Which format should I convert .lit files to?

Joe Schmoo · 01-20-2010, 10:34 PM

I ordered an Astak Pocket Pro a few days ago. Due to arrive tomorrow!
I have several .lit books. I understand that the Astak doesn't do a very good job with this format, but that Calibre can convert these books into many other formats.

Which format would be the best for the Pocket Pro?

Madam Broshkina · 01-20-2010, 10:42 PM

I do not have an Astak product but I would use Calibre to convert one of your books to all the different formats the Astak supports. Then throw them on your Astak and pick the one you like best.

AnemicOak · 01-20-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

I do not have an Astak product but I would use Calibre to convert one of your books to all the different formats the Astak supports. Then throw them on your Astak and pick the one you like best.

This is good advice. I don't know if I'd bother with all the formats as it doesn't do some of them all that well. I'd go ePub if it were me, but you could try Mobi as well or maybe FB2 and then see which one you like the best.

theducks · 01-20-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Schmoo

I ordered an Astak Pocket Pro a few days ago. Due to arrive tomorrow!
I have several .lit books. I understand that the Astak doesn't do a very good job with this format, but that Calibre can convert these books into many other formats.

Which format would be the best for the Pocket Pro?

EPUB works for me. Everything I have done the conversion is rather basic, so it might choke on a really complex .LIT.
Try it... Not satisfied, try something else. It takes only a few minutes to run a Calibre convert on a mid range machine.

jusmee · 01-20-2010, 11:18 PM

To my way of thinking, ePub is the obvious choice. It's the default format I use all the time. It's also nice to use an open standard.

Solicitous · 01-20-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

This is good advice. I don't know if I'd bother with all the formats as it doesn't do some of them all that well. I'd go ePub if it were me, but you could try Mobi as well or maybe FB2 and then see which one you like the best.

I've been finding with FB2 that the only FB2 files that work are ones converted from plain .txt. .epub is good and solid.

Acreo Aeneas · 01-21-2010, 01:56 AM

I'll third the suggestion for ePub. It seems like the format to go for ebooks nowadays.

AnemicOak · 01-21-2010, 11:03 AM

Another nice thing with ePub is it's easy to edit/fix things if needed, either unzipping and editing the files directly or using Sigil.

polly · 01-21-2010, 01:00 PM

I agree that the ePub format works best for me. There's a Wiki for formats here. The latest firmware upgrade provided more font sizes for some of the formats and this is not reflected in the Wiki. IIRC, text was one of them. It should still be helpful for other features, though.

Joe Schmoo · 01-21-2010, 11:09 PM

My Pocket Pro arrived today. I had already converted a few books into various formats using Calibre. I loaded them in to compare, and I agree that ePub seems to be the best, or at least tied for best.

Problem solved... and now to read!

Javed · 01-21-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Schmoo

My Pocket Pro arrived today. I had already converted a few books into various formats using Calibre. I loaded them in to compare, and I agree that ePub seems to be the best, or at least tied for best.

Problem solved... and now to read!

Congratulations on receiving your new Pocket Pro.

I rather like Epub, it is my favorite format.

Laura81 · 01-28-2010, 12:21 PM

I find I like Mobi slightly more than epub. I like that mobi shows the page number you are on, etc.

Joe Schmoo · 01-29-2010, 12:38 AM

Tried both mobi and epub again. I still prefer epub (slightly).

Mobi shows page numbers, but at the expense of screen real estate (minor). You can see what page you're on with epub by hitting the menu key.

Mobi allows easy change between fonts, but only has 3 zoom levels. Epub doesn't change fonts, but has 5 levels of zoom.

Epub allows change from portrait to landscape, mobi doesn't.

Mobi allows internal hyperlinks, epub doesn't.

Can search (awkwardly) with epub, can't search with mobi.

Ultimately, for me, the better zoom levels were the deciding factor.

Epub by a nose.

Laura81 · 01-29-2010, 11:36 AM

I find with Mobi I'm happy with the first level of zoom it gives me so I don't mind about that. And I hate landscape mode so no worries there. Didn't even notice there was less room on the screen with mobi.

I do like Epub but my problem is that with the couple of documents I've converted to it when I push the button to see what page I'm on what it tells me is incorrect. For example I was reading a book it told me was 313 pages... I knew the book was at least 3x that. I told it to show me the last page, it still said it was 313 pages. When I got to page 313 suddenly it jumped back to page 100 though it didn't jump back in pages physically, only on the page counter. So yeah, I don't know what that's about but it's what made me decide to go with mobi over epub.

DaleDe · 01-29-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Schmoo

Tried both mobi and epub again. I still prefer epub (slightly).

Mobi shows page numbers, but at the expense of screen real estate (minor). You can see what page you're on with epub by hitting the menu key.

Mobi allows easy change between fonts, but only has 3 zoom levels. Epub doesn't change fonts, but has 5 levels of zoom.

Epub allows change from portrait to landscape, mobi doesn't.

Mobi allows internal hyperlinks, epub doesn't.

Can search (awkwardly) with epub, can't search with mobi.

Ultimately, for me, the better zoom levels were the deciding factor.

Epub by a nose.

Which machine do you have? On the Pocket Pro there are now 9 zoom levels on ePUB. ePUB can also follow internal hyperlinks using the 0 key to highlight the one want and the ok (menu) key to accept the selection.

Dale

01-20-2010, 10:34 PM	#1
Joe Schmoo Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Astak Pocket Pro	Which format should I convert .lit files to? I ordered an Astak Pocket Pro a few days ago. Due to arrive tomorrow! I have several .lit books. I understand that the Astak doesn't do a very good job with this format, but that Calibre can convert these books into many other formats. Which format would be the best for the Pocket Pro?

01-21-2010, 11:09 PM	#10
Joe Schmoo Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Astak Pocket Pro	My Pocket Pro arrived today. I had already converted a few books into various formats using Calibre. I loaded them in to compare, and I agree that ePub seems to be the best, or at least tied for best. Problem solved... and now to read! Last edited by Joe Schmoo; 01-21-2010 at 11:13 PM.

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01-20-2010, 10:42 PM	#2
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	I do not have an Astak product but I would use Calibre to convert one of your books to all the different formats the Astak supports. Then throw them on your Astak and pick the one you like best.

01-20-2010, 11:18 PM	#5
jusmee Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 203682 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Libre 2	To my way of thinking, ePub is the obvious choice. It's the default format I use all the time. It's also nice to use an open standard.

01-21-2010, 01:56 AM	#7
Acreo Aeneas Kobo Aura Posts: 252 Karma: 500520 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago, Illinois Device: Kobo Aura	I'll third the suggestion for ePub. It seems like the format to go for ebooks nowadays.

01-21-2010, 11:03 AM	#8
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Another nice thing with ePub is it's easy to edit/fix things if needed, either unzipping and editing the files directly or using Sigil.

01-21-2010, 01:00 PM	#9
polly Evangelist Posts: 454 Karma: 270240 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS 650, PocketBook 360, Astak PocketPro (RIP), Tungsten T3	I agree that the ePub format works best for me. There's a Wiki for formats here. The latest firmware upgrade provided more font sizes for some of the formats and this is not reflected in the Wiki. IIRC, text was one of them. It should still be helpful for other features, though.

01-28-2010, 12:21 PM	#12
Laura81 Addict Posts: 360 Karma: 407796 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Device: Paperwhite 5	I find I like Mobi slightly more than epub. I like that mobi shows the page number you are on, etc.

01-29-2010, 12:38 AM	#13
Joe Schmoo Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Astak Pocket Pro	Tried both mobi and epub again. I still prefer epub (slightly). Mobi shows page numbers, but at the expense of screen real estate (minor). You can see what page you're on with epub by hitting the menu key. Mobi allows easy change between fonts, but only has 3 zoom levels. Epub doesn't change fonts, but has 5 levels of zoom. Epub allows change from portrait to landscape, mobi doesn't. Mobi allows internal hyperlinks, epub doesn't. Can search (awkwardly) with epub, can't search with mobi. Ultimately, for me, the better zoom levels were the deciding factor. Epub by a nose.

01-29-2010, 11:36 AM	#14
Laura81 Addict Posts: 360 Karma: 407796 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Device: Paperwhite 5	I find with Mobi I'm happy with the first level of zoom it gives me so I don't mind about that. And I hate landscape mode so no worries there. Didn't even notice there was less room on the screen with mobi. I do like Epub but my problem is that with the couple of documents I've converted to it when I push the button to see what page I'm on what it tells me is incorrect. For example I was reading a book it told me was 313 pages... I knew the book was at least 3x that. I told it to show me the last page, it still said it was 313 pages. When I got to page 313 suddenly it jumped back to page 100 though it didn't jump back in pages physically, only on the page counter. So yeah, I don't know what that's about but it's what made me decide to go with mobi over epub.