any tips for Ebooks on a MAC computer?

lizzybeth05 · 06-27-2009, 11:46 PM

I am seriously considering switching to a MAC computer but one of my concerns is the use of ebooks.

I am currently working with a sony 505 but I typically purchase mircrosoft reader books and use convertLIT to remove the drm and calibre to convert to a usable format. I am also in the process of learning how to use MobiDeDRM in order to be able to convert .mobi books as well.

I do this because I don’t want to be stuck with book formats that are limited to a few devices. (but I do purchase all my books -- no pirating going on)

Will these programs/device work with a MAC computer? Now, I am pretty confident that .lit books wont work with a mac (seeing as it is a Microsoft product) but what about MobiDeDRM? And what about calibre? And Sony 505?

If they don’t work, is there a MAC version of the programs, or any other programs out there that are intended for MACs?

Also, I checked sony’s website, and it looks like there software is not compatible with MACs, does anyone know of a software that will work on MACs that can be used to load the books onto the sony reader?...I use calibre on my pc, will that work with MACs?

~Thanks in advance!

PS. I would like to apologize if this is an inappropriate forum for this thread. I couldn’t find a good place to post it.

DanielCoffey · 06-28-2009, 02:45 AM

Calibre certainly works on the Mac as well as all the little tools inside it (rtf2lrf etc). You can also have a look at Stanza which is a nice Mac desktop software ereader.

At the moment, the Sony software is PC-only, but Calibre does a fine job of filling this gap.

If you are buying books in eReader Secure from Fictionwise, there are ways (which are discissed elsewhere) of stripping the DRM leaving you with a .html version that you can then edit or re-convert to lrf.

I have had my 505 for only a couple of weeks, but free ebooks, Fictionwise and Baen Webscriptions have given me plenty to read.

pdurrant · 06-28-2009, 05:25 AM

You can't download microsoft reader books on a Mac (well, without running windows in emulation or bootcamp), as they require Internet Explorer on Windows to download.

You can run MobiDeDRM on a Mac. Python comes pre-installed. And there are some neat AppleScript around that make it a drag&drop process.

Calibre works very well on a Mac, and will let you convert lit and mobipocket books to LRF format and then load on to your Sony.

flowoeB · 06-28-2009, 07:55 AM

I'm a mac user too. I do most of my e-book related works using osx (calibre, etc) but some tasks (mobipocket creator, etc) are better done under XP (I use parallels desktop to emulate a pc - it's cheap and you can always get a cheap windows XP on ebay)... best of both worlds

lizzybeth05 · 06-28-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowoeB

I'm a mac user too. I do most of my e-book related works using osx (calibre, etc) but some tasks (mobipocket creator, etc) are better done under XP (I use parallels desktop to emulate a pc - it's cheap and you can always get a cheap windows XP on ebay)... best of both worlds

flowoeB, I actually have a fully legit copy of windows xp pro that i dont even have installed on my current comp, so using the software to emulate a pc is a good idea....thanks for the idea.

I will definitely keep that in mind.

One question, is it possible to use windows to download .lit books or .mobi books and then save them on the osx side of the hard drive?...if so, do you have to strip the drm prior to saving on the osx side.

PS. I am novice at this, so if this is a dumb question, I apoligize. I'm not sure i fully understand what it means to partition the HD and run osx and windows on different sides.

pthwaite · 06-28-2009, 12:18 PM

In parallels, and probably the other emulators, you can see all the hard drive so you can convert in XP and immediately work with it in OSX.

lizzybeth05 · 06-28-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pthwaite

In parallels, and probably the other emulators, you can see all the hard drive so you can convert in XP and immediately work with it in OSX.

pthwaite, Do you have a mac computer and do you actually use parallels?

I ask because I actually went by the Apple store today (i booked a time with a personal shopper) and the sales associate told me that it was not possible to save a file from within windows to the mac side of the HD. I realize that it is possible that the sales associate was mistaken, but i just want to be sure.

Thanks

pthwaite · 06-29-2009, 07:05 AM

Lizybeth, I have a Mac, 2 in fact, and I run parallels. I generally just copy a file in parallels and then paste into the Mac folder I'm working with but, just dropping things to the desktop is quicker. Both parallel and the mac will see the same desktop and folders if you set it up that way.
Regards, Howard

lizzybeth05 · 06-29-2009, 09:42 AM

Howard, thanks for your reply! Its good to know it can be set up that way!

Thanks!!

pthwaite · 06-29-2009, 02:30 PM

Lizzybeth, there is an option when you set it up that allows you to see/share files in both "computers" If you get stuck PM me

JSWolf · 06-29-2009, 02:33 PM

Do not use an emulated or virtual Windows to flash your Reader as you might brick it. Use a real Windows system to flash.

lizzybeth05 · 06-29-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do not use an emulated or virtual Windows to flash your Reader as you might brick it. Use a real Windows system to flash.

JSWolf:
I have a few questions:
- I am not familure with the terms "flash" and "brick it". Could you please clarify?

- when you say "Use a real Windows system to flash" Do you mean only use a PC, or do you think using bootcamp is ok?
to use boot camp, you have to partition the HD, and then format part of the HD for windows...so i think that this is different from emulating...but im not sure

Thanks

pthwaite · 06-29-2009, 05:11 PM

"Flash" means to install a new reader firmware in this case. Usually as a result of the manufacturer updating something or to fix a bug.
"brick" describes the use of a reader when the "Flashing" process goes belly up and you can no longer use your reader as a functioning device.

There have apparently been issues with "flashing" the Sony reader when using emulation packages such as parallels and so the suggestion is to only "flash" the device , if it ever needs it, from a dedicated Windows PC. At this stage anyway.

For normal use, ie reading/registering and transferring books it doesn't matter.

Howard

06-27-2009, 11:46 PM	#1
lizzybeth05 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Device: none	any tips for Ebooks on a MAC computer? I am seriously considering switching to a MAC computer but one of my concerns is the use of ebooks. I am currently working with a sony 505 but I typically purchase mircrosoft reader books and use convertLIT to remove the drm and calibre to convert to a usable format. I am also in the process of learning how to use MobiDeDRM in order to be able to convert .mobi books as well. I do this because I don’t want to be stuck with book formats that are limited to a few devices. (but I do purchase all my books -- no pirating going on) Will these programs/device work with a MAC computer? Now, I am pretty confident that .lit books wont work with a mac (seeing as it is a Microsoft product) but what about MobiDeDRM? And what about calibre? And Sony 505? If they don’t work, is there a MAC version of the programs, or any other programs out there that are intended for MACs? Also, I checked sony’s website, and it looks like there software is not compatible with MACs, does anyone know of a software that will work on MACs that can be used to load the books onto the sony reader?...I use calibre on my pc, will that work with MACs? ~Thanks in advance! PS. I would like to apologize if this is an inappropriate forum for this thread. I couldn’t find a good place to post it.

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06-28-2009, 02:45 AM	#2
DanielCoffey Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Edinburgh, UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Calibre certainly works on the Mac as well as all the little tools inside it (rtf2lrf etc). You can also have a look at Stanza which is a nice Mac desktop software ereader. At the moment, the Sony software is PC-only, but Calibre does a fine job of filling this gap. If you are buying books in eReader Secure from Fictionwise, there are ways (which are discissed elsewhere) of stripping the DRM leaving you with a .html version that you can then edit or re-convert to lrf. I have had my 505 for only a couple of weeks, but free ebooks, Fictionwise and Baen Webscriptions have given me plenty to read.

06-28-2009, 05:25 AM	#3
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,492 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	You can't download microsoft reader books on a Mac (well, without running windows in emulation or bootcamp), as they require Internet Explorer on Windows to download. You can run MobiDeDRM on a Mac. Python comes pre-installed. And there are some neat AppleScript around that make it a drag&drop process. Calibre works very well on a Mac, and will let you convert lit and mobipocket books to LRF format and then load on to your Sony.

06-28-2009, 07:55 AM	#4
flowoeB E-Reader Sammler Posts: 134 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austria Device: plenty...	I'm a mac user too. I do most of my e-book related works using osx (calibre, etc) but some tasks (mobipocket creator, etc) are better done under XP (I use parallels desktop to emulate a pc - it's cheap and you can always get a cheap windows XP on ebay)... best of both worlds

06-28-2009, 12:18 PM	#6
pthwaite Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, UK Device: DR1000S Sony PRS505 iPad iPhone	In parallels, and probably the other emulators, you can see all the hard drive so you can convert in XP and immediately work with it in OSX.

06-29-2009, 07:05 AM	#8
pthwaite Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, UK Device: DR1000S Sony PRS505 iPad iPhone	Lizybeth, I have a Mac, 2 in fact, and I run parallels. I generally just copy a file in parallels and then paste into the Mac folder I'm working with but, just dropping things to the desktop is quicker. Both parallel and the mac will see the same desktop and folders if you set it up that way. Regards, Howard

06-29-2009, 09:42 AM	#9
lizzybeth05 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Device: none	Howard, thanks for your reply! Its good to know it can be set up that way! Thanks!!

06-29-2009, 02:30 PM	#10
pthwaite Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, UK Device: DR1000S Sony PRS505 iPad iPhone	Lizzybeth, there is an option when you set it up that allows you to see/share files in both "computers" If you get stuck PM me

06-29-2009, 02:33 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Do not use an emulated or virtual Windows to flash your Reader as you might brick it. Use a real Windows system to flash.

06-29-2009, 05:11 PM	#13
pthwaite Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, UK Device: DR1000S Sony PRS505 iPad iPhone	"Flash" means to install a new reader firmware in this case. Usually as a result of the manufacturer updating something or to fix a bug. "brick" describes the use of a reader when the "Flashing" process goes belly up and you can no longer use your reader as a functioning device. There have apparently been issues with "flashing" the Sony reader when using emulation packages such as parallels and so the suggestion is to only "flash" the device , if it ever needs it, from a dedicated Windows PC. At this stage anyway. For normal use, ie reading/registering and transferring books it doesn't matter. Howard

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