my Kindle and my Sony 950, and the experience has been equally poor.

You can keep the back issues of Amazon subscriptions (either download the files to your computer for backup, or make sure you set the Kindle options properly so they don't delete), but Amazon will only keep up to 7 back issues available on their servers.

Nanopr · 06-18-2011, 01:15 PM

I'll put my 2cents on this topic...

1. PDF's and 6 inch eink are not a good match regardless of your reader brand. I normally read my PDF's on my iPad's larger scrren.

2. I decided to stick with the ePub format as my standard. It seems to be supported by more ebook stores and devices. I respect Kindle fans very much, but I have a serious issue with the Amazon propietary format.

As for the long term, I think ePub will win this war. Rumors are that Amazon is moving towards supporting ePub. If true, that says it all.

fjtorres · 06-18-2011, 01:41 PM

epub may very well emerge dominant in the end but that end is a long ways off and the epub camps first have to decide among themselves *which* epub is going to try to win. With 3 different epub drm camps and epub3 getting ready to add to the interoperability debate its going to be years before epub can present kindle with a unified challenge.

I would suggest getting whichever device meets your needs best, as HarryT suggested, and learn to DeDRM. Then you won't have a stake in the "war" and can ignore the FUD-slinging.

Nanopr · 06-18-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

With 3 different epub drm camps and epub3 getting ready to add to the interoperability debate its going to be years before epub can present kindle with a unified challenge.

Point well taken, but the DRM issue is a company business decision. This is all about trying to lock you in to their particular store and device by creating their unique DRM method. In a sense they are doing with ePub what Amazon did with their propietary format. That stinks!

I think we, as customers, should all start pressuring our favorite ebook supplier for a universal DRM standard. You should not have to deDRM books.

06-18-2011, 04:54 AM	#1
crashed Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 604784 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tomball, Tx Device: Nook Touch	Which format is winning the "war" and other questions Hi everyone, I'm curious on something, which format is more widely used? The reason why I ask is that, generally, as it would help me decide on what ereader to get from the typical 2 Nook Touch or Kindled 3. I'm assuming epub is most widely used, am I correct on this? And does the Nook Touch dropping PDB support a considerable loss? Also there's a particular Perl Programming book (among a few other tech books) I would like that B&N do not sale, but supposedly I can get on Amazon, in a PDF format. While I know both Kindle3 and Nook Touch support PDF, is it generally a safe bet to buy a PDF based book online from a 3rd party store (neither BN or Amazon) and be able to read the ebook without any problems on either device? Is a PDF ebook from a online store is better formatted for these devices so they don't have any reflow/sizing issues? Are the issues I read about PDF support on ebook readers due to just someone trying to load a PDF that was intended for PC use? Or are these issues involving any PDF no matter the source? Sorry for the long rant, I just want a simple, and a decent life cycle on an affordable ereader. So far the nook touch seems like the winner, until I save up enough to get a ipad2...or 3. Thanks everyone

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PRS-505 PRS+: 2 Questions on "Browse Folders" and Dictionary Format	crc	Sony Reader	2	06-23-2010 01:36 AM
War-mongering rabid "love it or leave it" nationalism	ardeegee	Lounge	19	05-24-2010 01:39 PM
Error message : "Invalid Format" " Do you want to format your internal memory"	narbeauchamp	Sony Reader	11	07-22-2009 12:39 PM
Request to Test "Sun Tzu's The Art of War" eBook	ahi	Workshop	41	05-20-2009 12:12 PM

06-18-2011, 05:03 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	More stores sell ePub books, but Amazon have the largest bookstore; there are quite a number of books that are only available from Amazon. PDF should be avoided if at all possible. Most PDFs are formatted for a Letter/A4 page size, and won't display at all well on a 6" screen. I'm sure you'd be happy with either the nook or the Kindle; they are both very good devices.

06-18-2011, 05:22 AM	#3
crashed Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 604784 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tomball, Tx Device: Nook Touch	Hi, Thanks for the response Harry, but one quick question to add. Do the Sony ereaders handle PDF better? I'm not going to buy one, but I'm just curious. I noticed that between BN and Amazon, it's a mixed up, some books one has and the other doesn't, ect. I think the thing that pushes me away from Amazon is they seem a bit more controlling than BN and have done some lame deals on people such as erasing books off your device that you paid for, not being able to keep your back logged subscriptions, and now that there are new reports of spamming happening on their store. Just don't like that sort of control.

06-18-2011, 05:33 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sony does have better PDF support than the Kindle, yes. From what I've read, PDF support on the nook is rather poor. A lot of the stuff you read about Amazon is ignorant hysteria - I'd treat it with a pinch of salt if I were you. You're no more "locked in" with a Kindle than you are with any other device; you can load any file you wish, and it will read any DRM-free Mobipocket book. Not sure what you mean about subscriptions - you can keep subscription content for as long as you wish. The "spamming" thing is purely down to the fact that Amazon provide a digital publishing service, and the other stores don't, so naturally some people try to take advantage of this.

06-18-2011, 11:59 AM	#5
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I have read PDFs on both my Kindle and my Sony 950, and the experience has been equally poor. You can keep the back issues of Amazon subscriptions (either download the files to your computer for backup, or make sure you set the Kindle options properly so they don't delete), but Amazon will only keep up to 7 back issues available on their servers.

06-18-2011, 01:15 PM	#6
Nanopr Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 20028 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Sony PRS-600, Kobo Touch	I'll put my 2cents on this topic... 1. PDF's and 6 inch eink are not a good match regardless of your reader brand. I normally read my PDF's on my iPad's larger scrren. 2. I decided to stick with the ePub format as my standard. It seems to be supported by more ebook stores and devices. I respect Kindle fans very much, but I have a serious issue with the Amazon propietary format. As for the long term, I think ePub will win this war. Rumors are that Amazon is moving towards supporting ePub. If true, that says it all.

06-18-2011, 01:41 PM	#7
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	epub may very well emerge dominant in the end but that end is a long ways off and the epub camps first have to decide among themselves which epub is going to try to win. With 3 different epub drm camps and epub3 getting ready to add to the interoperability debate its going to be years before epub can present kindle with a unified challenge. I would suggest getting whichever device meets your needs best, as HarryT suggested, and learn to DeDRM. Then you won't have a stake in the "war" and can ignore the FUD-slinging.

Advert

Advert