PRS-900 another newbie prs-900 - lost in nh

sqshblsm · 02-15-2010, 06:02 PM

ok so I'm ready to pack this up and bring it back. I feel like a bought a porsche and should have stuck with a tricycle lol. I'm a heavy duty reader and thought I'd finally enter the e-book world and save the aggravation of the massive pile of books I keep accumulating.
I'm lost. I purchased the Sony daily edition (PRS-900) based on the information the sales person at best buy gave me. He said that I would be able to read just about all e-book formats - including going to Barnes and Noble and uploading ebooks there. Only thing - I can't figure how. Reading the Sony manual makes it look like I can only get books from their library site and if I go to B&N it doesn't show there as a compatible device. Was this guy blowing smoke or am I missing the simple and obvious? Just a few pointers to get me going in the right direction. Any help would be appreciated.

SCION · 02-15-2010, 06:23 PM

Not surprisingly, the sales associate was just trying to make a sale. The Sony Readers can not read "just about all" formats. Though it can read ePub files, it can't read Barnes & Noble ePub files. They use a proprietary ePub format.

You're not locked into the Sony Reader Store for ePubs. You can buy any Adobe ePubs and they will work on the Reader.

elcreative · 02-15-2010, 06:24 PM

Shoot the salesperson... B&N use a DRM protection system incompatible with Sony (or any other) eReaders. However there are lots of other places to get your books from if you browse the forum... not to mention the huge array of freebies available here.

Edit: Snap Scion :-)

jcatl · 02-15-2010, 06:37 PM

I would recommend also learning to use Calibre. You can't buy books with it but once you have books it does an excellent job of managing them. The primary focus of the Sony software is to sell you more books (nothing wrong with that).

BobVA · 02-15-2010, 06:50 PM

Welcome aboard! Sorry for the bum info you got, but don't pitch the 900 yet.

You can certainly buy books from Sony directly from your 900 using the "Store" tab on the home screen. You can also obtain books from a variety of other sources, both for free (public domain) and paid, but you'll have to use your computer to buy/download them them move them to your Reader. Check out this thread for starters:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11052

Finally, your local libraries may let you check out ebooks. Your 900 will most likely be able to view them after you've downloaded them to your computer, using the free Adobe Digital Editions software. Check the website of all the libraries where you have borrowing privileges to see if they have ebook lending (be sure that you don't get this mixed up with audiobooks!). If they lend ebooks in either ePub or secure PDF formats you should be able to read them on your reader. Check out this thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27631

Cheers,
Bob

desertgrandma · 02-15-2010, 08:25 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, sqshblsm

lovelyloey · 02-15-2010, 08:36 PM

Yes, the sales person was just trying to make a pitch. Amazon and B&N are two sites you can't buy ebooks from.
PDF, ePub, LRF are the formats you should be looking at when buying books.

Daephex · 02-15-2010, 08:40 PM

The ePub format is really nice, though-- I'm having no problems whatsoever with stocking my reader, and it's nice to know that I'm not DRM'ed in the rear by Amazon with them, too!

I second the suggestion to download Calibre. It's a much better software interface for your reader than the included Sony software. I've had it one day, and I'd definitely say that it's accounted for at least 50% of the good fun I've had so far. Give your "Porsche" another lap around the track, eh?

Starka · 02-21-2010, 04:21 PM

I received a Sony PRS 900 for Christmas, and I'm sorely disappointed with it. Every time I recharge it, I have to hook back up to my computer and re-sync the books that I've bought. Since mid-January when it arrived, I've downloaded exactly three books from the Sony store. Everything that I want to read is not available.

What a waste of money.

kc5cychris · 02-21-2010, 04:32 PM

I am Sorry to hear ablout our miss fortunes, I recieved my 900 around the same time frame and have had very few issues. I like you had to go through athe learning curve about what type of e files that the machine would use but calebrie made things a lot easier, as far as other files then you rellize what works best and stay within that area of use there are many sites that sell epub books that at prices equal to the sony store and b useing Calebre less hassle to deal with. hang in there I think you will find your 900 enjoyable once you learn a bit about it usablity
GOOD LUCK
Chris

Ben Thornton · 02-21-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starka

I received a Sony PRS 900 for Christmas, and I'm sorely disappointed with it. Every time I recharge it, I have to hook back up to my computer and re-sync the books that I've bought. Since mid-January when it arrived, I've downloaded exactly three books from the Sony store. Everything that I want to read is not available.

What a waste of money.

I don't understand why you need to hook back up to the computer to re-sync books - has the battery completely drained so that the machine resets?

On the books front, what is it that you want to read? Perhaps someone will be able to point you to a bookseller.

elcreative · 02-21-2010, 08:08 PM

Probably doesn't have (or use) a separate charger so plugs into computer every time a charge needed and it resyncs because autosync is on! Frankly for three books I'm surprised it's needed much charging.

As Ben says, let us know your reading tastes and someone may be able to point you towards a source...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

I don't understand why you need to hook back up to the computer to re-sync books - has the battery completely drained so that the machine resets?

On the books front, what is it that you want to read? Perhaps someone will be able to point you to a bookseller.

Starka · 02-21-2010, 08:11 PM

When it gets down to one bar I recharge the unit. When I use the straight recharger, in other words NOT the USB recharge, all of the books that I bought are gone. I have to use the USB and re-sync the unit.

As to reading material, I like history, music and biographies. I've more or less given up looking for the titles I want to read as there have only been two or three that Sony actually had, and all of these were more expensive than buying the actual book on Amazon. The reader is good, I suppose, if one likes to read current pulp fiction but that's not for me.

Starka · 02-21-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

Probably doesn't have (or use) a separate charger so plugs into computer every time a charge needed and it resyncs because autosync is on! Frankly for three books I'm surprised it's needed much charging.

As Ben says, let us know your reading tastes and someone may be able to point you towards a source...

Yes, I do in fact have the AC adaptor, and that is what I normally use. When I recharge using the adaptor, the memory of my reader is wiped out. I then must hook up to my computer using the USB hookup and re-sync the unit. I have contacted the help chat at Sony and was told that it shouldn't happen that way, and that I probably should get a new adaptor.

As to my reading tastes, I put them in the above post.

snakebite2 · 02-21-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starka

Yes, I do in fact have the AC adaptor, and that is what I normally use. When I recharge using the adaptor, the memory of my reader is wiped out. I then must hook up to my computer using the USB hookup and re-sync the unit. I have contacted the help chat at Sony and was told that it shouldn't happen that way, and that I probably should get a new adaptor.

As to my reading tastes, I put them in the above post.

Is that problem with the on board memory?

02-15-2010, 06:02 PM	#1
sqshblsm Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony daily edition	another newbie prs-900 - lost in nh ok so I'm ready to pack this up and bring it back. I feel like a bought a porsche and should have stuck with a tricycle lol. I'm a heavy duty reader and thought I'd finally enter the e-book world and save the aggravation of the massive pile of books I keep accumulating. I'm lost. I purchased the Sony daily edition (PRS-900) based on the information the sales person at best buy gave me. He said that I would be able to read just about all e-book formats - including going to Barnes and Noble and uploading ebooks there. Only thing - I can't figure how. Reading the Sony manual makes it look like I can only get books from their library site and if I go to B&N it doesn't show there as a compatible device. Was this guy blowing smoke or am I missing the simple and obvious? Just a few pointers to get me going in the right direction. Any help would be appreciated.

02-15-2010, 06:50 PM	#5
BobVA Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1500 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Kobo Clara, Sony PRS950, T1, T2, T3	Welcome aboard! Sorry for the bum info you got, but don't pitch the 900 yet. You can certainly buy books from Sony directly from your 900 using the "Store" tab on the home screen. You can also obtain books from a variety of other sources, both for free (public domain) and paid, but you'll have to use your computer to buy/download them them move them to your Reader. Check out this thread for starters: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11052 Finally, your local libraries may let you check out ebooks. Your 900 will most likely be able to view them after you've downloaded them to your computer, using the free Adobe Digital Editions software. Check the website of all the libraries where you have borrowing privileges to see if they have ebook lending (be sure that you don't get this mixed up with audiobooks!). If they lend ebooks in either ePub or secure PDF formats you should be able to read them on your reader. Check out this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27631 Cheers, Bob Last edited by BobVA; 02-15-2010 at 06:55 PM.

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02-15-2010, 06:23 PM	#2
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	Not surprisingly, the sales associate was just trying to make a sale. The Sony Readers can not read "just about all" formats. Though it can read ePub files, it can't read Barnes & Noble ePub files. They use a proprietary ePub format. You're not locked into the Sony Reader Store for ePubs. You can buy any Adobe ePubs and they will work on the Reader.

02-15-2010, 06:24 PM	#3
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	Shoot the salesperson... B&N use a DRM protection system incompatible with Sony (or any other) eReaders. However there are lots of other places to get your books from if you browse the forum... not to mention the huge array of freebies available here. Edit: Snap Scion :-)

02-15-2010, 06:37 PM	#4
jcatl Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS-900	I would recommend also learning to use Calibre. You can't buy books with it but once you have books it does an excellent job of managing them. The primary focus of the Sony software is to sell you more books (nothing wrong with that).

02-15-2010, 08:25 PM	#6
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, sqshblsm

02-15-2010, 08:36 PM	#7
lovelyloey Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Singapore Device: Sony PRS 600	Yes, the sales person was just trying to make a pitch. Amazon and B&N are two sites you can't buy ebooks from. PDF, ePub, LRF are the formats you should be looking at when buying books.

02-15-2010, 08:40 PM	#8
Daephex Licensed Raconteur Posts: 53 Karma: 514 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: "Travelling" Device: Kindle 3, Sony PRS-600, iPod Touch	The ePub format is really nice, though-- I'm having no problems whatsoever with stocking my reader, and it's nice to know that I'm not DRM'ed in the rear by Amazon with them, too! I second the suggestion to download Calibre. It's a much better software interface for your reader than the included Sony software. I've had it one day, and I'd definitely say that it's accounted for at least 50% of the good fun I've had so far. Give your "Porsche" another lap around the track, eh?

02-21-2010, 04:21 PM	#9
Starka Anything BUT "Enthusiast" Posts: 45 Karma: 24 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS 900BC	I received a Sony PRS 900 for Christmas, and I'm sorely disappointed with it. Every time I recharge it, I have to hook back up to my computer and re-sync the books that I've bought. Since mid-January when it arrived, I've downloaded exactly three books from the Sony store. Everything that I want to read is not available. What a waste of money.

02-21-2010, 04:32 PM	#10
kc5cychris Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 497152 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Georgia, USA Device: PRS-600, PRS-900	I am Sorry to hear ablout our miss fortunes, I recieved my 900 around the same time frame and have had very few issues. I like you had to go through athe learning curve about what type of e files that the machine would use but calebrie made things a lot easier, as far as other files then you rellize what works best and stay within that area of use there are many sites that sell epub books that at prices equal to the sony store and b useing Calebre less hassle to deal with. hang in there I think you will find your 900 enjoyable once you learn a bit about it usablity GOOD LUCK Chris

02-21-2010, 08:11 PM	#13
Starka Anything BUT "Enthusiast" Posts: 45 Karma: 24 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS 900BC	When it gets down to one bar I recharge the unit. When I use the straight recharger, in other words NOT the USB recharge, all of the books that I bought are gone. I have to use the USB and re-sync the unit. As to reading material, I like history, music and biographies. I've more or less given up looking for the titles I want to read as there have only been two or three that Sony actually had, and all of these were more expensive than buying the actual book on Amazon. The reader is good, I suppose, if one likes to read current pulp fiction but that's not for me.

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