Advantages of fixed layout Epub3/KF8 vs. PDF?

[SBT]

What advantages are there in making a fixed-layout ebook with epub3/kf8 rather than pdf? I mean, PDF is ubiquitous, rock solid, and supports the basic necessities like hyperlinks etc.

[JSWolf]

PDF can be read on a number of devices such as your computer, laptop, tablet, Reader (maybe), phone. Where fixed layout ePub 3/KF8, not so much and it depends on what screen size you made the fixed layout for.

Go with PDF.

[Jellby]

In theory, fixed-layout would let you use the same metadata format and DRM as for normal ebooks. Render-wise, I've never tried a fixed-layout book, so I don't know exactly what is or isn't possible. Can you change anything, like font family, size (within limits), etc? A fixed-layout would also play more nicely with text selection, and dictionary lookup (in a PDF it's never very clear where each word and line starts or ends).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by SBT

What advantages are there in making a fixed-layout ebook with epub3/kf8 rather than pdf? I mean, PDF is ubiquitous, rock solid, and supports the basic necessities like hyperlinks etc.

The ability to sell it in stores that don't allow you to sell PDF, I guess. Most authors find the majority of their sales coming from Amazon, and Amazon don't allow you to sell PDF books, I believe.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by SBT

What advantages are there in making a fixed-layout ebook with epub3/kf8 rather than pdf? I mean, PDF is ubiquitous, rock solid, and supports the basic necessities like hyperlinks etc.

IMHO, FXL books are only useful for books with lots of images in them. For example, children's books, graphic novels etc. However, AFAIK, of the major players only Amazon, Apple, B&N, and Kobo readers/apps actually support them. (ADE4/RMSDK11 based readers and apps will support ePub3 FXL books, but you'll have to wait for the next generation of eInk readers.)
Also most manufacturers/software developers added proprietary FXL extensions that standard ePub3 readers don't support. In particular Amazon's weird FXL flavor is a major PITA to implement. (For examples, see the official Amazon KF8 website and this website.)
Pretty much the only advantage that FXL books have over .pdf files with the same content is that book designers can add interactive content, for example, popup panels, lightboxes, animations etc.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Doitsu

IMHO, FXL books are only useful for books with lots of images in them. For example, children's books, graphic novels etc. However, AFAIK, of the major players only Amazon, Apple, B&N, and Kobo readers/apps actually support them. (ADE4/RMSDK11 based readers and apps will support ePub3 FXL books, but you'll have to wait for the next generation of eInk readers.)
Also most manufacturers/software developers added proprietary FXL extensions that standard ePub3 readers don't support. In particular Amazon's weird FXL flavor is a major PITA to implement. (For examples, see the official Amazon KF8 website and this website.)
Pretty much the only advantage that FXL books have over .pdf files with the same content is that book designers can add interactive content, for example, popup panels, lightboxes, animations etc.

I'm with you. I have had, this week alone, myriad requests from authors/publishers for FF books. It drives me bonkers. I mean, yes, we make more $$$ from doing FF, because the minute placement for everything (particularly if you're making Kindle FF) is painstaking, time-consuming, and we charge for it. But of the requests I get, nearly 80-90% aren't really suited for FF. It's either a vanity thing ("I want this book to look EXACTLY like I laid it out, no matter how miserable a reading experience it is for the person on the buying end!"), or an inexperience thing ("What do you mean, I can't ZOOM on a FF Kindle book?"), or...well, you name it. Some just feel that they can't live without COLUMNS on a page, and thus, MUST have FF.

I talk a lot of folks out of it. Not because I 'Know better' or any of that crap, but because we work hard to try to ensure that the reading experience, for the BUYER, is the best it can be. And cramming 20lbs of s**t into a 5lb. sack (the screen of your typical e-reader) is just not a good experience. Who the hell wants to pinch-zoom their way through a book, if they are even on a platform that allows pinch-zooming of FF? All these folks that come in, (who of course have iPads, not reading devices), who've lovingly crafted their crammed-to-the-gills FF book--what happens when John Doe buys it on his iPhone, to read? How enjoyable will it be to be forced to pinch-zoom through 300 pages?

I have the same complaint about PDF's. Sure, it's fine to read a PDF on my desktop, or my laptop (Win8 Lenova Thinkpad Yoga), which has a good-sized screen. But I find it onerous to read them on any of my Kindles, large or small, my NookColor, and even to some extent, my iPad, which is the largest of the "device" screens, as I view it. I don't like the whole pinch-zoom enslavement, just because someone wants to force me to view a book a certain way. For some books, absolutely, precise placement of the elements (math and science books, for example, with formulae) is crucial. But for text? Or anything remotely similar? Even cookbooks can be done beautifully in reflowable. Layout is lovely, but...content is King.

AND, as Harry correctly noted, other than Scribd, none of the major retailers allow you to sell PDF's as eBooks, period--mostly for the reasons I've mentioned herein; a PDF isn't an eBook, no matter what millions of websites call them. They don't reflow, and aren't made for reflowable content containers.

My $.02, FWIW.

Hitch

[eschwartz]

What do you mean, you can't get PDF from ebookstores? Three words: Kindle Print Replica.

Okay, I know what you meant! Put down the gun!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

What do you mean, you can't get PDF from ebookstores? Three words: Kindle Print Replica.

Okay, I know what you meant! Put down the gun!

Wise-ass. ;-)


Hitch

[eschwartz]

Occasionally... but I know when (and with who) to risk it.