Best OS X book management program for PRS-700

thibaulthalpern · 03-14-2009, 04:31 PM

What are some good Mac OS X book management programs for the Sony PRS-700? I know there is Calibre but it doesn't deal with what Sony calls "Collections" which are essentially ways to categorise books into various labelling folders.

I don't find Calibre's book management system very elegant and a bit clumsy to manage large collections--no offence to Kovid who has put a lot of hard work into the program.

ficbot · 03-14-2009, 04:33 PM

I have a 505 with PS X and am using Calibre. You can do collections using the Tags feature.

thibaulthalpern · 03-14-2009, 04:37 PM

okay, thanks for the "tags" tip. I will try it out.

ahintz · 03-14-2009, 04:44 PM

Not only would I consider Calibre the best OS X management software for the 505, I think it is about the only software! Either way, I've found to be pretty good - at least as good as the eBook Library software from Sony. I like how the software automatically makes books marked as being in a series into a collection on the 505.

jbruce · 03-14-2009, 05:12 PM

I use Calibre right now as well. Beyond the collections thing - if you know a little about HTML or PDFs - you can actually make your own books with it as well. In that sense, I suppose it's at least one up on the Sony software for the PC - which I only use for DL from Sony.

Cheers,
Josh

thibaulthalpern · 03-14-2009, 05:15 PM

I don't really want to make my own books. I just wonder how one could effectively use calibre to manage a large library.

pilotbob · 03-15-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thibaulthalpern

I know there is Calibre but it doesn't deal with what Sony calls "Collections" which are essentially ways to categorise books into various labelling folders.

Actually calibre does support collections.

http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/user_m...he-sony-reader

Clumsy in what way?

BOb

jbruce · 03-15-2009, 12:00 PM

I use Calibre to manage my collection (about 250 books). And, speaking from my personal experience - it is a bit clumsy - but, I also don't open very often; therefore, minor inconvenience.

The database table could have less padding - to see more entries on the screen at one time. IMHO the interface could be re-worked entirely to give an improved User-experience.

Collection (playlist) building could be improved by matching similar organization software users are familiar with (most music players iTunes/WMP for example). Although I do like that I can highlight all the books - and set the collection (except order) in one fell swoop.

That it recognizes duplicate adds (downloaded books added to list) - but doesn't recognize duplicates when uploading to device - messed me up once (doubled up all my books on my device).

Having said that, coming from the WebApp world - when someone mentions "clunky", it's usually an interface issue - and, interface is usually the last thing to really come together nicely. (Windows and MacOS weren't always as easy/nice to figure out.) And, it is the best free app I've seen for the Mac (in fact, of the couple I tried - it was the only that worked straight from DL).

The app has a lot of potential - and I definitely appreciate Kovid's work to date. And look forward to the future.

Cheers,
J

03-14-2009, 04:31 PM	#1
thibaulthalpern Evangelist Posts: 478 Karma: 451808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California, USA Device: my two eyes, KLiiK, Sony PRS-700	Best OS X book management program for PRS-700 What are some good Mac OS X book management programs for the Sony PRS-700? I know there is Calibre but it doesn't deal with what Sony calls "Collections" which are essentially ways to categorise books into various labelling folders. I don't find Calibre's book management system very elegant and a bit clumsy to manage large collections--no offence to Kovid who has put a lot of hard work into the program.

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03-14-2009, 04:33 PM	#2
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I have a 505 with PS X and am using Calibre. You can do collections using the Tags feature.

03-14-2009, 04:37 PM	#3
thibaulthalpern Evangelist Posts: 478 Karma: 451808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California, USA Device: my two eyes, KLiiK, Sony PRS-700	okay, thanks for the "tags" tip. I will try it out.

03-14-2009, 04:44 PM	#4
ahintz Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 322 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Device: Kindle PW/iPhone5/iPad (3)/Nook ST	Not only would I consider Calibre the best OS X management software for the 505, I think it is about the only software! Either way, I've found to be pretty good - at least as good as the eBook Library software from Sony. I like how the software automatically makes books marked as being in a series into a collection on the 505.

03-14-2009, 05:12 PM	#5
jbruce Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 88 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS 700	I use Calibre right now as well. Beyond the collections thing - if you know a little about HTML or PDFs - you can actually make your own books with it as well. In that sense, I suppose it's at least one up on the Sony software for the PC - which I only use for DL from Sony. Cheers, Josh

03-14-2009, 05:15 PM	#6
thibaulthalpern Evangelist Posts: 478 Karma: 451808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California, USA Device: my two eyes, KLiiK, Sony PRS-700	I don't really want to make my own books. I just wonder how one could effectively use calibre to manage a large library.

03-15-2009, 12:00 PM	#8
jbruce Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 88 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS 700	I use Calibre to manage my collection (about 250 books). And, speaking from my personal experience - it is a bit clumsy - but, I also don't open very often; therefore, minor inconvenience. The database table could have less padding - to see more entries on the screen at one time. IMHO the interface could be re-worked entirely to give an improved User-experience. Collection (playlist) building could be improved by matching similar organization software users are familiar with (most music players iTunes/WMP for example). Although I do like that I can highlight all the books - and set the collection (except order) in one fell swoop. That it recognizes duplicate adds (downloaded books added to list) - but doesn't recognize duplicates when uploading to device - messed me up once (doubled up all my books on my device). Having said that, coming from the WebApp world - when someone mentions "clunky", it's usually an interface issue - and, interface is usually the last thing to really come together nicely. (Windows and MacOS weren't always as easy/nice to figure out.) And, it is the best free app I've seen for the Mac (in fact, of the couple I tried - it was the only that worked straight from DL). The app has a lot of potential - and I definitely appreciate Kovid's work to date. And look forward to the future. Cheers, J