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ddave · 03-13-2009, 12:53 AM

I'm new to ereaders and to this forum so forgive me if any requested information is discussed elsewhere. I'm trying to decide if I'd like an ebook reader and which to get, currently leaning towards the Sony PRS-700. However, I'd like to better understand how I'm going to generate the files that I want to read, how does Calibre work, is it a replacement for (or instead of) the Sony program (or Kindles).
Based on what I've read over the past 2 weeks, I'm not sure I'm interested in buying any eBooks because I don't want to be annoyed with the extra work associated with the DRM stuff. Sounds like I have to register the reader with the seller (Sony or Amazon, unless I buy an BeBook or other foreign device) who will then control what I can do with the device that I paid for.
I have many documents that I would like to read (and be portable). I am a scientist and so I have many PDF files - a quick test a the local Borders showed how the 700 could work with PDF files.

Question 1: Is there any way to tell from the properties of a PDF file whether the text is reflowed or an image? A PDF file I created from Wikipedia worked rather well, while PDF's that I copied from scientific journals (graphs and equations) didn't work as well.

Question 2: If I'm not going to need the Sony program (is there a conflict with Calibre), then to read a Word DOC file, can I just save it as an RTF file?

Question 3: Can I download the user manual for Calibre from somewhere so that I understand better what it's doing and how I will use it on my computer.

Question 4: Which computer (or all) should I use. I have a home desktop computer, family laptop computer and my main computer at work ( a laptop). When I travel for work (frequently at present) I'll have the work laptop with me. But, there is a firewall at work.

I was able to copy ePub files to an SD card and read load the book on the PRS-700 so that would be an effective way to read free books.

Question 5: I'm concerned that buying DRM books will make it more complicated for me to read all the other documents that I need access to. In that case, I may just use it to read free books and my technical documents and wait for the market to settle.

Question 6: I am also teaching myself Russian. I read somewhere that the LRF file structure can include font information. Can I read cyrillic text on the 700?

Sorry for so many questions, but the procedures for reading technical documents aren't usually discussed.

03-13-2009, 12:53 AM	#80
ddave Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minnesota, USA Device: none	Beginner questions I'm new to ereaders and to this forum so forgive me if any requested information is discussed elsewhere. I'm trying to decide if I'd like an ebook reader and which to get, currently leaning towards the Sony PRS-700. However, I'd like to better understand how I'm going to generate the files that I want to read, how does Calibre work, is it a replacement for (or instead of) the Sony program (or Kindles). Based on what I've read over the past 2 weeks, I'm not sure I'm interested in buying any eBooks because I don't want to be annoyed with the extra work associated with the DRM stuff. Sounds like I have to register the reader with the seller (Sony or Amazon, unless I buy an BeBook or other foreign device) who will then control what I can do with the device that I paid for. I have many documents that I would like to read (and be portable). I am a scientist and so I have many PDF files - a quick test a the local Borders showed how the 700 could work with PDF files. Question 1: Is there any way to tell from the properties of a PDF file whether the text is reflowed or an image? A PDF file I created from Wikipedia worked rather well, while PDF's that I copied from scientific journals (graphs and equations) didn't work as well. Question 2: If I'm not going to need the Sony program (is there a conflict with Calibre), then to read a Word DOC file, can I just save it as an RTF file? Question 3: Can I download the user manual for Calibre from somewhere so that I understand better what it's doing and how I will use it on my computer. Question 4: Which computer (or all) should I use. I have a home desktop computer, family laptop computer and my main computer at work ( a laptop). When I travel for work (frequently at present) I'll have the work laptop with me. But, there is a firewall at work. I was able to copy ePub files to an SD card and read load the book on the PRS-700 so that would be an effective way to read free books. Question 5: I'm concerned that buying DRM books will make it more complicated for me to read all the other documents that I need access to. In that case, I may just use it to read free books and my technical documents and wait for the market to settle. Question 6: I am also teaching myself Russian. I read somewhere that the LRF file structure can include font information. Can I read cyrillic text on the 700? Sorry for so many questions, but the procedures for reading technical documents aren't usually discussed.