Which format is the best?

Djehuty · 03-22-2009, 02:33 AM

In pondering which e-book reader to buy, it struck me that I may be approaching this from the wrong angle. Perhaps I should be asking: which e-book format is the best?

I had made up my mind to buy a Sony PRS-505, but it seems that ePub isn't a terribly popular format. Mobipocket seems much more widespread, but since Amazon now owns it, does that mean it's only a matter of time before it is completely absorbed, and all non-Kindle content is locked out?

So, what do the experts think? Which format is most likely to prove useful? Or, perhaps, is it true that none of them are really ready for prime time, so to speak? I may be looking in the wrong places, but I'm not seeing all that many e-books by known authors, except for Amazon's list of Kindle best-sellers.

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 04:06 AM

MobiPocket is without a doubt the most widespread and popular format out there. Pretty much every device on the market, except Sony, supports it. I have no idea what I'll be reading my eBooks on in 5 years time, but whatever it is, I am entirely confident that that device will support MobiPocket.

There's no reason to suppose that Amazon's ownership of Mobi means anything other than sound financial support for Mobi. Bear in mind tha the Kindle is US only; Mobi sales are world-wide. The Kindle is entirely irrelevent for the vast majority of us.

ePub is technically a lot more capable than MobiPocket, but for novels those additional capabilities are pretty irrelevent. Most novels don't require complex formatting.

Manichean · 03-22-2009, 07:24 AM

I'm hoping that ePub becomes the new de facto-standard for ebooks, but at the time, it seems Mobipocket is. Ideally, in my opinion, you'd want a device that supports both. But, on the other hand, conversion is possible between any two given formats, even when the books are DRM-protected (Caveat: Depending on where you live, the practice of stripping DRM from a file can be illegal. Use at your own risk.).

So, to sum up, I believe you should be fine with a device that supports ePub or Mobi (that's a logical or, both sides can be true

).

Djehuty · 03-22-2009, 08:39 AM

Well, drat, looks like I'm back to square one. I don't think it would be terribly wise for me to base my e-book reading on illegal DRM-stripping programs.

I do tire of these format wars.

JSWolf · 03-22-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

MobiPocket is without a doubt the most widespread and popular format out there. Pretty much every device on the market, except Sony, supports it. I have no idea what I'll be reading my eBooks on in 5 years time, but whatever it is, I am entirely confident that that device will support MobiPocket.

There's no reason to suppose that Amazon's ownership of Mobi means anything other than sound financial support for Mobi. Bear in mind that the Kindle is US only; Mobi sales are world-wide. The Kindle is entirely irrelevant for the vast majority of us.

ePub is technically a lot more capable than MobiPocket, but for novels those additional capabilities are pretty irrelevant. Most novels don't require complex formatting.

But one thing ePub can do that you cannot do in Mobipocket is embed multiple fonts. So even if the formatting doesn't need to be complex, you can make it more match a pBook with different fonts.

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But one thing ePub can do that you cannot do in Mobipocket is embed multiple fonts. So even if the formatting doesn't need to be complex, you can make it more match a pBook with different fonts.

True, but there are often work-arounds. Eg, when a book has the odd Greek quotation in it (as several that I've created have had) they can be done with graphics.

tompe · 03-22-2009, 10:18 AM

I think DRM:ed MobiPocket will die in a couple of years. No new devices will be allowed to support DRM:ed MobiPocket.

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 10:22 AM

Given the fact that it looks as though we're about to get a whole slew of devices which support both Mobi and ePub DRM, perhaps the problem will disappear for other reasons.

tompe · 03-22-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the fact that it looks as though we're about to get a whole slew of devices which support both Mobi and ePub DRM, perhaps the problem will disappear for other reasons.

I wonder if this will happen. In the interview with the txtr people I think they referred to some problem with negotiations with amazon. So maybe only old devices that support DRM:ed MobiPocket will be able to support ePub also.

Here are some Teleread articled discussing MobiPocket's future:

http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/14/a...pocket-format/

http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/04/d...t-on-the-wall/

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 10:46 AM

The issues only appear to impact devices targetted for US sale. Given that the Kindle is US-specific, there would be no logical business reason for Amazon to wish to restrict Mobi sales elsewhere in the world.

JSWolf · 03-22-2009, 11:33 AM

But if the choice comes down to DRM Mobipocket and DRM ePub/PDF, I think ePub & PDF will win.

HarryT · 03-22-2009, 11:36 AM

Perhaps in the longer term it will. It depends how many manufacturers - and publishers - adopt the format. Time will tell.

03-22-2009, 02:33 AM	#1
Djehuty Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Which format is the best? In pondering which e-book reader to buy, it struck me that I may be approaching this from the wrong angle. Perhaps I should be asking: which e-book format is the best? I had made up my mind to buy a Sony PRS-505, but it seems that ePub isn't a terribly popular format. Mobipocket seems much more widespread, but since Amazon now owns it, does that mean it's only a matter of time before it is completely absorbed, and all non-Kindle content is locked out? So, what do the experts think? Which format is most likely to prove useful? Or, perhaps, is it true that none of them are really ready for prime time, so to speak? I may be looking in the wrong places, but I'm not seeing all that many e-books by known authors, except for Amazon's list of Kindle best-sellers.

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03-22-2009, 04:06 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	MobiPocket is without a doubt the most widespread and popular format out there. Pretty much every device on the market, except Sony, supports it. I have no idea what I'll be reading my eBooks on in 5 years time, but whatever it is, I am entirely confident that that device will support MobiPocket. There's no reason to suppose that Amazon's ownership of Mobi means anything other than sound financial support for Mobi. Bear in mind tha the Kindle is US only; Mobi sales are world-wide. The Kindle is entirely irrelevent for the vast majority of us. ePub is technically a lot more capable than MobiPocket, but for novels those additional capabilities are pretty irrelevent. Most novels don't require complex formatting.

03-22-2009, 07:24 AM	#3
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	I'm hoping that ePub becomes the new de facto-standard for ebooks, but at the time, it seems Mobipocket is. Ideally, in my opinion, you'd want a device that supports both. But, on the other hand, conversion is possible between any two given formats, even when the books are DRM-protected (Caveat: Depending on where you live, the practice of stripping DRM from a file can be illegal. Use at your own risk.). So, to sum up, I believe you should be fine with a device that supports ePub or Mobi (that's a logical or, both sides can be true ).

03-22-2009, 08:39 AM	#4
Djehuty Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Well, drat, looks like I'm back to square one. I don't think it would be terribly wise for me to base my e-book reading on illegal DRM-stripping programs. I do tire of these format wars.

03-22-2009, 10:18 AM	#7
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I think DRM:ed MobiPocket will die in a couple of years. No new devices will be allowed to support DRM:ed MobiPocket.

03-22-2009, 10:22 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Given the fact that it looks as though we're about to get a whole slew of devices which support both Mobi and ePub DRM, perhaps the problem will disappear for other reasons.

03-22-2009, 10:46 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The issues only appear to impact devices targetted for US sale. Given that the Kindle is US-specific, there would be no logical business reason for Amazon to wish to restrict Mobi sales elsewhere in the world.

03-22-2009, 11:33 AM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But if the choice comes down to DRM Mobipocket and DRM ePub/PDF, I think ePub & PDF will win.

03-22-2009, 11:36 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Perhaps in the longer term it will. It depends how many manufacturers - and publishers - adopt the format. Time will tell.