PRS-500 Unupdated PRS-500... What are my options?

[Jabberwock]

I've had some hiatus from e-booking, and now it seems my reader is painfully obsolete... Specifically, it refuses to work with my Win7 64-bit computer now (so I cannot get any content on the device).

Somehow I missed the update campaign and now the cost of the shipping is a bit prohibitive (I live in Poland) as compared to price of new readers. Am I totally helixed here?

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Jabberwock

Somehow I missed the update campaign and now the cost of the shipping is a bit prohibitive (I live in Poland) as compared to price of new readers. Am I totally helixed here?

The old reader is still quite usable, even without connection to Windows computer.

Borrow a windows computer with XP. You need to do this just once.
Install Sony app there, or an old version of Calibre. Delete all content from device. This is all what you need this PC for.
This is not necessary if there are not many books on the reader at the moment, or if you do not mind that some books will remain on device.

Purchase 1GB SD card and card reader. Costs very little now.
Use SD card reader to put books on card, insert card to device.

If you read in English, you are all set. Load books in rtf format (my favourite, because you can set justification), or use Calibre to convert to lrf or pdf format. You can also use plain txt file.

If you read in Polish, your best bet is to create pdf version of the book using Libre Office Writer (free app).
Create pdf files with page size 90x110mm - the size of screen.
Polish books might also work if you use rtf, if you have correct font in your reader. BUT, you have to create rtf file in unicode. Most rtf files aren't in unicode by default. There is program available on the net called utfutf or utfrtf or something like this.
You can also install "Russification pack" on your reader, it will include fonts needed to read in Polish. But the installation is highly non-trivial and the resources might not be available on the net anymore. The installation is described in Russian on the-ebook.org server on forum by user Boroda. He is also Mobileread member.

Search this forum for "hack builder". I do not know if the newest version supports PRS-500, but older versions DO support PRS-500 - it was built for it.
Hack builder is program for windows. You select some interesting options for your reader, like better icon theme and it will create a file to put on your SD card. You insert SD card to the device, start the device and it will install the hack.

[Jabberwock]

Thank you!

I have not thought about the card...

The reader is already Polished and it seems I can produce proper results in calibre, even if I use .lrf with custom Polish fonts (I am a sucker for antique looking typeface!). The only issue is, as you mention, removing the existing content, but for now I can live with that.

[carpetmojo]

Yeah, Calibre is the top job.

[etatoby]

I'm in the same situation.

I have installed the latest Reader Library software on an XP box. It sees the reader, but it won't delete what's already there, saying: "All of the items you selected are synchronized and cannot be deleted directly. To delete synchronized items, delete them from your Library and your Reader will update during the next sync process." Of course, my Library is already empty, so I can't do that.

You say to use an old version of Calibre, but which one? I've tried a few from here http://www.utterlyinsane.org/calibre/win/ but apparently none see the Reader.

More importantly, I remember that the Connect software used to pre-format the ebooks, so that you wouldn't have to wait minutes for the "Formatting..." message while opening a new book or changing the font size.

Does anybody have a copy of the old Connect software? I'd like to use it for that reason alone, if I can get it to work without crashing too much.

[JSWolf]

You most likely installed Reader for PC. You want to try to find a copy of Reader Library.