PRS-650 Need Some Help

vpn · 09-30-2010, 04:36 PM

Hi everyone ! I'm new here, and I joined because I purchased a PRS 650 yesterday and am having some difficulties with this device. Hope someone here can help solve my problems.

I already have an iRiver story, but decided to upgrade to the Sony because of the better screen of the latter, and also because of its touchscreen. The iRiver was O.K., but its turn page button was so difficult to press, that I started developing a pressed thumb tip. I was deciding for several days between a Kindle 3 and the PRS 650, and decided to go with the Sony because it could read ePub books.

The problem I'm having with the Sony concerns mainly its software. Frankly, I've not seen such crappy software before ! When I connect my device to the computer, it sometimes shows my device, but sometimes the device icon is missing. When it is missing, the message appears on the device screen that my USB port is not functioning properly. Yet this was the same USB port I used for my iRiver without any problems.

Reading the posts of some of the members here, I then downloaded Calibre and tried to get the ePub books I have on my computer into the Sony using this program. Not much luck.

Would appreciate any help from members to solve these problems.

Thanks

desertgrandma · 09-30-2010, 04:39 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, vpn

Someone should be along shortly to help.

In the meantime, feel free to click on any of the links below for more info about this site....

jswinden · 09-30-2010, 05:53 PM

Sounds like your computer is not recognizing the Sony PRS-650. Are you using a Windows PC or a Mac? No software will work if your computer doesn't know the 650 is plugged in.

Try using a different USB port on your computer and see if it recognizes the 650. If not you might need to uninstall the iRiver driver, restart the computer, then plug the 650 into it. Sometimes similar drivers interfere with other connections, and the iRiver driver might being doing that.

When a Windows computer recognizes the 650 you will see something like READER (X: ) in Windows File Explorer. I'm not sure about Macs. Once you get the computer to recognize it then you can use the Sony Reader Library software or calibre or simply drag and drop books to the 650.

neilmarr · 10-01-2010, 06:57 AM

Good to have your company, VPN. I reckon you've laid hands on a good device there. Sony is great hardware. But, I agree, the library sotware leaves much to be desired. I've not used it since I downloaded the free (and very, very effective) Calibre library software a couple of years ago. One thing going for you is that it works so darned well of Sony readers. Very best wishes. Neil

vpn · 10-01-2010, 08:26 AM

Thanks for your reply jswinden. Guess what? I used another USB port that I do not use for any of my other devices to connect the Sony, and it worked instantly.

You struck the nail on the head jswinden. Thanks again.
Hi Neil, I just started using Calibre, and do not know much about it. Can it convert my PDF files into ePub files? I have several hundred PDF books on my computer which I would like to convert to ePub books so that I can read it on my 650. How else can Calibre help the 650?
I bought the case with the light for the 650, and it is a pleasure using the light to read books in a dark room.
I am just getting to know this product, and would be grateful if you guys give me some useful tips that cannot be found in the manual.
VPN

mrdee0 · 10-01-2010, 08:40 AM

Hi,
I had my reader two days ago and Im using calibre.
I have had mixed results with pdf. Some pdfs when converted to epub come out fine but some did not. BUT when i transferred some pdfs to the reader (the reader can read pdf) some displayed perfectly and i was able to change font sizes etc.

I guess it depends how the boodk pdfs are made-you will have to experiment. I was very surprised that the reader could read normal pdfs without needing to do any conversion!

lack · 10-01-2010, 09:10 AM

pdfs have always been the boon of all reader, but now the industry has enough knowledge, and I'm starting to see some good reviews regarding pdf reading in kindle 3, sony readers and eslick from foxit.

Good times we live in..

One question, have you tried reading pdf with reflow capability? if so, how was it?

MerLock · 10-01-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vpn

Thanks for your reply jswinden. Guess what? I used another USB port that I do not use for any of my other devices to connect the Sony, and it worked instantly.

You struck the nail on the head jswinden. Thanks again.

I had similar experiences with other USB devices. Just have to keep plugging them into different ports and hope one works. So I don't think it's really a Sony problem.

kennyc · 10-01-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

I had similar experiences with other USB devices. Just have to keep plugging them into different ports and hope one works. So I don't think it's really a Sony problem.

Exactly.

vpn · 10-01-2010, 03:38 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys; much appreciated. Yes, I too found that Calibre did a good job at converting some PDFs, but not anothers. There is a commercial application however ( I think it is called ' PDF to ePub converted ' ), that does a beautiful job at converting PDFs, but it costs about $ 30/-

Is it worth buying such an application?
Any idea why some of the books I drag into the Sony come out titled ' no settings ' ? Where do I have to go to edit this to give it its proper title and author?
I am only now going through the manual. It says that we can put our books into collections. Is this easy to do?
What are periodicals, and where can we get some free periodicals from the net?
Thanks for the great help.

VPN

Kiwimick · 10-01-2010, 05:06 PM

You should drag them on to calibre and then edit the metadata to add titles and authors also from either a series link or tags you can organise into collections

vpn · 10-01-2010, 09:00 PM

Thanks Kiwimic. I am doing this for the latest books I loaded onto the Reader, but can I also do the same for the books already on the Reader which show ' no settings?'
Is there a glare factor in the 650? I read a book on the 650 for maybe two hours yesterday, and my eyes got really tired. I could read books on the iriver Story for as long as four hours, and my eyes would still be O.K.
How is the reading experience on the Kindle 3? Do the eyes also get tired reading on the Kindle?
I will read some more on the 650 today, and if my eyes get tired again, I'm returning it and getting a Kindle 3.

MaxLV · 10-01-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerLock

I had similar experiences with other USB devices. Just have to keep plugging them into different ports and hope one works. So I don't think it's really a Sony problem.

Same here. On my computer (that I use for my e-readers) I can plug my Kobo into any USB port and it's recognised in the Kobo software and Calibre. But my 650 is not recognised in reader Library or Calibre and wont charge in one USB port but works fine in [all] the other USB port(s) next to the first one.

I dont think the port is faulty because I have the same behaviour when I plug my Nokia cellphone in the first USB port. Doesn't connect, in the other USB ports it connects fine, and my iPod Touch, iPod Classic, digital camera's, and other USB 'toys/devices' work fine in all the USB ports.

I think it's something in the OS rather than hardware. (Windows 7 in my case)

vpn · 10-03-2010, 07:04 AM

Solved the problem. Adjust the screen brightness using the custom settings so that there is a much better contrast on the screen. This will prevent eye fatigue. Found out from other forums, that placing large PDF files on the SD card will cause the screen to freeze frequently. Calibre can convert these files to ePub files - though it takes a while to do so. We of course do not want to convert all of our PDF files to ePub files, as some (especially if containing foreign language scripts ) will become unreadable if converted to ePub.

09-30-2010, 04:36 PM	#1
vpn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS 650	Need Some Help Hi everyone ! I'm new here, and I joined because I purchased a PRS 650 yesterday and am having some difficulties with this device. Hope someone here can help solve my problems. I already have an iRiver story, but decided to upgrade to the Sony because of the better screen of the latter, and also because of its touchscreen. The iRiver was O.K., but its turn page button was so difficult to press, that I started developing a pressed thumb tip. I was deciding for several days between a Kindle 3 and the PRS 650, and decided to go with the Sony because it could read ePub books. The problem I'm having with the Sony concerns mainly its software. Frankly, I've not seen such crappy software before ! When I connect my device to the computer, it sometimes shows my device, but sometimes the device icon is missing. When it is missing, the message appears on the device screen that my USB port is not functioning properly. Yet this was the same USB port I used for my iRiver without any problems. Reading the posts of some of the members here, I then downloaded Calibre and tried to get the ePub books I have on my computer into the Sony using this program. Not much luck. Would appreciate any help from members to solve these problems. Thanks

09-30-2010, 05:53 PM	#3
jswinden Nameless Being	Sounds like your computer is not recognizing the Sony PRS-650. Are you using a Windows PC or a Mac? No software will work if your computer doesn't know the 650 is plugged in. Try using a different USB port on your computer and see if it recognizes the 650. If not you might need to uninstall the iRiver driver, restart the computer, then plug the 650 into it. Sometimes similar drivers interfere with other connections, and the iRiver driver might being doing that. When a Windows computer recognizes the 650 you will see something like READER (X: ) in Windows File Explorer. I'm not sure about Macs. Once you get the computer to recognize it then you can use the Sony Reader Library software or calibre or simply drag and drop books to the 650. Last edited by jswinden; 09-30-2010 at 05:57 PM.

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09-30-2010, 04:39 PM	#2
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, vpn Someone should be along shortly to help. In the meantime, feel free to click on any of the links below for more info about this site....

10-01-2010, 06:57 AM	#4
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, VPN. I reckon you've laid hands on a good device there. Sony is great hardware. But, I agree, the library sotware leaves much to be desired. I've not used it since I downloaded the free (and very, very effective) Calibre library software a couple of years ago. One thing going for you is that it works so darned well of Sony readers. Very best wishes. Neil

10-01-2010, 08:26 AM	#5
vpn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS 650	Thanks for your reply jswinden. Guess what? I used another USB port that I do not use for any of my other devices to connect the Sony, and it worked instantly. You struck the nail on the head jswinden. Thanks again. Hi Neil, I just started using Calibre, and do not know much about it. Can it convert my PDF files into ePub files? I have several hundred PDF books on my computer which I would like to convert to ePub books so that I can read it on my 650. How else can Calibre help the 650? I bought the case with the light for the 650, and it is a pleasure using the light to read books in a dark room. I am just getting to know this product, and would be grateful if you guys give me some useful tips that cannot be found in the manual. VPN

10-01-2010, 08:40 AM	#6
mrdee0 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: mrdee0	Hi, I had my reader two days ago and Im using calibre. I have had mixed results with pdf. Some pdfs when converted to epub come out fine but some did not. BUT when i transferred some pdfs to the reader (the reader can read pdf) some displayed perfectly and i was able to change font sizes etc. I guess it depends how the boodk pdfs are made-you will have to experiment. I was very surprised that the reader could read normal pdfs without needing to do any conversion!

10-01-2010, 09:10 AM	#7
lack Zealot Posts: 113 Karma: 44088 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Osaka, Japan Device: PRS-650	pdfs have always been the boon of all reader, but now the industry has enough knowledge, and I'm starting to see some good reviews regarding pdf reading in kindle 3, sony readers and eslick from foxit. Good times we live in.. One question, have you tried reading pdf with reflow capability? if so, how was it?

10-01-2010, 03:38 PM	#10
vpn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS 650	Thanks for all the replies guys; much appreciated. Yes, I too found that Calibre did a good job at converting some PDFs, but not anothers. There is a commercial application however ( I think it is called ' PDF to ePub converted ' ), that does a beautiful job at converting PDFs, but it costs about $ 30/- Is it worth buying such an application? Any idea why some of the books I drag into the Sony come out titled ' no settings ' ? Where do I have to go to edit this to give it its proper title and author? I am only now going through the manual. It says that we can put our books into collections. Is this easy to do? What are periodicals, and where can we get some free periodicals from the net? Thanks for the great help. VPN

10-01-2010, 05:06 PM	#11
Kiwimick Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 37308 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London UK Device: Sony PRS650	You should drag them on to calibre and then edit the metadata to add titles and authors also from either a series link or tags you can organise into collections

10-01-2010, 09:00 PM	#12
vpn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS 650	Thanks Kiwimic. I am doing this for the latest books I loaded onto the Reader, but can I also do the same for the books already on the Reader which show ' no settings?' Is there a glare factor in the 650? I read a book on the 650 for maybe two hours yesterday, and my eyes got really tired. I could read books on the iriver Story for as long as four hours, and my eyes would still be O.K. How is the reading experience on the Kindle 3? Do the eyes also get tired reading on the Kindle? I will read some more on the 650 today, and if my eyes get tired again, I'm returning it and getting a Kindle 3.

10-03-2010, 07:04 AM	#14
vpn Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Sony PRS 650	Solved the problem. Adjust the screen brightness using the custom settings so that there is a much better contrast on the screen. This will prevent eye fatigue. Found out from other forums, that placing large PDF files on the SD card will cause the screen to freeze frequently. Calibre can convert these files to ePub files - though it takes a while to do so. We of course do not want to convert all of our PDF files to ePub files, as some (especially if containing foreign language scripts ) will become unreadable if converted to ePub.