New to Sony Reader - Best Approach

kougei · 11-30-2008, 12:32 PM

Hi all,

My Sony Reader is still on it's way, but I've been reading up in preparation.

Can someone confirm that the approach I've taken is optimal, based on a one-off experiment :-

1. Joined Fictionwise, bought some Micropay credits, and bought one of the range of Star Trek books, which will be my main reading material for awhile, as I've read the whole series in paper format until 2 years ago, and need to catchup with the last 2 years releases

2. Available in E-Reader, Mobipocket, Microsoft, or Adobe. Chose Mobipocket as the most widely supported format, for the future

3. Downloaded some well hidden obscure scripts, and with slippery ease of a Python, had the book freed from it's chains

4. Imported into Calibre, edited the Metadata, browsed for the Cover, and converted to LRF, used all settings as default.

5. Viewed fine in Calibre, so hoping this will be easy to transfer to my Reader when it arrives.

It all seemed very straightforward, so question is, is Mobipocket the best format based on the formats mentioned above, and is there anything I'm missing, as regards the simple process above for when I start with the actual reader device in earnest.

Thanks in advance for any advice, here

pilotbob · 11-30-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kougei

and is there anything I'm missing, as regards the simple process above for when I start with the actual reader device in earnest.

Thanks in advance for any advice, here

Nope... you are right on track.

BOb

Valloric · 11-30-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kougei

It all seemed very straightforward, so question is, is Mobipocket the best format based on the formats mentioned above

Honestly, I prefer Microsoft LIT. This is of course a matter of personal preference. It can also be liberated, by way of ConvertLIT. Calibre accepts it as an input format too.

pilotbob · 11-30-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valloric

Microsoft LIT is better IMO. It can also be liberated, by way of ConvertLIT. Calibre accepts it as an input format too.

What makes it "better"? Also, it is not possible to d/l protected lit files on a Mac.

BOb

Valloric · 11-30-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

What makes it "better"? Also, it is not possible to d/l protected lit files on a Mac.

The moment I posted that message, I asked that myself. So I edited the post accordingly. It seems you were a moment faster.

kovidgoyal · 11-30-2008, 06:47 PM

Lit files support html 4+css (only html 3.2 for mobi), so a well made lit file has more advanced typographical features that create a better looking ebook. Some (more if you ocnert to epub) of these features are preseverd by a calibre conversion. Of courrse, most lit files are not well made so YMMV

astrodad · 12-05-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

What makes it "better"? Also, it is not possible to d/l protected lit files on a Mac.

BOb

Using Parallels 4.0, it's incredibly easy to run IE on the Mac. My wife frequently launches an IE shortcut on the dock and has no idea that she's actually running Windows in a VM.

pilotbob · 12-05-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplumey

Using Parallels 4.0, it's incredibly easy to run IE on the Mac. My wife frequently launches an IE shortcut on the dock and has no idea that she's actually running Windows in a VM.

Sure... it's "easy" but it isn't free. I personally have Fusion. But, Fusion or Parallels plus Windows (legally) is about a $300 prospect. Not really worth it to just download some ebooks. I would just say d/l mobi books and use mobidedrm which runs fine on Mac.

BOB

Scotch · 12-06-2008, 12:40 AM

I'm also a newbie - to all ereaders -- and I have a Sony 505 on its way. Tech issues generally sound foreign to me, so please excuse me if my questions sound stupid. I was fully prepared to use sites like fictionwise to buy my books for use on the Sony so I didn't have to rely only on the Sony store for new releases; I thought I'd follow instructions from boards such as this and convert either mobipocket or microsoft reader files into something readable for the 505. But does such conversion necessarily strips the DRM protection of the ebook that I buy? If so, the DMCA prohibits it, right? Is there a way to convert one format into another without stripping the DRM?

DDHarriman · 12-09-2008, 02:23 PM

Hi Scotch

It depends on the country and the laws applied in it.

General speaking, the answers are:

1 - if the original is DRM protected, yes;
2 - yes;
3 - no [if the base situation is the one pointed in (1)].

JSWolf · 12-12-2008, 01:35 PM

If you are in the USA, LIT is way better then Mobipocket for one simple reason. It is 100% legal to strip the DRM frm LIT as stated under the DMCA. The exception allows this because DRM for LIT prevents the read aloud feature from working. Stripping the DRM is the only way to get it to work.

Scotch · 12-23-2008, 10:42 PM

Thanks for the replies. This is a tough one for me. On the one hand, I try to be law abiding. On the other hand, it is frustrating that I own some DRM'd ebooks on MS Reader and Mobipocket, which I bought to experiment with the ebook concept even though I only read them on my laptop, and I can't read them on my new Sony reader. I've been thinking about this for days and I found myself reading threads late into last night to see how one goes about converting the Reader and Mobi files. [Sigh.]

11-30-2008, 12:32 PM	#1
kougei Member Posts: 16 Karma: 11 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brighton, UK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	New to Sony Reader - Best Approach Hi all, My Sony Reader is still on it's way, but I've been reading up in preparation. Can someone confirm that the approach I've taken is optimal, based on a one-off experiment :- 1. Joined Fictionwise, bought some Micropay credits, and bought one of the range of Star Trek books, which will be my main reading material for awhile, as I've read the whole series in paper format until 2 years ago, and need to catchup with the last 2 years releases 2. Available in E-Reader, Mobipocket, Microsoft, or Adobe. Chose Mobipocket as the most widely supported format, for the future 3. Downloaded some well hidden obscure scripts, and with slippery ease of a Python, had the book freed from it's chains 4. Imported into Calibre, edited the Metadata, browsed for the Cover, and converted to LRF, used all settings as default. 5. Viewed fine in Calibre, so hoping this will be easy to transfer to my Reader when it arrives. It all seemed very straightforward, so question is, is Mobipocket the best format based on the formats mentioned above, and is there anything I'm missing, as regards the simple process above for when I start with the actual reader device in earnest. Thanks in advance for any advice, here

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11-30-2008, 06:47 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,826 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Lit files support html 4+css (only html 3.2 for mobi), so a well made lit file has more advanced typographical features that create a better looking ebook. Some (more if you ocnert to epub) of these features are preseverd by a calibre conversion. Of courrse, most lit files are not well made so YMMV

12-06-2008, 12:40 AM	#9
Scotch Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS 505, Kindle	I'm also a newbie - to all ereaders -- and I have a Sony 505 on its way. Tech issues generally sound foreign to me, so please excuse me if my questions sound stupid. I was fully prepared to use sites like fictionwise to buy my books for use on the Sony so I didn't have to rely only on the Sony store for new releases; I thought I'd follow instructions from boards such as this and convert either mobipocket or microsoft reader files into something readable for the 505. But does such conversion necessarily strips the DRM protection of the ebook that I buy? If so, the DMCA prohibits it, right? Is there a way to convert one format into another without stripping the DRM?

12-09-2008, 02:23 PM	#10
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Scotch It depends on the country and the laws applied in it. General speaking, the answers are: 1 - if the original is DRM protected, yes; 2 - yes; 3 - no [if the base situation is the one pointed in (1)].

12-12-2008, 01:35 PM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,835 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you are in the USA, LIT is way better then Mobipocket for one simple reason. It is 100% legal to strip the DRM frm LIT as stated under the DMCA. The exception allows this because DRM for LIT prevents the read aloud feature from working. Stripping the DRM is the only way to get it to work.

12-23-2008, 10:42 PM	#12
Scotch Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS 505, Kindle	Thanks for the replies. This is a tough one for me. On the one hand, I try to be law abiding. On the other hand, it is frustrating that I own some DRM'd ebooks on MS Reader and Mobipocket, which I bought to experiment with the ebook concept even though I only read them on my laptop, and I can't read them on my new Sony reader. I've been thinking about this for days and I found myself reading threads late into last night to see how one goes about converting the Reader and Mobi files. [Sigh.]

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