The most frustrating media format

[Doc333]

First of all I would like to thank the guys who started this forum, as they've managed to keep me sane. Also the people who have helped me out with advice, which have helped keep me from setting fire to this technology.

I can find my away round most things PC and software wise, and got into potable media a few years ago with iTunes. I found the iTunes format to be child friendly as it was so simple, slick and well formatted. Yes there will always be the odd problem of converting some of your music from MP4 to MP3 etc, but even that can be straightforward.

A couple of years ago I was given a Sony P300 as a gift, and was really pleased as I'm an avid reader. By the time I had loaded the software and plugged in my reader, I was feeling like an idiot. I had to register the reader and my PC and then had to load ADE and register my reader again. After wasting a couple of hours in trial and error i completed it and then had some reall fun, purchasing a few books to download. I went to a couple of large stores and purchased my books, only to discover I had no idea where the downloads went. Yet more time searching my PC and getting them into my library and then into ADE and onto my reader, and must have lost most of the day doing so. It seemed to worth it though, as I now had a few books on my reader and I quickly forgot the pain.

A week or so later I started worrying, as i knew I needed to go through some pain again downloading books. Yes I had more pain and got through it a bit quicker, but lost 2 books somewhere? so the cycle of pain continues until I found this site. I read about Calibre and from then on things got much easier and i was really pleased with how my library now looked on screen and the simplicity of it - so well done you guys.

I had a major problem last week with my reader and it was just looping from opening book to blank screen, so felt that the only thing I could do was to re-set the reader - massive mistake as my 75 books vanished, but no problem I thought, as i could quickly reload them from Calibre, which I did in a flash. I cannot however open any of the books as it seems my reader isn't allowed to open them. So here we go again with the frustration around this type of digital media.

I buy a book which with my pc head seems to be a winner for the planet. The publishers have very little costs and need no transportation or supplies of paper for the printers, which saves trees and there are minimal labour costs to boot. The purchaser does all the work and takes the pain, but yet I can pay the same price for a virtual book as i would if I went to store and bought a hard back. Then I find I'm not really allowed to do anything with the book, as i really don't own it. My hard back book from a store I can deface, read it time after time, loan it out, give it away, use it to prop open a door, throw at the wife, use it for standing on to reach something above my head .... why can't I read my ebook!!!

I believe I now need to register my reader again, but haven't a clue where my original software is, or if I've still got it as i got rid of using Sony when I loaded Calibre. I've also had some advice on downloading a plug-in for Calibre which will get rid of DRM, but worried about the techy side of doing this.

I'm now of the opinion that I either need to find someone local, who has a full understanding of ebook library's, Calibre, DRM stripping etc, and paying them to come in a sort out my library. Or just forget about the whole thing and go back to actual books, because i'm frustrated as hell. If I can struggle with this media format, how the hell is the man in street, who only uses a PC to surf the web and send the odd email supposed to cope. there must be many, many punters out there who were enticed by slick marketing campaigns into purchasing an e reader. Then finding out after going through the whole process of downloading xy and z and registrations etc, that a book they download can't be opened by their particular reader because it doesn't support the format, or they have accidently done something that stops the book from opening etc, etc, etc.

Can someone stop me from ending it all and explain in simple terms, the easiest way of using my reader again, with my purchased books.

[Doc333]

If I was to get another reader, am I able to read my books on this, or will I come up against the same problems? yes I accept that this is a silly question, but in truth I have no idea as i've experienced too many DRM or format issues over the last couple of years.

Thanks

[Lyn2012]

I suggest you continue researching online to remove DRM. Your books are authorised to your personal Adobe account and whichever reader you are trying to choose will need to be registered with the same account or you will be unable to access your books.

The first thing I do when I've bought an ebook is to remove DRM and add to my Calibre library, then I know that whatever happens in the future, I will always be able to read the books I have purchased. I would offer to help you but I use a Mac and am unfamiliar with the procedure for PC Windows.

I agree that it is a ridiculous situation that they make it so difficult to access the books you buy, and one of the reasons that ebooks may never take off. I hope you get it sorted.

[Doc333]

Lyn how does one register the reader again with ADE. I tried it last night and all I could see when I clicked on the icon, was the digital library. I had the 300 plugged in at the time, but when I clicked on 'register' I was given the message that the machine was registered, and guessed that was the PC?

Thanks

[ilovejedd]

This is probably part of the reason why the Kindle is so popular. It's kinda like the iPod/iTunes of ebooks.

[dreams]

Originally Posted by Doc333

Lyn how does one register the reader again with ADE. I tried it last night and all I could see when I clicked on the icon, was the digital library. I had the 300 plugged in at the time, but when I clicked on 'register' I was given the message that the machine was registered, and guessed that was the PC?

Thanks

Yes, that message meant that it was your PC that was already registered. You may need to reregister your device now.

I haven't had to do this but once when registering one for my mother, but I'll try to help.

You have to have the Sony Library downloaded and your computer and device registered. The same with ADE. If you set up an account with ADE, make sure your log in and password are the same on each.

We have a sticky thread (a thread at the top of a forum) that contains links to additional information in our wiki.
Sticky thread --> Sony Reader Info, Start-Up and Reset Guide
One section, Why doesn't Adobe Digital Editions detect my reader?, says:

For ADE to connect with the Sony Reader (any of them) you must have installed the Sony EBL software, even if you don't use it. The reason is that ADE uses a Sony driver that is installed during the EBL installation. If the driver is not present, ADE will not see any Sony Readers.

ADE help page with information on the ADE site.

Connect the supported eReader device to your computer and launch Digital Editions. Digital Editions automatically detects the presence of your device and offers to authorize it with your Adobe ID. If you have not authorized Digital Editions with your computer, you will need to complete that first ...

I hope this was what you were asking about and that this may give some help.

[Angst]

Originally Posted by Doc333

[snip] I've also had some advice on downloading a plug-in for Calibre which will get rid of DRM, but worried about the techy side of doing this.

I'm now of the opinion that I either need to find someone local, who has a full understanding of ebook library's, Calibre, DRM stripping etc, and paying them to come in a sort out my library. Or just forget about the whole thing and go back to actual books, because i'm frustrated as hell. If I can struggle with this media format, how the hell is the man in street[snip]

Google and "Apprentice Alf" are your friends. The software Alf provides pugs into google nicely, and has easy to read documentation.

[Lyn2012]

Originally Posted by Doc333

Lyn how does one register the reader again with ADE. I tried it last night and all I could see when I clicked on the icon, was the digital library. I had the 300 plugged in at the time, but when I clicked on 'register' I was given the message that the machine was registered, and guessed that was the PC?

Thanks

Hi Doc, Sorry I haven't replied but this is the first chance I've had to visit this site since posting.

Have you sorted this yet? If not, I think you can check whether or not your reader is authorised by going to "Settings", "About" and under Device Information it should tell you. I am reading this from my 650 but I would think your 300 would be similar but I can't really remember.

As I haven't even bothered to authorise my new reader, I can't give you precise instructions, but the information Dreams has given you looks good to me.