Got my very 1st ebook reader, now what?

[Mel_Putra]

I still can't activate ADE on my new laptop (Sony) so I downloaded a book into my old laptop. It is in ADE. But when I connected my PRS-300 I don't know what else to do. I don't think I have authorised my ebook reader for ADE yet. But I don't know how to proceed after connecting the ebook reader. I don't think I should open up Calibre since this book should be DRM protected.

[Mel_Putra]

Originally Posted by Mel_Putra

When I want to activate my ADE account and register my PC I keep on getting this message: E_ADEPT_REQUEST_EXPIRED http://adeactivate.adobe.com/adept/Activate 2010-08-12T06:37:14-07:00%20(1281620234000)%20is%20before%202010-08-12T18:08:09-07:00%20(1281661689624)

Why is that so?

Hi Guys!

I managed to activate the ADE in my new laptop. Found out that ADE activation only works if your PC is set to the correct time, date and time zone. My time zone was set to Malaysia . But I am still having problem once I connect the PRS-300 to my laptop.. as in don't know how to proceed? Please don't condemn me.. I am totally new at this!


Mel

[shanghaichica]

Originally Posted by Mel_Putra

Hi Guys!

I managed to activate the ADE in my new laptop. Found out that ADE activation only works if your PC is set to the correct time, date and time zone. My time zone was set to Malaysia . But I am still having problem once I connect the PRS-300 to my laptop.. as in don't know how to proceed? Please don't condemn me.. I am totally new at this!


Mel

Have you got any books in your ADE library??

Is your prs-300 being recognised by ADE??


Once you have books in your ADE library, connect your PRS-300 to your laptop. Wait for your device to appear in ADE and then drag and drop books from your ADE library onto the prs-300 tab. That will transfer them to your reader.

[bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

All the advice you've gotten so is pretty good. But as one poster mentioned, I wouldn't discount the Sony Bookstore completely. Bear in mind, I've only used the US version, I've never had to concern myself with geographic restrictions as such (or maybe, I've not been smart enough to recognize the problem!), and I've only been using my PRS300 since December.

Let me second this. I've got a Sony PRS600 and am outside the US. Though I buy most of my e-books from Kobo, I've also found a number of good deals at the Sony US store.

I've got my Reader set to "US" as its country and have had it like that since Day 1. When I loaded the Sony store software onto my computer, it insisted that I had to use my existing Adobe account for the ADE. (I didn't even know I had an existing Adobe account, but I eventually figured it out. If there is an address in there, it has to be my French address - but when I set the account up it had to have been two or three computers back.) The two softwares (Sony store and ADE) are then intimately linked in your computer.

I've tried buying e-books from Kobe and/or the UK booksellers, using only the stand alone ADE software, but what happens is that the download goes directly into the Sony Library and nothing shows on the ADE software. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

As far as Calibre is concerned, I don't use it for downloading my e-book purchases. What it is invaluable for is setting up tags, sorts and other library functions (not to mention downloading news and magazines from websites).

So basically, for me the drill is to download my e-book purchases via the Sony Reader software (for those with DRM). Then I add them to my Calibre library and adjust the metadata (tags, covers, ratings, etc.). When everything is just as I want it, I then use Calibre to upload them to my Reader.

So far I have had no problem buying from the US Sony store, using gift cards purchased for me by a friend in the US. The first time I bought something with the cards, they asked for my address and I just gave that of my friend. As far as I can tell, they aren't checking IP addresses at the Sony store though I suppose that could change.

It's kind of overwhelming at first, I know, but give it a month or two and you'll be loving your Reader as much as I do mine. It's a marvelous little device for those of us readers living outside the English language area.

[shanghaichica]

If you have downloaded any free books (as suggested above) you can add them to the calibre software by going to add file in calibre and selecting the books from wherever they are saved on your computer. Then connect your 300 to the laptop. Once it is recognised by calibre you can select a book in the library and then press the send to device tab. The book will then be sent to your PRS-300. You can also do this with any DRM free books you have on your computer, or have purchased.

[Mel_Putra]

Originally Posted by shanghaichica

Have you got any books in your ADE library??

Is your prs-300 being recognised by ADE??


Once you have books in your ADE library, connect your PRS-300 to your laptop. Wait for your device to appear in ADE and then drag and drop books from your ADE library onto the prs-300 tab. That will transfer them to your reader.

I have a book in ADE. Once I connect the ebook reader "AutoPlay" comes on the screen. Offering me the Option to 'Open Folder to view files using Windows Explorer'. I haven't done so... Should I? When I opened up the ADE (which shows my book inside) there is no showing of my ebook reader device. Do I need to do something first to authorize my device to ADE for it to recognise?

[shanghaichica]

Originally Posted by Mel_Putra

I have a book in ADE. Once I connect the ebook reader "AutoPlay" comes on the screen. Offering me the Option to 'Open Folder to view files using Windows Explorer'. I haven't done so... Should I? When I opened up the ADE (which shows my book inside) there is no showing of my ebook reader device. Do I need to do something first to authorize my device to ADE for it to recognise?

Did you authorise the reader on your old PC???

But even so it should recognize it when you connect it to the PC.

Have you installed the sony software???

When I set up ADE on my second laptop I had to let the sony reader software install before ADE would recognize it.

[Mel_Putra]

Yay!!! Managed to load the book into my ereader! I had not installed the Sony Software Thanks so much everyone for your guidance! Actually 1 question - Is the Sony Library the same as the eBook Library? I thought we need not install Sony Library and it is more hassle then useful...

[shanghaichica]

Glad you got it to work. For some reason you have to instal the sony software even if you don't use it.

[Stitchawl]

I won't swear to it, but I think the Sony Library installs drivers for the Sony Reader.

Stitchawl

[shanghaichica]

Oh that makes sense. I wasnt sure why. When I first got my reader I just connected it to my laptop and let the software install but decided not to use it anyway and everything was fine. Then when I decided to install ADE on a second laptop, the PRS-300 was not recognised by ADE at first, so I just thought let me just install the Sony software because that's what I did on the other computer and then it would recognise it.

Good to know for future reference. Thanks.

[Mel_Putra]

Hi everyone,

So far I have had the PRS-300 for close to a month and have downloaded over 30 books while still here in New York. Some issue with my M'sian credit cards. But since I have a few I managed at the end, except for Fictionwise which was totally useless. Not able to use Paypal since it requires bank account so I assume it needs to be US bank account? Or can still register foreign bank account and this will not cause any complication with Geographical Restriction?
Funny enough with Sony eBook Library, at first it accepted my AMEX and Citibank Visa. But on my 3rd purchase (a few days only after the 1st purchase) it rejected those. Not sure whether this has any connection with me buying some things online from Target which I had to register both my AMEX and Citibank Visa showing their M'sian billing address.. It was right after registering the real M'sian billing address with Target that those card failed with Sony Library... So now I am using HSBC, which as of last week was OK.
Another issue which got me panicking was my reader froze. But after some research in MR I charged and did a soft reset. But I believe it had nothing to do with flat battery but more with PDF formatted book which I downloaded into the reader. Right after downloading it I checked that it went in OK and the reader froze on the 3rd page. I read that the reader does that with PDF formats. So I just removed it and redownloaded the epub version. Lucky the PDF format was only $5! (Since it was cheaper than epub format I thought I could buy it and use Calibre to convert it into epub but then I forgot the GOLDEN RULE - Calibre only works with non-DRM versions of all the eBook formats!) Duh!!!!!!!!!!

So Guys, so far I am very happy with my PRS-300. Being typical FEMALE I have been going mad buying all kinds of cases for it. I even managed to persuade a friend to get one (which I will buy back for her). The next hurdle is when I get back to M'sia and trying to go around GR.
Thanks so much everyone for all the help!
Mel