Moving from Sony to Amazon

[thorswitch]

I've been using a Sony PRS-700 for quite some time and have purchased over 150 books for it but am switching to the Kindle 3. Is there a acceptable (i.e. won't violate the rules of this board to discuss) method of moving my books from the Sony to the Kindle? Or am I just stuck having to re-buy them from Amazon if I don't want to read them on the Sony? (My eyesight is going, so the crisper screen on the new Kindles makes is considerably easier to read than trying to read the dimmer and shinier Sony screen.)

[sirmaru]

I was reading one book on my Sony PRS 900. I simply bought it from Amazon after I bought the Amazon Kindle WiFi LG 3.

I only buy books I am going to read at the moment. I usually read two at one time.

Already read books are junk to me. I just forget them. I still have ebook files from Adobe, Microsoft and now the Sony which are just dead files to me.

The only book I re-read annually is the Bible. I purchased 3 of them from Amazon for my Kindle.

When I read pBooks, I simply threw out the read books. They became like old newspapers: JUNK.

[Josieb1]

Is there a acceptable (i.e. won't violate the rules of this board to discuss) method of moving my books from the Sony to the Kindle?

If your Sony format books have DRM then unfortunately you need to find a way to remove the DRM

If your books are DRM free you can convert them to Kindle format (MOBI) using Calibre, and then load them onto the Kindle also using Calibre

[TomF]

It's my understanding that discussing DRM is OK, but providing step-by-step directions on how to remove DRM is not.

That said, Google is your friend. Among the the terms to search for are DeDRM and Dark Reverser. Before you start your search, you should be comfortable with installing somewhat obscure software and running command line scripts. If not, then this may not be for you.

[abookreader]

We can tell you that you will need strip the DRM from your current ebook files and then convert them from ... I assume they are ePub although I believe Sony used to sell .pdb? to .mobi.

The DRM part is the part that we can't tell you exactly how to accomplish on this board. Google the phrase "Apprentice Alf blog" and you will find the answers there.

Conversion from ePub to Mobi is easily accomplished via a couple of different software programs. Calibre seems to be the one most talked about around here and is the one I use.

No, I personally wouldn't suggest you buy your books all over again. You've bought them once - right? You should be able to read them on your Kindle.

[kpfeifle]

Let me just say that I just finished doing this and it was easier then I thought it wpuld be. My Sony purchased books work and look great on the Kindle. Don't buy them again.

Kevin

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by TomF

That said, Google is your friend. Among the the terms to search for are DeDRM and Dark Reverser.

I find Apprentice Alf's summary a very useful starting place, too.

[superstitious]

Well, I wouldn't say to re-buy. Only because you might have books you keep going back and reread and there's no need to spend more money on what you already paid for. I for one only buy books I really like and would reread most of them. So when I switched from 505 to Nook (No conversion here) to K3 (epub to mobi), I found the "way" to move them over. Now free books on the other hand I could care less. What available at Sony will usually be available at Amazon also. So the blog mentioned is your friend. It is not as complicated as you thought. Good luck.

Originally Posted by thorswitch

I've been using a Sony PRS-700 for quite some time and have purchased over 150 books for it but am switching to the Kindle 3. Is there a acceptable (i.e. won't violate the rules of this board to discuss) method of moving my books from the Sony to the Kindle? Or am I just stuck having to re-buy them from Amazon if I don't want to read them on the Sony? (My eyesight is going, so the crisper screen on the new Kindles makes is considerably easier to read than trying to read the dimmer and shinier Sony screen.)

Kindle is a nice product, but just in case you didn't know Sony just released a new line up of Reader products, PRS-350 and PRS-650. Screen quality-wise, they should provide equivalent quality as Kindle. You may not have to go through hassle to either repurchase or strip DRM of your currently owned books. Just a suggestion though...