Mobipocket PRC eBook Conversion
Did you know that converting file to Mobipocket PRC format is complicated? Have you tried downloading a PRC format from forums? Of course if you purchased or download from mobipocket site, the file should be perfect. Try comparing a PRC file from Mobipocket site and a PRC file from forums. You could download free ebooks or a sample PRC ebook from Mobipocket ebooks site and the PRC file you downloaded from forums (usually shared by other members). You will see the difference.
Complicated? If you don’t have the perfect source file, that means you have to edit the source file first. If you’ll be reading the PRC file using your mobile, you will see a minimal difference but using the MobiReader for PC, its the other way around.
Downloads:
Mobipocket Reader for PC
Mobipocket Creator Home Edition
Mobipocket Creator Publisher Edition
It is advisable to install Mobipocket Reader for PC so you could see if you converted a perfect PRC file. Its easy to use the Home Edition but on ebook conversion, I suggest to use the Publisher Edition.
Conversion:
MS Word DOC to PRC – Please read my post Prepare MS Word DOC Before Conversion. There’s a lot of editing on MS Word DOC file but I guarantee that you should have a perfect PRC if you checked and edited the whole document. It consumes a lot of time on editing depends on the file, it usually took me a minimum of two hours depends on my desired output PRC file.
Actually, you could convert HTML, PDF and TXT format too as source file but I prefer MS Word, you could see and edit the layout faster and use font style, font size and styling on MS Word window. That’s impossible on TXT format. HTML and PDF file should be easy, just import the file on Mobipocket Creator and convert. Don’t forget to encode the metadata.
MobiReader, A Free Powerful eBook Reader
Mobipocket Reader for Symbian smartphone is another powerful eBook reader, the best thing of being powerful is its free. LOL! Who doesn’t want a free mobile application nowadays?
Why is it powerful? Take a look at the left part of my screenshots, it is the default introduction of MobiReader. It’s in prc format but it looked like a html format, it seems that you’re browsing from a third party browser of your symbian phone because of the link function. The introduction is way ahead better from other eBook reader introduction, you can’t believe that the application is free. Would you believe that you can open your eBook 1.03, prc format with MobiReader. I’ve tried that, take a look at the right side of the screenshot, it did worked. The trick here is if you have eBook 1.03 files, just transfer them to e:\eBooks — this is the default location of MobiReader and presto! You can read them with MobiReader, it is in the library already.
I’ve tried opening a txt format file with MobiReader, it worked as well. But even if you moved the txt file to designated folder, you cannot see it at the library. Just open the txt file via FExplorer.
I’ve mention from my earlier entries that eBook reader compatibility is one of my criteria on choosing a new symbian phone. No problem about the requirement anymore, MobiReader will surely handle my old collection of prc format eBooks.
Symbian60.1 – Nokia 3600, Nokia 3620, Nokia 3650, Nokia 3660, Nokia 6600, Nokia 7650, Nokia N-Gage, Nokia N-Gage QD, Siemens SX1, Sendo X.
Symbian60.2 – Nokia 3230, Nokia 6260, Nokia 6620, Nokia 6630, Nokia 6670, Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681, Nokia 6682, Nokia 7610, Nokia N70, Nokia N72, Nokia N90, Panasonic X700, Panasonic X800, Samsung SGH-Z600, Samsung SGH-Z720, Samsung SGH-Z730
Series60.3 – Nokia 3250, 5500, E50, E60, E61, E62, E70, N71, N72, N73, N75, N80, N91, N92, N93, N93i, N95
To download other mobipocket version for other symbian phones, click here. I’ll just stick to this great aspects of MobiReader for now, I’ll explore the other great things soon.
