Sony PRS-650: Preferences for ebook formats?

ddriver · 04-25-2011, 07:14 PM

I purchased a PRS-650 and plan to load a couple hundred books that I have currently on my Onyx Boox. I am working with Calibre software to manage and prep the files.

My questions are rather general. What file formats are better performers? Is there any value in doing format conversions to improve performance?

E.g., I've noticed on my Boox that .html and .doc formats are slow to load and I have converted those typically to .rtf or .txt files.

Also, I have some books in multiple file formats, e.g. in .epub, .mobi, and/or .pdf. Which of the above would you choose to load if you had the choice?

Any comments are appreciated. I did note this thread had related discussion, but haven't found anything else here that compares the various file formats.

Quexos · 04-25-2011, 07:24 PM

In my experience, the epub format works best and the PDF is the worst.
But that's only how it is for me

Hoyt Clagwell · 04-25-2011, 07:56 PM

Performance wise epub is your best bet. You may also want to use Calibre to convert a few into LRF format. These may take a few seconds more to open the first time but after that they perform just as fast as epub files on the 650. Try both and see what looks best to you.

adityadubey · 04-26-2011, 02:35 AM

LRF does take longer to open initially, but IMHO its the best format on the 650. The fonts feel like they're better rendered and the jump between the S and M font sizes is not as huge as it feels on epubs sometimes. Also pagination on LRFs is exact, if that's something which you look at.

speakingtohe · 04-26-2011, 01:25 PM

I use calibre to convert books and it is pretty efficient.
More important than loading time for me is consistancy in formatting.
In a pbook, it doesn't matter to me, but on my reader I have a certain 'style' that I am comfortable with.
Occasionally I read a book that is not formatted as I prefer, because I am too lazy to get out of bed and fix it, but the reading experience is less enjoyable.

ddriver · 04-27-2011, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll experiment with the epub and lrf formats some.

04-25-2011, 07:14 PM	#1
ddriver Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: bebook neo or samsung e60	Sony PRS-650: Preferences for ebook formats? I purchased a PRS-650 and plan to load a couple hundred books that I have currently on my Onyx Boox. I am working with Calibre software to manage and prep the files. My questions are rather general. What file formats are better performers? Is there any value in doing format conversions to improve performance? E.g., I've noticed on my Boox that .html and .doc formats are slow to load and I have converted those typically to .rtf or .txt files. Also, I have some books in multiple file formats, e.g. in .epub, .mobi, and/or .pdf. Which of the above would you choose to load if you had the choice? Any comments are appreciated. I did note this thread had related discussion, but haven't found anything else here that compares the various file formats.

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04-25-2011, 07:24 PM	#2
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	In my experience, the epub format works best and the PDF is the worst. But that's only how it is for me

04-25-2011, 07:56 PM	#3
Hoyt Clagwell Not an Addict Posts: 301 Karma: 5678807 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: The blue one next to the fish.	Performance wise epub is your best bet. You may also want to use Calibre to convert a few into LRF format. These may take a few seconds more to open the first time but after that they perform just as fast as epub files on the 650. Try both and see what looks best to you.

04-26-2011, 02:35 AM	#4
adityadubey Addict Posts: 209 Karma: 148186 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Voyage	LRF does take longer to open initially, but IMHO its the best format on the 650. The fonts feel like they're better rendered and the jump between the S and M font sizes is not as huge as it feels on epubs sometimes. Also pagination on LRFs is exact, if that's something which you look at.

04-26-2011, 01:25 PM	#5
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I use calibre to convert books and it is pretty efficient. More important than loading time for me is consistancy in formatting. In a pbook, it doesn't matter to me, but on my reader I have a certain 'style' that I am comfortable with. Occasionally I read a book that is not formatted as I prefer, because I am too lazy to get out of bed and fix it, but the reading experience is less enjoyable.

04-27-2011, 03:05 PM	#6
ddriver Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: bebook neo or samsung e60	Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll experiment with the epub and lrf formats some.

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