A (geeky) way to put your ID on your reader

[JanetCinNC]

Geeky, but I am what I am...

Anyway, I ordered my iPod from Apple so I could have my name & phone number engraved on it, but I bought my Sony PRS-505 from a local Borders - so no engraving. Putting an address label on the back would work, but it could fall off or be removed by someone wanting to steal the device.

I took a picture of myself, used a simple photo editing program and added text saying "This Sony reader belongs to " and put my name & phone number in there. I added the picture to my reader. Since the picture can't be deleted without using software, no one can pick up my reader and try to pass it off as theirs. It's also a sure-fire way of identifying it if someone finds it and wants me to positively identify it before they'll return it.

Edit- Well, it won't prevent them from trying to steal it, but it will make it possible for me to prove it's mine if I get the chance, you know!

Plus, unlike engraving, this ID is easily removed if you want to pass your reader on to someone else.

Edited to correct store name!

[rhadin]

Great idea. Have some karma

[pilotbob]

I remember we used to have this "engraving pen" thing when I was a kid. It was for theft purposes. It had a sharp metal point and it vibrated... so you could "engrave" (more like scratch) some identifier on your devices "VCR" etc. I think the recommended your SSN at the time... but this was a while ago.

I think the recomendation these days is to record all your S/Ns in some household inventory file (backedup offsite of course).

Heres one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VM3PV8?...0&linkCode=asn

BOb

[JanetCinNC]

Thanks for the karma, rhadin!

[Ervserver]

I'd like to install a tiny gps chip inside mine

[astrodad]

Originally Posted by Ervserver

I'd like to install a tiny gps chip inside mine

I suppose someone in the future might hook up a driver for a custom firmware that supports that, or maybe even a cell modem and browser.

[yvanleterrible]

I was under the impression that if a Sony reader was registered it had it's own ID that showed up paired to the computer ID everytime one would open Connect. If it's so that Reader would become useless pretty fast, with no way of changing it's content. (unless using flashcards that is) Anyone know anything about this?

[delfy]

uploading books to reader from computer is so easy (i use total commander but guess you can use windows explorer as well), that i never bothered installing Connect. there's such big quantity of free books available on web that i don't see myself using Connect in any near future..

[dordale]

delfy--

One thing I learned from others in this forum--one reason to use the Connect software even if you don't plan on buying books from their store is that it will "pre-paginate" the books for you before transferring them to your Reader. When you open a book for the first time or change to a different font size for the first time, it'll be a lot faster because all of the pagination has been done ahead of time.

dordale

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I was under the impression that if a Sony reader was registered it had it's own ID that showed up paired to the computer ID everytime one would open Connect. If it's so that Reader would become useless pretty fast, with no way of changing it's content. (unless using flashcards that is) Anyone know anything about this?

That pairing really only effects buying books from the Sony store.

[ChuckEggDotCom]

Originally Posted by NatCh

That pairing really only effects buying books from the Sony store.

The Sony Reader is registered. I bought one on eBay and I had to call Sony tech support do have it "de-registered" from the previous owner so that I could Re-register it under my own name to use the Sony Connect Store.

I wish Sony would have made CLEAR PLASTIC POCKETS in the inside of the book cover. I've taped a business card to the inside cover of mine, but it would have been much more graceful if Sony had provided a clear plastic business card window inside the front cover.

Also, while they're at it, they can add a half dozen small pockets where I can store SD cards. Yes, I know I can store a gazillion books on one 2GB card, but I prefer to store several books on smaller cards and just swap them out.

Chuck Eglinton

[Valloric]

Originally Posted by ChuckEggDotCom

...but it would have been much more graceful if Sony had provided a clear plastic business card window inside the front cover.

Bah! Terrible idea... Some (and I would say most) people wouldn't want to put their business card in that pocket and it would totally defeat the nice design the cover has right now. In fact, the cover is so amazing as it is, I have yet to see a custom design of the cover that looks better than the factory default.

[ChuckEggDotCom]

Originally Posted by Valloric

Bah! Terrible idea... Some (and I would say most) people wouldn't want to put their business card in that pocket and it would totally defeat the nice design the cover has right now.

Business card holder INSIDE the cover. Not OUTSIDE the cover.

So, when you lose your Sony Reader in an airport, hotel, or coffee shop, how does the finder return your lost reader to you?

Answer: They can't return your reader to you because you have no identification on it.

Q. When people lost Franklin Planners for two decades and lost fine leather portfolios for decades how were they returned to owners? A. Often because of the information on business card holder on the inside cover.

[ChuckEggDotCom]

Originally Posted by Valloric

Bah! Terrible idea... Some (and I would say most) people wouldn't want to put their business card in that pocket and it would totally defeat the nice design the cover has right now. In fact, the cover is so amazing as it is, I have yet to see a custom design of the cover that looks better than the factory default.

LoL. I just found out I'm not the only one who thinks this is a great idea.

Sony sells an upgraded leather cover that has both the business card holder and the SD card holder. Click the link below to see it. Oddly, it looks like it attaches differently to the reader, and the pockets are in the BACK inside cover not the front inside cover.

My question: Why didn't Sony include a similar business card holder inside the the default cover? it would have cost them about another 50-cents



http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...&storeId=10151

[gwynevans]

Originally Posted by ChuckEggDotCom

Oddly, it looks like it attaches differently to the reader

Yes, on the 505 they switched from the back connector of the 500 to that method, i.e. indents at the left-hand top & bottom of the reader.