Poll

When you download new digital releases, which format do you prefer?

MOBI
6 (9.4%)
EPUB
10 (15.6%)
pdf
48 (75%)

Total Members Voted: 53

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Author Topic: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?  (Read 2205 times)

jimdigris

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Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« on: 01 June 2020, 06:59:33 »
Just curious.  I prefer pdf myself.  I can use epub, but mobi doesn't work for me at all.
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Mendrugo

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #1 on: 01 June 2020, 07:09:36 »
PDF is keyword searchable from the OS level, while I have to manually open the other two to search.
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nckestrel

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #2 on: 01 June 2020, 07:22:00 »
Sourcebooks, PDFs.  Searchable, I'm usually reading on my laptop so I can handle full size pages. Better for tables.
Novels, novellas, short stories, epub. I'm usually reading on my phone and need the resizing/flow abilities of ereader formats and I usually use the Kindle app.
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Euphonium

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #3 on: 01 June 2020, 07:49:53 »
Sourcebooks - .pdf because I read them on a tablet or PC

Novels etc. - epub because I read them on an eInk reader
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cavingjan

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #4 on: 01 June 2020, 08:23:59 »
Quote from: nckestrel on 01 June 2020, 07:22:00
Novels, novellas, short stories, epub. I'm usually reading on my phone and need the resizing/flow abilities of ereader formats and I usually use the Kindle app.
Don't the Kindle app and Kindles use mobi? It is an extra step to have to convert epub to mobi to add to the Amazon system.
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mbear

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #5 on: 01 June 2020, 08:36:16 »
Quote from: cavingjan on 01 June 2020, 08:23:59
Don't the Kindle app and Kindles use mobi? It is an extra step to have to convert epub to mobi to add to the Amazon system.

Yes they do.
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Geg

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #6 on: 01 June 2020, 09:24:59 »
Mobi for Faction as I read on a Kindle.
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nckestrel

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #7 on: 01 June 2020, 10:16:26 »
Quote from: cavingjan on 01 June 2020, 08:23:59
Don't the Kindle app and Kindles use mobi? It is an extra step to have to convert epub to mobi to add to the Amazon system.

Oops.
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Lanceman

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #8 on: 01 June 2020, 11:01:28 »
As most have said, I prefer PDFs for sourcebooks, TROs, game manuals, that sort of things. For novels, I prefer EPUB. I use Calibre to manage my ebooks, so getting it on a Kindle for me is as easy as one click to convert it to AZW3 (which you really should be using instead of MOBI these days). MOBI is an old and limited format, and I wouldn't want to purchase anything where that's the only option provided.
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Weirdo

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #9 on: 01 June 2020, 11:07:03 »
I'm another vote for PDFs for sourcebooks, epub for novels.
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Sartris

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #10 on: 01 June 2020, 11:16:00 »
PDFs for everything because I’m too lazy to load the fiction on my ereader (that I rarely use). The vast majority of reading I do is in print and that extends to bt stuff. For sourcebooks I like PDFs because of the search options - the main reason I open them in the first place is usually to find something specific
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BoyOfSummer

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #11 on: 01 June 2020, 13:34:02 »
I'm on the split pdf/epub-bandwagon.

Complex layout, color, pictures etc. ==> pdf
Simple layout, mostly text ==> epub.
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Wolf72

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #12 on: 01 June 2020, 13:50:51 »
pdf as I don't have any regular ereader programs
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SteveRestless

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #13 on: 01 June 2020, 14:22:27 »
Sourcebooks I want in PDF. Fiction I want in mobi
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Fat Guy

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #14 on: 01 June 2020, 15:08:37 »
Yet another sourcebook/pdf novel/epub.
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Wrangler

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #15 on: 01 June 2020, 15:30:27 »
PDF for game related stuff. Novels, i go with google books which is pain since stuff i buy in there is stuck in there, you can't upload outside files into it's reader. Which would mean i need get separate reader on my phone (what i read by e-books these days) which can be a pain.
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Orwell84

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #16 on: 01 June 2020, 17:23:46 »
PDFs for sourcebooks. Among other reasons I can add bookmarks to tidbits that interest me, and I can extract pages if I just want a certain section (saves space on my ipad). Prime example: creating a "Handbook Terra" pdf to go with the others by extracting section 8 in JHS:Terra.

As for novels, I tend to read them on Kobo as epubs but PDF also works for me. Particularly with multi-part stories like Ice Storm or Proliferation, which I prefer to put together in one volume.
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Dmon

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #17 on: 01 June 2020, 18:02:35 »
PDF for sourcebooks and mobi for novels etc as I use the kindle app.
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Daryk

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Re: Digital downloads: Which format do you prefer?
« Reply #18 on: 01 June 2020, 18:50:32 »
PDF for me... the ancient netbook I use when I travel can't handle anything newer, and has a HD so small, it can't upgrade...
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