Charging the Sony Reader with an EEE

mogui · 06-02-2008, 08:48 PM

When the reader is plugged into the USB port of a PC, the Connect software must be running on the PC in order to turn on the USB voltage supply to charge the reader. The indication that this is working is the little red light above the power switch on the reader.

I read somewhere that the USB ports on the Asus EEE (tiny Linux laptop) always have the voltage supply turned on when the device is powered up. I decided to try plugging my reader into the EEE's USB to see if the reader's little red charging light would turn on. Sure enough it did. The EEE has no software for the reader, but by downloading books to the EEE and then putting them onto an SD card for the reader, it works fine.

The EEE and the reader thus become good travel companions. I don't have to carry the charger for the reader, nor do I need to carry a Windows laptop.

yvanleterrible · 06-02-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

When the reader is plugged into the USB port of a PC, the Connect software must be running on the PC in order to turn on the USB voltage supply to charge the reader. The indication that this is working is the little red light above the power switch on the reader.

I read somewhere that the USB ports on the Asus EEE (tiny Linux laptop) always have the voltage supply turned on. I decided to try plugging my reader into the EEE's USB to see if the reader's little red charging light would turn on. Sure enough it did. The EEE has no software for the reader, but by downloading books to the EEE and then putting them onto an SD card for the reader, it works fine.

The EEE and the reader thus become good travel companions. I don't have to carry the charger for the reader, nor do I need to carry a Windows laptop.

In your case it is superflous to tell you but to others who don't know, one can install XP on the EEE. Then you have the perfect reading team.

Tom Swift · 06-02-2008, 09:15 PM

What happens when you plug it into a Mac? Just got mine but I have not tried it yet. I have been using my PSP adapter, which works just fine.

charlieperry · 06-02-2008, 11:16 PM

It'd be a lot better if you only had to carry one device. Hopefully some of the new UMPC's will be better geared towards ebook readers.

pilotbob · 06-02-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogui

When the reader is plugged into the USB port of a PC, the Connect software must be running on the PC in order to turn on the USB voltage supply to charge the reader. The indication that this is working is the little red light above the power switch on the reader.

This is not the case. I have charged my PRS-500 via USB on PCs that did not have the Sony software or drivers installed and it worked perfectly well.

Also, I have seen users here that have charged their 505's prior to installing any of the software.

BOb

Ervserver · 06-03-2008, 12:35 AM

I don't have the Sony software installed and I charge my 505 on my pc

RSaunders · 06-03-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

What happens when you plug it into a Mac? Just got mine but I have not tried it yet. I have been using my PSP adapter, which works just fine.

My 500 will not charge from an iBook. I have never had it charge from a PC without the proper drivers installed. I don't know why, but Sony choose not to load the USB port until it was sure it was a high-power port. It probably says somewhere in the USB spec that you're supposed to do some check. It's not a matter of the voltages being off, the problem (design feature?) is completely within the 500 electronics. I have other devices that give an error message "This port does not have enough power ..." if you plug them into a low-power port. There must be a way to tell. I also think that USB 2.0 ports are always high power, and I presume there is a way to check that as well. Several folks have reported that 505s charge from any USB power source, but I can't confirm that.

WillAdams · 06-03-2008, 02:10 PM

My Sony PRS-505 charges quite nicely (and I manually transfer files to it or use Calibre) when connected to my PowerMac G5 here at work.

William

Tom Swift · 06-04-2008, 02:20 AM

I just plugged my 505 into my 12" Powerbook G4, which has 1.1 USB slots, and it is also recharging the Reader.

stustaff · 06-11-2008, 06:59 AM

Works fine to charge on both my macmini and my ibook G4 I have currently never used or installed the sony software.

However it will not charge from a USB wall plug!

smithno · 07-22-2008, 08:00 PM

The Eee 701 power supply is marginal. If I use my 40GB USB hard disk on my Eee, the battery never charges. I followed several threads on eeeuser.com about the weak power supply. Try it before starting your trip!

DaveNB · 07-22-2008, 10:24 PM

MacBook Air's USB port charges my PRS 500 just fine as well.

Dave

Prolet · 08-04-2008, 03:36 AM

Just a quick info: Charging works very well using a PS3 USB port.

jakewastaken · 08-04-2008, 05:46 AM

Seems like it's actually harder to find situations in which it does not work.

06-02-2008, 08:48 PM	#1
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	Charging the Sony Reader with an EEE When the reader is plugged into the USB port of a PC, the Connect software must be running on the PC in order to turn on the USB voltage supply to charge the reader. The indication that this is working is the little red light above the power switch on the reader. I read somewhere that the USB ports on the Asus EEE (tiny Linux laptop) always have the voltage supply turned on when the device is powered up. I decided to try plugging my reader into the EEE's USB to see if the reader's little red charging light would turn on. Sure enough it did. The EEE has no software for the reader, but by downloading books to the EEE and then putting them onto an SD card for the reader, it works fine. The EEE and the reader thus become good travel companions. I don't have to carry the charger for the reader, nor do I need to carry a Windows laptop. Last edited by mogui; 06-02-2008 at 08:52 PM.

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06-02-2008, 09:15 PM	#3
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	What happens when you plug it into a Mac? Just got mine but I have not tried it yet. I have been using my PSP adapter, which works just fine.

06-02-2008, 11:16 PM	#4
charlieperry Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 174 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sydney Device: Sony PRS 505	It'd be a lot better if you only had to carry one device. Hopefully some of the new UMPC's will be better geared towards ebook readers.

06-03-2008, 12:35 AM	#6
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I don't have the Sony software installed and I charge my 505 on my pc

06-03-2008, 02:10 PM	#8
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	My Sony PRS-505 charges quite nicely (and I manually transfer files to it or use Calibre) when connected to my PowerMac G5 here at work. William

06-04-2008, 02:20 AM	#9
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	I just plugged my 505 into my 12" Powerbook G4, which has 1.1 USB slots, and it is also recharging the Reader.

06-11-2008, 06:59 AM	#10
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Works fine to charge on both my macmini and my ibook G4 I have currently never used or installed the sony software. However it will not charge from a USB wall plug!

07-22-2008, 08:00 PM	#11
smithno Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 222484 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tenn., US Device: jetBook, jetBook Lite, Kindle 3, Galaxy Note II	The Eee 701 power supply is marginal. If I use my 40GB USB hard disk on my Eee, the battery never charges. I followed several threads on eeeuser.com about the weak power supply. Try it before starting your trip!

07-22-2008, 10:24 PM	#12
DaveNB Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 399 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: Nook, Sony PRS-500, Nokia 770 (FBReader)	MacBook Air's USB port charges my PRS 500 just fine as well. Dave

08-04-2008, 03:36 AM	#13
Prolet Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: PRS-505	Just a quick info: Charging works very well using a PS3 USB port.

08-04-2008, 05:46 AM	#14
jakewastaken Media Whore. Posts: 118 Karma: 265 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Device: PRS-505	Seems like it's actually harder to find situations in which it does not work.

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