Will the Sony Reader work with a Mac?

shinyltc · 12-30-2006, 07:02 PM

My husband wanted the Sony Portable Reader for Christmas, so I got him one, but we are Mac folks! (Yes, I should have checked before, but never thought about it in the hubbub of the holidays.) Is there a reasonable way for us to make this work, or do I simply return it and wait for new technologies? I have an Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro, but his iMac is the last one before the switch.

Thanks for any help! And if this has already been answered in the forum, I didn't find it.

Thanks!
shiny

TheMadBrewer · 12-30-2006, 09:12 PM

If you have Parallels you might give it a try on the Intel Mac. (if not, try the 30 day free trial). I haven't gotten around to trying to install the software on my mac mini, but lots of other stuff has worked fine under Parallels.

Some down time the rest of the year

so I'll see what happens when I try to install it.

HarryT · 12-31-2006, 03:31 AM

You can simply load content directly onto a memory card, using a card reader on your Mac. If you mean "can I buy books from the Connect store with a Mac" the answer is "probably not", unless you can dual-boot Windows on your Mac.

BobVA · 12-31-2006, 10:30 AM

From Alex's Sony Q&A thread here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7273

Quote:

Operating Systems and Browsers

Q) Will Sony provide software and support for customers using Macs or Linux?
A) Currently our application has been designed for Microsoft® Windows XP®. External media such as Memory Stick and SD cards provide content transfer functionality from non-Windows based PCs, but you will not have the ability to buy books or enjoy the benefits of managing your content and Reader through the application. We are aware of the desire of non XP customers to have support and are considering how and when we can support them.

"Currently" being the ambigous-but-hopeful word of interest.

If you want native Mac access to the Connect Bookstore, that could be a while. If you want to read content from elsewhere, then all you need is a cheap card reader and you're all set. Classic literature is freely available from sites like Gutenberg and manybooks.net. Books for purchase in open formats that work with the Reader are available from a few forward-looking publishers (e.g. Baen for sci-fi).

That said, as MadB and Harry noted, plenty of folks are using the Reader with Macs, and a few are using the Connect Bookstore by running XP on an Intel Mac. If you do a search on the forum you'll find several threads about this, or post a question.

Cheers,
Bob

yvanleterrible · 12-31-2006, 10:54 AM

If Vista outdates my PC to an unusable piece of plastic, I'm done with Microsoft. I'll go back to the Mac, at least it's still partly US made. There are many solutions for the Mac to go Connect. Look up other previous threads.

RWood · 12-31-2006, 01:56 PM

When I spoke to Sony support they said that they are working on a new free release of CONNECT software for January. I know that they said that VISTA support was there and they did acknowledge that Mac OSX was not currently supported. I have the impression that he said that Mac would be supported in the next release but as I do not have a Mac I did not pay as much attention to that line as I should have. Call Sony at 1-866-919-SONY (7669) and select #2 for ebooks. Ask the question directly. Sorry I wasn't listening better.

yvanleterrible · 12-31-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

When I spoke to Sony support they said that they are working on a new free release of CONNECT software for January. I know that they said that VISTA support was there and they did acknowledge that Mac OSX was not currently supported. I have the impression that he said that Mac would be supported in the next release but as I do not have a Mac I did not pay as much attention to that line as I should have. Call Sony at 1-866-919-SONY (7669) and select #2 for ebooks. Ask the question directly. Sorry I wasn't listening better.

Good news RWood!

TheMadBrewer · 12-31-2006, 02:29 PM

I just loaded the Connect software on my Mac Mini using Parallels.

The software install and ran. I was able to authorize the computer and when I plugged in the reader it was recognized. When I clicked on the reader in the sidebar I saw all the books I had downloaded.

This doesn't help those with older Macs, but it is good new for those with the Intel Macs.

Off topic, it amazes me that XP boots almost instantly with my Mac/Parallels, but takes what feels like hours on my laptop

NatCh · 12-31-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

When I spoke to Sony support they said that they are working on a new free release of CONNECT software for January. I know that they said that VISTA support was there and they did acknowledge that Mac OSX was not currently supported. I have the impression that he said that Mac would be supported in the next release but as I do not have a Mac I did not pay as much attention to that line as I should have. Call Sony at 1-866-919-SONY (7669) and select #2 for ebooks. Ask the question directly. Sorry I wasn't listening better.

I'd seen some other indications that they may be working on a Mac-friendly version of the Connect software, but I haven't seen enough to link it to an impending release or anything.

Welcome news, indeed.

shinyltc · 12-31-2006, 07:58 PM

Thanks to all the quick responses! Now I have hope we can make this work! Of course, if I had all of you guys' expertise, it would already be 'connected'.

Happy New Year!
shiny

mateo · 01-10-2007, 07:25 PM

Is there a way to upload the files without using the Connect software? Like, for example, many mp3 players appear as storage devices when plugged in via USB. Is this how the reader works too? My main computer runs linux.

kovidgoyal · 01-10-2007, 09:15 PM

http://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net

RWood · 01-10-2007, 11:30 PM

You could also load the files (books, images, and music) to either an SD card or a Memory Stick and place that in the Reader.

12-30-2006, 07:02 PM	#1
shinyltc Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Portable Reader	Will the Sony Reader work with a Mac? My husband wanted the Sony Portable Reader for Christmas, so I got him one, but we are Mac folks! (Yes, I should have checked before, but never thought about it in the hubbub of the holidays.) Is there a reasonable way for us to make this work, or do I simply return it and wait for new technologies? I have an Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro, but his iMac is the last one before the switch. Thanks for any help! And if this has already been answered in the forum, I didn't find it. Thanks! shiny

12-31-2006, 02:29 PM	#8
TheMadBrewer Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 145210 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kobo Aura Limited Edition, Kindle Voyager.	Works with Parallels I just loaded the Connect software on my Mac Mini using Parallels. The software install and ran. I was able to authorize the computer and when I plugged in the reader it was recognized. When I clicked on the reader in the sidebar I saw all the books I had downloaded. This doesn't help those with older Macs, but it is good new for those with the Intel Macs. Off topic, it amazes me that XP boots almost instantly with my Mac/Parallels, but takes what feels like hours on my laptop

12-31-2006, 07:58 PM	#10
shinyltc Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006 Device: Sony Portable Reader	Many thanks! Thanks to all the quick responses! Now I have hope we can make this work! Of course, if I had all of you guys' expertise, it would already be 'connected'. Happy New Year! shiny

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How to Get Sony Reader Desktop Version to Work with Linux?	Flyweight	Sony Reader	3	11-14-2010 07:47 PM
sony reader 3.2 not working on my mac	ohskigod	Sony Reader	1	06-24-2010 01:27 PM
Help please: Calibre and Sony Reader PRS 500 won't work	MacSonyReader	Calibre	5	05-13-2010 07:45 PM
Formating for Sony Reader on a Mac	kyle_terrizzi	Workshop	5	01-05-2009 12:00 AM
Mac software for the SONY reader	sic	Sony Reader	1	05-16-2007 12:11 PM

12-30-2006, 09:12 PM	#2
TheMadBrewer Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 145210 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kobo Aura Limited Edition, Kindle Voyager.	If you have Parallels you might give it a try on the Intel Mac. (if not, try the 30 day free trial). I haven't gotten around to trying to install the software on my mac mini, but lots of other stuff has worked fine under Parallels. Some down time the rest of the year so I'll see what happens when I try to install it.

12-31-2006, 03:31 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You can simply load content directly onto a memory card, using a card reader on your Mac. If you mean "can I buy books from the Connect store with a Mac" the answer is "probably not", unless you can dual-boot Windows on your Mac.

12-31-2006, 10:54 AM	#5
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	If Vista outdates my PC to an unusable piece of plastic, I'm done with Microsoft. I'll go back to the Mac, at least it's still partly US made. There are many solutions for the Mac to go Connect. Look up other previous threads.

12-31-2006, 01:56 PM	#6
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	When I spoke to Sony support they said that they are working on a new free release of CONNECT software for January. I know that they said that VISTA support was there and they did acknowledge that Mac OSX was not currently supported. I have the impression that he said that Mac would be supported in the next release but as I do not have a Mac I did not pay as much attention to that line as I should have. Call Sony at 1-866-919-SONY (7669) and select #2 for ebooks. Ask the question directly. Sorry I wasn't listening better.

01-10-2007, 07:25 PM	#11
mateo Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2005 Device: Palm Zire71	Is there a way to upload the files without using the Connect software? Like, for example, many mp3 players appear as storage devices when plugged in via USB. Is this how the reader works too? My main computer runs linux.

01-10-2007, 09:15 PM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,160 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	http://libprs500.kovidgoyal.net

01-10-2007, 11:30 PM	#13
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	You could also load the files (books, images, and music) to either an SD card or a Memory Stick and place that in the Reader.

Advert

Advert