Mobi or epub-which do you prefer? - Page 3

murraypaul · 06-27-2011, 04:56 AM

For DRM-free books - ePub. For DRM'd books - mobi.

coderserdar · 10-31-2011, 10:18 AM

after jailbreaking kindle and installing cool reader
it doesn't matter

but generally
mobi wins

ghostyjack · 10-31-2011, 11:55 AM

I prefer epub as I find it's easier to fix the issues in the book. I'm quite capable of converting a mobi to epub to fix it and then convert it back, but epub reduces the amount of required steps to fix it.

Also I'm not fussed about the better dictionary support in mobi. I never used a dictionary when reading a paper book and managed to cope perfectly well, so am not going to bother now that I'm reading ebooks.

Hamlet53 · 10-31-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostyjack

I prefer epub as I find it's easier to fix the issues in the book. I'm quite capable of converting a mobi to epub to fix it and then convert it back, but epub reduces the amount of required steps to fix it.

I should think that one would have to own an Amazon device to prefer mobi over epub.

howyoudoin · 10-31-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

For novels, epub as it has none of the faffing around like having to buy a Kindle or use a Kindle/mobi app...

That's an odd argument. Do you mean to say that epub readers are made available for free?

As for the topic, I don't care. It's just words on a screen. I'm not aware if epub can do the elegant dictionary lookup that the mobi can do. If not, then mobi.

GeoffC · 10-31-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I should think that one would have to own an Amazon device to prefer mobi over epub.

HUH !

I prefer mobi - even if it's only because of the dictionary lookup ....

jersysman · 10-31-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

HUH !

I prefer mobi - even if it's only because of the dictionary lookup ....

Is the dictionary lookup a feature of Mobi or something Amazon added to it's firmware to take advantage of their dictionary?

Billi · 10-31-2011, 05:22 PM

A feature of mobi, but only reader software that is based on the Mobipocket Reader is able to use mobipocket dictionaries.

Baldrake · 10-31-2011, 10:04 PM

The real answer is, it shouldn't really matter unless you need to go under the hood and modify the formatting.

When I had my CyBook Opus, I became very familiar with the innards of ePub. It seemed that almost every book I bought had serious formatting errors that I just had to fix before reading the book.

Now I have a Kindle, and I guess I'm reading Mobi books. But I wouldn't know it because I've never felt the need to fix a book.

I wonder if (a) it's easier to format for a Kindle since it's a narrow range of devices, (b) Amazon is just more careful, or (c) I'm hallucinating.

Do others have a similar experience?

GA Russell · 11-01-2011, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Also... very few devices support both "out of the box."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

If a device allows both formats, like the Pocketbook, it normally supports epub quite well and mobi quite modestly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I should think that one would have to own an Amazon device to prefer mobi over epub.

My jetBook Lite supports both quite well, and I have had it for nearly two years.

I was in the habit of using mostly ePub, but now for a change I'm downloading mobi. The spacing between lines of the ePub is a little wider. I like to change from time to time just for the different look.

I am also quite satisfied with rtf.

howyoudoin · 11-01-2011, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

A feature of mobi, but only reader software that is based on the Mobipocket Reader is able to use mobipocket dictionaries.

If dictionary lookup is a feature of mobi only, there's no way I'm going to even consider ePub as an alternative to satisfy my needs.

Meags84 · 11-01-2011, 01:18 AM

I have a new sony ereader trs and i find that epub is sooo much quicker than pdf, i know we're comparing mobi but I was disappointed with the speed of the page turning

Joy736 · 11-01-2011, 01:21 AM

I voted Epub. It's just what I know. And it's the standard.

Jellby · 11-01-2011, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

A feature of mobi, but only reader software that is based on the Mobipocket Reader is able to use mobipocket dictionaries.

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

If dictionary lookup is a feature of mobi only, there's no way I'm going to even consider ePub as an alternative to satisfy my needs.

The only difference is that there is a "specification" for dictionaries in mobipocket, and none in ePub. This only affects the dictionary, there is no difference between the format regarding the lookup. I mean, the fact that you can lookup a word while you are reading a book is a feature of the reading software, not of the format.

Of course, mobipocket readers can use mobipocket dictionaries, while ePub readers must use some other format, maybe custom.

howyoudoin · 11-01-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

The only difference is that there is a "specification" for dictionaries in mobipocket, and none in ePub. This only affects the dictionary, there is no difference between the format regarding the lookup. I mean, the fact that you can lookup a word while you are reading a book is a feature of the reading software, not of the format.

Of course, mobipocket readers can use mobipocket dictionaries, while ePub readers must use some other format, maybe custom.

I don't quite understand. Can you lookup a word in an ePub book on any particular reader by simply moving the cursor to it?

View Poll Results: Mobi or epub
Mobi	52	26.00%
Epub	148	74.00%
Voters: 200. You may not vote on this poll

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06-27-2011, 04:56 AM	#31
murraypaul Interested Bystander Posts: 3,726 Karma: 19728152 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Note 4, Kobo One	For DRM-free books - ePub. For DRM'd books - mobi.

10-31-2011, 10:18 AM	#32
coderserdar Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 37852 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Türkiye Device: Amazon Kindle 3 Wifi, İpod Touch 4th Generation	after jailbreaking kindle and installing cool reader it doesn't matter but generally mobi wins

10-31-2011, 11:55 AM	#33
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	I prefer epub as I find it's easier to fix the issues in the book. I'm quite capable of converting a mobi to epub to fix it and then convert it back, but epub reduces the amount of required steps to fix it. Also I'm not fussed about the better dictionary support in mobi. I never used a dictionary when reading a paper book and managed to cope perfectly well, so am not going to bother now that I'm reading ebooks.

10-31-2011, 05:22 PM	#38
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	A feature of mobi, but only reader software that is based on the Mobipocket Reader is able to use mobipocket dictionaries.

10-31-2011, 10:04 PM	#39
Baldrake Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 1792 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 3, HTC Mozart	The real answer is, it shouldn't really matter unless you need to go under the hood and modify the formatting. When I had my CyBook Opus, I became very familiar with the innards of ePub. It seemed that almost every book I bought had serious formatting errors that I just had to fix before reading the book. Now I have a Kindle, and I guess I'm reading Mobi books. But I wouldn't know it because I've never felt the need to fix a book. I wonder if (a) it's easier to format for a Kindle since it's a narrow range of devices, (b) Amazon is just more careful, or (c) I'm hallucinating. Do others have a similar experience?

11-01-2011, 01:18 AM	#42
Meags84 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Sony	I have a new sony ereader trs and i find that epub is sooo much quicker than pdf, i know we're comparing mobi but I was disappointed with the speed of the page turning

11-01-2011, 01:21 AM	#43
Joy736 Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 1078442 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I voted Epub. It's just what I know. And it's the standard.