I know some of these questions have been asked a few times, but I just want to confirm a few things.

I have a PRS-505, which I dearly love. I've bought a couple of books already, but they were in the ePUB format. Can the DRM on these be removed, though? I'm really worried about them being lost, or what might happen if I change reading device, and would like an open-format backup (if possible).

Secondly, when I want to buy a book that's not available in ePUB or a recognised "Sony Format" (as it were), which format is best? As far as I can tell, I should be going for the lit format, running ConvertLit to remove DRM (so I can back it up), and then Calibre to convert it. Am I right?

Thirdly, I hate books that are poorly formatted - will the formatting be retained if I use Calibre to convert the file?

Finally, what format does Calibre convert a lit file to?

Thanks for your help! I'm otherwise loving the time I'm spending with my Reader, but these are nagging questions to which I'd like to know the answers :D

> ePUB format. Can the DRM on these be removed, though?

Not that I know of, but AIUI, they're associated with your Adobe accountId, not the device itself, so can be read on your PC (Windows, I don't know offhand about Mac/Linux) and could be copied to other devices associated with your Adobe account.

> not available in ePUB or a recognised "Sony Format" (as it were), which format is best?

Correct, LIT seems to be the best option.

> will the formatting be retained if I use Calibre to convert the file?

Yes, although you have the option of importing the unDRMd file into Book Designer & tweaking it by hand if you really want to fine-tune things. I've only needed to do that to fix things that were also wrong in the original LIT file, though.

> Finally, what format does Calibre convert a lit file to?

It includes CLI utilities for converting to both LRF and ePUB. The last time I looked at the GUI, there was a app-wide setting on the preferences that set which of the two would be output by the GUI conversions.

> ePUB format. Can the DRM on these be removed, though?

Not that I know of, but AIUI, they're associated with your Adobe accountId, not the device itself, so can be read on your PC (Windows, I don't know offhand about Mac/Linux) and could be copied to other devices associated with your Adobe account.

> not available in ePUB or a recognised "Sony Format" (as it were), which format is best?

Correct, LIT seems to be the best option.

> will the formatting be retained if I use Calibre to convert the file?

Yes, although you have the option of importing the unDRMd file into Book Designer & tweaking it by hand if you really want to fine-tune things. I've only needed to do that to fix things that were also wrong in the original LIT file, though.

> Finally, what format does Calibre convert a lit file to?

It includes CLI utilities for converting to both LRF and ePUB. The last time I looked at the GUI, there was a app-wide setting on the preferences that set which of the two would be output by the GUI conversions.

Thanks, Gwyn, that's a big help!

What exactly is "Book Designer", though? I don't think I've come across it thus far. I am a bit of a perfectionist, like, so I may want the option to tinker

Also, as regards the ePUB format and ADE - my suspicion was that the books were tied to the account, so it's nice to have that confirmed. Would that mean, then, were I to buy a new PC, I could copy the files over, reinstall ADE, activate my account on that PC, and then use the books on the new PC?

Finally, two things - where did you get your blue 505? I'd've loved to get that colour, but got the silver from Waterstones in the end. Secondly, where do you usually buy your ebooks? I can see you're in the UK, like me, so I'm curious :D

Book Designer - http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Book_Designer

It's "quirky" (to downright annoying) but there's a couple of Tutorials for it -
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10313 and http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Book_Designer_Graphical_Guide

ADE - That's my understanding, but I've not really checked, but unless someone does pop up to correct, it's probably correct! :-)

My 505 - I bought it mail-order from B&H in New York around 14 months ago, although I've recently reflashed it to use the UK firmware (then reflashed that to add a few tweaks such as displaying the time and unified title fonts - See http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27177 for more info about that)

I get a lot of books from Baen Books/Websubscriptions (SF&F), with some from Fictionwise or Books on Board, with a few from the Essex Online library - http://essex.bookaisle.com/ - which appear to be available to non-Essex residents too).

Unfortunately the Essex Online Library is not available to non-residents. Only people who live or work in the area can obtain a card. I think you can obtain a non-residents card from some U.S. libraries for a fee. See wiki for list of libraries.

Unfortunately the Essex Online Library is not available to non-residents. Only people who live or work in the area can obtain a card.

True, for a card, but when you register online (or at least when I did it) you get an ELAN reference number that works as a library card number for the online library.

Cool! Thanks! I'm rushing off to try it...

Fabulous!!! It works! Thanks.

Ok, I give up, how do you register online? I only get the login screen where you need to enter in your library card, I can't find where to do a registration.

To register online you need to register for an ELAN card, not a library card. You can register on the Essex County Council website (google essex elan or essex online library). They will email you an ELAN number which you use instead of a library card number.

Good luck!

They don't actually make it easy to find, do they. Try going to http://essexlibraries.essexcc.gov.uk/evs-app/Vubis.csp then clicking on the "If you do not already have a library card, click here to join online" text (which is actually a link).

Thanks a bunch. I found it after stumbling around their website last night. The link will help out others though.

Thanks for adding the link gwynevens. I should have thought of that! :smack:

Happy reading lostatsea!

Completely off-topic, but it is interesting (provocatively) that ELAN makes mandatory a response to "ethnic origin".

I wonder if they are trying to collect statistics about who uses their online library to find out if there are particular groups in the community who are not able to access their services. There may be people in Essex who don't use the service because they don't speak English or for other cultural or economic reasons.