Last question regarding PRS-505

davidw89 · 03-09-2008, 10:47 AM

I am going to buy this ebook reader because you can actually buy it off ebay and get it shipped to Australia (and because the aussie dollar is so high atm)
ALL of my ebook collection are in .PDF format, and i know you need to convert this to anther format to use.
What program do i need to do that?
What is the format called?
Once i convert, how will it look in the ebook reader? wil lthe text size etc auto sync to the page?
Is there general problems i should be aware of?
Drag and drop to SD card then dump the sd card onto the sony reader, is that cool?
Price is good, affordable.

netseeker · 03-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

What program do i need to do that?

Usually libprs500 is all you need. But for comics or technical books with a lot of preformatted content, tables, graphics usually programs like pdflrf or rasterfarian are much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

What is the format called?

It's called BBeB and the file extension is lrf. (lrs for the source format) Take a look here for an explanation of the BBeB format used by the reader.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

wil lthe text size etc auto sync to the page?

While using libprs500 the pages will be reformatted according to the font size, exisiting page breaks etc. So usually you will get a different number of pages in the resulting lrf-file than in the original pdf. Font family, font size, page- and line breaks are adjustable via the different options in libprs500. Using pdflrf or rasterfarian you will get an image based ebook for your reader. Font sizes and page breaks are indirectly adjustable through different options like target page orientation, border cropping, page splitting/joining, fit to page width, fit to page height and so on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

Is there general problems i should be aware of?

Well you will get problems when you want to convert pdf files using drm or password protected pdf files to lrf-files. The solution how to handle such pdf files is obvious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

Drag and drop to SD card then dump the sd card onto the sony reader, is that cool?

If you are using libprs500 there is no need to access the sd card directly because the program allows you to sync your books with the reader.
I do only access the reader or the sd card directly if i want to place content which isn't managed in my ebook-library by libprs500. Maybe one time in a week or so...

cheers,
Michael

JSWolf · 03-09-2008, 12:03 PM

You can use pdflrf to try to fix up the PDF so it's readable. You can try pdf2lrf (from Libprs500) or you can try Adobe Acrobat 8 Pro. It really depends on the PDF as to what will work best to convert it.

davidw89 · 03-09-2008, 06:53 PM

My PDF are mostly fiction/non-fiction novels. no pictures etc, so this should be a simple matter?
Is internal memory sufficient?
Also it looks like you guys are porting linux to this, how's that going along? I think i might install it

HarryT · 03-10-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

My PDF are mostly fiction/non-fiction novels. no pictures etc, so this should be a simple matter?

PDF is the worst possible choice for an eBook. It was not designed to be an eBook format; it makes a horrible eBook format, and can be extremely difficult to convert. PDF should be avoided like the plague.

Quote:

Also it looks like you guys are porting linux to this, how's that going along? I think i might install it

I don't understand the question, I'm afraid. The Sony Reader, like all eInk bookreaders, runs Linux as its operating system. What is it that you'd like to install?

Zabuton · 03-10-2008, 12:26 PM

From my personal experience, pdflrf gives the best results although the file size can be big sometimes. Normally, I put my current ebook in the internal memory and back them up to SD card in case I need them again.

Thing · 03-10-2008, 02:41 PM

I agree with Zabuton, pdflrf is usually the first tool I try.
And I can't agree more with HarryT, PDF is definitely not for ebooks; I only fully realized that after buying my reader.

Cheers.

GodzillaFrog · 03-11-2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

I am going to buy this ebook reader because you can actually buy it off ebay and get it shipped to Australia (and because the aussie dollar is so high atm)
ALL of my ebook collection are in .PDF format, and i know you need to convert this to anther format to use.
<snip>

Hey David,

Fellow oz chap here with a PRS-505.

Just wanted to make sure you knew that you don't NEED to convert the PDFs to use them (as you seem to be saying).. they work just fine on the PRS-505 unconverted, as is, au natural.. but they only work well if they are formatted for the correct page size.

keith · 03-11-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidw89

I am going to buy this ebook reader because you can actually buy it off ebay and get it shipped to Australia

Another Aussie here. Consider buying from http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ as I think you will find them cheaper than ebay. Very fast service too.

RCR · 03-11-2008, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith

Another Aussie here. Consider buying from http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ as I think you will find them cheaper than ebay. Very fast service too.

Keith got in before me. I bought my Sony from the US store B&H. There was one on eBay (someone in Brisbane) at the same time and it went for a lot more $$$ than the US store. Also, I thought B&H would be more trustworthy. And I wouldn't get a used or old model.

On PDF's: I usually save the pdf as text, improve the text with e-book tidy, copy into a Sony sized Word template and save as rtf. It's not perfect, and only works when the pdf is crystal clear and not a muddy scan from the real book.

jerryleejr · 03-12-2008, 05:35 AM

Has anyone had a chance to check out Adobe acrobat for mobile devices??

NatCh · 03-12-2008, 10:13 AM

It won't run on the PRS505.

JSWolf · 03-12-2008, 10:15 AM

Supposedly, Sony and/or Adobe is working on new PDF code for the 505. We have yet to see a new firmware with this new code. Hopefully soon.

mazzeltjes · 03-12-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Supposedly, Sony and/or Adobe is working on new PDF code for the 505. We have yet to see a new firmware with this new code. Hopefully soon.

Sony's firmware update
seems as elusive
as peace in our time

breckinshire · 03-13-2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazzeltjes

Sony's firmware update
seems as elusive
as peace in our time

Almost a haiku...

03-09-2008, 10:47 AM	#1
davidw89 Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: none atm	Last question regarding PRS-505 I am going to buy this ebook reader because you can actually buy it off ebay and get it shipped to Australia (and because the aussie dollar is so high atm) ALL of my ebook collection are in .PDF format, and i know you need to convert this to anther format to use. What program do i need to do that? What is the format called? Once i convert, how will it look in the ebook reader? wil lthe text size etc auto sync to the page? Is there general problems i should be aware of? Drag and drop to SD card then dump the sd card onto the sony reader, is that cool? Price is good, affordable.

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03-09-2008, 12:03 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You can use pdflrf to try to fix up the PDF so it's readable. You can try pdf2lrf (from Libprs500) or you can try Adobe Acrobat 8 Pro. It really depends on the PDF as to what will work best to convert it.

03-09-2008, 06:53 PM	#4
davidw89 Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: none atm	My PDF are mostly fiction/non-fiction novels. no pictures etc, so this should be a simple matter? Is internal memory sufficient? Also it looks like you guys are porting linux to this, how's that going along? I think i might install it

03-10-2008, 12:26 PM	#6
Zabuton Member Posts: 23 Karma: 14 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: BB8800/Sony PRS-505	From my personal experience, pdflrf gives the best results although the file size can be big sometimes. Normally, I put my current ebook in the internal memory and back them up to SD card in case I need them again.

03-10-2008, 02:41 PM	#7
Thing Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: PRS-505	I agree with Zabuton, pdflrf is usually the first tool I try. And I can't agree more with HarryT, PDF is definitely not for ebooks; I only fully realized that after buying my reader. Cheers.

03-12-2008, 05:35 AM	#11
jerryleejr Koby-rific! Posts: 941 Karma: 191112 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 2' From My MacBook Pro Device: Kobo Sage,Kobo Aura One, Glo HD,PRS-T1,PRS-950, PRS 300, PRS 350	Has anyone had a chance to check out Adobe acrobat for mobile devices??

03-12-2008, 10:13 AM	#12
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	It won't run on the PRS505.

03-12-2008, 10:15 AM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,975 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Supposedly, Sony and/or Adobe is working on new PDF code for the 505. We have yet to see a new firmware with this new code. Hopefully soon.