Quote:
Originally Posted by VonSaxenCoburg
1) I heartily recommend using Calibre, GPL + bookrecoder + library, what more does one need? Bit slower than the Sony software when transferring from PC to Reader, though, so be prepared to strum those fingers a while :-)
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I too highly recommend Calibre. Despite it being slower at transferring to the Sony, I use Calibre almost exclusively. It is a far superior product and it's FLOSS (Free Libre Open Source Software) too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by VonSaxenCoburg
2) I noticed someone advising to get a lead convertor from USB to PSP... googled a bit but all I could find was actually PSP, the gaming console... Is that what I should buy? Because not being able to read while it's charging is almost as big a downside as not being able to use proper multilevel directories :-(
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What "we" are talking about is that the PRS600 Reader has both a mini-USB connector and a yellow turret connector -- both of which include support for charging the reader.
Unfortunately, Sony set up the reader so that it will ONLY charge through the USB connector if that cable hooks up to an active computer with the "correct" software (Calibre works) running so that the Reader can talk to the computer and "decide" to enable charging. This is an ACTIVE process, so if you plug into a laptop and the laptop goes into sleep mode, so does the charging process!!! USB wall chargers will NOT work because the Reader can't find a computer at the other end and will NOT enable charging. This really limits the options for charging, especially for someone like me who travels a lot and therefore often does not have access to a desktop PC for charging purposes. Additionally, because charging is an active process, you CANNOT read while the Reader is charging via this method because it is busy "talking" to the computer (actually it's busy being an external drive so you can transfer books on and off etc.)
If we aren't happy with this situation, then Sony says the only solution is to buy their $30 (it's almost $40 in Canada) wall-wart charger that plugs into the wall (obviously) and into the yellow turret power connector and supports charging the Reader without any other (computer) connection. Additionally, since the Reader is not busy "talking" to another computer, you CAN read while the Reader is charging via this method!
Many of us figured out (I thought I was the first
) that both the physical turret connector and the actual voltage required are identical to those on the PSP (Sony Play Station Portable) and that wall-wart charger is cheaper. Even more interesting, and more economical though is the fact that the Reader wants a voltage of 5.2V, and USB supplies a voltage of 5.0V -- you guessed it -- this means that with the right cable (USB on one end and a yellow "Sony PSP" connector on the other end) you can easily charge the Reader using a USB wall charger adaptor without having to pay Sony any money at all. [OK, you have to buy the special cable somewhere, and you have to buy a USB wall charger (if you don't have one already) but you don't have to pay the huge premium that Sony wants for their little wall-wart charger.] In my case, I bought another USB wall charger (that folds flatter than any of my exist USB units) and the special USB-PSP cable for just over $10. Because of the voltage difference, it "should" take a little longer to charge the Reader using this method than if it would using the actual Sony wall-wart adaptor. But since I almost always plug mine in and walk away, I don't care if it takes an extra few minutes (or even an extra few hours). As a bonus I have one less wall-wart to pack every time I travel -- a simpler solution that is also less expensive -- you can't loose!
Wow, I just realized, I typed a lot more than I planned on!
Hope this helps you out.
~ FredPC