ePub to Mobi Conversion Quality

Logiedan · 08-14-2010, 10:36 PM

I'm aware that it's a very simple process to convert ebooks from .epub to .mobi using Calibre, but I'd like to know how well the conversion process usually goes. Is most of the original formatting usually conserved well, leaving the outputted .mobi file just as readable? The .mobi files created will be read on a Kindle, if that matters.

Thanks!

texasnightowl · 08-14-2010, 11:20 PM

I often convert epub to mobi to put on my Kindle. In 99% of the cases, the conversion is fine and preserves most if not all the formatting and is perfectly readable. In the remaining cases, I might run into problems but the reason for that is usually that the underlying html in the epub files is complete and utter crap.

Logiedan · 08-16-2010, 09:10 AM

Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

DoctorOhh · 08-16-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logiedan

Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

They are both essentially containers for html so the conversion is straight forward enough. If you have no conversion options checked then the Mobi file will reflect the ePub file very closely. If the epub was garbage it will create an equally trashed mobi file and vice-a-versa.

Once you check options you are telling calibre to get in the middle and some things will change.

Try it and find out.

AnemicOak · 08-16-2010, 10:54 AM

I find it works perfectly for me 99% of the time. There are times I get a better conversion using either Mobi Desktop or KindleGen.

bjones6416 · 08-16-2010, 12:13 PM

Do you have a lot of epub books already, or are you just now building your library?

I started out using Mobipocket Reader on my PC, so I bought books in the mobi format. Then I bought a Jetbook Lite, and some of the books I bought from Fictionwise had some strange compression problem and wouldn't open on the JBL. For those particular books I used calibre and converted to epub, which the JBL reads equally well. Then I bought a Sony, which doesn't read mobi at all, so I converted everything to epub. Now I do most of my reading on my Kindle, so I use the mobi version and try to buy anything new in mobi format.

Bottom line: I keep both mobi and epub versions of ALL my books in my calibre library. When reading on my Kindle, I can't tell whether the original book was in mobi or epub. I don't generally mess with the conversion settings, though -- I just let the defaults happen, and so far it works for me!

Logiedan · 08-17-2010, 09:15 AM

Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like I should have no trouble with converting .ePubs to .mobi.

Brandobras · 08-17-2010, 09:40 AM

Hello,
and what about fb2 to mobi?
i've pre-ordered the new kindle3, but I'm concerned about my fb2 ebooks that are a few..

thank you in advance

Brandobras

anabelee · 08-17-2010, 05:02 PM

Hi, Brandobras,

I think Calibre is your best way to convert them. If the fb2are well formatted, you will not have any problem converting to mobi.

08-14-2010, 10:36 PM	#1
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	ePub to Mobi Conversion Quality I'm aware that it's a very simple process to convert ebooks from .epub to .mobi using Calibre, but I'd like to know how well the conversion process usually goes. Is most of the original formatting usually conserved well, leaving the outputted .mobi file just as readable? The .mobi files created will be read on a Kindle, if that matters. Thanks!

08-17-2010, 09:40 AM	#8
Brandobras Zealot Posts: 148 Karma: 2322 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Alicante (Spain) Device: Onyx T68	what about fb2 to mobi Hello, and what about fb2 to mobi? i've pre-ordered the new kindle3, but I'm concerned about my fb2 ebooks that are a few.. thank you in advance Brandobras

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08-14-2010, 11:20 PM	#2
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 699 Karma: 1001556 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	I often convert epub to mobi to put on my Kindle. In 99% of the cases, the conversion is fine and preserves most if not all the formatting and is perfectly readable. In the remaining cases, I might run into problems but the reason for that is usually that the underlying html in the epub files is complete and utter crap.

08-16-2010, 09:10 AM	#3
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	Thanks for your response! Can I hear a few more people's experiences? I'd just like to get a wider range of opinions so that I can be sure.

08-16-2010, 10:54 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I find it works perfectly for me 99% of the time. There are times I get a better conversion using either Mobi Desktop or KindleGen.

08-16-2010, 12:13 PM	#6
bjones6416 ↓↓ Skirt!! Earrings!! Posts: 3,394 Karma: 17432172 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Acer netbook, JetBook Lite, Sony PRS-300, Kindle 2, Kindle Fire	Do you have a lot of epub books already, or are you just now building your library? I started out using Mobipocket Reader on my PC, so I bought books in the mobi format. Then I bought a Jetbook Lite, and some of the books I bought from Fictionwise had some strange compression problem and wouldn't open on the JBL. For those particular books I used calibre and converted to epub, which the JBL reads equally well. Then I bought a Sony, which doesn't read mobi at all, so I converted everything to epub. Now I do most of my reading on my Kindle, so I use the mobi version and try to buy anything new in mobi format. Bottom line: I keep both mobi and epub versions of ALL my books in my calibre library. When reading on my Kindle, I can't tell whether the original book was in mobi or epub. I don't generally mess with the conversion settings, though -- I just let the defaults happen, and so far it works for me!

08-17-2010, 09:15 AM	#7
Logiedan Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minnesota Device: Kindle 3	Thanks for all of the responses! It sounds like I should have no trouble with converting .ePubs to .mobi.

08-17-2010, 05:02 PM	#9
anabelee Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 583 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vigo, Spain Device: Woxter Scriba 150, pocketbook 360	Hi, Brandobras, I think Calibre is your best way to convert them. If the fb2are well formatted, you will not have any problem converting to mobi.

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