Epub vs kepub

[Joliet Jake]

Originally Posted by tschucha

I've read that converting epubs to kepubs results in a little snappier performance on kobo readers. I'm currently using a Kobo Sage, always read epub format books and wondered if this was true and if there are any advantages to converting my books to kepub format.

Is it worth it to use Calibre to convert to kepub format?

I have a Forma and have not noticed any performance issues with either type of ebook.

One of the biggest advantages to kepubs are "speed reading" (which I rarely need to do). The last time I did so was a day ago: I was reading a compilation of short stories. I finished #1, found out that I had already read #2, and "sped" to #3. I cannot do this with an Epub though, instead having to press page forward for *each* "page" that gets advanced. Of course I could have just gone to the table of contents...

You get better reading stats, but since I delete an ebook when I'm done with it this doesn't apply to the way I read them.

Originally Posted by rcentros

I don't like that KePubs call each screen a "page number" — so the length of your book "changes" each time you change the font size. But many seem to prefer this so I guess it's personal taste.

I use Calibre's count pages function to estimate the number of pages. This metadata will not transfer over to the Kobo but that's not the point. If I need to know how long a book actually is, I just take a peek at Calibre.

Generally I prefer kepubs, but not so much that I delete and replace epubs on my device. The older books on my Kobo are epubs, the newer ones are kepubs.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by John Hopper

I prefer kepub precisely for this reason, and that you can follow page numbers more logically throughout the book, rather than having 6 page 2s for example.

I often change from one eReader to another while reading a book. I like consistent page numbers, it makes it easier to change over. Also, even though ePub page numbers don't exactly match printed page numbers, they give you a lot closer approximation of the book length than do screen numbers.

PocketBooks can do either (ePub number or number of screens). I wish Kobo gave you that choice.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I started to chime in on the page numbering but remembered we already had a long thread about why people love or hate each kind of page numbering so I didn't want to drag this thread down that rabbit hole.

It's not "off-subject" in an ePub vs. KePub thread. This is the main reason I don't like KePubs. It's my personal taste and opinion, but I don't see any reason why the OP shouldn't be made aware of this "feature."

[PhyrePhox]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

This seems like you have an active metadata pkugboard. Look in Preferences -> Metadata plugboards, to see if you have one set up.

Wow! Thank you indeed!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I don't like that KePubs call each screen a "page number" — so the length of your book "changes" each time you change the font size. But many seem to prefer this so I guess it's personal taste.

KePub used to do that. But there's some sort of bug (I think) with KePub page numbers.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

KePub used to do that. But there's some sort of bug (I think) with KePub page numbers.

Kepubs still use page-per screen and and hence change the total page count when the the font size is changed. There are some bugs that means it is not perfect, with the page number not incrementing in some case, but, it is is still roughly correct.

[MrMonkey]

Stylus notes on epubs converted to kepubs don't work on my Elipsa. Others have noted the same issue.
It's quite a bummer too because epub page navigation on my Elipsa is slooow, much slower than any other recent devices I've tried. Navigation on kepubs is much quicker ... but again, stylus notes are 'broken.'