Finally returned Sony Reader to SonyStyle

db100 · 12-31-2006, 08:03 PM

Really bad, not worth my money at all.

First of all, Connect software has so many bugs and it should be the worst software I ever used:
1) Connect only uses its own fonts (total three) instead of using windows fonts. This is generally ok if you only read books bought from Connect ebook store. But when you try to import your own text/pdf files into Reader, and in case those text/pdf file contains any fonts that is not included in above three fonts stored at C:\Program Files\SONY\CONNECT Reader\Data\fonts. Connect software will use 100% CPU and finally shut down your computer. This is really an ugly bug.

2)If you have any of such text/pdf files stored in "Library" under "Preview" mode, your Connect software can never start properally. Once you start Connect, it will use 100% CPU and do nothing until your computer is down.

Reader itself is so slow, slow than an old time Winows CE PDA. Basically only BBeB and text file (which contains no strange fonts) are workable, which can be quickly opened and paged up and down. But whenever page up, you can always see pale ghost image of previous page on screen, even battery is 100%.

PDF file is not only un-readable, but also very very slow to open. I downloaded a three page Physical Review Letter paper to Reader. It has no problem to show all equations, but will take more than 30 second to turn each page.

Reader is basically impressively slow even in menu page. The response of jog dial is much slower than any mp3 players.

Any way, SONY Reader makes me feel really bad. It is understandable if SONY has technology difficulties in hardware development, but it is totally unacceptable, for example, Connect software acts like a beta version. Why SONY cannot do a few more tests before final release?

Maybe I expected too much, but I feel my old PDA is still better than Reader.

NatCh · 12-31-2006, 10:07 PM

I guess all I can say is that I'm sorry it doesn't do what you need done.

I do hope that you find something that will work for you though, that's the important point.

jsuplido · 01-01-2007, 02:04 AM

Sorry to hear that, db100. But I wish you could have offered it here for sale and passed it on to those who really need the Reader. I'm sure it would have been snapped up in no time

HarryT · 01-01-2007, 02:54 AM

Sorry that it didn't work out for you. There are many people here who are very happy with the Reader, but we all have different requirements.

Leaping Gnome · 01-01-2007, 12:54 PM

Totally agree with you on the Connect software. The complaints on the Reader itself I think are part just the current nature of eInk and you will have that on any eInk device and part on Sony's decision to put in slower CPU(s) to increase battery life.

RWood · 01-01-2007, 03:34 PM

The speed of the display seems to be the spped of the eInk screen rather than the speed of the CPU. I believe that even if Sony had put a CPU with double or triple the speed in the Reader we would not experience any real improvement in page turn times or response to key presses. It would be as Leaping Gnome mentioned, something that would eat battery life without giving any additional value.

exvaxman · 01-01-2007, 06:34 PM

I have just been loading an SD card with converted books. The connect software is such a POS that I honestly would become part of a class action on it.

No speed issues turning pages, no ghosting on my unit that I have seen.....

HarryT · 01-02-2007, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvaxman

I have just been loading an SD card with converted books. The connect software is such a POS that I honestly would become part of a class action on it.

There was another "poll" thread about the Connect software. Seems to be about a 50:50 split between people who have endless problems with it, and people for whom it works flawlessly. I've had absolutely no problems whatsoever with Connect. It's pretty basic, but it works perfectly for me. No "hang ups" - I drag files from Windows Explorer and it works fine.

kenbaldwin · 01-02-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I drag files from Windows Explorer and it works fine.

Harry, can you please say more about what you do? I import files into CONNECT, that drag from the book list on the PC to the SD card (within CONNECT). Can I skip the import and still get files pre-indexed on the Reader by dragging from Windows Explorer to the SD card?

My biggest complaint with CONNECT is the lengthy delay when I first connect the Reader (100% CPU for 5-10 min with 500 RTF books on the Reader's SD card). Does anybody know what it's doing? The contents of the Reader are already known and indexed, so I can' figure out what takes so long. Can't it just query the Reader for the contents?

Ken

Leaping Gnome · 01-02-2007, 03:41 PM

I think they only get pre-indexed by loading through Connect. That is the advantage, if you just go Explorer -> Card then the Reader has to index the file when you first open it, and the Reader's CPU is a lot slower that your computer's.

Quote:

The speed of the display seems to be the spped of the eInk screen rather than the speed of the CPU.

I agree, in the cases of menus, etc... but it has shown opening up complicated page like diagrams that aren't preindexed, etc takes longer because the Reader CPU has to determine how to render it. At least that's my understanding.

NatCh · 01-02-2007, 08:08 PM

I think it does do the pre-indexing if you drag the file directly onto the Reader within the Connect Software, though. That is, I don't think you need to drag it to the Library, let it crank, and then drag it to the Reader. That approach seems to be working for me, and since I'm not keeping any files in the Connect Library, it saves me a good bit of time, 'cause I'd also have to go back and delete the rascals.

RWood · 01-03-2007, 12:10 AM

I load my RTF files from multiple locations on the hard disks. I open the directory within CONNECT and then drag the file from the hard disk to the Reader (or the card as needed.) The only things in the library are the files downloaded from the bookstore.

HarryT · 01-03-2007, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

I load my RTF files from multiple locations on the hard disks. I open the directory within CONNECT and then drag the file from the hard disk to the Reader (or the card as needed.) The only things in the library are the files downloaded from the bookstore.

That's exactly what I do - drag from Explorer onto the Reader icon in Connect. I don't use the "Library" page at all.

stxopher · 01-03-2007, 07:48 AM

Yep. Same here. Use Connect to just drag the files from local to the reader (except for PDFs since its faster just to put them on the card directly). Plus thats the best time to preview them and change the size (S,M,L) instead of having the reader do it.

Leaping Gnome · 01-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Am I the only one who has most of their books from the Connect store? I think I have maybe two non-Connect books on there so far. This is my real first e-reading device, so I don't have the catalog some others may have of a bunch of non-Connect books, or the patience to go and search for converter programs, find txt books, spend 10-15 minutes on each to get them decent looking, etc...

I did it on one - Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Gutenberg, it wasn't too painful, but I have plenty to read from the Connect store already nicely formatted. Maybe once I exhaust anything I want to read on there I'll have to branch out and get my hands dirty but for now I just like it easy.

12-31-2006, 08:03 PM	#1
db100 Member Posts: 19 Karma: 52 Join Date: Dec 2006	Finally returned Sony Reader to SonyStyle Really bad, not worth my money at all. First of all, Connect software has so many bugs and it should be the worst software I ever used: 1) Connect only uses its own fonts (total three) instead of using windows fonts. This is generally ok if you only read books bought from Connect ebook store. But when you try to import your own text/pdf files into Reader, and in case those text/pdf file contains any fonts that is not included in above three fonts stored at C:\Program Files\SONY\CONNECT Reader\Data\fonts. Connect software will use 100% CPU and finally shut down your computer. This is really an ugly bug. 2)If you have any of such text/pdf files stored in "Library" under "Preview" mode, your Connect software can never start properally. Once you start Connect, it will use 100% CPU and do nothing until your computer is down. Reader itself is so slow, slow than an old time Winows CE PDA. Basically only BBeB and text file (which contains no strange fonts) are workable, which can be quickly opened and paged up and down. But whenever page up, you can always see pale ghost image of previous page on screen, even battery is 100%. PDF file is not only un-readable, but also very very slow to open. I downloaded a three page Physical Review Letter paper to Reader. It has no problem to show all equations, but will take more than 30 second to turn each page. Reader is basically impressively slow even in menu page. The response of jog dial is much slower than any mp3 players. Any way, SONY Reader makes me feel really bad. It is understandable if SONY has technology difficulties in hardware development, but it is totally unacceptable, for example, Connect software acts like a beta version. Why SONY cannot do a few more tests before final release? Maybe I expected too much, but I feel my old PDA is still better than Reader.

01-01-2007, 06:34 PM	#7
exvaxman Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 38 Join Date: Mar 2006	yes - connect software STINKS! I have just been loading an SD card with converted books. The connect software is such a POS that I honestly would become part of a class action on it. No speed issues turning pages, no ghosting on my unit that I have seen.....

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12-31-2006, 10:07 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I guess all I can say is that I'm sorry it doesn't do what you need done. I do hope that you find something that will work for you though, that's the important point.

01-01-2007, 02:04 AM	#3
jsuplido @jsuplido Posts: 58 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Guam Device: iPhone, PRS-300	Sorry to hear that, db100. But I wish you could have offered it here for sale and passed it on to those who really need the Reader. I'm sure it would have been snapped up in no time

01-01-2007, 02:54 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sorry that it didn't work out for you. There are many people here who are very happy with the Reader, but we all have different requirements.

01-01-2007, 12:54 PM	#5
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Totally agree with you on the Connect software. The complaints on the Reader itself I think are part just the current nature of eInk and you will have that on any eInk device and part on Sony's decision to put in slower CPU(s) to increase battery life.

01-01-2007, 03:34 PM	#6
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	The speed of the display seems to be the spped of the eInk screen rather than the speed of the CPU. I believe that even if Sony had put a CPU with double or triple the speed in the Reader we would not experience any real improvement in page turn times or response to key presses. It would be as Leaping Gnome mentioned, something that would eat battery life without giving any additional value.

01-02-2007, 08:08 PM	#11
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I think it does do the pre-indexing if you drag the file directly onto the Reader within the Connect Software, though. That is, I don't think you need to drag it to the Library, let it crank, and then drag it to the Reader. That approach seems to be working for me, and since I'm not keeping any files in the Connect Library, it saves me a good bit of time, 'cause I'd also have to go back and delete the rascals.

01-03-2007, 12:10 AM	#12
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	I load my RTF files from multiple locations on the hard disks. I open the directory within CONNECT and then drag the file from the hard disk to the Reader (or the card as needed.) The only things in the library are the files downloaded from the bookstore.

01-03-2007, 07:48 AM	#14
stxopher Nameless Being	Yep. Same here. Use Connect to just drag the files from local to the reader (except for PDFs since its faster just to put them on the card directly). Plus thats the best time to preview them and change the size (S,M,L) instead of having the reader do it.

01-03-2007, 11:50 AM	#15
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Am I the only one who has most of their books from the Connect store? I think I have maybe two non-Connect books on there so far. This is my real first e-reading device, so I don't have the catalog some others may have of a bunch of non-Connect books, or the patience to go and search for converter programs, find txt books, spend 10-15 minutes on each to get them decent looking, etc... I did it on one - Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Gutenberg, it wasn't too painful, but I have plenty to read from the Connect store already nicely formatted. Maybe once I exhaust anything I want to read on there I'll have to branch out and get my hands dirty but for now I just like it easy.

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