Wow, Sony's eBooks software can't get any worse...

[Ler0y Jenkins]

So I'm trying to download as many "classics" as I can while they are still free for me. I'm using the Sony software and am amazed at how bad it really is. One thing I've noticed is that when you have scrolled down a bit and you click the "buy now" button, the confirmation window appears at the top, so you have to scroll up to click "confirm." Unless the confirmation window is partially visible (because you haven't scrolled down very far), there's no way of knowing that you have to scroll back up. So if you're at or near the bottom and want to buy the book, you click "buy now" and nothing happens. You're just supposed to know that you have to scroll all the way back up and click the confirm button. Unbelievable...

[ProDigit]

I'd recommend to download the classics from this website!
The classics Sony offers are in Public Domain;you just pay for the connection, hosting service and cover of the book.

The library here hosts many (if not all)of the Sony classics books!

[Ervserver]

I've never had any issues with the Sony software. The Sony free classics on the other hand were too crappy quality wise I've deleted most of them and downloaded better elsewhere.

[fishbaby]

I've never really liked the Sony software - especially since it doesn't work on Macs. I wish they would get rid of it entirely and have the store online.

[Gideon]

The software really is a bit crap. It's like "baby's first program" or something. Sony always falls short when it comes to this part of the work, unfortunately.

[lilac_jive]

It doesn't really bother me.

[drmathprog]

I have to agree; it's probably one of the worst "professional" (using the term loosely) software products I've ever used.

[pepak]

The software is awful, but it can get even worse - Sony could take pointers from Apple... (At least Sony actually allows the use of software from other companies)

[Gideon]

Originally Posted by pepak

The software is awful, but it can get even worse - Sony could take pointers from Apple... (At least Sony actually allows the use of software from other companies)

I have no clue what you mean by that.

Do you mean like iTunes? You can use other software to manage your iPod besides iTunes. And you can certainly BUY music from other places (I get 95% of my music from eMusic and Amazon).

Or do you mean "works well, has powerful management and sorting functions, and has a big selection?" and was just being sarcastic?

[pepak]

Originally Posted by Gideon

Do you mean like iTunes?

Yes.

You can use other software to manage your iPod besides iTunes.

Not my 2nd generation Touch. I would be even worse off if I didn't use Windows already.

As for the rest, it should suffice to say that my opinion is wildly different from yours. That's why I appreciate Sony for at least sticking to standard protocols (USB Mass Storage, XML for metadata) - if I don't like their software, I can use a different one or even write my own. Which I did, incidentally...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pepak

The software is awful, but it can get even worse - Sony could take pointers from Apple... (At least Sony actually allows the use of software from other companies)

This is true. Apple came out with the iPod Classics and they changed how things were done just so you'd be forced to use iTunes. This is not a good thing on Apple's part.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

It doesn't really bother me.

Me either. I've been using it for a long time now. It's quite basic, but it does what I need it to. I don't really buy books from Sony except when they have freebie's so don't use the store part of it very much.

[jj2me]

I actually like Sony's eBook Library. Probably because I started with a clean slate of virtually no library. Probably also because I always load via eBook Library (good practice anyway because eBook Library pre-paginates before loading), and am diligent enough to follow a prescribed workflow:

1) add book,
2) drag book to collection.
3) plug in device and watch it auto sync, with some Collections set to go to device, others to SD card, still others to MS (when I get around to buying one).

Nice. (For my needs, that is.)

[dordale]

My feelings on Sony's ebook library software...it's not a great program but it does what it's supposed to do.

I buy very little from their store.

I do use the library to transfer everything over to my 505 so that it's prepaginated. I don't add books to "my library" in the software, just drag and drop from my hard drive to the reader.

dordale

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by jj2me

I actually like Sony's eBook Library. Probably because I started with a clean slate of virtually no library. Probably also because I always load via eBook Library (good practice anyway because eBook Library pre-paginates before loading), and am diligent enough to follow a prescribed workflow:

1) add book,
2) drag book to collection.
3) plug in device and watch it auto sync, with some Collections set to go to device, others to SD card, still others to MS (when I get around to buying one).

Nice. (For my needs, that is.)

Same here for me. Even when I make a book using Calibre, I still open my Sony Library software to load the book in the reader instead of using Calibre's 'send to device' option. I've never had any problems with the software and I've installed it in 3 laptops!