Calibre

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on November 17, 2009

Calibre provides all the elements you need to organize and manage an e-book collection. With a simple set of tools and a helpful layout, this program is a nice choice for any electronic reading lover.

The program's interface is a snap to understand because of its professionally designed layout and easy-to-use command icons. Calibre lets you open a variety of e-book types and read them. You download your e-books from your desktop or hard drive directly into Calibre. The entire process is so simple that we never felt the need to consult the Help file. You can easily sort your titles by alphabetical order, cover image, or tags. We especially like being able to customize tags and covers, which is handy if the book doesn't come with any. While all these functions worked well, the program didn't feel like an essential utility until we tried out its special features, which elevate Calibre from a mere reader into an e-book manager. The conversion feature converts any e-book's file type with a few clicks, which we like because some handheld readers only accept specific file types. The uploading feature lets you send your e-books directly to one of those handheld readers or other portable device with equal ease. Calibre covered every base, from downloading and cataloging our electronic book collection to putting the words in the palm of our hand.

Calibre is freeware. It installs desktop icons without permission. We loved its simple operation and impressive results, and we recommend this program.