PRS-600 Anyone else notice the huge margins?

mmariep2 · 09-29-2009, 10:59 PM

So I'm reading my second book on the 600 and I love the device. However, I have noticed a consistently large margin around the left, right, and bottom of the text for both books (bought from the Sony bookstore). I have also experimented with opening various ePub books and PDF docs from various sources and the large margins are still there (and remain regardless of the font sizes).

Now, I have searched this forum and the web and seen a handful of pics of other 600 readers where the text goes almost right to the edge of the screen on the three sides mentioned above.

So what gives? Is this a hack or do the margins just vary from file to file? (if it's a file thing, I haven't found a file to prove otherwise!)

Is it a big deal? No, but I'd say at least 4 more lines of text would fit on my screen (at medium font size) just without the large margin at the bottom and it just seems like such a waste of space - mildly irritating but not a deal-breaker. Any feedback?

lilac_jive · 09-29-2009, 11:07 PM

The Sony books have large margins, but others prefer smaller margins, like yourself, and if it'ss a DRM free book, lots of members here shrink the margins. Also lots of the books available on here are this way.

I actually like the big margins

It's just a matter of taste. Unfortunately, with the Sony ebookstore books, they are encrypted (in a way which hasn't been broken) and you can't fiddle with their margins.

mmariep2 · 09-29-2009, 11:12 PM

And in the case of a DRM free book, how would one go about shrinking margins? I have seen instructions for hacking fonts, but not really anything about changing margins (assuming it's some other kind of hack?)

Thanks!!!!

=X= · 09-29-2009, 11:27 PM

You have to use calibre to do this. Ironically you can't do this very well with LRF files so I often download MOBI, LIT, or ePUB files then convert them to LRF files. Even though most DRM-Free places offer LRF files.

Some readers like MobiePocket can remove margins and change font sizes without having to create a new book. It would have been nice if SONY built the same feature in their software.

=X=

doreenjoy · 09-30-2009, 02:33 AM

I've found the margins to be different depending on the publishers.

kazbates · 09-30-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

You have to use calibre to do this. Ironically you can't do this very well with LRF files so I often download MOBI, LIT, or ePUB files then convert them to LRF files. Even though most DRM-Free places offer LRF files.

Some readers like MobiePocket can remove margins and change font sizes without having to create a new book. It would have been nice if SONY built the same feature in their software.

=X=

This must be why I haven't noticed any large margins. I use Calibre, but not the newest version. When they switched over to 6.0 they didn't do much with the lrf converter because they knew Sony was going to start supporting ePub. 6.0 was including extra page breaks and blank lines in the lrf files. I installed an older version on another computer and now do the conversions from lit to lrf on it. I can then import it to the newer version of Calibre so that I have all my ebooks in one place. A little extra work, but it's worth it to me.

mmariep2 · 09-30-2009, 10:48 AM

Success!!!!! I just reformatted an ePub in Calibre and set the margins really small and it worked! Much better! Now, if only I could do this with everything!!!!! Thanks!

chicagofilms · 11-06-2009, 07:26 AM

I can't stand the margins. You have a tiny screen to begin with, so why would Sony wast an inch with empty space for no good reason?

This makes buying books from Sony a big NO! as far as I'm concerned. I get them from other places and convert in Calibre to look normal.

I'm curious if this is an issue on the Kindle or Nook since I hardly use my Sony anymore because it is a chore to get books on it that are viewable without ridiculous margins. The only easy way is to grab a pirated copy already properly formatted but I'd rather support the author.

HarryT · 11-06-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagofilms

I can't stand the margins. You have a tiny screen to begin with, so why would Sony wast an inch with empty space for no good reason?

It's absolutely nothing to do with Sony; it's the publisher who does the formatting of the book.

lilac_jive · 11-07-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's absolutely nothing to do with Sony; it's the publisher who does the formatting of the book.

Actually, in the case of the margins I think that is Sony. Every book in the ebookstore has margins like that.

chicagofilms · 11-13-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's absolutely nothing to do with Sony; it's the publisher who does the formatting of the book.

I'm not too sure about that. Even the books from Sony, like the cheap/free "classics" have it too.

JSWolf · 11-15-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's absolutely nothing to do with Sony; it's the publisher who does the formatting of the book.

With ePub, it is the publisher. With LRX, it's Sony's third party eBook formatter that screws things up.

diabloNL · 11-16-2009, 12:05 PM

I use the RTF for my Sony 300, works great! I can set the margins in anyway I like them to be.

09-29-2009, 10:59 PM	#1
mmariep2 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: K2 / Sony PRS-600	Anyone else notice the huge margins? So I'm reading my second book on the 600 and I love the device. However, I have noticed a consistently large margin around the left, right, and bottom of the text for both books (bought from the Sony bookstore). I have also experimented with opening various ePub books and PDF docs from various sources and the large margins are still there (and remain regardless of the font sizes). Now, I have searched this forum and the web and seen a handful of pics of other 600 readers where the text goes almost right to the edge of the screen on the three sides mentioned above. So what gives? Is this a hack or do the margins just vary from file to file? (if it's a file thing, I haven't found a file to prove otherwise!) Is it a big deal? No, but I'd say at least 4 more lines of text would fit on my screen (at medium font size) just without the large margin at the bottom and it just seems like such a waste of space - mildly irritating but not a deal-breaker. Any feedback?

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09-29-2009, 11:07 PM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	The Sony books have large margins, but others prefer smaller margins, like yourself, and if it'ss a DRM free book, lots of members here shrink the margins. Also lots of the books available on here are this way. I actually like the big margins It's just a matter of taste. Unfortunately, with the Sony ebookstore books, they are encrypted (in a way which hasn't been broken) and you can't fiddle with their margins.

09-29-2009, 11:12 PM	#3
mmariep2 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: K2 / Sony PRS-600	And in the case of a DRM free book, how would one go about shrinking margins? I have seen instructions for hacking fonts, but not really anything about changing margins (assuming it's some other kind of hack?) Thanks!!!!

09-29-2009, 11:27 PM	#4
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	You have to use calibre to do this. Ironically you can't do this very well with LRF files so I often download MOBI, LIT, or ePUB files then convert them to LRF files. Even though most DRM-Free places offer LRF files. Some readers like MobiePocket can remove margins and change font sizes without having to create a new book. It would have been nice if SONY built the same feature in their software. =X=

09-30-2009, 02:33 AM	#5
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I've found the margins to be different depending on the publishers.

09-30-2009, 10:48 AM	#7
mmariep2 Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: K2 / Sony PRS-600	Success!!!!! I just reformatted an ePub in Calibre and set the margins really small and it worked! Much better! Now, if only I could do this with everything!!!!! Thanks!

11-06-2009, 07:26 AM	#8
chicagofilms Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: prs-505	I can't stand the margins. You have a tiny screen to begin with, so why would Sony wast an inch with empty space for no good reason? This makes buying books from Sony a big NO! as far as I'm concerned. I get them from other places and convert in Calibre to look normal. I'm curious if this is an issue on the Kindle or Nook since I hardly use my Sony anymore because it is a chore to get books on it that are viewable without ridiculous margins. The only easy way is to grab a pirated copy already properly formatted but I'd rather support the author.

11-16-2009, 12:05 PM	#13
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	I use the RTF for my Sony 300, works great! I can set the margins in anyway I like them to be.