E-book readers as stand alone device

aardbewoner · 05-23-2012, 09:13 AM

Wonder how e-readers work without the desktops the force u to use (that dont work for me )
Specialy after a reset, does your e-reader work as mass storge device ?
Yes you cant read drm books ,but can you put books as a file on them ?
No test give any info on that subject .
Why i want to know ? Simple i have no WC or MAC

So there desktops dont work.
My (old) nokia phone connects as a mass storage to my computer, so i can copy the books to it

mbovenka · 05-23-2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aardbewoner

My (old) nokia phone connects as a mass storage to my computer, so i can copy the books to it

What you describe is called 'sideloading' and AFAIK all dedicated readers support it. So you can copy your ebooks by hand if you want.

But if you want a fantastic ebook management program that also runs on Linux, look at Calibre. It has a dedicated forum here and will support just about any reading device under the sun, as long as it will present itself as a USB Mass Storage Device to your OS.

QuantumIguana · 05-23-2012, 09:39 AM

I have used my Kindle like a flash drive when I didn't have anything else available. A bit of an awkward solution, but it worked.

ProfCrash · 05-23-2012, 09:55 AM

If you don't have a computer the e-reader works fine because most of them allow for purchasing using WiFi. There are many a website that allow you to email books from their website to your device while using your device. This works well for folks who have a browser on their e-reader, like the Kindle.

One of the nice things about e-readers is that they do not require a computer. With the Kindle, you can buy a 3G device that allows you to buy from Amazon without WiFi. The browser does not work over 3G for the KT (although it does for the K3).

AnemicOak · 05-23-2012, 10:10 AM

The only readers that have desktop software associated with them are the Sony's and Kobo's, but both allow sideloading through Calibre or as a drive letter.

Kindle, Nook, Pocketbooks, Onyx, Bookeen, etc. all allow sideloading through Calibre and drive letter as well.

Billi · 05-23-2012, 11:28 AM

And if you buy an eReader that uses sd-cards you always have the possibility to fill this sd card separately (in a card-reader, for instance) and insert it then back into the reader. But normally this isn't necessary, as all the posters above have stated.

CommonReader · 05-23-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aardbewoner

Why i want to know ? Simple i have no WC

That's unfortunate, but modern plumbing is not required for using an ebook reader. Electricity is required occasionally, though.

As Billi has pointed out for those readers that use SD-cards it is sufficient to just copy the ebooks into the books folder the reader has created on the SD-card.

Kumabjorn · 05-23-2012, 02:46 PM

When I read the OP I was wondering how many posts it would require before the WC was brought up. OC I could understand but hitting W instead of P isn't even in the realm of a dyslexic. Well, stuff happens I suppose.

Hellmark · 05-23-2012, 02:56 PM

Most readers allow for side loading. It connects as a mass storage device, and you drop the files on. However, I'd recommend using some ebook management software.

I've used my Sony PRS505 with Linux for years with Calibre. Calibre is an awesome ebook manager, and it is opensource and crossplatform. It supports pretty much every ebook reader out there.

CommonReader · 05-23-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

When I read the OP I was wondering how many posts it would require before the WC was brought up. OC I could understand but hitting W instead of P isn't even in the realm of a dyslexic. Well, stuff happens I suppose.

I guess that it is supposed to mean Windows Computer. I admit to being sufficiently childish for not being able to let it pass, though.

kacir · 05-23-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aardbewoner

Wonder how e-readers work without the desktops the force u to use (that dont work for me )
Specialy after a reset, does your e-reader work as mass storge device ?
Yes you cant read drm books ,but can you put books as a file on them ?
No test give any info on that subject .
Why i want to know ? Simple i have no WC or MAC

So there desktops dont work.

The vast majority of readers do work without the need to connect to to PC with Windows or Mac.
The only reading device that didn't work that way was Sony PRS500. And PRS500 had an SD card slot, so I could load the books on an SD card using Linux or FreeBSD computer.

My PocketBook connects to Linux computer with no problem. Many devices have WiFi and can download files from internet.
If you buy Kindle, you can connect Kindle to Wifi (or 3G) and send files to Kindle by email.

dwig · 05-23-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

When I read the OP I was wondering how many posts it would require before the WC was brought up. OC I could understand but hitting W instead of P isn't even in the realm of a dyslexic. Well, stuff happens I suppose.

I believe the OP meant Windows Computer.

aardbewoner · 05-23-2012, 05:05 PM

It does dwig

kacir i use my desktop to download because i can only use drm free.
ProfCrash downloading at amazon wil not work because of drm.

Ok so no sony and kobo ,the rest works as usb device,good to know,as sayed you can`t find that info in tests or manuals. Thanks for all replies.

Using calibre for managing the e-books , and that works great

Elfwreck · 05-23-2012, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aardbewoner

It does dwig

kacir i use my desktop to download because i can only use drm free.
ProfCrash downloading at amazon wil not work because of drm.

Ok so no sony and kobo ,the rest works as usb device,good to know,as sayed you can`t find that info in tests or manuals. Thanks for all replies.

Using calibre for managing the e-books , and that works great

Sony works fine as a USB device--the very *first* Sony ereaders didn't, but the later ones all do.

Kobo also works fine by USB.

It's just that those two have recommended software to manage the books, which is important if you buy from those stores.; some people skip that entirely and use either Calibre or just drag-and-drop into the ereader's drive(s).

(I use a Sony PRS-505 and no Sony software, and don't deal with DRM at all.)

RainingLemur · 05-23-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

I have used my Kindle like a flash drive when I didn't have anything else available. A bit of an awkward solution, but it worked.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who has done this. Kinda makes me feel like a fool when I leave my thumbdrive in my computer at home, and have to put a work project on my Kindle.

"What are you doing?"
- Putting a project on...uh...here.
"Oh, your Kindle can open that? How much was it?"
- Uh...I'm just using it as a flash drive. It can't open *file type*.
Then I'd get a look that is a combination of bewilderment and disappointment from the person asking me questions.

05-23-2012, 09:13 AM	#1
aardbewoner Grumpy Posts: 74 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: linux computers ,raspberry	E-book readers as stand alone device Wonder how e-readers work without the desktops the force u to use (that dont work for me ) Specialy after a reset, does your e-reader work as mass storge device ? Yes you cant read drm books ,but can you put books as a file on them ? No test give any info on that subject . Why i want to know ? Simple i have no WC or MAC So there desktops dont work. My (old) nokia phone connects as a mass storage to my computer, so i can copy the books to it

05-23-2012, 05:05 PM	#13
aardbewoner Grumpy Posts: 74 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: linux computers ,raspberry	It does dwig kacir i use my desktop to download because i can only use drm free. ProfCrash downloading at amazon wil not work because of drm. Ok so no sony and kobo ,the rest works as usb device,good to know,as sayed you can`t find that info in tests or manuals. Thanks for all replies. Using calibre for managing the e-books , and that works great Last edited by aardbewoner; 05-23-2012 at 05:11 PM.

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05-23-2012, 09:39 AM	#3
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	I have used my Kindle like a flash drive when I didn't have anything else available. A bit of an awkward solution, but it worked.

05-23-2012, 09:55 AM	#4
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	If you don't have a computer the e-reader works fine because most of them allow for purchasing using WiFi. There are many a website that allow you to email books from their website to your device while using your device. This works well for folks who have a browser on their e-reader, like the Kindle. One of the nice things about e-readers is that they do not require a computer. With the Kindle, you can buy a 3G device that allows you to buy from Amazon without WiFi. The browser does not work over 3G for the KT (although it does for the K3).

05-23-2012, 10:10 AM	#5
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The only readers that have desktop software associated with them are the Sony's and Kobo's, but both allow sideloading through Calibre or as a drive letter. Kindle, Nook, Pocketbooks, Onyx, Bookeen, etc. all allow sideloading through Calibre and drive letter as well.

05-23-2012, 11:28 AM	#6
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	And if you buy an eReader that uses sd-cards you always have the possibility to fill this sd card separately (in a card-reader, for instance) and insert it then back into the reader. But normally this isn't necessary, as all the posters above have stated.

05-23-2012, 02:46 PM	#8
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	When I read the OP I was wondering how many posts it would require before the WC was brought up. OC I could understand but hitting W instead of P isn't even in the realm of a dyslexic. Well, stuff happens I suppose.

05-23-2012, 02:56 PM	#9
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,591 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Most readers allow for side loading. It connects as a mass storage device, and you drop the files on. However, I'd recommend using some ebook management software. I've used my Sony PRS505 with Linux for years with Calibre. Calibre is an awesome ebook manager, and it is opensource and crossplatform. It supports pretty much every ebook reader out there.