Seriousness How many Mac users on this site?

mwheinz · 10-09-2009, 10:19 AM

Because of the problems I've had with eBook Library, Calibre and now Adobe Digital Editions (Mac version doesn't support the PRS-600!?!) I've got so many different tools for managing my PRS-600 that I've become worried that I'm going to lose books - that I'll delete something off the reader and later discover I can't find it on any of my computers.

To get around this, I hacked up a "daemon" (a hidden application) that detects whenever an external drive is plugged into my Macbook and, if the drive is actually my PRS-600, it automatically backs it up to my Documents folder.

Right now, I have it set up so that old books are never deleted from the backup, even if they're deleted from the reader, but I could also set up a "drop box" feature, so that new books on the Mac are automatically copied to the reader when it is plugged in.

Is there any interest in my turning this into something that a normal user could install? While I wrote it for my 600, it should work with any reader that looks like a disk drive to the Mac.

Any interest?

badgoodDeb · 10-09-2009, 06:11 PM

Oooooo .... sounds good to me! I'm a mac user. Kindler, but mac. I've been trusting Amazon to hang onto books when I delete them -- but it would be awfully nice to have my own safeguard, as well! When I bought my first Kindle, I was very careful to copy off any new books. Now that I'm on my second Kindle, I'm just busy reading books, and I don't bother to make private copies. Even though I know it would be a good idea!

JCKobo · 10-09-2009, 06:36 PM

I wonder if you can setup TimeMachine for your PRS-600? I haven't tried, but it might work. Though, I guess you would need to keep it plugged in long enough for TM to see it and back it up.

mwheinz · 10-10-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Oooooo .... sounds good to me! I'm a mac user. Kindler, but mac.

Does the kindle show up on your machine as a hard drive?

mwheinz · 10-10-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCShortcovers

I wonder if you can setup TimeMachine for your PRS-600?

I'm not sure - it's an interesting idea; I do know Spotlight was trying to index it, I had to disable that.

Kent Walters · 10-10-2009, 09:26 PM

mwheinz,

Go ahead... I, for one, would like to give it t try.

JCShortcovers,

In the Time Machine Control Panel, set the option to show Time Machine in the menu bar, then when the 'disk' (your reader or card) is mounted, choose Backup Now from the TM menu. If you have a lot of books, the first backup might take a while. After that, they should go pretty quick. Should work.

Kent Walters

Juliette · 10-12-2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Because of the problems I've had with eBook Library, Calibre and now Adobe Digital Editions (Mac version doesn't support the PRS-600!?!) I've got so many different tools for managing my PRS-600 that I've become worried that I'm going to lose books - that I'll delete something off the reader and later discover I can't find it on any of my computers.

To get around this, I hacked up a "daemon" (a hidden application) that detects whenever an external drive is plugged into my Macbook and, if the drive is actually my PRS-600, it automatically backs it up to my Documents folder.

Right now, I have it set up so that old books are never deleted from the backup, even if they're deleted from the reader, but I could also set up a "drop box" feature, so that new books on the Mac are automatically copied to the reader when it is plugged in.

Is there any interest in my turning this into something that a normal user could install? While I wrote it for my 600, it should work with any reader that looks like a disk drive to the Mac.

Any interest?

I am very interested! EBL is still largely unstable, Calibre too. The Drop Box would be wonderful!

mwheinz · 10-12-2009, 01:00 PM

Ok - it will take me another week or two before I can really look at it - my current classes are still in full swing - but hopefully within a month or so I'll have something.

Remember this is going to be a very simple tool; nothing like what Calibre can do.

Juliette · 10-12-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Ok - it will take me another week or two before I can really look at it - my current classes are still in full swing - but hopefully within a month or so I'll have something.

Remember this is going to be a very simple tool; nothing like what Calibre can do.

Thank you

personally I'm looking toward simplicity. For collections and so on I can wrestle with other software, but if I'm on the run (and I'm often on the run) I'd rather have a direct solution.

In other words: I'd like to be the guinea pig

Since we're at it: does anyone have less trouble working directly with memory cards- through adaptors or the port if you have one in your computer? Even EBL is better behaving...

badgoodDeb · 10-12-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

Does the kindle show up on your machine as a hard drive?

Yes, the Kindle does show up as a hard drive. So this will probably work on a Kindle too.

Lycoming · 10-12-2009, 03:43 PM

Good idea. I'll try the Time machine and see if it recognises the eReader.

The disks are recognised but they require formatting. I assume that means I'd lose all the info on the reader and card, so will be circumspect, until somebody decides otherwise. Please remember it isn't clever to be brave with other people's computer memory. :-)))

Kent Walters · 10-15-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycoming

... The disks are recognised but they require formatting. I assume that means I'd lose all the info on the reader and card, so will be circumspect, until somebody decides otherwise. Please remember it isn't clever to be brave with other people's computer memory. :-)))
[/IMG]

Ouch! Yes, the filesystem has to be recognized by the Mac, both of my readers use Fat16; I wasn't thinking about that. I doubt that you'll be able to use the Mac for backups unless someone comes up with a way to get it to recognize the other filesystems... Sorry... I surely don't want to help anyone lose anything.

Kent Walters

GeoffC · 10-16-2009, 06:21 AM

ooooh !

I've not worn a mac in years ....

mwheinz · 10-16-2009, 06:59 AM

Okay - I'm finishing up a current project right now; when I'm done next week I'll start working on this one.

This is one of those things that is trivial for a programmer to do for themselves (a quick shell script) but writing a proper app means I have to actually put some thought into it.

Lycoming · 10-16-2009, 10:05 AM

Geoff, suits you.

10-09-2009, 10:19 AM	#1
mwheinz award-winning bozo Posts: 258 Karma: 172703 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Device: Kobo Libra 2	How many Mac users on this site? Because of the problems I've had with eBook Library, Calibre and now Adobe Digital Editions (Mac version doesn't support the PRS-600!?!) I've got so many different tools for managing my PRS-600 that I've become worried that I'm going to lose books - that I'll delete something off the reader and later discover I can't find it on any of my computers. To get around this, I hacked up a "daemon" (a hidden application) that detects whenever an external drive is plugged into my Macbook and, if the drive is actually my PRS-600, it automatically backs it up to my Documents folder. Right now, I have it set up so that old books are never deleted from the backup, even if they're deleted from the reader, but I could also set up a "drop box" feature, so that new books on the Mac are automatically copied to the reader when it is plugged in. Is there any interest in my turning this into something that a normal user could install? While I wrote it for my 600, it should work with any reader that looks like a disk drive to the Mac. Any interest?

10-12-2009, 03:43 PM	#11
Lycoming Capt Chaos II Posts: 483 Karma: 33043007 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cornwall, UK Device: iPad2	Good idea. I'll try the Time machine and see if it recognises the eReader. The disks are recognised but they require formatting. I assume that means I'd lose all the info on the reader and card, so will be circumspect, until somebody decides otherwise. Please remember it isn't clever to be brave with other people's computer memory. :-))) Last edited by Lycoming; 10-12-2009 at 03:53 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Useful Applescript for Mac OS X users	pdurrant	Kindle Formats	11	07-23-2011 05:00 AM
Classic Nook and Mac users	just_jeepin	Barnes & Noble NOOK	1	06-22-2010 12:52 PM
Mac users that are Reader owners, help a new Mac owner	AnemicOak	Sony Reader	8	06-12-2010 04:36 PM
formating text for mac users	jetreader	News	1	07-24-2009 11:06 AM
Question for mac users	jerryleejr	Sony Reader	6	02-06-2008 12:59 AM

10-09-2009, 06:11 PM	#2
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,501 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Oooooo .... sounds good to me! I'm a mac user. Kindler, but mac. I've been trusting Amazon to hang onto books when I delete them -- but it would be awfully nice to have my own safeguard, as well! When I bought my first Kindle, I was very careful to copy off any new books. Now that I'm on my second Kindle, I'm just busy reading books, and I don't bother to make private copies. Even though I know it would be a good idea!

10-09-2009, 06:36 PM	#3
JCKobo Kobo Product Guy Posts: 244 Karma: 36848 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Vox	I wonder if you can setup TimeMachine for your PRS-600? I haven't tried, but it might work. Though, I guess you would need to keep it plugged in long enough for TM to see it and back it up.

10-10-2009, 09:26 PM	#6
Kent Walters Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 92 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern California, USA Device: iRex DR1000S, Astak EZreader (Hanlin V3)	mwheinz, Go ahead... I, for one, would like to give it t try. JCShortcovers, In the Time Machine Control Panel, set the option to show Time Machine in the menu bar, then when the 'disk' (your reader or card) is mounted, choose Backup Now from the TM menu. If you have a lot of books, the first backup might take a while. After that, they should go pretty quick. Should work. Kent Walters

10-12-2009, 01:00 PM	#8
mwheinz award-winning bozo Posts: 258 Karma: 172703 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Ok - it will take me another week or two before I can really look at it - my current classes are still in full swing - but hopefully within a month or so I'll have something. Remember this is going to be a very simple tool; nothing like what Calibre can do.

10-16-2009, 06:21 AM	#13
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	ooooh ! I've not worn a mac in years ....

10-16-2009, 06:59 AM	#14
mwheinz award-winning bozo Posts: 258 Karma: 172703 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Device: Kobo Libra 2	Okay - I'm finishing up a current project right now; when I'm done next week I'll start working on this one. This is one of those things that is trivial for a programmer to do for themselves (a quick shell script) but writing a proper app means I have to actually put some thought into it.

10-16-2009, 10:05 AM	#15
Lycoming Capt Chaos II Posts: 483 Karma: 33043007 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cornwall, UK Device: iPad2	Geoff, suits you.