Why does the pdf format seem to be still the most common digital format for digital books?
The most common? Amazon uses the MOBI format on its Kindles, so I think that would be more common. MOBI and EPUB (the main open source book format) are closer to a standard web page format, in that they don't dictate page size etc.
The Short Answer
The most common? Amazon uses the MOBI format on its Kindles, so I think that would be more common. MOBI and EPUB (the main open source book format) are closer to a standard web page format, in that they don't dictate page size etc. The book can be read on all kinds of devices with little difficulty. PDF, on the other hand, provides pages that look as if they are meant to be printed. The page looks like the book page. You can't reformat them to work better on devices with smaller screens (reflowing), at least not reliably. I avoid PDF books if I can, preferring EPUBs which are not locked with DRM.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Page, format, book
This explanation focuses on page, format, book and spans 113 words across 8 sentences. At 51% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “The most common?” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 8 connected points.
How This Compares in Technology
Ranked #104 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 22%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why the pdf format seem to be still the most common digital format for digital books?
The most common? Amazon uses the MOBI format on its Kindles, so I think that would be more common. MOBI and EPUB (the main open source book format) are closer to a standard web page format, in that they don't dictate page size etc. The book can be…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 113 words, ranked #104 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are page, format, book.
What approach does this answer take to explain the pdf format seem to be still the most common digital form?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 113 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.