New to the world of ebooks

Adam Reith · 12-26-2010, 08:36 AM

Hello everyone. I have just joined the ranks of new ebook readers with a Sony PRS-350. I read a lot of good reviews about the Calibre software and am pleased to have found this Forum.
To introduce myself briefly, I am a teacher of engineering in London and have always loved reading. I take an active part in many online forums and consider myself a competent amateur when using computers and other electronic technology. I am also a keen amateur photographer. I have many and varied hobbies and like programs such as 'Goodnight Sweetheart' from the TV and like looking at historical pictures of London from the 19th and early to mid 20th centuries.
I am sure that like many others new to ebooks, I find a lot of ebook stuff rather complicated and hard to get to grips with. An example is that I have downloaded the Sony Reader software, the Adobe Digital Editions Software (and authorised my computer) and the Kobo software for my PC but am having some problems in getting all these programs to talk to each other. I also have the Kobo and Kindle Apps on my iPhone.
I am hoping this Forum will help me to find out how to do things such as find the Kobo book files I have downloaded on my PC and transfer them to my Sony ereader. So far I have not found out where they are stored.
I am more than happy to be considered a 'newbie' because that is what I am and I apologise if any of the questions I might be asking are either silly or have obvious answers that I have missed.
It is great to have found you all and I will close now by wishing you all a Happy New Year.

jbcohen · 12-26-2010, 08:43 AM

Sounds like what you need is a bit of technical assistance. Unfortunately I need to take a pass on this one since my reader is a Libra Pro not a Sony. However I do know something about Adobe Digital Editions since my Libra Pro uses that as well. With the Editions software you will need to download and install the software then attach your reader to the PC's USB ports. The reader will show up on the left pane where you can drag and drop ebooks to it. When you drag a book to the reader's icon the ebook will be written to the reader. Trouble is that I do not know how Sony handles the Editions software just my Libra Pro, never played with a Sony before but have absolutely nothing against them except price.

Adam Reith · 12-26-2010, 08:48 AM

Wow! What an excellent start to joining a new forum. Many thanks for your speedy response jbcohen. I appreciate your help.
The Sony does transfer the files OK and I have managed to work between the Adobe and the Sony programmes but I can't even FIND the Kobo files on my computer so cannot import them into my Sony 350. They run fine in Kobo itself of course but I do want to transfer them.

jbcohen · 12-26-2010, 09:44 AM

Look into the documentation for your Sony and look at what file formats it supports. Look at the file format of the Kobo book you downloaded. Are they a match? Does your Sony support the format of the kobo book? Most PDF format books are encrypted so that you are forced to get all of your ebooks from the company that made the reader with the exception of the epub format books. Did you download the book in epub format? If you got it in PDF you will need to get the book with Sony's encryption not Kobo's encryption. My Libra reads the encryption for Borders and can read any epub format, thus I can go on to Sony's ebook store and buy an ebook in epub from them and read it on my Libra.

I also recommend that you put a new thread in the Sony sub-forum where you will get advice from other Sony owners. As a Libra Pro owner there is only so much that I can help you with. I have never used the Sony software and would not have an occasion to use it thus I can't help there.

MickeyC · 12-26-2010, 10:10 AM

Hi Adam and welcome to MobileRead.

When I buy a Kobo book, it downloads to my Adobe Digital Editions folder. From there it normally moves into my Sony Library as soon as I open it. If not, I just import it ito the Library. Hope this helps.

And, if you're still having trouble, try posting your question in the Sony section.

Valmore Daniels · 12-26-2010, 12:36 PM

welcome

desertblues · 12-26-2010, 02:09 PM

Hi, welcome to MR from the Netherlands. You'll find a lot of answers in the Sony section.

neilmarr · 12-26-2010, 02:29 PM

Good to have such excited new company, Adam. Be sure to download free Calibre lbrary software for an added bonus. I'm a Sony user, too, and wouldn't be without it. Happy reading and very best wishes. Neil

GraceKrispy · 12-26-2010, 04:17 PM

I think you are quite beyond me, but I wanted to welcome you anyway!

ImogenRose · 12-26-2010, 04:18 PM

Hello and welcome to MR!

Imogen

Adam Reith · 12-27-2010, 07:42 AM

Many thanks for all the replies folks. I was out yesterday so was not able to respond sooner. I will certainly have a look at the Sony forums and later will connect my PRS-350 and see what I can do about importing/downloading the Kobo books. I am also going to have a play with the Calibre Software.
Cheers one and all.

GeoffC · 12-30-2010, 05:34 AM

Welcome to mobileread...

12-26-2010, 08:36 AM	#1
Adam Reith Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 82 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	New to the world of ebooks Hello everyone. I have just joined the ranks of new ebook readers with a Sony PRS-350. I read a lot of good reviews about the Calibre software and am pleased to have found this Forum. To introduce myself briefly, I am a teacher of engineering in London and have always loved reading. I take an active part in many online forums and consider myself a competent amateur when using computers and other electronic technology. I am also a keen amateur photographer. I have many and varied hobbies and like programs such as 'Goodnight Sweetheart' from the TV and like looking at historical pictures of London from the 19th and early to mid 20th centuries. I am sure that like many others new to ebooks, I find a lot of ebook stuff rather complicated and hard to get to grips with. An example is that I have downloaded the Sony Reader software, the Adobe Digital Editions Software (and authorised my computer) and the Kobo software for my PC but am having some problems in getting all these programs to talk to each other. I also have the Kobo and Kindle Apps on my iPhone. I am hoping this Forum will help me to find out how to do things such as find the Kobo book files I have downloaded on my PC and transfer them to my Sony ereader. So far I have not found out where they are stored. I am more than happy to be considered a 'newbie' because that is what I am and I apologise if any of the questions I might be asking are either silly or have obvious answers that I have missed. It is great to have found you all and I will close now by wishing you all a Happy New Year.

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12-26-2010, 08:43 AM	#2
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Sounds like what you need is a bit of technical assistance. Unfortunately I need to take a pass on this one since my reader is a Libra Pro not a Sony. However I do know something about Adobe Digital Editions since my Libra Pro uses that as well. With the Editions software you will need to download and install the software then attach your reader to the PC's USB ports. The reader will show up on the left pane where you can drag and drop ebooks to it. When you drag a book to the reader's icon the ebook will be written to the reader. Trouble is that I do not know how Sony handles the Editions software just my Libra Pro, never played with a Sony before but have absolutely nothing against them except price.

12-26-2010, 08:48 AM	#3
Adam Reith Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 82 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	Wow! What an excellent start to joining a new forum. Many thanks for your speedy response jbcohen. I appreciate your help. The Sony does transfer the files OK and I have managed to work between the Adobe and the Sony programmes but I can't even FIND the Kobo files on my computer so cannot import them into my Sony 350. They run fine in Kobo itself of course but I do want to transfer them.

12-26-2010, 09:44 AM	#4
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Look into the documentation for your Sony and look at what file formats it supports. Look at the file format of the Kobo book you downloaded. Are they a match? Does your Sony support the format of the kobo book? Most PDF format books are encrypted so that you are forced to get all of your ebooks from the company that made the reader with the exception of the epub format books. Did you download the book in epub format? If you got it in PDF you will need to get the book with Sony's encryption not Kobo's encryption. My Libra reads the encryption for Borders and can read any epub format, thus I can go on to Sony's ebook store and buy an ebook in epub from them and read it on my Libra. I also recommend that you put a new thread in the Sony sub-forum where you will get advice from other Sony owners. As a Libra Pro owner there is only so much that I can help you with. I have never used the Sony software and would not have an occasion to use it thus I can't help there.

12-26-2010, 10:10 AM	#5
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Adam and welcome to MobileRead. When I buy a Kobo book, it downloads to my Adobe Digital Editions folder. From there it normally moves into my Sony Library as soon as I open it. If not, I just import it ito the Library. Hope this helps. And, if you're still having trouble, try posting your question in the Sony section.

12-26-2010, 12:36 PM	#6
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	welcome

12-26-2010, 02:09 PM	#7
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	Hi, welcome to MR from the Netherlands. You'll find a lot of answers in the Sony section.

12-26-2010, 02:29 PM	#8
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have such excited new company, Adam. Be sure to download free Calibre lbrary software for an added bonus. I'm a Sony user, too, and wouldn't be without it. Happy reading and very best wishes. Neil

12-26-2010, 04:17 PM	#9
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I think you are quite beyond me, but I wanted to welcome you anyway!

12-26-2010, 04:18 PM	#10
ImogenRose PORTAL Posts: 7,204 Karma: 2884640 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (3G), iPhone	Hello and welcome to MR! Imogen

12-27-2010, 07:42 AM	#11
Adam Reith Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 82 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	Many thanks for all the replies folks. I was out yesterday so was not able to respond sooner. I will certainly have a look at the Sony forums and later will connect my PRS-350 and see what I can do about importing/downloading the Kobo books. I am also going to have a play with the Calibre Software. Cheers one and all.

12-30-2010, 05:34 AM	#12
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	Welcome to mobileread...