Leaning towards Kindle, but open to alternatives - EPUB?

brendanz · 01-29-2012, 04:58 PM

So I've finally decided that I'm going to get an e-reader.

I have a bunch of non-DRM academic EPUBs that I need to be able to use for study purposes. I am mainly just using this device for text reading only.

I like the look of the Kindle, however I have heard that it doesn’t natively read EPUBs and that you lose some formatting in the conversion process - would this really matter if I'm just reading books for text only, and not really caring about pictures/graphs/whatever?

Also, does whsipersync work if I convert an existing EPUB?

I do like the Kindle as I have heard some great things about their customer service, the battery life is excellent and they have a good (the best?) store for buying books from. However, I am open to alternatives if the experience on the Kindle is significantly degraded when reading converted EPUBs.

Must haves:
1. Local storage (or expandable with SD card, I don’t mind)
2. Wifi, and an easy way to transfer books to the device from my computer without the use of a USB cable. Ideally, I could set up an email account on the device and send emails with EPUB attachments to it.
3. Fantastic battery life

Nice to haves:
1. RTF, HTML.
2. 3G
3. An online book store that I can access from the device
4. Browser

Not interested in
1. PDFs
2. Pictures/graphs/whatever

Appreciate the help in advance!!

Doitsu · 01-29-2012, 05:12 PM

If you're worried about the ePub conversion, download the Kindle Previewer and open your academic ePubs with it.
The Previewer will automatically convert them and display them as they'd be displayed on a Kindle Fire. (You can also simulate the display of older Kindles.)

CRussel · 01-30-2012, 09:50 AM

Converting the non-DRM ePubs shouldn't be a big issue, I do it all the time using Calibre. As for the rest of your requirements? You can certainly do what you need to do, but the one thing that won't work is you'll lose the cross-device whispersync capability doing it by emailing. The problem is that when you email, the item ends up as a personal document. The workaround I've used is to use Calibre to do the conversion, making sure the [EBOK] tag is set in the MOBI output file, and then use Calibre to transfer the file to my Kindle via USB. This retains the whispersync capability, allowing me to pick the book up on my Kindle Fire and jump directly to where I was reading on my Kindle Keyboard.

There are ways to set up Calibre to enable wireless transfer to your Kindle, using a built-in web server. Just not something I choose to do.

jocampo · 01-30-2012, 01:46 PM

Hi brendanz

Welcome to mobileread.

You will be ok converting from ePub to MOBI using Calibre. The format or original layout will remain the same (or should) This is particularly true if the ebook has no weird tables, graphics or similar complex layout. I've done dozens of conversion like this on my free DRM computer books so I can read it on my Kindle and never had any issues at all (and those have images and complex layouts)

Now, if expandable storage is a must, looks elsewhere because Kindle do not have that option. That's not an issue for most users, including me, but think about it.

In terms of non Amazon books, you won't get whispersync. Long time ago someone here commented there is a way to add such metadata via Calbre conversion, but I do not know if that's true or how to do it. I would say is not possible, at least I can't whispersyc across devices for those that I converted and were epub before.

As fas as 3G, I think that here in USA, Amazon Kindle is the only one supporting that at this time on new devices.

If you can live without 3G ans whispersync and need an ok online bookstore here in USA, you may take a look on Nook readers (eink devices of course) They support ePub natively and in my opinion, have a better online bookstore than Sony's, besides a very competitive price.

01-29-2012, 04:58 PM	#1
brendanz Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: none (yet)	Leaning towards Kindle, but open to alternatives - EPUB? So I've finally decided that I'm going to get an e-reader. I have a bunch of non-DRM academic EPUBs that I need to be able to use for study purposes. I am mainly just using this device for text reading only. I like the look of the Kindle, however I have heard that it doesn’t natively read EPUBs and that you lose some formatting in the conversion process - would this really matter if I'm just reading books for text only, and not really caring about pictures/graphs/whatever? Also, does whsipersync work if I convert an existing EPUB? I do like the Kindle as I have heard some great things about their customer service, the battery life is excellent and they have a good (the best?) store for buying books from. However, I am open to alternatives if the experience on the Kindle is significantly degraded when reading converted EPUBs. Must haves: 1. Local storage (or expandable with SD card, I don’t mind) 2. Wifi, and an easy way to transfer books to the device from my computer without the use of a USB cable. Ideally, I could set up an email account on the device and send emails with EPUB attachments to it. 3. Fantastic battery life Nice to haves: 1. RTF, HTML. 2. 3G 3. An online book store that I can access from the device 4. Browser Not interested in 1. PDFs 2. Pictures/graphs/whatever Appreciate the help in advance!! Last edited by brendanz; 01-30-2012 at 05:01 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hacks Kindle Collection Manager does not work on Kindle Touch. Any alternatives?	ggyxxcool	Amazon Kindle	9	11-29-2011 12:57 PM
Open EPUB or Adobe EPUB Library ebooks?	jana_leigh14	Kobo Tablets	2	11-08-2011 01:07 AM
Syncing Instapaper to your Kindle (any alternatives to Wordcycler?)	nesler	Amazon Kindle	4	01-30-2011 05:38 AM
Leaning towards a Sony Pocket Edition (The new one) but have a dilemma	jediliz	Which one should I buy?	15	09-07-2009 08:36 PM
Leaning towards Sony PRS-505 & would like feedback	Zapped	Which one should I buy?	43	09-06-2009 11:54 AM

01-29-2012, 05:12 PM	#2
Doitsu Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,700 Karma: 24031401 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle PW2	If you're worried about the ePub conversion, download the Kindle Previewer and open your academic ePubs with it. The Previewer will automatically convert them and display them as they'd be displayed on a Kindle Fire. (You can also simulate the display of older Kindles.)

01-30-2012, 09:50 AM	#3
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,287 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	Converting the non-DRM ePubs shouldn't be a big issue, I do it all the time using Calibre. As for the rest of your requirements? You can certainly do what you need to do, but the one thing that won't work is you'll lose the cross-device whispersync capability doing it by emailing. The problem is that when you email, the item ends up as a personal document. The workaround I've used is to use Calibre to do the conversion, making sure the [EBOK] tag is set in the MOBI output file, and then use Calibre to transfer the file to my Kindle via USB. This retains the whispersync capability, allowing me to pick the book up on my Kindle Fire and jump directly to where I was reading on my Kindle Keyboard. There are ways to set up Calibre to enable wireless transfer to your Kindle, using a built-in web server. Just not something I choose to do.

01-30-2012, 01:46 PM	#4
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Hi brendanz Welcome to mobileread. You will be ok converting from ePub to MOBI using Calibre. The format or original layout will remain the same (or should) This is particularly true if the ebook has no weird tables, graphics or similar complex layout. I've done dozens of conversion like this on my free DRM computer books so I can read it on my Kindle and never had any issues at all (and those have images and complex layouts) Now, if expandable storage is a must, looks elsewhere because Kindle do not have that option. That's not an issue for most users, including me, but think about it. In terms of non Amazon books, you won't get whispersync. Long time ago someone here commented there is a way to add such metadata via Calbre conversion, but I do not know if that's true or how to do it. I would say is not possible, at least I can't whispersyc across devices for those that I converted and were epub before. As fas as 3G, I think that here in USA, Amazon Kindle is the only one supporting that at this time on new devices. If you can live without 3G ans whispersync and need an ok online bookstore here in USA, you may take a look on Nook readers (eink devices of course) They support ePub natively and in my opinion, have a better online bookstore than Sony's, besides a very competitive price.

Advert