PRS-950 Sony 950 won't connect to Macbook

[RSaunders]

I have a MacBook Pro and older 505, and I haven't had any problems. However, I find that charging with the Mac takes 3X longer than charging with the Windows machine. I only presume the 950 needs more power because it has a bigger battery and screen. The bottom line is you need to not charge via USB. You need to buy this http://www.amazon.com/Charger-WALL-p...dp/B001CEA2YC/

OK, it doesn't have to be this one, this was just the first one I could Google. It is a cable (I happen to like the retractable feature) that has USB on one end and Sony PSP on the other end. This charges your reader through the round power port and doesn't fool with the linking to your computer. This only takes power from the computer, and it puts it directly into the battery. No goofy protocols needed. Plus you get a wall wart and car wart to make USB without using your expensive computer as a not-very-good power supply.

[varmemester]

Originally Posted by trekchick

Disable the MacBook's IR Receiver (System Preferences, Security, General) and see if that makes a difference for you.

USB port inequality is a known-issue with some MacBooks. The reason is that the internal USB devices (camera, IR receiver, keyboard, touchpad) are on a hub with one of the ports, creating a potential overload. The configuration varies from model to model.

Here are a couple articles; one old, one recent:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/05/the-macbook-all/

http://www.djtechtools.com/2010/07/1...rt-inequality/

I'm on a 13" MacBook Late 2008/Aluminum (not a MacBook Pro), with Snow Leopard (10.6.5). My 950 and 350 connect and charge seamlessly on either USB port. I even turned my IR receiver back on and the 950 still connected, but it might make a difference for you.

My Macbook model (Late 2009) have no IR receiver. Thanks for the tip though. Keep them coming - especially those to do with the usb ports.

I am now sure, as you also suggest, that it is a macbook problem - and possible only specific models. Not a Reader Library app problem or a Snow Leopard problem. I have just tested it on a friends iMac (model id: iMac7,1) running Snow Leopard and an older Macbook Pro (model id: Macbook Pro 2,2). They recognize the 950 without any problems and without the Reader Library app installed. Any suggestions are very welcome!! Thx

[natasha_fawn]

Just to give you more data, I'm using a PowerBook G4 with OS 10.4.11 and have had no problem (yet, keeping fingers crossed) with the software or having the computer recognize the reader.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I have an MBP mid-2008 silver keyboard generation with 10.5.8. My 505, 900 & 950 all work fine with both the left and right USB ports. I typically use the left side with my 950.

[varmemester]

Thanks for all the info!

Since my last post I have reset the NVRAM, formatted the hard disk and reinstalled Snow Leopard. No luck.

I read on some Apple board to try and remove the battery, but in an official apple document I read that only authorized apple shops should try to remove the battery on my model. So I am a little cautious to do that. Has anyone had any experience with updating firmware (EFI) on macbooks? Some downloads are available on the official apple site. Thx in advance!

[trekchick]

Originally Posted by varmemester

...Has anyone had any experience with updating firmware (EFI) on macbooks? Some downloads are available on the official apple site. Thx in advance!

EFI updates come down through Software Update. After years of being burned by Microsoft patches that broke two things for every issue it fixed (the Windows NT years were especially painful), Mac has taught me to trust again So, I just let Software Update do it's thing. It will shut down the computer, apply the update, reboot, then re-run Software Update to check for additional items.

[trekchick]

Originally Posted by RSaunders

... The bottom line is you need to not charge via USB. You need to buy this http://www.amazon.com/Charger-WALL-p...dp/B001CEA2YC/ ...

The PRS-950 doesn't have an additional port for AC charging like previous models had; it only has a micro USB port. The 950 comes with an USB/AC adapter (the 350 does not). Most 3rd part USB/AC adapters work for charging (though some won't allow you to charge and read simultaneously).

Oddly enough, I used to have the charger you linked; it worked well with my old PRS-300 and PRS-900.

[rpress]

Hi
After reading many articles about USB issues with Macbooks, I thought I would see what would happen if I connected my Belkin Powered USB Hub (Model FSU021) to my Macbook pro and Sony 950 - I am happy to say that I can now connect with no problem - hope this helps others.

Happy New Year

Bob

[abigailabear]

Was anyone ever able to solve this problem? I have been going back an forth with Sony since November and have yet to have my reader be recognized by my mac. I have uninstalled/reinstalled the sony reader software, done soft and hard resets, tried different ports (i even took it to the apple store for them to be checked), changed the language and turned off my IR...I've spent countless hours on the phone with Sony and no one is able to help they just say use it as a wireless device - my husband said this is like buying an expensive care and only using in it in drive, never reverse! If anyone can help I'd appreciate it - Sony engineering is supposed to get back to me within 72 hours - but they don't seem to know how to trouble shoot their own devices so I'm not holding my breath.

[Bookworm_Girl]

No firm solutions have been posted yet. Some Windows users also have the same recognition problem. Somebody posted earlier this week that using a generic USB cable (i.e. not the Sony one) worked for them on a Windows PC. Have you tried that option yet?

[Cpl Punishment]

The most common cause is actually the USB cord....Try a different one, even if you have to borrow or buy another SONY one....I have to ask...What didnt you return it, the moment you found out it was almost useless...(Unless you buy Sony books, or go thru the hassle of loading the SD cards to make transfers...??

[abigailabear]

Well I bought my reader for school and chose this one as it is the only one that allows mark up on all files loaded on the reader...not just purchased PDFs - but also ones that my professors distribute.

I take back what I said about it never connecting - in late Dec. I finally trouble shot with someone from Sony who seemed to have fixed the problem by messing with the reader software. I was ecstatic as it had taken since Thanksgiving to get this far. I thought the problem was solved until earlier this week when I went to dock it to add my etextbooks and PDFs and the "charging stopped" error appeared again! So I know that it CAN work.

So I called Sony and they wanted to send me another replacement (they already replaced the original one that had this error appear). Phone tag, dropped calls an incompetent tech support were the order of my day. I pretty much talked to someone that told me it was bc I was using a Mac and that it was Apple's problem. I told him that any external drive (cameras, memory cards, flash drives) were immediately recognized so that is seems like a Sony problem to me and that if they claim the product is Mac compatible they should know how to trouble shoot it (plus from my internet searches it seems that MANY have had this same problem). I asked him why he couldn't follow the same procedure as the previous tech and work from the software end and he pretty much said because that wouldn't fix it and the tech that solved it last time was on a lower tier. I feel that if he could have repeated the procedure and it worked again that it might have given him some insights into why it was only a temporary fix the first time. Nothing like some techie elitism to thwart a solution....

Tonight I purchased a powered USB hub to try that solution to no avail - the device still isn't recognized. I did look through my console log today and saw that when I reinstalled the reader software that even though it said it installed successfully it threw up an "error during the installation that says error attribute filesize not recognized" and "error attribute filename not recognized." I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it???

If Sony can't get it to work consistently when I call again then I will get my money back and the money that I spent on my etextbooks. Sony Customer Support = FAIL. I would never recommend this reader to anyone - even though it's the one I really wanted. This saga has been a frustrating nightmare of bad customer service, incompetent technical support and at least 20 hours wasted with no resolution

Tomorrow I will try to locate another USB cord...stay tuned!

[Bookworm_Girl]

That does sound frustrating dealing with that new tech, abigailabear. I am not sure what the error messages you got during reinstallation mean. Is the Reader Library software working ok? The uninstall / reinstall process on the Mac is not very intuitive, and people often have problems. I just reinstalled mine last month. I followed Post #5 in this thread link.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78921

Also, I followed the instructions to change Language to US (Computer). You can do this under System Preferences > International > Language on 10.5. If you are using 10.6, then I think it is in a different path. I would also try this suggesion. Some people have reported that it fixed their issues with Sony software just to change the language setting on their Mac.

[Flygrl]

I'm feeling you, bud. We, too have a Mac book and guess what - it'sprobably your "high end" computer. If it's 64 bit the Ereader program will only work w/32 bit! Yep, gRRR - I know. I have to use my little Asus ibook to transfer content to my 950. Great, huh?

[varmemester]

Originally Posted by rpress

Hi
After reading many articles about USB issues with Macbooks, I thought I would see what would happen if I connected my Belkin Powered USB Hub (Model FSU021) to my Macbook pro and Sony 950 - I am happy to say that I can now connect with no problem - hope this helps others.

Happy New Year

Bob

It's been a long time since you posted this and I am not sure why I didn't comment. Maybe because you said you have a Macbook Pro and I didn't think there were any connection problems with the Pro. Maybe because I gave up finding a solution. Anyways, I am still very eager to find a way to solve this. My question is (before I buy an externally powered USB hub): Have you made the 950 connect to a Macbook that couldn't previously connect? Has anyone been able, via an externally powered USB hub, to connect the 950 with a macbook?

Have a nice day & happy reading!