Sony Reader vs Calibre

hekdic · 01-29-2011, 12:31 AM

Is there any advantage of the Calibre s/w over Reader? Would there be conflicts. We have a PRS-505.

library addict · 01-29-2011, 12:50 AM

Which program you prefer depends upon what you want to do.

I use Calibre because I love the tags feature for collections. But you can also make collections on the device itself. I use Calibre to manage my books, so it's just easier for me to also use it to add books, etc. Plus, I like that books in a series added via Calibre display in order without me having to add the series number to the actual title of the book.

There should be no problems using the reader Library and Calibre so long as you do NOT use both programs during the same session. So if you use Calibre to add books or whatever, you need to disconnect the device, then reconnect it before using the Reader Library software and vice versa.

Ervserver · 01-29-2011, 01:38 AM

I exclusively use Calibre with my 505, works the best for me

Purple Lady · 01-29-2011, 03:01 AM

I love calibre with my Sony. When I had only the Boox, I used it mainly to manage my books but it can do a lot more with Sony. I use it for collections - you can set them up directly on the reader, but if you have a lot of books to add calibre does it automatically. It can also change the author name to author_sort so when you sort by author it sorts by last name, first name. It can save your books in folders and use the file name you choose - Sony can't handle folders directly, but there are alternate firmwares you can install that do recognize them. It can also automatically update the metadata if it changes.

elemenoP · 01-29-2011, 09:12 AM

If you get library books or anything else where you get an ACSM file, you will need Sony Reader software OR Adobe Digital Editions to convert the ACSM to epub--even if you have Calibre with Tools*. If you buy from the Sony store, you will need to use the Sony Reader software. Anything else, you can use Calibre. If you are going to run both on different sessions, be sure to turn off auto-sync options in the Sony software.

*Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that: I am successfully using the Calibre Tools but I still can't get Calibre to handle acsm files. This is why I'm puzzled when I hear a lot of people say "I only use Calibre." I guess they don't use the library.

eP

brbubba · 01-29-2011, 09:44 AM

Calibre FTW! Love the metadata fetching and tags, although their tagging tends to go overboard. From 20 books I must have had 50 tags on my 350.

Terisa de morgan · 01-30-2011, 06:25 AM

It depends on your likes. I use calibre only for conversion, I use Sony Reader Library for purchasing books and the first time I created collections. After that, as I only include one or two books at a time, I join them to the collections I like into the reader (BTW, you can create the folders for sorting the disk, and Sony will recognize the books but won't display them like folders).

So, you can choose

chris_tribble · 01-30-2011, 09:53 AM

Calibre works. Sony Reader Library only sort of works (some of the time when the wind's in the right direction ...) Pity really - the Reader (PRS-650) is such a great bit of hardware - the software that come's with it is nowhere the same standard.

Shouldn't be a surprise really - think of the difference between Adobe Lightroom and the nonsenses which most camera makers supply for image processing...

Bookworm_Girl · 01-30-2011, 10:51 AM

I use both programs. I recommend that you try them both and see what works best for you. I prefer the Sony Reader Library software for managing my books. To me the Reader Library software is similar to iTunes. I keep about 600-700 books on my 950. I have them organized into dozens of collections, which are just like iTunes music playlists. I like that I can order the books in my collections however I like (not just by author, title, date). Then, I can auto-sync my collections on my computer with my ereader. I can also keep notes on my ereader or the computer and have them merge together. Since I read a lot of library books and purchase books through the Sony store (so I have to use the Sony software anyway), it is just convenient to use it for my whole library. For whatever reason, the Reader Library seems to work great with some computers and not so well with others.

I use calibre for file conversions and to edit metadata (I especially like its ability to use internet databases to download book summaries and covers). I also use it for my non-DRM books to customize them with fonts and paragraph formatting to my tastes. I also love calibre's Fetch News feature and its ability to create ebooks from internet news sources, magazines and blogs. Calibre seems especially popular with people who have lots of books that are part of a series.

Really, I think the best advice is to just try them both. Hope that helps!

elcreative · 01-30-2011, 11:24 AM

ACSM files are not ebook files, they are a ticket to download the actual ebook so Sony and ADE do not convert the acsm file to anything, they use it to actually download the book. People who only use calibre obviously don't buy DRM protected books from Sony...

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

If you get library books or anything else where you get an ACSM file, you will need Sony Reader software OR Adobe Digital Editions to convert the ACSM to epub--even if you have Calibre with Tools*. If you buy from the Sony store, you will need to use the Sony Reader software. Anything else, you can use Calibre. If you are going to run both on different sessions, be sure to turn off auto-sync options in the Sony software.

*Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that: I am successfully using the Calibre Tools but I still can't get Calibre to handle acsm files. This is why I'm puzzled when I hear a lot of people say "I only use Calibre." I guess they don't use the library.

eP

doreenjoy · 01-31-2011, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

It depends on your likes. I use calibre only for conversion

Same here.

I find the Calibre UI inscrutable (and I used to be a UI Engineer so that's saying something) plus I've never had a problem with the Sony software. I also prefer the way the Sony Library shows collections, and I read a lot of library books so the Sony is easiest for me..

Agama · 01-31-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

People who only use calibre obviously don't buy DRM protected books from Sony.

I have bought several DRM'd books from Waterstones, (ePubs), for use on my Sony and I only use calibre for all my library management. Calibre's tag and series data make managing Sony collections really easy.

As far as the DRM is concerned I simply download the book using Adobe Digital Editions and then add the downloaded ePub to calibre. Calibre cannot convert these books because of the DRM but can still be used to edit the metadata, including tag/series data (collections), and send it to the reader.

elcreative · 01-31-2011, 08:15 AM

I also mentioned ADE in my posting... you don't only use calibre as you state you use ADE... hence my remark stands, if you actually ONLY use calibre then you don't buy DRM'd material from Sony (or their international partners)...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agama

I have bought several DRM'd books from Waterstones, (ePubs), for use on my Sony and I only use calibre for all my library management. Calibre's tag and series data make managing Sony collections really easy.

As far as the DRM is concerned I simply download the book using Adobe Digital Editions and then add the downloaded ePub to calibre. Calibre cannot convert these books because of the DRM but can still be used to edit the metadata, including tag/series data (collections), and send it to the reader.

Pinecone · 01-31-2011, 04:17 PM

I use Sony Reader software to buy and download books from Sony store and now Kobo (I found 1 or 2 books Kobo had that Sony didn't).

But I use Calibre for organizing my books and loading them on the reader.

I, and some others, have had the Sony softwre scramble our collections (the order of the books in the collection). With Calibre, it that were ever to happen, I would just conenct me reader to my computer with Clibre running and it would re send the metadata, including my collection setup.

To me, the fact that Cablire will fix my collections is well worth it. And while it is not the easiest software to use, it is not that hard if you are doing fairly simple things.

Agama · 02-01-2011, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

I also mentioned ADE in my posting... you don't only use calibre as you state you use ADE

You are quite correct. I was just attempting to make clear that calibre can use DRM'd books in its library.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that: I am successfully using the Calibre Tools but I still can't get Calibre to handle acsm files. This is why I'm puzzled when I hear a lot of people say "I only use Calibre." I guess they don't use the library.

ADE handles the acsm files then calibre handles the library.

01-29-2011, 12:31 AM	#1
hekdic Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: prs-505, Sony	Sony Reader vs Calibre Is there any advantage of the Calibre s/w over Reader? Would there be conflicts. We have a PRS-505.

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01-29-2011, 12:50 AM	#2
library addict Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,111 Karma: 37197878 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Nexus 7 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8" (retired=Sony PRS650, Kobo Mini)	Which program you prefer depends upon what you want to do. I use Calibre because I love the tags feature for collections. But you can also make collections on the device itself. I use Calibre to manage my books, so it's just easier for me to also use it to add books, etc. Plus, I like that books in a series added via Calibre display in order without me having to add the series number to the actual title of the book. There should be no problems using the reader Library and Calibre so long as you do NOT use both programs during the same session. So if you use Calibre to add books or whatever, you need to disconnect the device, then reconnect it before using the Reader Library software and vice versa.

01-29-2011, 01:38 AM	#3
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I exclusively use Calibre with my 505, works the best for me

01-29-2011, 03:01 AM	#4
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	I love calibre with my Sony. When I had only the Boox, I used it mainly to manage my books but it can do a lot more with Sony. I use it for collections - you can set them up directly on the reader, but if you have a lot of books to add calibre does it automatically. It can also change the author name to author_sort so when you sort by author it sorts by last name, first name. It can save your books in folders and use the file name you choose - Sony can't handle folders directly, but there are alternate firmwares you can install that do recognize them. It can also automatically update the metadata if it changes.

01-29-2011, 09:12 AM	#5
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	If you get library books or anything else where you get an ACSM file, you will need Sony Reader software OR Adobe Digital Editions to convert the ACSM to epub--even if you have Calibre with Tools. If you buy from the Sony store, you will need to use the Sony Reader software. Anything else, you can use Calibre. If you are going to run both on different sessions, be sure to turn off auto-sync options in the Sony software. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that: I am successfully using the Calibre Tools but I still can't get Calibre to handle acsm files. This is why I'm puzzled when I hear a lot of people say "I only use Calibre." I guess they don't use the library. eP

01-29-2011, 09:44 AM	#6
brbubba Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 668 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: PRS350	Calibre FTW! Love the metadata fetching and tags, although their tagging tends to go overboard. From 20 books I must have had 50 tags on my 350.

01-30-2011, 06:25 AM	#7
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,626 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	It depends on your likes. I use calibre only for conversion, I use Sony Reader Library for purchasing books and the first time I created collections. After that, as I only include one or two books at a time, I join them to the collections I like into the reader (BTW, you can create the folders for sorting the disk, and Sony will recognize the books but won't display them like folders). So, you can choose

01-30-2011, 09:53 AM	#8
chris_tribble Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Sony PRS-650	Calibre works. Sony Reader Library only sort of works (some of the time when the wind's in the right direction ...) Pity really - the Reader (PRS-650) is such a great bit of hardware - the software that come's with it is nowhere the same standard. Shouldn't be a surprise really - think of the difference between Adobe Lightroom and the nonsenses which most camera makers supply for image processing...

01-30-2011, 10:51 AM	#9
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,873 Karma: 36536965 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	I use both programs. I recommend that you try them both and see what works best for you. I prefer the Sony Reader Library software for managing my books. To me the Reader Library software is similar to iTunes. I keep about 600-700 books on my 950. I have them organized into dozens of collections, which are just like iTunes music playlists. I like that I can order the books in my collections however I like (not just by author, title, date). Then, I can auto-sync my collections on my computer with my ereader. I can also keep notes on my ereader or the computer and have them merge together. Since I read a lot of library books and purchase books through the Sony store (so I have to use the Sony software anyway), it is just convenient to use it for my whole library. For whatever reason, the Reader Library seems to work great with some computers and not so well with others. I use calibre for file conversions and to edit metadata (I especially like its ability to use internet databases to download book summaries and covers). I also use it for my non-DRM books to customize them with fonts and paragraph formatting to my tastes. I also love calibre's Fetch News feature and its ability to create ebooks from internet news sources, magazines and blogs. Calibre seems especially popular with people who have lots of books that are part of a series. Really, I think the best advice is to just try them both. Hope that helps!

01-31-2011, 04:17 PM	#14
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	I use Sony Reader software to buy and download books from Sony store and now Kobo (I found 1 or 2 books Kobo had that Sony didn't). But I use Calibre for organizing my books and loading them on the reader. I, and some others, have had the Sony softwre scramble our collections (the order of the books in the collection). With Calibre, it that were ever to happen, I would just conenct me reader to my computer with Clibre running and it would re send the metadata, including my collection setup. To me, the fact that Cablire will fix my collections is well worth it. And while it is not the easiest software to use, it is not that hard if you are doing fairly simple things.

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