Have you used the Sony software/store, or not? - Page 4

erayd · 04-13-2009, 06:19 AM

I used it once to download a few freebies. After discovering that calibre is unable to handle LRX files and there is no [easy] way of stripping the DRM, I have never used it again. It also doesn't run on Linux, which means I'd have to use my work PC if I really wanted it. And the store is bloody slow.

These days, I mostly buy from Fictionwise (ms lit, and strip the drm), and a bit from Baen (no drm - serious kodos there).

I voted 'other'.

Xenophon · 04-13-2009, 12:38 PM

Calibre can manage LRX files now. You can't change the meta-data, but you Calibre can store them and move the onto and off of your PRS-xxx.

Xenophon

erayd · 04-13-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Calibre can manage LRX files now. You can't change the meta-data, but you Calibre can store them and move the onto and off of your PRS-xxx.

Xenophon

Awesome

. Although I no longer have any LRX format books, so it's more or less irrelevant to me now - I just switched to formats calibre could handle.

Fledchen · 04-14-2009, 06:58 AM

I voted for "other" because I have only used the Sony software for free books. I buy my books elsewhere.

drmathprog · 04-14-2009, 04:20 PM

If the software worked at all for me, I might use it. However, it doesn't, so I don't.

Harry001 · 04-14-2009, 04:39 PM

since i am not able to connect to the Sony store (don't know why, but do not bother)
i just installed the soft and use calibre.
thanks kovie
happy reading
harry

bsandersen · 04-14-2009, 10:22 PM

I loved the Sony PRS-505, but Sony's assumption that everybody must use a PC was grating. It also seemed wholly unnecessary. The Sony store could have been platform independent, not requiring a special PC application, and management of the unit could, similarly, be done without dependence on a PC. Sony got the ergonomics of the unit right while Amazon struggled; Amazon got the software right. You can see where this is going.

I have traded up to a Kindle for two reasons: (1) I was tired of being a second-class citizen in the Sony world because I ran a Macintosh. Sure, I could fire up Parallels and WinXP anytime I wanted, but why should I _want_ to? (2) The prices in the Sony store were seriously out-of-whack compared to Amazon. Ultimately, the Kindle 2 would pay for itself after a couple of dozen books. Sony's unreasonably high prices in their bookstore subsidized, in a sense, my transition to the competition.

I still own the Sony. I still like the Sony. But I'm putting my future investments, especially in purchased content, into the Kindle. And Sony can thank the software designers and store management for my decision.

PGP_Protector · 04-16-2009, 06:28 PM

The only books I've bought from the Sony store are the Free Classics you can get
I've still got problems with their software & it hanging (I don't care for their interface).

I do like the fact that they sent me a reminder that my Credit was about to expire (I had about 42 books left on it)

Cassy · 04-16-2009, 07:28 PM

I use the Sony software and I would purchase books with Sony if they would let me... but they don't so I mostly buy from BoB

sdgossage · 04-18-2009, 04:46 AM

Mostly from Sony store, but have gotten some from Gutenberg project.

Stingo · 04-18-2009, 06:34 AM

I buy my books from Books on Board because I can do so in a format where I can remove the DRM. That way I know that I don't have to deal with that headache in the future. I will not buy from the Sony store as long as my files are locked down with DRM. Apart from BoB I download from the varius free sites. My favorite downloads are those I get right here on Mobileread.

moz · 04-18-2009, 07:39 AM

I installed the software in a virtual machine once, just to see what it looked like. It sucked.

Curly · 04-18-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moz

I installed the software in a virtual machine once, just to see what it looked like. It sucked.

What didn't you like about it?

pepak · 04-18-2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly

What didn't you like about it?

Everything :-)

I just don't like the philosophy that runs behind iTunes, eBook Library and the GUI parts of Calibre. It is probably very easy to use for people who don't spend all of their time with a computer, but to me, it seems to allow very little while requiring way too much work.

Plus, there is very little that eBook Library can provide for me in any case, considering that I don't live in the US...

Curly · 04-18-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepak

Everything :-)

I just don't like the philosophy that runs behind iTunes, eBook Library and the GUI parts of Calibre. It is probably very easy to use for people who don't spend all of their time with a computer, but to me, it seems to allow very little while requiring way too much work.

Plus, there is very little that eBook Library can provide for me in any case, considering that I don't live in the US...

I would certainly agree with you that it can't do much for those of us who don't live in the US. I've just switch to calibre and certainly prefer it over the sony software.

View Poll Results: Have you used the sony software/store?
I use the Sony software and have bought from the store	73	52.90%
I use the Sony software to manage my reader but have not bought from the store	21	15.22%
I have not used the software nor have I bought from the store	30	21.74%
Other	14	10.14%
Voters: 138. You may not vote on this poll

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04-13-2009, 06:19 AM	#46
erayd Zealot Posts: 134 Karma: 146 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Boox Poke 2	I used it once to download a few freebies. After discovering that calibre is unable to handle LRX files and there is no [easy] way of stripping the DRM, I have never used it again. It also doesn't run on Linux, which means I'd have to use my work PC if I really wanted it. And the store is bloody slow. These days, I mostly buy from Fictionwise (ms lit, and strip the drm), and a bit from Baen (no drm - serious kodos there). I voted 'other'.

04-13-2009, 12:38 PM	#47
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,487 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Calibre can manage LRX files now. You can't change the meta-data, but you Calibre can store them and move the onto and off of your PRS-xxx. Xenophon

04-14-2009, 06:58 AM	#49
Fledchen Guru Posts: 663 Karma: 84658 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minnesota, USA Device: PB360+, Sony950, VR Stream, iPod Touch, iPad	I voted for "other" because I have only used the Sony software for free books. I buy my books elsewhere.

04-14-2009, 04:20 PM	#50
drmathprog Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 22 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	If the software worked at all for me, I might use it. However, it doesn't, so I don't.

04-14-2009, 04:39 PM	#51
Harry001 Addict Posts: 210 Karma: 729 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tehran/Iran - new posting 2024 Device: Nook glow light 3, 3+ and 4+, Tolino Epos 1, 2 and 3	since i am not able to connect to the Sony store (don't know why, but do not bother) i just installed the soft and use calibre. thanks kovie happy reading harry

04-14-2009, 10:22 PM	#52
bsandersen Nerd Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Acton, MA Device: Sony PRS-300,505, Kindle 2, iPad	I loved the Sony PRS-505, but Sony's assumption that everybody must use a PC was grating. It also seemed wholly unnecessary. The Sony store could have been platform independent, not requiring a special PC application, and management of the unit could, similarly, be done without dependence on a PC. Sony got the ergonomics of the unit right while Amazon struggled; Amazon got the software right. You can see where this is going. I have traded up to a Kindle for two reasons: (1) I was tired of being a second-class citizen in the Sony world because I ran a Macintosh. Sure, I could fire up Parallels and WinXP anytime I wanted, but why should I _want_ to? (2) The prices in the Sony store were seriously out-of-whack compared to Amazon. Ultimately, the Kindle 2 would pay for itself after a couple of dozen books. Sony's unreasonably high prices in their bookstore subsidized, in a sense, my transition to the competition. I still own the Sony. I still like the Sony. But I'm putting my future investments, especially in purchased content, into the Kindle. And Sony can thank the software designers and store management for my decision.

04-16-2009, 06:28 PM	#53
PGP_Protector Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 208 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: PRS-505	The only books I've bought from the Sony store are the Free Classics you can get I've still got problems with their software & it hanging (I don't care for their interface). I do like the fact that they sent me a reminder that my Credit was about to expire (I had about 42 books left on it)

04-16-2009, 07:28 PM	#54
Cassy Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 22 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Silver Sony PRS 505	I use the Sony software and I would purchase books with Sony if they would let me... but they don't so I mostly buy from BoB

04-18-2009, 04:46 AM	#55
sdgossage Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SE Iowa Device: Sony PRS505, Kindle2, nook	Mostly from Sony store, but have gotten some from Gutenberg project.

04-18-2009, 06:34 AM	#56
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 582 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	I buy my books from Books on Board because I can do so in a format where I can remove the DRM. That way I know that I don't have to deal with that headache in the future. I will not buy from the Sony store as long as my files are locked down with DRM. Apart from BoB I download from the varius free sites. My favorite downloads are those I get right here on Mobileread.

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04-18-2009, 07:39 AM	#57
moz Addict Posts: 370 Karma: 1553 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Melbun Device: Kobo H2O	I installed the software in a virtual machine once, just to see what it looked like. It sucked.