PRC to Sony: How good is the conversion?

kweller · 03-26-2009, 12:13 PM

First post here so I'll start by saying "Hi".

I was sure this question must have been asked but I've been searching and wading through pages of results and haven't found the answer. If the answer is already here please feel free to point me to the relevant thread.

Background first. SWMBO and I both have 2nd Edition Iliad readers and very nice devices they are too. Trouble is they are relatively large x2 and when the USB charger and mains adapter are added take quite a bit of space in the motorcycle panniers so we'd like something smaller.

After wading through lots of review web sites we decided we'd either go for the Sony PRS-505 or Cybook Gen 3. The Sony is more robust which makes it better suited to being thrown into m/cycle luggage but the Cybook is lighter which makes it easier to carry. We have a reasonable library of Mobipocket eBooks (PRC format) and once I realised the Sony wouldn't read them our decision was made. Then I discovered Calibre...

So, after the long preamble I get to the question, how good is Calibre's conversion from PRC to a Sony compatible format? Are things lost or will I struggle to see the difference between reading a file in PRC format and one converted for the Sony by Calibre?

Thanks.

Kevin

Nate the great · 03-26-2009, 12:16 PM

If you use the PRC-EPUB-LRF path, the conversion is much better than a direct PRC-LRF.

grooks · 03-26-2009, 12:19 PM

Calibre has a viewer which closely resembles how it would look on a 6" device. Take a Mobi file and convert to LRF then view through Calibre to see if the output is acceptable.

There may be others who have already tried this.

rhadin · 03-26-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kweller

Background first. SWMBO and I . . .

What does SWMBO mean?

Just goes to show both my age and my lack of familiarity with the shorthand used today.

BikinOn · 03-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

What does SWMBO mean?

Just goes to show both my age and my lack of familiarity with the shorthand used today.

'She Who Must Be Obeyed' - see John Mortimer's 'Rumpole of the Bailey'

kweller · 03-26-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

If you use the PRC-EPUB-LRF path, the conversion is much better than a direct PRC-LRF.

(An ignoramus asks...) Why would I go to LRF if EPUB works?

Kevin

kweller · 03-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

Calibre has a viewer which closely resembles how it would look on a 6" device. Take a Mobi file and convert to LRF then view through Calibre to see if the output is acceptable.

Thanks. I converted a PRC file to EPUB (which seemed to be the default when I requested Sony format) then compared them side by side. Using the Calibre viewer I couldn't see any difference at all.

If that's representative of what we'll see on the device that means the Sony is back on the table. Thanks (I think!

).

Kevin

kweller · 03-26-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

What does SWMBO mean?

Just goes to show both my age and my lack of familiarity with the shorthand used today.

I see your question has been answered but this page lists more abbreviations than you probably ever wanted to know about.

Kevin

Nate the great · 03-26-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kweller

(An ignoramus asks...) Why would I go to LRF if EPUB works?

Kevin

You asked about prc to Sony. Sony format is LRF.

itimpi · 03-26-2009, 01:44 PM

Actually the questions was asking about a Sony compatible format. Epub is compatible with all except the original PRS-500 models. You are correct in that the Sony proprietary format is LRF, but you do not have to use this as both the PRS-505 and PRS-700 support ePub as well..

gwynevans · 03-26-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kweller

The Sony is more robust which makes it better suited to being thrown into m/cycle luggage but the Cybook is lighter which makes it easier to carry.

Hmm - I'm not sure that I'd trust the Sony to be more robust in those sort of terms... The display in both is effectively a thin piece of glass, so either would really need to be carefully packed to ensure that nothing could press on the screen, so I'd not view that a reason to buy one over the other...

sirbruce · 03-26-2009, 03:44 PM

If you got a Kindle then your MOBI/PRC books work without conversion... unless they have DRM. But I assume you're stripping DRM off anyway if you want them to work on a new device.

kweller · 03-26-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Hmm - I'm not sure that I'd trust the Sony to be more robust in those sort of terms... The display in both is effectively a thin piece of glass, so either would really need to be carefully packed to ensure that nothing could press on the screen, so I'd not view that a reason to buy one over the other...

The Iliad is the same and has travelled thousands of miles on the bike without mishap. It's not screen impact I'm concerned about, it's flexing of the case which could lead to the screen cracking.

Kevin

kweller · 03-26-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

If you got a Kindle then your MOBI/PRC books work without conversion... unless they have DRM. But I assume you're stripping DRM off anyway if you want them to work on a new device.

I live in the UK so there are no Kindles available but you're correct, I'm not concerned about DRM.

Kevin

sirbruce · 03-26-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kweller

I live in the UK so there are no Kindles available but you're correct, I'm not concerned about DRM.

Well, there are ways of getting the Kindle to the UK and you'll still be able to use it; just not the wireless downloads.

03-26-2009, 12:13 PM	#1
kweller Member Posts: 22 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Near Dover, UK Device: Sony PRS-505	PRC to Sony: How good is the conversion? First post here so I'll start by saying "Hi". I was sure this question must have been asked but I've been searching and wading through pages of results and haven't found the answer. If the answer is already here please feel free to point me to the relevant thread. Background first. SWMBO and I both have 2nd Edition Iliad readers and very nice devices they are too. Trouble is they are relatively large x2 and when the USB charger and mains adapter are added take quite a bit of space in the motorcycle panniers so we'd like something smaller. After wading through lots of review web sites we decided we'd either go for the Sony PRS-505 or Cybook Gen 3. The Sony is more robust which makes it better suited to being thrown into m/cycle luggage but the Cybook is lighter which makes it easier to carry. We have a reasonable library of Mobipocket eBooks (PRC format) and once I realised the Sony wouldn't read them our decision was made. Then I discovered Calibre... So, after the long preamble I get to the question, how good is Calibre's conversion from PRC to a Sony compatible format? Are things lost or will I struggle to see the difference between reading a file in PRC format and one converted for the Sony by Calibre? Thanks. Kevin Last edited by kweller; 03-26-2009 at 01:46 PM.

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03-26-2009, 12:16 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	If you use the PRC-EPUB-LRF path, the conversion is much better than a direct PRC-LRF.

03-26-2009, 12:19 PM	#3
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	Calibre has a viewer which closely resembles how it would look on a 6" device. Take a Mobi file and convert to LRF then view through Calibre to see if the output is acceptable. There may be others who have already tried this.

03-26-2009, 01:44 PM	#10
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Actually the questions was asking about a Sony compatible format. Epub is compatible with all except the original PRS-500 models. You are correct in that the Sony proprietary format is LRF, but you do not have to use this as both the PRS-505 and PRS-700 support ePub as well..

03-26-2009, 03:44 PM	#12
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	If you got a Kindle then your MOBI/PRC books work without conversion... unless they have DRM. But I assume you're stripping DRM off anyway if you want them to work on a new device.

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