I'm confused!

chedva · 02-11-2010, 01:29 PM

OK, so I'm the proud owner of a new PRS-600, and I'm totally confused! I keep going to the sites recommended on these boards to buy some books (like cyberread.com, fictionwise.com, etc.) and I can't figure out what books will work with my device!

I know that there are ways to convert formats, strip DRMs, etc., but right now I'm just looking for a place to buy some books, cheaper than the Reader Store, that I can download & move to my PRS 600 without hassle.

1) How do I tell whether an Adobe PDF, for example, is protected so I'll be wasting my money? Or if an ePub is protected?

2) Any sites that sell books that I don't need to convert? The cheaper the better?

3) Any general info would be helpful, too!

Thanks!

SCION · 02-11-2010, 01:34 PM

Your 600 can read DRMed ePubs and PDFs. Make sure your Reader is ADE authorized. If you have Adobe Digital Editions and the Reader Library on your computer you should be fine. The Reader Library will recognize your Reader and authorize it. Digital Editions doesn't seem to recognize the newer Readers for some reason. On your 600 check "Settings" and "About" to see if it's authorized.

Edit: Maybe it's only Adobe Digital Edition on the Mac that doesn't recognize the newer Readers.

Edit: For clarification, in "About" your device should say: This device is authorized for reading and purchasing Adobe DRM content.

Ben Thornton · 02-11-2010, 03:06 PM

Hello

My recommendation would be to start with the mobile read forum content - here. For the PRS600, I'd recommend filtering by "Sony BBeB" also called "LRF" format, which will probably look best.

I'm currently reading Alexandre Dumas' novels about D'Artagnan (this page, which I would recommend (and for which HarryT has done a superb job on the formatting).

For purchasing books, I would recommend ePUB or LRF format - ePUB is the format that Sony are moving to long term, and is the favourite for a market standard. Many people prefer the way that LRF looks on the page. If you start with the mobile read content, that's free, you'll get an idea of which formats you prefer. I would avoid PDF personally, because it doesn't reflow (make the text bigger/smaller and rejig the page) well.

You can convert formats using a free tool called calibre, which is excellent (and which many people, including me, use instead of the Sony software). This can't convert, however, if the file is protected (DRM), which many purchased ebooks are. There's a forum here where you can find out all about that.

Where to buy ebooks depends on where you are (different countries have different access to books), and what you like.

Good luck!

grooks · 02-11-2010, 03:12 PM

Any site that sells 'Adobe ePub' or 'Adobe Digital Editions' (PDF) will work on your 600, the only exception is ebooks from Barnes & Noble. As long as you stick with ePub and PDF there will be no conversion required.

Ben Thornton · 02-11-2010, 03:14 PM

Another thing - if and when you do get around to buying a book in ePub, install Adobe Digital Editions first (free, from here), and register your reader to it (by connecting it to your PC - the Adobe software detects it IIRC).

When you buy a book, you will then (sometimes) get a file which then opens with Adobe Digital Editions, which downloads the book and displays it. You can then copy the book, which will be in "My Digital Editions" within "Documents" on Windows, to your reader (using the Sony software, calibre or even explorer).

desertgrandma · 02-11-2010, 03:19 PM

You might also want to check your local library online to see if they carry a decent collection of ebooks.

If you don't have a library card, you would need to get one in order to download.

You'd want the epub or pdf version.

Bremen Cole · 02-11-2010, 04:07 PM

As far as bookstores (if you are in the US, you don't have your location info showing) I like Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ and a good search engine to find books is http://www.inkmesh.com/ .

I prefer ePub as a format.... simply because it looks like it will be the standard for a while.

chedva · 02-11-2010, 05:31 PM

Thanks, all. I'll try everything listed (and I've updated my location - I'm here in the States).

There's just so much to learn!

erasure25 · 02-11-2010, 07:05 PM

BooksOnBoard.com has a pretty good FAQ/help section that tells you what formats work on which devices.

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?F=help

In general, the Adobe ePub format works with all Sony Readers, including your 600. If you buy from them, you need to make sure you are getting the Adobe ePub format. They will also let you test download an actual ebook for free to make sure you are doing it correctly (they have a couple of free tester books).

02-11-2010, 01:29 PM	#1
chedva Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New England Device: sony ebook touch	I'm confused! OK, so I'm the proud owner of a new PRS-600, and I'm totally confused! I keep going to the sites recommended on these boards to buy some books (like cyberread.com, fictionwise.com, etc.) and I can't figure out what books will work with my device! I know that there are ways to convert formats, strip DRMs, etc., but right now I'm just looking for a place to buy some books, cheaper than the Reader Store, that I can download & move to my PRS 600 without hassle. 1) How do I tell whether an Adobe PDF, for example, is protected so I'll be wasting my money? Or if an ePub is protected? 2) Any sites that sell books that I don't need to convert? The cheaper the better? 3) Any general info would be helpful, too! Thanks!

02-11-2010, 01:34 PM	#2
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	Your 600 can read DRMed ePubs and PDFs. Make sure your Reader is ADE authorized. If you have Adobe Digital Editions and the Reader Library on your computer you should be fine. The Reader Library will recognize your Reader and authorize it. Digital Editions doesn't seem to recognize the newer Readers for some reason. On your 600 check "Settings" and "About" to see if it's authorized. Edit: Maybe it's only Adobe Digital Edition on the Mac that doesn't recognize the newer Readers. Edit: For clarification, in "About" your device should say: This device is authorized for reading and purchasing Adobe DRM content. Last edited by SCION; 02-11-2010 at 02:01 PM.

02-11-2010, 07:05 PM	#9
erasure25 Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 601321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Device: Sony PRS-950; PRS-505	BooksOnBoard.com has a pretty good FAQ/help section that tells you what formats work on which devices. http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?F=help In general, the Adobe ePub format works with all Sony Readers, including your 600. If you buy from them, you need to make sure you are getting the Adobe ePub format. They will also let you test download an actual ebook for free to make sure you are doing it correctly (they have a couple of free tester books). Last edited by erasure25; 02-11-2010 at 07:09 PM.

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02-11-2010, 03:06 PM	#3
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	Hello My recommendation would be to start with the mobile read forum content - here. For the PRS600, I'd recommend filtering by "Sony BBeB" also called "LRF" format, which will probably look best. I'm currently reading Alexandre Dumas' novels about D'Artagnan (this page, which I would recommend (and for which HarryT has done a superb job on the formatting). For purchasing books, I would recommend ePUB or LRF format - ePUB is the format that Sony are moving to long term, and is the favourite for a market standard. Many people prefer the way that LRF looks on the page. If you start with the mobile read content, that's free, you'll get an idea of which formats you prefer. I would avoid PDF personally, because it doesn't reflow (make the text bigger/smaller and rejig the page) well. You can convert formats using a free tool called calibre, which is excellent (and which many people, including me, use instead of the Sony software). This can't convert, however, if the file is protected (DRM), which many purchased ebooks are. There's a forum here where you can find out all about that. Where to buy ebooks depends on where you are (different countries have different access to books), and what you like. Good luck!

02-11-2010, 03:12 PM	#4
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	Any site that sells 'Adobe ePub' or 'Adobe Digital Editions' (PDF) will work on your 600, the only exception is ebooks from Barnes & Noble. As long as you stick with ePub and PDF there will be no conversion required.

02-11-2010, 03:14 PM	#5
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	Another thing - if and when you do get around to buying a book in ePub, install Adobe Digital Editions first (free, from here), and register your reader to it (by connecting it to your PC - the Adobe software detects it IIRC). When you buy a book, you will then (sometimes) get a file which then opens with Adobe Digital Editions, which downloads the book and displays it. You can then copy the book, which will be in "My Digital Editions" within "Documents" on Windows, to your reader (using the Sony software, calibre or even explorer).

02-11-2010, 03:19 PM	#6
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	You might also want to check your local library online to see if they carry a decent collection of ebooks. If you don't have a library card, you would need to get one in order to download. You'd want the epub or pdf version.

02-11-2010, 04:07 PM	#7
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	As far as bookstores (if you are in the US, you don't have your location info showing) I like Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ and a good search engine to find books is http://www.inkmesh.com/ . I prefer ePub as a format.... simply because it looks like it will be the standard for a while.

02-11-2010, 05:31 PM	#8
chedva Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New England Device: sony ebook touch	Thanks, all. I'll try everything listed (and I've updated my location - I'm here in the States). There's just so much to learn!

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