Loading titles into Reader Contents

dhbailey · 03-12-2007, 06:11 AM

I have a huge collection of etexts, many of which I like to have available on my reader (currently using Tungsten T5) for variety's sake, and when I finally get my Sony Reader I would like to do the same.

I have read the posts cautioning that the memory cards should only be removed while the power is on, and I have made a note of that.

My question concerns leaving a memory card which contains lots of books in the slot - will the reader re-load that list each time I turn it on, or will it simply check to see if the card has changed and then only re-read the list if the card has changed?

HarryT · 03-12-2007, 06:40 AM

The Reader has a "flat" file system and it's somewhat tedious to deal with a very long list of books. Most of us have, for that reason, abandoned the idea of using a large memory card to carry around our entire book library with us, outwardly attractive though that idea may at first be. In fact many of us have abandoned the use of memory cards at all - the Reader has about 92MB of internal memory (yes, I know the Sony site says 64MB!) and compresses files that you put into main memory extremely efficiently, which means that you can store 100+ "normal" novels in main memory, which should be enough for even the longest trip. Given the file system, you really don't want to deal with many more files than that - believe me

. Another reason for not using a memory card is that you get significantly better battery life that way.

What I would personally suggest is that you use your PC as your book "library" and only keep a few dozen books on the Reader.

To answer your original question - the Reader only "re-indexes" a memory card if it detects that it's been replaced. A Reader never really "turns off"; switching the power off just basically blanks the screen and disables the buttons, so when you switch it on again it's an instant start-up and you're exactly where you were when you switched off.

dhbailey · 03-12-2007, 06:54 AM

Thank you very much for your kindness in answering my questions so promptly.

I have now begun to form a plan of attack for using the reader when I can finally buy it.

It really sounds like the answer (or at least the best current answer) to a long-held dream of mine, ever since I began reading ebooks on my old Palm IIIxe.

HarryT · 03-12-2007, 07:05 AM

You're very welcome; please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!

Leaping Gnome · 03-12-2007, 09:33 AM

I use the internal memory for books and an SD card just for music. It's been proven here that reading books which reside on the SD card drops your battery life faster than the internal memory.

UncleDuke · 03-12-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaping Gnome

I use the internal memory for books and an SD card just for music. It's been proven here that reading books which reside on the SD card drops your battery life faster than the internal memory.

True, true. But what great sounds.

Sis has a book-on-tape and reads while she listens. Strange kid.

NatCh · 03-12-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhbailey

... will the reader re-load that list each time I turn it on, or will it simply check to see if the card has changed and then only re-read the list if the card has changed?

I've experimented with this a bit, and it does seem to look at the whole card every time it's inserted -- even if I just pull it out and stick it right back in. That aligns with what they told us back in September at the Blogger's Day, so it wasn't really a surprise to me.

acantha · 03-12-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaping Gnome

It's been proven here that reading books which reside on the SD card drops your battery life faster than the internal memory.

really? thats not surprising when i consider the technical aspects, but i have to say i haven't noticed it in personal experience. i've got a *#$%tonne of books on my reader, half of them on the card, and i've gotten great battery life. is it a significant drop?

NatCh · 03-12-2007, 01:55 PM

It varies from card to card, brand to brand really. The higher end brands seem to suck less juice than the lower end ones.

If you've got a brand name like Lexar or SanDisk, or some such, you'd probably never notice.

Leaping Gnome · 03-12-2007, 02:24 PM

There was that thread where a guy hooked it up to a lab-grade power meter and found that energy usage spike on page turns was something like 20% longer when the book was being read from a card (either SD or MS) than from the internal memory. Like Natch says, some cards faired better than others it seemed, but any card used more juice than the internal memory.

Now 20% more power usage means you've have to charge it every 4,000 pages instead of 5,000, so it's not like it's going to make the Reader unusable or something.

RWood · 03-12-2007, 03:04 PM

As I remember he also proved that PDF files take more juice per page that LRS, RTF, or DOC files.

Plowman · 03-14-2007, 12:26 AM

Yeah, I have a very large collection of ebooks as well, but only have 15-25 on the reader at any given time. That way when I finish a book I can usually pick and choose what to read on a whim. Putting the books into collections is a must. That way I can basically group them how I normally would based a combination of Author and Series (like Butcher, Jim - Dresden Files).

03-12-2007, 06:11 AM	#1
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	Loading titles into Reader Contents I have a huge collection of etexts, many of which I like to have available on my reader (currently using Tungsten T5) for variety's sake, and when I finally get my Sony Reader I would like to do the same. I have read the posts cautioning that the memory cards should only be removed while the power is on, and I have made a note of that. My question concerns leaving a memory card which contains lots of books in the slot - will the reader re-load that list each time I turn it on, or will it simply check to see if the card has changed and then only re-read the list if the card has changed?

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03-12-2007, 06:40 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The Reader has a "flat" file system and it's somewhat tedious to deal with a very long list of books. Most of us have, for that reason, abandoned the idea of using a large memory card to carry around our entire book library with us, outwardly attractive though that idea may at first be. In fact many of us have abandoned the use of memory cards at all - the Reader has about 92MB of internal memory (yes, I know the Sony site says 64MB!) and compresses files that you put into main memory extremely efficiently, which means that you can store 100+ "normal" novels in main memory, which should be enough for even the longest trip. Given the file system, you really don't want to deal with many more files than that - believe me . Another reason for not using a memory card is that you get significantly better battery life that way. What I would personally suggest is that you use your PC as your book "library" and only keep a few dozen books on the Reader. To answer your original question - the Reader only "re-indexes" a memory card if it detects that it's been replaced. A Reader never really "turns off"; switching the power off just basically blanks the screen and disables the buttons, so when you switch it on again it's an instant start-up and you're exactly where you were when you switched off.

03-12-2007, 06:54 AM	#3
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	Thank you very much for your kindness in answering my questions so promptly. I have now begun to form a plan of attack for using the reader when I can finally buy it. It really sounds like the answer (or at least the best current answer) to a long-held dream of mine, ever since I began reading ebooks on my old Palm IIIxe.

03-12-2007, 07:05 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You're very welcome; please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions!

03-12-2007, 09:33 AM	#5
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	I use the internal memory for books and an SD card just for music. It's been proven here that reading books which reside on the SD card drops your battery life faster than the internal memory.

03-12-2007, 01:55 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	It varies from card to card, brand to brand really. The higher end brands seem to suck less juice than the lower end ones. If you've got a brand name like Lexar or SanDisk, or some such, you'd probably never notice.

03-12-2007, 02:24 PM	#10
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	There was that thread where a guy hooked it up to a lab-grade power meter and found that energy usage spike on page turns was something like 20% longer when the book was being read from a card (either SD or MS) than from the internal memory. Like Natch says, some cards faired better than others it seemed, but any card used more juice than the internal memory. Now 20% more power usage means you've have to charge it every 4,000 pages instead of 5,000, so it's not like it's going to make the Reader unusable or something.

03-12-2007, 03:04 PM	#11
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	As I remember he also proved that PDF files take more juice per page that LRS, RTF, or DOC files.

03-14-2007, 12:26 AM	#12
Plowman Member Posts: 17 Karma: 24 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: PRS-500	Yeah, I have a very large collection of ebooks as well, but only have 15-25 on the reader at any given time. That way when I finish a book I can usually pick and choose what to read on a whim. Putting the books into collections is a must. That way I can basically group them how I normally would based a combination of Author and Series (like Butcher, Jim - Dresden Files).

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