Silver Surfer needs advice please

[celticgran]

I have just taken delivery of a Sony pocket reader S300.
Whilst I am waiting for the reader to charge I am reading the instructions.
They tell me to download 'library software' - when I googled that I am confronted with many versions - which is the best for my little reader?

Also, I bought this gadget to have more comfortable reading of the ebooks I have stored on my PC. They are all in pdf format in My Documents.
Will the transfer from PC to reader be a simple matter?
ie - could I transfer them without 'library software'?

This request may appear to be asking elementary questions - please have patience (I am a granny)

[omk3]

Welcome celticgran! Enjoy your new reader!

You will only really need the library software if you are in the USA and want to buy books from the sony store. You can get the software from this page http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/sel....com/index.php.

You can copy your pdf files onto your reader using explorer. Just copy them into the folder /database/media/books on your reader.

You might also want to have a look at calibre, a powerful free software which can help you organize your library of ebooks in probably a better way than the sony software can.

Good luck and happy reading.

[celticgran]

Thank you for a quick response.
I am glad that I wont need the software and can easily transfer from PC.
I am not interested in buying any - all the books I have on PC are freebies.
I am still waiting for the charging light to go out before I can start.
Will it just be a case of 'drag and drop' from my My Documents?

[omk3]

Originally Posted by celticgran

Will it just be a case of 'drag and drop' from my My Documents?

Sure. But if you have a lot of books, you might want to make use of "collections" to keep them organized (like having them filed according to author, or genre, or whatever). Calibre can help you with that.

[celticgran]

You have been a great help and have reassured me that this will not be 'beyond me'.
I have about 70 books but they are all basically about the same topic, so would have been in one category anyway.

I can now begin to use this gadget with more confidence

[omk3]

Just enjoy your new gadget then!
Any questions you might have in the future, don't hesitate to ask.

[Dusty]

You need the Sony software if you want to download from your library and transfer to the reader. You will also need to install Adobe Digital Edition (free)

I'm still in learning mode here so can't give much more than that.

CORRECTION:
Just did some reading, you can transfer library books from within ADE without starting up the Sony Software

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Dusty

You need the Sony software if you want to download from your library and transfer to the reader. You will also need to install Adobe Digital Edition (free)

I'm still in learning mode here so can't give much more than that.

No, you do not need the Sony Software. As the omk3 said you can just drag and drop the PDF's onto your reader. You need the Sony Software ONLY if you want to buy books from the Sony bookstore. You can buy books from the other bookstores, transfer any book on your PC (in the right format and DRM free) all by just copy/paste or drag/drop.

However, Calibre is free and a good tool to have as an ebook person. You might want to check it out later on........

[omk3]

To buy or to borrow from libraries, Adobe Digital Editions is enough. However celticgran said she is not interested in buying, so not even Adobe Digital Editions is needed at this point.

[celticgran]

Yipee - my books are now on the reader.
I find that it contains some that were installed before purchase
How do I get rid of them?
I can find nothing in the instruction manual about how to delete books.
Is this where the value of having the Library software will reveal itself?
If so, it looks as though I will need it after all

[BeccaAnn]

I'm not sure if this will work on the 300 but on the 505, you can open the book (menu page) and there is line that says Utility (towards the bottom). Open that and you should be able to delete the book directly from the Reader.

[celticgran]

Originally Posted by BeccaAnn

I'm not sure if this will work on the 300 but on the 505, you can open the book (menu page) and there is line that says Utility (towards the bottom). Open that and you should be able to delete the book directly from the Reader.

I don't have any Utility option - thanks for the response anyway

[RonF]

Originally Posted by celticgran

I don't have any Utility option - thanks for the response anyway

From the main menu pick - Books by Title, Author, Date, Collections etc...

Then it lists the books in each section.

Then you click on the book that you want to delete.

Now you see - Continue Reading, Begin, End etc..., below them is an option called Utility (all the way to the bottom). Click that and there is an option to delete the book (as well as bookmarks if you have any in the book).

Good luck with your reader.

[celticgran]

Originally Posted by RonF

From the main menu pick - Books by Title, Author, Date, Collections etc...

Then it lists the books in each section.

Then you click on the book that you want to delete.

Now you see - Continue Reading, Begin, End etc..., below them is an option called Utility (all the way to the bottom). Click that and there is an option to delete the book (as well as bookmarks if you have any in the book).

Good luck with your reader.

Done it
I think I have all the info I need now to use this gadget.
Without this forum it might well have taken me days instead of just a couple of hours.

This little old lady is very grateful

[Dusty]

Now I remember why I use the Sony software for library books. It's the only way I can return books early. My library allows 10 books over 21 days. Returning duds or quick reads is nice.
Does ADE allow this, I didn't find a way of doing it.

NEVER MIND!!!
SHEESH... I'll have to make sure I know all before posting again.
ADE does allow returns.