Sony PRS T1 question

celticgirl · 07-08-2012, 01:43 PM

Hi everyone!
I'm finally going to make the leap into an ereader. I've been looking around a lot and decided to buy the Sony PRS T1 because I need to read research papers, but I also want to read books with e-ink so I'm not considering a tablet.I love the fact that I can underline my PDF's which is key! I recently read that google bookstore has cut off the Sony device. My question is; is there a work around for this? Can I just download an ebook from google to my mac and then load it to my Sony ereader? I would think that I could but I want to make sure. Question 2 do you recommend Calibre for the Sony ereader? Would love to buy PB 912 but way too expensive!

Thanks so much for any advice.

polly · 07-08-2012, 02:00 PM

You can download ePubs from any source except B&N and Apple and load them on to your T1. Go to www.inkmesh.com for a nice way to search across multiple bookstores for authors or titles. With a bit of extra work you can strip the DRM on books from anyplace except the Apple store and convert them to ePubs using programs such as Calibre. We don't discuss that here, but Google Apprentice Alf for the necessary tools.

I absolutely recommend Calibre for managing your library. It does an excellent job of organizing your books and loading them onto the reader. It will automatically create collections for you on your device so that series and types of books are grouped together. It's a powerful program, but easy to use. The developers update it on a weekly basis and are active in the Calibre forum.

As side notes:

The Sony Reader program is horrible and not needed on your computer if you use Calibre.

The T1 does a good job of reflowing well-formatted PDFs, but no 6" screen will do well showing technical PDFs with lots of diagrams or tables. Some PDFs just need to be seen as an entire page. If the document was scanned in as an image and not OCRed, it will not reflow on a 6" screen. If your PDFs have header and footer information, such as page numbers, journal title, etc. those will appear sprinkled oddly through the text if you don't crop them out first.

HarryT · 07-08-2012, 02:11 PM

If you're buying a reading device with the primary purpose of reading PDFs, no 6" reader will be satisfactory. I know you say you don't want one, but the best device for PDFs is an iPad or equivalent Android tablet. Believe me, it's the truth.

celticgirl · 07-08-2012, 02:42 PM

Thanks for your response! I finally feel that if I keep waiting for everything I want in an ereader it won't happen. It's killing me too b/c I've been reading about the T2 release, but I'm going on vaca and want to read on the beach without having to lug 10 books! I guess I'll put up with the PDF's not looking the best.
I welcome any more responses!

celticgirl · 07-08-2012, 02:43 PM

I like the iPad idea, but not the price because of course have to get the data plan and extra memory. Plus can't read out in the sun.
Thanks for taking the time to respond!

celticgirl · 07-08-2012, 02:47 PM

Quick question about OCR. So if I have a research article in print that I want to read on the ereader ;can I scan the article with my Epson scanner and load it onto the sony ereader?

speakingtohe · 07-09-2012, 12:25 AM

If you just scan the book it will be readable but not great. If you OCR it it wil depend on the quality of your OCR Software and your skills.

AS to waiting, just buy one. They are pretty cheap these days and you can always sell it of gift it if you want a new one. I paid 374.99 for my first reader and just recently gave it away. I would have saved 1/2 and gotten a newer model 8 months later, but in the that time I read a lot of books. They might get a smidge cheaper and maybe a smidge better, but not that much this year IMO.

Helen

jojoba · 07-09-2012, 07:02 AM

I'm a researcher and I strongly advice against buying a T1 for reading research papers. I have a T1 and I love it for recreational reading but it was useless for research articles. Here is an example of my previous frustration, at the time when I was still thinking that I could fill my T1 with my research library:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156702

I recommend a refurbished iPad2, or any other 10" tablet.

HarryT · 07-09-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojoba

I'm a researcher and I strongly advice against buying a T1 for reading research papers. I have a T1 and I love it for recreational reading but it was useless for research articles. Here is an example of my previous frustration, at the time when I was still thinking that I could fill my T1 with my research library:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156702

I recommend a refurbished iPad2, or any other 10" tablet.

I am in complete agreement with you.

Belfaborac · 07-09-2012, 10:32 AM

Full agreement from me too. I have a PRS-950 which is 7" eInk reader and it is near useless for research papers and the like. You really need a 10" or larger device for that kind of reading.

ApK · 07-09-2012, 11:12 AM

It wouldn't be crazy to get a 6" eink for general reading and 10" tablet for docs best suited by it. Worse case scenario is carrying two small devices is still better than carrying 10 books, but reality, you will likely only carry the one appropriate device at any given time. Take the eink to the beach...you can always throw on that one research paper if you have to catch up on something. Take the tablet when you are working, and you can throw on one or two novels for break time.

jojoba · 07-09-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

It wouldn't be crazy to get a 6" eink for general reading and 10" tablet for docs best suited by it. Worse case scenario is carrying two small devices is still better than carrying 10 books, but reality, you will likely only carry the one appropriate device at any given time.

Yes, this is exactly what I do. But if I had to choose just one, given the requirement to read PDFs, I would go with a tablet, and use paper copies when on the beach. Vacation is one time a year or so, work is daily.

celticgirl · 07-13-2012, 07:01 AM

wow. This really blows my mind. Thanks jojoba for your input. Thats exactly what I'm reading not PDF books, PDF academic research papers. Now I'm reading about the PRS T2- I wonder if that will improve things. What about my notes? I take lecture notes on my laptop, will I be able to read those on the PRS T1?

celticgirl · 07-13-2012, 07:04 AM

Does anyone know if jet book would work?

HarryT · 07-13-2012, 07:19 AM

To repeat what I said above:

Quote:

If you're buying a reading device with the primary purpose of reading PDFs, no 6" reader will be satisfactory.

None. Not the jetbook, not the PRS-T2. None. It really is as simple as that, believe me.

07-08-2012, 01:43 PM	#1
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	Sony PRS T1 question Hi everyone! I'm finally going to make the leap into an ereader. I've been looking around a lot and decided to buy the Sony PRS T1 because I need to read research papers, but I also want to read books with e-ink so I'm not considering a tablet.I love the fact that I can underline my PDF's which is key! I recently read that google bookstore has cut off the Sony device. My question is; is there a work around for this? Can I just download an ebook from google to my mac and then load it to my Sony ereader? I would think that I could but I want to make sure. Question 2 do you recommend Calibre for the Sony ereader? Would love to buy PB 912 but way too expensive! Thanks so much for any advice.

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07-08-2012, 02:00 PM	#2
polly Evangelist Posts: 454 Karma: 270240 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS 650, PocketBook 360, Astak PocketPro (RIP), Tungsten T3	You can download ePubs from any source except B&N and Apple and load them on to your T1. Go to www.inkmesh.com for a nice way to search across multiple bookstores for authors or titles. With a bit of extra work you can strip the DRM on books from anyplace except the Apple store and convert them to ePubs using programs such as Calibre. We don't discuss that here, but Google Apprentice Alf for the necessary tools. I absolutely recommend Calibre for managing your library. It does an excellent job of organizing your books and loading them onto the reader. It will automatically create collections for you on your device so that series and types of books are grouped together. It's a powerful program, but easy to use. The developers update it on a weekly basis and are active in the Calibre forum. As side notes: The Sony Reader program is horrible and not needed on your computer if you use Calibre. The T1 does a good job of reflowing well-formatted PDFs, but no 6" screen will do well showing technical PDFs with lots of diagrams or tables. Some PDFs just need to be seen as an entire page. If the document was scanned in as an image and not OCRed, it will not reflow on a 6" screen. If your PDFs have header and footer information, such as page numbers, journal title, etc. those will appear sprinkled oddly through the text if you don't crop them out first.

07-08-2012, 02:11 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're buying a reading device with the primary purpose of reading PDFs, no 6" reader will be satisfactory. I know you say you don't want one, but the best device for PDFs is an iPad or equivalent Android tablet. Believe me, it's the truth.

07-08-2012, 02:42 PM	#4
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	Thanks for your response! I finally feel that if I keep waiting for everything I want in an ereader it won't happen. It's killing me too b/c I've been reading about the T2 release, but I'm going on vaca and want to read on the beach without having to lug 10 books! I guess I'll put up with the PDF's not looking the best. I welcome any more responses!

07-08-2012, 02:43 PM	#5
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	I like the iPad idea, but not the price because of course have to get the data plan and extra memory. Plus can't read out in the sun. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

07-08-2012, 02:47 PM	#6
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	Quick question about OCR. So if I have a research article in print that I want to read on the ereader ;can I scan the article with my Epson scanner and load it onto the sony ereader?

07-09-2012, 12:25 AM	#7
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	If you just scan the book it will be readable but not great. If you OCR it it wil depend on the quality of your OCR Software and your skills. AS to waiting, just buy one. They are pretty cheap these days and you can always sell it of gift it if you want a new one. I paid 374.99 for my first reader and just recently gave it away. I would have saved 1/2 and gotten a newer model 8 months later, but in the that time I read a lot of books. They might get a smidge cheaper and maybe a smidge better, but not that much this year IMO. Helen

07-09-2012, 07:02 AM	#8
jojoba Addict Posts: 277 Karma: 1039638 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Europe Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3gen, Cybook Odyssey FL HD	I'm a researcher and I strongly advice against buying a T1 for reading research papers. I have a T1 and I love it for recreational reading but it was useless for research articles. Here is an example of my previous frustration, at the time when I was still thinking that I could fill my T1 with my research library: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156702 I recommend a refurbished iPad2, or any other 10" tablet.

07-09-2012, 10:32 AM	#10
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	Full agreement from me too. I have a PRS-950 which is 7" eInk reader and it is near useless for research papers and the like. You really need a 10" or larger device for that kind of reading.

07-09-2012, 11:12 AM	#11
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,402 Karma: 69116640 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	It wouldn't be crazy to get a 6" eink for general reading and 10" tablet for docs best suited by it. Worse case scenario is carrying two small devices is still better than carrying 10 books, but reality, you will likely only carry the one appropriate device at any given time. Take the eink to the beach...you can always throw on that one research paper if you have to catch up on something. Take the tablet when you are working, and you can throw on one or two novels for break time.

07-13-2012, 07:01 AM	#13
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	wow. This really blows my mind. Thanks jojoba for your input. Thats exactly what I'm reading not PDF books, PDF academic research papers. Now I'm reading about the PRS T2- I wonder if that will improve things. What about my notes? I take lecture notes on my laptop, will I be able to read those on the PRS T1?

07-13-2012, 07:04 AM	#14
celticgirl Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern Wisconsin Device: Kobo SONY	Does anyone know if jet book would work?