How good is Epub -> Mobi conversion really?

[Corran006]

So if this is still in affect in Canada, it does not matter if I use 3G or my own Wi-fi? I will still get changred 2$?

gezz maybe I should get the kobo.

[Care]

I am in Canada too Corran, and this is my concern as well. I have bought a couple ebooks via kindle for pc and I don't remember getting the charge. So it must only be via whispernet. Maybe we would just have to do it via computer to avoid the $2.

If the UK doesn't have to pay the $2 fee, then Canada shouldn't either. I would love confirmation of this, but have only heard about the charges.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Care

I am in Canada too Corran, and this is my concern as well. I have bought a couple ebooks via kindle for pc and I don't remember getting the charge. So it must only be via whispernet. Maybe we would just have to do it via computer to avoid the $2.

If the UK doesn't have to pay the $2 fee, then Canada shouldn't either. I would love confirmation of this, but have only heard about the charges.

The $2 is built into the price of the book, it's not a separate charge that you see.


In the UK (like the US) they've got a contract with a carrier, elsewhere it's done through expensive roaming.

[Care]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

The $2 is built into the price of the book, it's not a separate charge that you see.


In the UK (like the US) they've got a contract with a carrier, elsewhere it's done through expensive roaming.

I bought The Secret Speakers, which was $3.99. As far as I know the price didn't go up. But it was via my computer. So if I went to buy it via a kindle the charge would automatically be $5.99? But if it's just because of the carrier company, I shouldn't get charged to download via wifi, right?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Care

I bought The Secret Speakers, which was $3.99. As far as I know the price didn't go up. But it was via my computer. So if I went to buy it via a kindle the charge would automatically be $5.99? But if it's just because of the carrier company, I shouldn't get charged to download via wifi, right?

It's my understanding, from folks here on MR not in the US, that the fee is charged no matter how you download (so if you were being charged it your book would have been $5.99 no matter how you bought/downloaded it). Obviously this fee isn't being charged on the book you bought so maybe Canada isn't charged the extra $2 anymore I'm not sure.

[Care]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm... I wish amazon would just make it clear.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

KindleGen does a good job usually, don't know if that's based on Mobi's software or not.

KindleGen's based on mobigen, according to the release notes.

I find it tends to produce smaller file sizes (except in the latest version which requires you use the -donotaddsource option unless you want a copy of all your source files incorporated into your mobi) than Calibre normally does, though I don't know if that's solely because you can set for a tighter compression option than Calibre normally uses in its conversion dialogue.

And I think it might be generally better at handling non-escaped Unicode characters in the text if one uses the appropriate -unicode option, though the last time I really tested this with Calibre was several versions ago and they've probably improved matters since.

[Diodato]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

But how good is the ePub to Mobi conversion in Calibre really? Does it ever fail or mess up the formatting badly often/sometimes/never?

This thread started drifting off-topic. So coming back to your original question let me share with you all my experiences with ePub vs Mobi/PRC.
Calibre does a pretty good job converting. Occasionally you might need to refine the TOC.
The biggest problem with Mobi is that it is quite restrictive with formatting. One has to various tricks to impose the margins, but there is currently no way to change the right margin. Also text-flow around images is very limited - only if the image has the height not bigger than one text line... To me that is unacceptable. I can live with other restrictions.
I accept all the replies Amazon gives for not (yet) supporting ePub - it's all about business. After all, thy invested in Mobipocket. And let's not forget that the true money comes from selling e-books, not readers.
In the attached images you can see one of the worst examples of converting ePub in Mobi - take a look at the original thread Jerome, Jerome K.: Three Men in a Boat (illustrated) v6 07 april 2010 where the beautiful work of zelda_pinwheel gets lost.
And it's not the converter's fault (I used Calibre), just the Mobi's formatting restrictions.
Hope this helps you.

[Left two images are ePub, the other two Mobi; screen captures from Caliber]

[AdrianM]

Thanks for all the informative posts.

I've pre-ordered the new Kindle and will keep the Nook that's on its way to get the best of both worlds.

[BookishMom]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

But how good is the ePub to Mobi conversion in Calibre really? Does it ever fail or mess up the formatting badly often/sometimes/never?

I've converted many ePub to mobi ebooks via Caliber and it turns out perfectly every time. Much, much better than PDF ebooks - readable, but not formatted correctly. ePub to mobi, however, has been great.

[JSWolf]

Zorz, please remove the overly large graphics from your post and put them in as attachments. They make the thread look awful on an iPad.

[JSWolf]

Are those screen shots using Calibre's viewer or Mobipocket Reader? If they are using Calibre, please use Mobipocket as that is the standard to how well a Mobipocket format eBook will look.