PRS505 Firmware update: epub, DE, and reflow -- oh my!

[Enola]

Forgive me if someone asked/answered this already and I missed it in the threads (wow, 14 pages so far!)....

Has anyone using Vista been able to get the update to install? I'm getting the same error I had when I installed the program itself (I can't remember what I did to work around that)... "The wizard was interrupted before eBook Library by Sony could be completely installed. Your system has not been modified. To complete installation, please run setup again."

Anyone know how to make Sony Library and Vista play nice?

[sam1am]

Originally Posted by junkml

Yep, it's kind of sad that companies try this kind of "forced upgrade". Unfortunately, it's not just Sony, although they've definitely made me question whether I would bother with a Sony device when I'm ready to give up my 500. What they've shown is that even if I bought a 505 right now, I can pretty much only expect upgrades for another 6 months, 12 at the most. Doesn't sound like a very good deal to me. Especially considering how much they charge for the device.

I can't believe anyone who lives in the 21st century would expect any technology company to give you free upgrades for several years after purchasing a device. It's not a "forced" upgrade. Nobody is forcing you to do anything.

The simple fact is that if you want the latest a greatest, you have to pay for it. I don't know of any other rapidly evolving technology that gets support in the form of major firmware upgrades for more than one or two generations. The PRS500 came out - what - 4 years ago? That's like the stone age of technology.

If you really expect a company to act like this, you might as well just buy nothing - because something better will always be around the corner waiting to make your device obsolete. Companies don't make money by giving free upgrades to old devices (not to mention in this case a lot of it is technically impossible).

When the PRS-510 comes out and has WiFi, will you demand they release a firmware update to enable wifi on all previous devices? That's basically what you're asking for here - something technically impossible and unrealistic.

/rant

[sam1am]

Originally Posted by Enola

Forgive me if someone asked/answered this already and I missed it in the threads (wow, 14 pages so far!)....

Has anyone using Vista been able to get the update to install? I'm getting the same error I had when I installed the program itself (I can't remember what I did to work around that)... "The wizard was interrupted before eBook Library by Sony could be completely installed. Your system has not been modified. To complete installation, please run setup again."

Anyone know how to make Sony Library and Vista play nice?

Someone else mentioned the installer is the problem, not the program itself. You have to extract everything from the .exe and copy over to the appropriate directories or something.

[Peto]

Originally Posted by anotherchance

I don't use an SD, I don't see the need, because there's plenty of space on the Reader itself (for me). I hook up my Reader to the PC maybe once every two months to put on a few new books. I have a rolling stock of about 40 books on the Reader.

I have my SD slot covered with tape, since reading from the card is more battery consuming, but I would find it handy to have a couple of SDs loaded if I had the choice to transfer the contents straight into the Reader, specially when traveling. If I can't do that, erasing can add to the neatness of the gadget, which is welcome, but it does not actually improve the Reader's capacities.

[seajewel]

I also don't really understand why people think they are entitled to the same upgrade as the 505 when the 500 lacks the internal memory for the upgrade. Did Sony promise epub support and pdf reflow when the 500 was sold? If so, I apologize, but if not.. I can understand being upset, but the 500 works as intended and works as promised and as it was when you bought it. Yes, it'd be nice if the upgrade were available for 500, but under the circumstances (lack of internal memory) it seems unrealistic to expect Sony to provide a facility to solder on more memory to any customer that asks, or give a $150 towards 505 purchase for 500 trade-ins. I feel like this new firmware is an affirmation that Sony is committed to the Reader.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by sam1am

The PRS500 came out - what - 4 years ago?

October 1st, 2006, so not quite 2 years ago

Originally Posted by seajewel

Did Sony promise epub support and pdf reflow when the 500 was sold?

If memory serves me correctly, the first mention of epub was after the 505 came out, they committed to supporting epub and DE on it when a mobile DE became available. The PDF reflow wasn't even mentioned until last January at CES, three months after the launch of the 505.

[Indigo Ink]

Can someone put some light on the issue of dictionary support. Does the recent upgrade allow/improve the possiblity of dicitonary lookup?

[seajewel]

So why the sense of entitlement, or this general "500 got SCREWED" idea? (Not directed at NatCh). Yes, 505 is better. 505 has a better screen. Technology advanced in a year and early adopters of the 500 have to upgrade or live with the first generation product. I hesitated a long while before buying the 505 because I wanted something bigger and better that might be around the corner. I hesitated because I knew that if two weeks after I bought the 505, the 510 came out, I'd have to see if I could return the 505 somehow, or sell it on ebay, or live with the 505. If I thought that buying the 505 entitled me to a cheap upgrade or to all the same features as the 510 (even when the hardware makes the upgrade close to impossible without switching out PARTS) then I wouldn't have had to hesitate.. but that's the problem with technology or buying an mp3 player or buying a laptop. Truth is, your stuff is going to be obsolete in a few months. Truth is, probably the 510 will come out before Christmas.. maybe not with a better screen, but with wireless. And I'm pretty darn certain I won't be mad at Sony for not upgrading my 505 with wireless when that time comes.

Originally Posted by NatCh

October 1st, 2006, so not quite 2 years ago

If memory serves me correctly, the first mention of epub was after the 505 came out, they committed to supporting epub and DE on it when a mobile DE became available. The PDF reflow wasn't even mentioned until last January at CES, three months after the launch of the 505.

[NatCh]

I think it's just a perfectly human annoyance at being left behind on a pricey purchase. I feel it myself, I just don't think it's anyone's fault is all.

[seajewel]

Yeah, I'd be upset too. But the tone of some of the complaints has gone beyond grumbling over the fast pace of technology into some really personal sony is out to screw early adopters type of tone, which is what I don't understand.

[maggotb0y]

No going back - really
Quick warning to anyone thinking they'll dip their toes into the water- I upgraded to the new firmware, played around, then tried to return to my hacked firmware (earlier version) and the reader no longer recognized my SD card or my MS. So be sure you really want to upgrade before you upgrade.

Happily, re-installing the new firmware has everything working again (without hacks- I want my clock!!!)

Looks like I'll be anxiously awaiting new versions of all my favorite hacks!

[Enola]

Someone else mentioned the installer is the problem, not the program itself. You have to extract everything from the .exe and copy over to the appropriate directories or something.

Apologies again, I'm sure I'll sound like an idiot but how do you extract from an .exe?

[Amalthia]

it's not like early adopters can't sell their Sony PRS-500 on ebay or elsewhere online and use that money towards buying the newer version?

[FizzyWater]

After spending an hour over on Adobe's DE support forums reading all kinds of hate mail, I'm not sure I want to try to install Digital Editions on my computer! And while the hype is "take your digital books wherever you go", the fine print is that "wherever" can only be six devices.

I guess I don't understand how epub is any different from any other site- or hardware-specific DRM scheme. If I am required to "authorize" with Adobe (which gives them permission to log your activities online and maintain all kinds of fun information about you on their databases), why is epub being hailed as "the end of e-babel"?

If we must live with DRM (and it certainly seems that we must, if we want to read most of the currently published mainstream books), I still think eReader is the only one that truly allows you to "take your books wherever you go".

So, do the listed firmware improvements (such as [nonDRM'd] PDF reflow) work if you DON'T install Digital Editions to your computer?

[sam1am]

Originally Posted by Enola

Apologies again, I'm sure I'll sound like an idiot but how do you extract from an .exe?

I'm not a Windows user anymore, so I couldn't say - but you might try a program that can unzip lots of different kinds of files like 7zip or iceows. Or you might try to ask the all knowing one.