Getting books while deployed.

rcuadro · 11-02-2008, 08:45 AM

Hi everyone... Rob here. Long time reader but this is my first post. I am not sure how to ask this with out sounding like I want to get books with out paying for them but you will be able to see my predicament...

So I have a Sony 505 reader, I love it, works great. At home I run windows using Parallels on my iMac. so I have no issues while at home. But here is where I run into a problem.

I am on a ship deployed to the middle east and I have a MacBook Air that I cannot connect to the ship's network. I cant find a website where I can purchase a book with out first having to download some software, authorize it, then authorize the reader...
I also cannot install software on the ship's computers so I cannot install the sony software to purchase books.

I am specifically looking to purchase the few Douglas Preston books that I dont have. I should have bought them all prior to leave them but I didnt...

Am I out of luck while I am out to sea? Is there someplace to get them?
I dont know how to get the books until I pull in, find a wifi hotspot someplace, and then download/install software on my MacBook...

I consider myself computer savy but this is kicking my ass.

Thanks
-Rob

pilotbob · 11-02-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

Am I out of luck while I am out to sea? Is there someplace to get them?
I dont know how to get the books until I pull in, find a wifi hotspot someplace, and then download/install software on my MacBook...

I assume you have a way to surf the web and download files, just not install them on the machines with internet access. If so...

Download Mobireader and install it on your Windows VM. Then, get the PID from that. Go online to fictionwise.com and get an account. Set your preference to mobipocket books. Put in your PID from mobireader.

Now you will need to locate and download mobidedrm. Use that to remove the DRM from the mobibook you got. (I think fictionwise has a free mobi book you can try this on first to get the hang of it.)

Once you have liberated the ebook you can use calibre to convert it for your Sony. There is a Mac version of calibre. Once you have converted to LRF you can put the book on your Sony.

BOb

rcuadro · 11-02-2008, 09:14 AM

I do have a way of surfing the web (I am doing it now) but the bandwidth is horrible and I cannot really download anything. 5-600k is about the limit. My email inbox can recieve relatively large attachments but not large enough to have someone email me software. Ie, I had my uncle download calibre for me, burn it onto a CD and mail it to me lol... Mail takes weeks sometimes to get here.
One thing though... my Windows VW is back home in the states

I dont have it installed on my Air...

pilotbob · 11-02-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

I do have a way of surfing the web (I am doing it now) but the bandwidth is horrible and I cannot really download anything. 5-600k is about the limit. My email inbox can recieve relatively large attachments but not large enough to have someone email me software. Ie, I had my uncle download calibre for me, burn it onto a CD and mail it to me lol... Mail takes weeks sometimes to get here.
One thing though... my Windows VW is back home in the states

I dont have it installed on my Air...

Oh sorry... I misread that you only have parallels at home. Can you remote into it? Or, have someone at home install Mobireader just to get you the PID. That is all you really need that you don't have right now. (If you did get the calibre CD). Also, you don't really need the full calibre, you just need the mobi2lrf script and whatever dependencies it has.

BOB

rcuadro · 11-02-2008, 09:46 AM

I wish I could remote into it. When I left on deployment I unplugged everything... it is not going to be used for 7 months anyhow lol.
The more I think about it I am going to be out of luck till I am able to get to a port... even then it will be simpler to just buy the paperback version of the books lol. Kinda takes the point out of having an ebook reader dont it.

pilotbob · 11-02-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcuadro

The more I think about it I am going to be out of luck till I am able to get to a port... even then it will be simpler to just buy the paperback version of the books lol. Kinda takes the point out of having an ebook reader dont it.

Yep... too bad you didn't get a Kindle.

Anyway... I wonder if there is any way to generate a PID just out of the blue or based on your serial number or something. I'm not sure if they allow they same PID on multiple accounts.

Of course there are tons of places where you can get DRM free ebooks for your Sony. That doesn't help if you want to read a specific book though of course.

BOb

rcuadro · 11-02-2008, 12:09 PM

I thought about the kindle a while back but I got the Sony at a kick ass price and I could not pass it up... I paid $150 for it with a charger and that was the same week the kindle came out.

kovidgoyal · 11-02-2008, 12:21 PM

just ask someone from home to email you a valid mobipocket PID, then use it to purchase mobipocket books and use mobidedrm+calibre on your macbok air (mobidedrm is a simple text file under 10KB to download).

jerryleejr · 11-03-2008, 12:05 AM

You could also email sony and explain your situation. They can authorize the device for you but seeing as how you do not have VM fusion or Parallels on your Air You will not be able to use the Sony software. I would check for the books you want in either Epub or Secure PDF I think you could download just the books. I am also Deployed and on a very bad internet connection. The Sony Software is about useless for me. But I have been successful with Books on board and other sites. Let me know if you need anything I could probably mail you something via Military mail.

JJ

rcuadro · 11-06-2008, 03:19 AM

I finally got calibre in the mail though I cannot find mobidedrm anywhere! I am going to have 3 days off here in less than a week so I will try to get to a htospot where I can download stuff and hopefully get something going. Next deployment I am going to have to stock up on books unlike this time.\
And to make things better, they have an even stricter limit on bandwidth. Sucks.

tekchic · 11-06-2008, 05:22 PM

Is it possible to have someone from home mail you an SD card loaded with books on it? Might get you at least a little something to read during deployment. And SD cards are dirt cheap these days. They could even just put RTF's on there if they didn't have a Reader themselves...

rcuadro · 11-07-2008, 11:10 AM

I actually have other books to read but I have this bad habit.
When I find an author I like I make every attempt at reading ALL his books. I did it with Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and now I am working on Douglas Preston. While I actually have other books to read, the fact that I am missing a couple of Preston's books is driving me crazy lol. I think it is more whining now more than anything. I am working on the last Preston book that I have and then I will see what I can get done when I get to port.

tekchic · 11-07-2008, 11:30 AM

I don't blame you there, I recently got hooked on Douglas Preston myself

Just finished Blasphemy not too long ago and read Relic, Reliquary, Tyrannosaur Canyon, and Mount Dragon.

Michael Crichton was also one of my faves -- read all of his published novels. So sad to lose such a great storyteller.

Well good luck on finding the books -- I bet next time you end up stuffing the Reader to capacity

sublinear · 11-07-2008, 01:18 PM

My first post... Hello everyone!

Rob, I sent you a PM.

DaleDe · 11-07-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sublinear

My first post... Hello everyone!

Rob, I sent you a PM.

Welcome to MobileRead.

Dale

11-02-2008, 08:45 AM	#1
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	Getting books while deployed. Hi everyone... Rob here. Long time reader but this is my first post. I am not sure how to ask this with out sounding like I want to get books with out paying for them but you will be able to see my predicament... So I have a Sony 505 reader, I love it, works great. At home I run windows using Parallels on my iMac. so I have no issues while at home. But here is where I run into a problem. I am on a ship deployed to the middle east and I have a MacBook Air that I cannot connect to the ship's network. I cant find a website where I can purchase a book with out first having to download some software, authorize it, then authorize the reader... I also cannot install software on the ship's computers so I cannot install the sony software to purchase books. I am specifically looking to purchase the few Douglas Preston books that I dont have. I should have bought them all prior to leave them but I didnt... Am I out of luck while I am out to sea? Is there someplace to get them? I dont know how to get the books until I pull in, find a wifi hotspot someplace, and then download/install software on my MacBook... I consider myself computer savy but this is kicking my ass. Thanks -Rob

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
A Noobs Guide to Borrowing E-Library Books and Installing non Kobo Bookstore Books	bamelin	Kobo Reader	17	01-07-2012 04:11 PM
Free books (Kobo) - 20 Dorchester Publishing Books (Romance, Horror, Thriller etc.)	ATDrake	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	15	09-24-2010 07:01 PM
Two free books (kobo) from Francesca Lia Block [BOOKS DELETED BY AUTHOR]	koland	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	11	04-08-2010 06:03 AM
Free books from Open Books to celebrate 'Read An E-Book Week'	Kelly Huddleston	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	10	03-08-2010 12:24 PM
Sony and google books, anyway to bulk download all free books?	Student1	Calibre	18	05-28-2009 09:29 PM

11-02-2008, 09:14 AM	#3
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I do have a way of surfing the web (I am doing it now) but the bandwidth is horrible and I cannot really download anything. 5-600k is about the limit. My email inbox can recieve relatively large attachments but not large enough to have someone email me software. Ie, I had my uncle download calibre for me, burn it onto a CD and mail it to me lol... Mail takes weeks sometimes to get here. One thing though... my Windows VW is back home in the states I dont have it installed on my Air...

11-02-2008, 09:46 AM	#5
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I wish I could remote into it. When I left on deployment I unplugged everything... it is not going to be used for 7 months anyhow lol. The more I think about it I am going to be out of luck till I am able to get to a port... even then it will be simpler to just buy the paperback version of the books lol. Kinda takes the point out of having an ebook reader dont it.

11-02-2008, 12:09 PM	#7
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I thought about the kindle a while back but I got the Sony at a kick ass price and I could not pass it up... I paid $150 for it with a charger and that was the same week the kindle came out.

11-02-2008, 12:21 PM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,149 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	just ask someone from home to email you a valid mobipocket PID, then use it to purchase mobipocket books and use mobidedrm+calibre on your macbok air (mobidedrm is a simple text file under 10KB to download).

11-03-2008, 12:05 AM	#9
jerryleejr Koby-rific! Posts: 944 Karma: 191112 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 2' From My MacBook Pro Device: Kobo Sage,Kobo Aura One, Glo HD,PRS-T1,PRS-950, PRS 300, PRS 350	You could also email sony and explain your situation. They can authorize the device for you but seeing as how you do not have VM fusion or Parallels on your Air You will not be able to use the Sony software. I would check for the books you want in either Epub or Secure PDF I think you could download just the books. I am also Deployed and on a very bad internet connection. The Sony Software is about useless for me. But I have been successful with Books on board and other sites. Let me know if you need anything I could probably mail you something via Military mail. JJ

11-06-2008, 03:19 AM	#10
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I finally got calibre in the mail though I cannot find mobidedrm anywhere! I am going to have 3 days off here in less than a week so I will try to get to a htospot where I can download stuff and hopefully get something going. Next deployment I am going to have to stock up on books unlike this time.\ And to make things better, they have an even stricter limit on bandwidth. Sucks.

11-06-2008, 05:22 PM	#11
tekchic Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	Is it possible to have someone from home mail you an SD card loaded with books on it? Might get you at least a little something to read during deployment. And SD cards are dirt cheap these days. They could even just put RTF's on there if they didn't have a Reader themselves...

11-07-2008, 11:10 AM	#12
rcuadro Wizard Posts: 1,686 Karma: 874275 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Device: Kindle DX	I actually have other books to read but I have this bad habit. When I find an author I like I make every attempt at reading ALL his books. I did it with Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and now I am working on Douglas Preston. While I actually have other books to read, the fact that I am missing a couple of Preston's books is driving me crazy lol. I think it is more whining now more than anything. I am working on the last Preston book that I have and then I will see what I can get done when I get to port.

11-07-2008, 11:30 AM	#13
tekchic Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	I don't blame you there, I recently got hooked on Douglas Preston myself Just finished Blasphemy not too long ago and read Relic, Reliquary, Tyrannosaur Canyon, and Mount Dragon. Michael Crichton was also one of my faves -- read all of his published novels. So sad to lose such a great storyteller. Well good luck on finding the books -- I bet next time you end up stuffing the Reader to capacity

11-07-2008, 01:18 PM	#14
sublinear Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: iPAQ hx4700, Sony Reader	My first post... Hello everyone! Rob, I sent you a PM.

Advert

Advert