PRS-600 software question

poshm · 11-04-2009, 05:30 AM

I use calibre to manage my growing ebook collection and to move the books over to the 600. have converted a few text files to epub format with it as well. Brilliant piece of software BTW

I had to install Adobe Digital Editions to download library books and also to buy books from WHSmiths. I assume I cannot use Calibre for this - shame as I don't think much to the Adobe software, find it fiddly to use.

My question is what do I need the Sony software for? If anything? I would like to delete it from my PC but just want to be sure that I won't be deleting software which might have some purpose.

CraftyDan · 11-04-2009, 05:55 AM

Poshm,

The biggest reason is buying books from Sony -- only their manager can buy and load them. Cost compared to other stores aside, I'd keep it for their free books. They're still DRM'ed and you do "purchase" them. Will the device-lock change when Sony finally goes straight with ePubs? I doubt it, but who knows? In many cases you can get these in other formats from non-device-locked stores, but I've never confirmed it in all cases nor in a preferred format for the Sonys.

I'm also not aware of Calibre being able to create collections. It's not a required feature of the reader, and I'm on the fence about it's usefulness.

On the whole, I think Sony has done us a favor by keeping the software infrastructure somewhat open, unlike other devices. They do publish a software tool, but we don't have to use it to get almost all of it's functionality.

Dan <><

poshm · 11-04-2009, 06:05 AM

Thanks Dan - I haven't looked into getting any books from the Sony store (partly as I'm from the UK - wish they had a UK store as well) but maybe I should take that into consideration before pressing the delete button. Especially as there are free ebooks.

Just seems daft that I need to have 3 different pieces of software on my PC all for ebooks! Seems a bit overkill

jans · 11-04-2009, 06:31 AM

I use Calibre for handling my ever groving library of journal articles - love the tag feature - beats sony by far. Only problem. when I have made notes and connotations I want to print it out. so I have to sync. Since I cant figure out how to do that with calibre - and I cant see that calibre can get notes made on the reader out as well. I want to use sony software for that purpose.
sony can read magazines found with calibre - but says it has not permission to read all the articles in there. Have you experienced this problem - and if so what is the solution?
jan

poshm · 11-04-2009, 07:08 AM

hopefully someone else might help - I don't read magazines or do any note-taking either! Just read books

MSJim · 11-04-2009, 08:45 AM

I gave up on EBL after installing the latest update. On the previous version, I had managed to turn off the AutoPlay and AutoRun features that launched every time I plugged my Reader in to the USB cable. However, after running the update, the AutoXXX was back. My fixes were still in the registry - just didn't work anymore (Win XP Pro). I don't need the grief, so I just uninstalled the whole mess. I've been using Calibre for library management anyway. Sony loses this round.

Maerose · 11-04-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraftyDan

Poshm,

I'm also not aware of Calibre being able to create collections. It's not a required feature of the reader, and I'm on the fence about it's usefulness.

Dan <><

I have just got my 600 and have Calibre and ADE installed on my PC. I have installed the Sony software as well but I can't get it to run

I have found the 'tag' entry in Calibre will put books into different collections.

MelC · 11-04-2009, 12:31 PM

Pretty much already summarized here but in my experience the Sony Software has two functions not available on Calibre at the moment:
a. viewing and limited exporting of notes, highlighting and annotations;
b. purchasing books from the Sony Store.

My understanding is that Kovid is planning on developing a Calibre feature to extract the notes etc. so hopefully that Sony feature won't be exclusive for long.

Mel

jans · 11-09-2009, 06:15 PM

Spend a long time with the us support team to no avail. Called uk - I bought it there, cause Sony do apparently not think that us Danes read - or would like to buy the thing. Got help to format memory on the reader and now the software works calibre can upload and sony can download from the reader - now please sony - eliminate the 100 charachter limit.

11-04-2009, 05:30 AM	#1
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	software question I use calibre to manage my growing ebook collection and to move the books over to the 600. have converted a few text files to epub format with it as well. Brilliant piece of software BTW I had to install Adobe Digital Editions to download library books and also to buy books from WHSmiths. I assume I cannot use Calibre for this - shame as I don't think much to the Adobe software, find it fiddly to use. My question is what do I need the Sony software for? If anything? I would like to delete it from my PC but just want to be sure that I won't be deleting software which might have some purpose.

11-04-2009, 06:31 AM	#4
jans Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Sony prs 600	Sony software says it does not have permisson to read calibre books I use Calibre for handling my ever groving library of journal articles - love the tag feature - beats sony by far. Only problem. when I have made notes and connotations I want to print it out. so I have to sync. Since I cant figure out how to do that with calibre - and I cant see that calibre can get notes made on the reader out as well. I want to use sony software for that purpose. sony can read magazines found with calibre - but says it has not permission to read all the articles in there. Have you experienced this problem - and if so what is the solution? jan

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11-04-2009, 05:55 AM	#2
CraftyDan Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 7724 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middle Ga Device: PRS-600 and PRS-350	Poshm, The biggest reason is buying books from Sony -- only their manager can buy and load them. Cost compared to other stores aside, I'd keep it for their free books. They're still DRM'ed and you do "purchase" them. Will the device-lock change when Sony finally goes straight with ePubs? I doubt it, but who knows? In many cases you can get these in other formats from non-device-locked stores, but I've never confirmed it in all cases nor in a preferred format for the Sonys. I'm also not aware of Calibre being able to create collections. It's not a required feature of the reader, and I'm on the fence about it's usefulness. On the whole, I think Sony has done us a favor by keeping the software infrastructure somewhat open, unlike other devices. They do publish a software tool, but we don't have to use it to get almost all of it's functionality. Dan <><

11-04-2009, 06:05 AM	#3
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	Thanks Dan - I haven't looked into getting any books from the Sony store (partly as I'm from the UK - wish they had a UK store as well) but maybe I should take that into consideration before pressing the delete button. Especially as there are free ebooks. Just seems daft that I need to have 3 different pieces of software on my PC all for ebooks! Seems a bit overkill

11-04-2009, 07:08 AM	#5
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	hopefully someone else might help - I don't read magazines or do any note-taking either! Just read books

11-04-2009, 08:45 AM	#6
MSJim Bookworm Posts: 104 Karma: 26 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Georgia, USA Device: PRS-600, Nook STR	I gave up on EBL after installing the latest update. On the previous version, I had managed to turn off the AutoPlay and AutoRun features that launched every time I plugged my Reader in to the USB cable. However, after running the update, the AutoXXX was back. My fixes were still in the registry - just didn't work anymore (Win XP Pro). I don't need the grief, so I just uninstalled the whole mess. I've been using Calibre for library management anyway. Sony loses this round.

11-04-2009, 12:31 PM	#8
MelC Evangelist Posts: 410 Karma: 2081 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS600	Pretty much already summarized here but in my experience the Sony Software has two functions not available on Calibre at the moment: a. viewing and limited exporting of notes, highlighting and annotations; b. purchasing books from the Sony Store. My understanding is that Kovid is planning on developing a Calibre feature to extract the notes etc. so hopefully that Sony feature won't be exclusive for long. Mel

11-09-2009, 06:15 PM	#9
jans Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Sony prs 600	Spend a long time with the us support team to no avail. Called uk - I bought it there, cause Sony do apparently not think that us Danes read - or would like to buy the thing. Got help to format memory on the reader and now the software works calibre can upload and sony can download from the reader - now please sony - eliminate the 100 charachter limit.

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