Since many USB devices are not supported or work incompletely on an Intel Mac running Windows with Parallels, I wanted to confirm that with Windows XP as my Guest OS the Reader appears completely compatible.

Not as good as native Mac support, but I'll take it for now.

Awesome. I actually installed bootcamp the other day just in case. Now I can go back to using parallels. Thanks for the confirmation.

What was transfer time like?

I like Parallels a lot, my only disappointment is that USB devices all appear as 1.1 instead of 2.0; makes using usb hard drives rather slow.

So I assume that the reader will not work on an Intel Mac WITHOUT using Boot Camp or Parallels?

CONNECT software wont run under Mac OS X, wich also means you wont be able to buy anything from Sony eBook store. You still can put your files (PDF,TXT,RTF) on memory card and read them.

Since many USB devices are not supported or work incompletely on an Intel Mac running Windows with Parallels, I wanted to confirm that with Windows XP as my Guest OS the Reader appears completely compatible.

Not as good as native Mac support, but I'll take it for now.

Were you able to buy books? The quickstart manual claims that Connect software won't work in a dual boot environment.

I purchased several books from the store (used my whole $50 credit and then some), transferred them fine. Subscribed to a few RSS feeds, transferred some of the already loaded content back to the computer and removed it from the device, and converted/downloaded some of my own PDF's.

To answer the other poster's question, transfer time isn't terrible. Clearly USB 1 (don't know if the limitation is only in how Parallels only supports USB 1, or if the unit itself is only USB 1). My 35MB PDF took several minutes to transfer. Purchased books downloaded in about 50-60 seconds.

I don't suppose you could try running the Conect software under Darwine (http://darwine.opendarwin.org/) for me could you. It'd be really nice if that worked it should give native USB speed support and mean that you don't even have to own a copy of Windows. Of course it may fail to do anything but it's worth a go.

Thanks

I'll post back in a bit once I update my Darwine and Crossover versions (I'm a few betas behind). I sincerely doubt it will work on Darwine, but Crossover maybe.

Just having loaded the latest darwine after I posted, I'm inclined to agree that it almost definitely won't work.

No luck with Darwine or Crossover.

Crossover held the most promise, the installer actually launched and after staring patiently at the screen for ages seemed to progress through the steps -- but finally crashed out and said the Connect installer program said it was interrupted and could not complete my system was not modified.

Tried it again with a new Crossover bottle, same thing.

I'm gonna look at the logs and see if it's something fixable (perhaps a missing DLL or some such), but getting the program to launch isn't my main concern. My concern is how the program is going to generate it's machine ID for the protected content once it is actually running -- since it can't do the normal things in a virtual environment like Crossover.

Hrm.... I can't seem to get Windows to recognize the reader -- it shows up on the parallels USB control, but not in hardware manager under the system preferences. Did you have any issues? It doesn't even look visible (i.e., not even there, vs disabled or something like that).

Thanks for any help!

jmdor, does the Sony CONNECT program launch on yours?

I've installed it under the latest Parallels + Windows XP Pro SP2 and although the install completed successfully, the CONNECT reader simply won't launch. It displays the hourglass cursor for a brief second, then nothing.

However, plugging the Reader in DOES show activity: the toolbar popped up with a "Found new hardware, ready to use" message. You didn't get that? The device also shows up under Device Manager's Universal Serial Bus controllers list.

But the CONNECT program still won't launch.

Strange.

Sorry to say but the Parallels forums are rife with reports such as your, jmdor. USB devices work for some, others not. USB devices work one moment, the other not. I know a lot of people have nothing but praise for Parallels, but the reports on the forums scare me quite a bit!

Never mind -- just had to reboot. Trying to figure out how to get the $50 credit now...

FAQ to rescue!
http://ebooks.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ebooks.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=777

jmdor, did you have to do anything special to get Parallels to run Sony CONNECT?

What build of Parallels (build 1940 is latest, dated Oct 12 in Finder info) and version of XP?

Simply won't launch for me.

You know, for Mac users, Sony is particularly non-intuitive. Got the $50 rebate after figuring out how to register the reader. Thanks on that!

As far as parallels go, I had to reboot after installing the software. Then, when I plugged in the reader, I got the "found new hardware" message. Successful. Try unplugging and replugging -- no joy. Told XP to reboot -- now hangs on "shutting down" window. Force quit through parallels and reboot. Works the first time each time alone. Geez. Not sure if this is a parallels issue or a bad connect software issue.

I do get the software to launch each time -- it's just that it can't see the reader unless I reboot in-between "syncing". Good thing I don't plan on using this for RSS feeds!!

Windows XP Home and Parallels build 1940.

Anyone else notice that Connect is trying to look like itunes?

This failure of Sony Connect to launch for me under Parallels is really, really weird!

I have a MacBook (laptop) as well as a Mac Pro (desktop). Same version of Parallels installed on each (build 1940).

After my problems getting Sony Connect running on the Mac Pro's Parallels, I went to the MacBook's Parallels and it installed and ran just fine.

Okay, no problem, I figured it was something about the other Windows installation that was screwing with Sony's software, so I copied the MacBook Parallel's fully working image over to the Mac Pro. That is, the equivalent of moving a hard drive into another computer. Every program, every DLL was identical.

And guess what? Back on the Mac Pro, Sony Connect ***still*** won't launch!

It seems to be the Mac Pro causing the issue...

Very strange. I'm going to thoroughly check all the Preference settings now. There has to be some difference other than the hardware, no?

Which Intel-based Mac are you running, jmdor?

Running a black macbook. I do know that Mac Pro's needed more tweaking from the parallels people to get them to work -- I wonder if this is a corner case that they haven't encountered yet. You might file a ticket with them -- they might get around to it eventually!

Yeah, I think you're right.

Funny though, since their RC1, RC2, then build 1940 release, Parallels on the Mac Pro has run just about every Windows program I've thrown at it.

Trust Sony to be difficult! (I bet it's that RootKit they install that we don't know about yet... :)

Thanks for the confirmation. CONNECT on MacBooks = good, CONNECT on (my) Mac Pro = bad.

That's a useful thing to know. I will point out that Connect doesn't work great on the macbook, as it seems to hang my XP virtual machine on reboot, but doesn't seem to have lasting ramifications. It might be a parallels problem -- I'll file a ticket with both Sony and parallels and see if we ever get an update!

Very strange. I'm going to thoroughly check all the Preference settings now. There has to be some difference other than the hardware, no?

I'm in exactly the same position as you, and am beginning to think it is a Parallels issue on the Mac Pro.

I have a Mac Pro tower, 2 gig ram. I have tried on virgin installs of XP SP 2 Home and XP SP 2 Professional, with no other applications other than the Windows updates installed. No joy, the software will not launch.

My wife has Parallels installed on an Intel iMac, so I will try that next. I also have a Mac Mini at the office I intend to try out. Honestly, this is the only thing I boot into Windows via Bootcamp for; even all the programming I do for work I can do in the Parallels environment.

More info on the issue:

The failure of the CONNECT Reader software to launch under Parallels on the Mac Pro appears to be related to the ongoing issue with VT-x (hardware virtualization) support on the Mac Pro.

When started up with VT-x on, the CONNECT Reader software does actually launch...

The problem is that often VT-x is unavailable because of an issue in the Mac Pro firmware which the Parallels team can't work around and which Apple so far has not fixed with a firmware update. However, there is a workaround:

1. Launch Parallels and go to Preferences > User Interface and click the Restore hidden messages button. (This lets you know if VT-x is actually being disabled during the virtual machine startup.)

2. Shut down the currently running virtual machine (Windows Start menu > Shutdown).

3. Open its Configuration panel and click the underlined word "Acceleration" at the top left of the window (it has a green arrow and the word "High" to the right of it) and enable VT-x if not already enabled.

3. Send the Mac Pro to sleep.

4. Wake it again.

5. Restart the virtual machine.

This time, there should be NO warning dialog saying the hardware virtualization was not available because it was locked by firmware. Windows XP will also start up in lightning fast time (less than 10 seconds for me).

And now Sony's CONNECT Reader will launch on the Mac Pro!


(The sleep trick is a bit tedious, but at least it is faster than rebooting into a Boot Camp machine, and there is hope that eventually Apple will update the firmware to fix the VT-x issue.)

*Mac Book, 2.0Ghz white, 1GB Ram (you want more).

(1) Running WinXP SP2 under parallels, I did get the Sony software to install without a hitch, and it even runs. IT wants a larger size window than I was giving it, so now I run parallels in fullscreen.
(2) the Sony software is some of the ugliest media applications I have ever had the displeasure to be shoehorned in. It may be because they took the design mistakes of iTunes 7, gave it to a committe, and then passed it on to a drunken engineer...
(3) the connection speed does feel very slow! If it's stuck in USB 1.1 that would explain it. Deleting contents of the reader crawls. The transfer of purchased books is fine, because they're fairly small. The transfer of podcasts ... is painful.
(4) and ... why the heck does it not automatically sync?

My displeasure is emphasized because my first (second) purchase is the Perfect Thing, the new Levy technoluvfest about the iPod. Sony could never make the iPod.

That said, I'm doing more reading with this thing than I've done with books...

Just adding that CrossOver does not even launch Sony Connect. I'll keep exploring though.

I do know that parallels is only supporting USB 1.1 right now; they said they would go to USB 2.0 in a future release.

There were some rumors back a few months ago that they might port the Connect software over to Macs, but at the time they were just rumors. I've run across some indications recently that there might be something to them. :shrug:

I'm not paying out the bounty to Sony. :)

Shucks, now they'll never do it. :laugh4:

The latest beta build from Parallels introduces a few interesting features. It's not linked from their main page, go to forums.parallels.com and it's a sticky in the Parallels for Mac subforum.

Supposedly it also includes some fixes for the MacBook users and USB devices (maybe the problems people here are having?).

Drag and drop files and folders between the OS'es (good for me since I generate my files in Mac and this makes it simple to drop them over to put them on my reader).

Also "Convergence", which at this point is a bit of a cludge hack -- but basically makes the windows desktop disappear so it looks like the applications are running natively. I can see this improving as Parallels works at it to get even better integration (not that I'm not thrilled with what we have now).

I know everyone it talking about using Parallels, but I'm using an older eMac with Virtual PC. As of now I am running Windows 98 in Virtual PC, but I can upgrade to Windows XP, but I wasn't sure if the connect would work or not so I was putting off upgrading.

I only use the windows stuff for some conversion programs. Of course, I know that CONNECT doesn't work with Windows 98, but I was just wondering if anyone had any luck with Virtual PC/Windows XP...

So far I haven't had any luck in Virtual PC. The Reader itself is recognized, but the Sony Connect software just doesn't seem to want to start.

If anyone can get the software going in Virtual PC, please drop me a line.

-a

In the meantime, you might try the OSX version of biblioskop that's being discussed here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9694), if you like. :nice:

Yep, I'm trying it as we speak on my C2D iMac, but no joy. :( The reader just isn't showing up in the devices section.

I'm playing with importing my OPML file, I may need to get ahold of one of those 4GB cards ;)

Yep, I'm trying it as we speak on my C2D iMac, but no joy. :( The reader just isn't showing up in the devices section.

I'm playing with importing my OPML file, I may need to get ahold of one of those 4GB cards ;)

Virtual PC doesn't run on a C2D iMac, you need Parallels with XP SP2 installed. Vista is still squirrely so I've left my CONNECT Software under XP SP2.

That's too bad. :sad2: You might want to try a smaller SD card than a 4GB one, with the Reader's alphabetically sorted flat file system, finding something amongst 4GB worth of files on the card will be a pain. And since the Reader indexes the card's entire contents upon insertion, your wait time for that might get just a bit ... extended. :sad:

Uhm, yeah.

I have a G4PB that I run Virtual PC on, and I have a C2D Imac that I am running Biblioskop on.

I've avoided picking up parallels to date b/c I like keeping my ICBM clean.

So, anyways, back to the problem on *either* platform. :P

@Natch: sorry, I forgot the /sarcasm tag. I just got my PRS-500 last night, so I haven't had a chance to pick up a SD card for it yet. I was mainly ragging on myself for my *quite* large OPML/feedlists (~1000). I could regularly fill the 2GB card on my old Palm T|X using Lauren's Sunrise app. (until I switched over to OSX, that is ;) )

[Edit: After playing musical USB ports, I finally got Biblioskop to recognize the PRS-500. It seems to need to be on the *first* port on the machine, and it doesn't seem to hurt if its the only USB device plugged in. I threw about 300 RSS feeds on the main memory without any issue.]

-a

Just adding that I'm another happy Parallels user (on a MacBook Pro). I've since uninstalled Boot Camp after successfully running our work apps via Parallels. I'm happy too because I was able to install CONNECT (I installed the downloadable version) and was able to update the Reader's firmware without problems.