Any alternative to Sony Reader software?

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Marcy

No, you don't need the Sony Crap, um, software, to install epub/pdf with DRM. You only need Adobe Digital Editions.
The only thing you need the Sony software for it to buy books from the Sony store or download the free books from the Sony store. If I didn't have a $50 gift card to the store that came with my reader I would have deleted their useless excuse for software off my computer. Once that card is gone, so is the software.
Word of caution -- install Adobe Digital Editions *after* installing the Sony software. The software steals file associations and makes ADE not work with your acsm files. It took me a couple of days and a lot of stress to figure that out.
Calibre does everything the Sony software is supposed to do and much more. And best of all it doesn't constantly crash, or screw up things on the reader. I highly recommend it and if you don't plan on buying books from the Sony store don't even bother to install their software. It is so poor that I almost returned my PRS-600 when I first got it. I loved the reader but the software was just unusable. Some googling found MobileRead and that led to Calibre and my reader and I have been happy together ever since.
-Marcy

I take it you haven't used the software recently, as your opinion of the software was pretty close to mine. But as of the 3.0 the software has gotten much much better especially when it comes to sync and collections.

The sync now works both ways so if you drop a book on your eBook it will upload the book to your PC along with any bookmarks/annotations.

Personally I found by 3.0 I was using the Sony software for managing my reader where as before I swore by calibre. Btw calibre still rocks but he reader just sync well with its product as it should have done from the beginnig

[Marcy]

Originally Posted by =X=

I take it you haven't used the software recently, as your opinion of the software was pretty close to mine. But as of the 3.0 the software has gotten much much better especially when it comes to sync and collections.

The sync now works both ways so if you drop a book on your eBook it will upload the book to your PC along with any bookmarks/annotations.

Personally I found by 3.0 I was using the Sony software for managing my reader where as before I swore by calibre. Btw calibre still rocks but he reader just sync well with its product as it should have done from the beginnig

No, I tried Crap 3.0. It still sucked. It was still unreliable, still crashed frequently making me delete everything off my reader and put it back again, still was flaky at best in properly sorting collections and just generally was a disgraceful product Sony should be ashamed of. It's actually kind of a pity, because I think Sony makes the nicest readers -- I especially love that they are metal and have such a solid feel to them.

-Marcy

[John F]

If you can get the Sony software to work (I have problems with the latest release), I would recomend it over Calibre. Calibre is great, and I'm currently using it, but I would prefer the Sony software as it is more tailored for the Sony devices. I get a lot more crashes with Calibre then I do with the Sony software. I just wish I could get the Sony software to work reasonably well!

[scuttlebut]

Hi

I have a Sony PRS600 that i love but the software is rubbish. I have sent emails and pic's of the problems with my PC running Vista Ultimate to Sony and there replays tho swift have not helped at all. After reading this thread i will try there forum to see if the problem can be solved there. I will also try calibr, Thank again.

Bill

[stevet]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm really new to to ebooks in general, so have a lot of getting up to speed on collections, tags, ADE, etc. I understand metadata and data things (by trade I'm a Data Architect), so I can figure it out I think.

Glad to hear I don't need toe Sony software. I just will not work. I've tried everything I've seen on the Sony forum, and spent 4 hours on the phone with Sony doing the same things over and over, and it just won't run. I was ready to return the reader to the store until I discovered this forum. It's great to have a single place to discuss and get info on all things ebook.

Thanks again!

Steve

[ebookapps]

Check www.ebookapplications.com for the new alternative.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

This isn't the Sony forum. Your problem is not "news" to me.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by stevet

I bought a Sony PRS600 reader, and I really want to keep it and use it. BUT, Sony, after spending 4 hours with tech support level 1, tech support level 2, product specialist, and product engineering, cannot make the Sony Reader software work on my Windows 7 computer. I'm not exactly sure what functionality that software has (connect me to the store? help me load software onto the reader? convert formats? I don't know what all it does). Is there any other software I can use with the Sony reader? Or do I have to take it back and try a Kindle or Nook or something else?

Steve

You have Books purchased from the Sony Bookstore. But since the Sony bookstore is about as reliable as the Sony Reader Software, many people with Sony readers feel the can do without either.

And for the most part, they can. ePub books that work with Sony Readers can be purchased from a variety of vendors (but NOT Barnes and Noble - small loss there).

I use Calibre as well as a direct replacement for Sony Reader Software.

[Keef]

I have the 900 and I found the Sony software to work just fine. Yeah the work flow could be improved, but I can download books, add folders and transfer no problem either way from the reader or the computer.

[shanghaichica]

I would also recommend Calibre, I use it along with ADE instead of Sony.