PRS-350 Sony PRS-350 - First e-reader for a grumpy geezer

[hermes]

And it doesn't even convert. I bought a book from feedbooks, and after finally figuring out where it was (where the heck is it on the computer? Is it in reader library or adobe digital editions library? bah blah) I found it and dragged it to Calibre. Then I tried dragging it to device. No go because not supported format. Oh, maybe I have to convert it. Cannot convert. So, Calibre may be wonderful but it is not perfect (rather like myself). Now, to figure out how to get it from the software from sony/adobe into the ereader. This is too much like going to technical school (I went to art school). I just want to read books and take notes on the road. I wasn't planning on getting my Ph.d. in technology.

[Poppaea]

No Ph.D. needed, just some basic understanding of what you are dealing here with.

Almost all bought books and all out of the library have a non-copy-me system on board which is called DRM. This is why you had to authorize your device with the Sony Reader Library to make it jump over the DRM hurdle and be able to read your DRM'ed books.

DRM is actually owned by Adobe and Adobes solution to make things readable is ADE. Of every book there are $0.22 royalties due to ADE.

Either you download your books with the Sony software or with ADE. When the little download window opens, it will tell you which software it is going to use to transport your book to your computer. This will make it easy for you to find it later.

Calibre is not able to handle DRM as it does not pay any royalties. It is basically your old card index box to manage your library. Now being on a computer it can do a lot more than your index cards, like convert file formats.

Now, do you remember your book had DRM? And Calibre does not handle DRM? So, what does this mean? Right, you are! You can't convert your file with calibre alone. There are third party plugins available on the internet to extend the powers of Calibre to remove the DRM, to enable Calibre to convert the liberated files. But this is not to be discussed here.

You will not need it to read your books with your device as long as you stay clear of two shops: B&N and Amazon. They have their own DRM schemes or formats. Everything else as long as you buy epub files will be readable right from the start. All you have to do is to use either ADE or the Sony software to get it onto your reader.

Now wait and see: There will be a myriad of people jump now to tell you, you can use Calibre too to make this. Which is right, but would only confuse you further.

You stick with ADE or the Sony RL and you will be fine. Actually all this is very easy. All you have to do is overcome your dislikes to handle this kind of things.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

All you have to do is to use either ADE or the Sony software to get it onto your reader.

Not really. The reader only needs to be authorized once via Adobe Digital Editions or Sony Reader. Once that's done, you can use Windows Explorer, Dolphin, etc to copy DRM'ed books to the reader. The only time you'd need to use ADE or Sony Reader is when downloading newly purchased books or activating a new reader.

@hermes
I skimmed through the Terms of Use and nowhere was it written that you'd have to give them your real name. As I recall, when I signed up, putting in the address was optional. Perhaps they've changed their policy on addresses since then? Oh well, don't think you need to actually give your own address, though. And no, your Adobe ID isn't linked to BooksOnBoard, Fictionwise, Kobo, etc. Books are authorized/downloaded when you open the .acsm file which is a separate procedure from the actual purchasing of ebooks from various ebook stores.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Not really. The reader only needs to be authorized once via Adobe Digital Editions or Sony Reader. Once that's done, you can use Windows Explorer, Dolphin, etc to copy DRM'ed books to the reader. The only time you'd need to use ADE or Sony Reader is when downloading newly purchased books or activating a new reader.

This depends on the bookstore you are buying with. Some do need ADE or RL to download the file. Weren't it better to keep things simple for someone who is not to fit with a computer than bragging about what you know? If your aim was to further complicate matters, in mentioning even more different programs, I guess you succeeded.

[hermes]

I also observe that at least this one feedbook ebook being read on the Sony pocket edition is imperfect/wonky. While it reads text fine, illustrations from the book appear washed out or I usually have to adjust page enlargement to see them properly. It's not a big deal, just not 100% smooth compared to reading a normal book. What is more of a big deal is words are missing in some page sizes. In some cases adjusting the page size makes them appear but in others they never do. This problem is mainly when in the real book there had been sidebars.

The good news is that customer service at Feedbooks has been very quick, although in some cases their replies consist of something like 'ereader problems are beyond our control'. Thus, I see an advantage of an integrated service such as Amazon and Kindle where the ereader and the eooks themselves are sold essentially by the same company, no?

Again, I bought this ereader not for features or price, but because it fits in my shirt pocket. Time will tell if it was a prudent choice. Me thinks it will be part of an info arsenal, and the only one I keep for when I absolutely have to be super lightweight. And, five years from now these devices may be dinosaurs with replacement products that are much better. It wouldn't surprise me.

[hermes]

I appreciate your explaining things simply.

"DRM is actually owned by Adobe and Adobes solution to make things readable is ADE. Of every book there are $0.22 royalties due to ADE."

If DRM solves the challenge to authors of not getting paid for their work, I support this move.

?Either you download your books with the Sony software or with ADE. When the little download window opens, it will tell you which software it is going to use to transport your book to your computer. This will make it easy for you to find it later."

I see, I can use one or the other. This does make it a wee bit inconvenient for using an ereader on the road. But I have to be prepared for this, eh?

"There are third party plugins available on the internet to extend the powers of Calibre to remove the DRM, to enable Calibre to convert the liberated files. But this is not to be discussed here."

Understood.

"You will not need it" [it means what?]

"to read your books with your device as long as you stay clear of two shops: B&N and Amazon.

Just the two shops with the biggest selection?

[Poppaea]

Amazon and B&N cook their own with the DRM-schemes. Their formats can only be read by their devices or if you want to read them on a Sony you have to break the DRM and use Calibre.

Actually I am not sure the royalties go to the authors, I think they go to ADE for providing this DRM stuff. The idea is to make it hard for people to copy books and share them with friends so more books should sell. The reality is, it does not work like this.

You don't need Calibre (it) to read your books as long as you don't buy books with Amazon or B&N.

It is not hard to break it, actually it is easy, but I am not sure, if you should start like this. Maybe when you are more confident in handling everything else

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

This depends on the bookstore you are buying with. Some do need ADE or RL to download the file.

As far as I'm aware, all of them need either ADE or RL to download the actual Adobe DRM ePub. I did mention either being required when downloading newly purchased books. Straight copying of the DRM'ed ePub (as is), you can use any software you're comfortable with.

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Weren't it better to keep things simple for someone who is not to fit with a computer than bragging about what you know? If your aim was to further complicate matters, in mentioning even more different programs, I guess you succeeded.

What is so difficult with a simple drag&drop or copy/paste operation via Windows Explorer? I was trying to think of the Mac equivalent but I couldn't recall it at the time (is it called Finder?). Only thing that popped to mind was Dolphin (Linux KDE file manager). Given how slow ADE and RL both are with large libraries (I have around 200+ purchased ebooks and 2000+ fanfics converted to ePub), I prefer doing a manual copy/paste using good ol' Windows Explorer.

@hermes
I'm finding Kobo to have a decent selection, too. Probably can't compare to Amazon but they seem to have a better selection than some of the independent ebook retailers I've used (Fictionwise prior to BN take-over and BooksOnBoard).

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Actually I am not sure the royalties go to the authors, I think they go to ADE for providing this DRM stuff.

Perhaps the appropriate term for the $0.22 charged by Adobe is licensing fee? I would assume authors still get a slice of the ebook pie as negotiated in their contract (hopefully much bigger than $0.22).

Originally Posted by Poppaea

The idea is to make it hard for people to copy books and share them with friends so more books should sell. The reality is, it does not work like this.

Unfortunately true. It's much easier to just download a pirated copy outright than jump through hoops with DRM. Amazon's implementation is probably the most hassle-free of the bunch but it ties you to the Kindle reader (either software or hardware). Oh well, at least it's not as closed as Apple's iBooks.

[hermes]

Originally Posted by Asawi

What?? Surely you're not suggesting any kind of interaction with local folks or anything like that? Oh horror! <must go fill up eReader for my upcoming trip>

In Bangkok, Mumbai, etc I see so many 'travellers' with LP handbooks in hand taking a long time trying to track down a street for a guesthouse when all they have to do is a) take a cab; b) ask a local. Hey, it's a good excuse to talk to a pretty girl and even in Kuala Lumpur cabs are so cheap that trying desperately to be independent is rather ludicrous. Almost as silly as trying to be anonymous anywhere outside of deserts and jungles post 9/11.

In reply to the reason who reminded me that I am traceable via ISP - yeah, I suppose I could use anonymizing proxies and all of that. But I am too lazy, so I don't bother. It's not like I am fugitive from injustice (at least not lately).

[hermes]

>Here is some info to help you get started with your 350 -

And thank you all forum members who are volunteering their time. If I ever have anything useful to post I will do the same.

>The Sony appears as a standard USB storage device, just like a memory stick or thumb-drive, so YES you CAN 'drag-and-drop' books onto the 350 with your mac, or ANY PC, as long as they are in a DRM free compatible format.

If you want to try this, download some free titles in EPUB format from the [URL="http://www.feedbooks.com/publicdomain"]public domain section of feedbooks.com[/UR

Indeed I have done so from Guteneberg.

>You can buy books from the Sony Ebook Store, Google Books, or even Kobo. The reason that you need to use a U.S. address to buy books is because they are restricted to the U.S. market by their publishers (so if you want to rant at someone, blame them NOT Sony, Kobo, etc.)

AAh yes, the old marketing realties matter of publishing jurisdictional licenses. Which is why second-hand bookstores buyers travel to India and buy from the world's second (?) largest English-language publishing industry and then resell these grey-market books in Thailand. I suppose technically they are book smugglers but the Thai authorities have more important contraband to look out for. "Hmmm, amphetemines or Peyiar Purana - where we will focus?" Actually, importing suitcases of great books might be legal. I suppose it is the EXPORT that publishers in India might object to.

>You can also blame the publishers for REQUIRING that their ebook titles, whether sold by Amazon, Sony, Google, Kobo or anyone else, be protected by some form of DRM (Digital Rights Management Copy Protection).

I didn't realize this very important point. Perhaps there is an alternative that both pays the writers and publishers properly and isn't so geeky. But as I am not (at the moment anyway) in the publishing business - this is not up to me, so I must adapt. Ugh. "Me Dinosaur, no like adapt."


>Were it not for DRM, you would be able to simply drag and drop purchased books as simply as the free feedbook titles above. Because of DRM, you will indeed need special software to buy and transfer books to your PRS-350. With a PC you can use either Adobe Digital Editions (ADE is free from Adobe) or use the 'Sony Reader Library' software that came with your Sony. With a Mac, you will probably want to use the 'Sony Reader Library' because the Adobe ADE software reportedly has trouble with not recognizing the Sony Readers on Macs.

I was not aware that ADE could be problematic with Macs. Good to know.

>- You can't have a non-wireless device, and still expect books to just magically appear on the device, so obviously you need a computer of some sort,

Obviously.

>and unfortunately, BOTH Adobe ADE and the Sony software is registered to a specific PC during installation,

This is VERY bad news.

>so you can't just wander willy-nilly around the planet

And indeed I do.

>installing copies wherever you need them. You will eventually run out of allowable authorizations (Adobe allows only Six computers or reader devices to be authorized at one time, with your PRS-350 counting as one of them).

uh-oh. Sounds like a major problem.

>There is a way to de-register a computer when you are done using it, so you can retain unused authorizations, but it requires a lot of that geeky garbage that you don't seem to like very much.

Might have to learn.

>Even if you like to travel lite, you will find things a lot easier all around, if you at least consider investing in an inexpensive Netbook PC.

I don't need to download books *that* often. I can keep a small computer at a home base stash for in between rovings. The challenge will be once I am in say Nepal and discover that some bookstore there has digital editions and I want to make an impulse purchase... but perhaps we haven't gotten there yet. Hmm, come to think of it I don't see any independent bookstores even in the first world metroplises with ebooks. I suppose that will change.

[snip re: cheapo netbooks]

>In an ideal world, all our apps would be perfectly portable between devices, and would sync data perfectly from the web, but until we reach that utopian point, having a portable device that meets all my needs, and that is portable enough to travel with me is a not a luxury, it's a necessity.[/QUOTE]

Indeed

[hermes]

Somebody (Delphin, poppaea?) wrote...

"so you can't just wander willy-nilly around the planet"

and goes on to explain the (to me) shocking news that if the hassle of re-downloading software is not enough, it can't even (at least easily) be done at all if one uses more than 6 net cafes!

But, but, but.... (sound of exasperation)

What about businessmen who are constantly on the move - in Lima one day and Paris the next and they want to download books at their five-star hotel's business center computer terminals? Why would Sony want to skip this market?

Sure, I'm just an old hippy living on the edge in the third world (which I can't afford so I'm of to the 4th world soon). But seems there must be a significant business traveller niche that Sony would want to go after. Certainly *everyone* doesn't have their own laptop these days.

[vxf]

Originally Posted by hermes

Certainly *everyone* doesn't have their own laptop these days.

I thought everyone did.

But, truly, you want to live on the fringe of society, be ready to accept the consequences. There are reasons the rest of us compromise - because it is convenient. Want to be a hermit? Don't complain about the solitude.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by hermes

What about businessmen who are constantly on the move - in Lima one day and Paris the next and they want to download books at their five-star hotel's business center computer terminals? Why would Sony want to skip this market?

Because said traveling businessmen probably already own laptops. More likely than, not, said businessmen would be using smartphones or tablets as an alternative to dedicated e-ink readers. As a bonus, you probably won't even have to deal with all the activation stuff on a smartphone. I think the major ebook retailers have smartphone apps available so you can just log-in and download directly on the device. No computer required.

Originally Posted by hermes

Sure, I'm just an old hippy living on the edge in the third world (which I can't afford so I'm of to the 4th world soon). But seems there must be a significant business traveller niche that Sony would want to go after. Certainly *everyone* doesn't have their own laptop these days.

Hmm, didn't netbook/laptop sales already surpass desktop sales? If your average Joe can afford one, then certainly a globe-trotting businessman should be able to afford one, too?

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by hermes

>You can also blame the publishers for REQUIRING that their ebook titles, whether sold by Amazon, Sony, Google, Kobo or anyone else, be protected by some form of DRM (Digital Rights Management Copy Protection).

I didn't realize this very important point. Perhaps there is an alternative that both pays the writers and publishers properly and isn't so geeky. But as I am not (at the moment anyway) in the publishing business - this is not up to me, so I must adapt. Ugh. "Me Dinosaur, no like adapt."

There is. Amazon's implementation is amazingly non-geeky if you can live with the DRM, restricted environment (assuming you're not the type to remove DRM) and big brother looking over your shoulder (okay, I exaggerate, but there are people who see it like that). Alas, I'm not sure how Kindle availability and ebook selection is outside of the US. Oh well, the music world has learned. Aside from subscription services, most music purchases nowadays are DRM-free. Hopefully, book publishers can learn from the music industry's mistakes.

By the way, just in case you were considering it, I don't recommend using a Chinese address for your Adobe ID. Due to regional restrictions, you might find it difficult to get the books you want.