Noob questions re: OS X

la bete · 09-01-2008, 09:22 AM

Hi,

I'm somewhat confused. I'm considering getting the new (to the UK) Sony Reader from Waterstones, but I am concerned about how easy it will be to get books on to it.

I'm fine with the basics but the one thing that is really confusing me is if it is possible to buy a newly published ebook from WHSmith, Waterstones or the like and use my mac to get them on the reader, converting them where required.

Is this possible? Will I be able to buy an ebook from whichever bookseller and get it on to the reader without having to resort to windows?

Thanks in Advance!

NatCh · 09-01-2008, 09:42 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, la bete!

I'm not entirely sure of the answer here, it'll depend a good bit on what mode Waterstones uses to sell their books. If they use the same software that Sony has been using in the U.S. and Canada, then (for reasons known only to mysterious figures at Sony) it won't run (directly) on a MacPuter. However, it usually will run under a Parallels or BootCamp installation of XP or Vista.

If that's the case, then you'll probably be able to go one of those paths. If it's not, well, it'll depend on what they're using instead of the Sony application.

That all only applies to encrypted BBeB, and Adobe books, howerver. The 505 shows up as a standard flash drive when connected to a MacPuter's USB port, so any unencrypted books that you get elsewhere, which are one of the Sony supported formats, will work just fine being shuttled in through the USB port, just as you'd put files on a flash drive.

I hope that helps, please do let us know if you have other questions, or if I wasn't as clear about all that as I think/hope I was.

Aurora W · 09-01-2008, 11:13 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, and greetings fellow Mac user!

As NatCh said, a lot will depend on the format the site uses for downloading. If it's a .pdf, no problems - that is how I handled my downloads until recently. I also used .rtf from time to time when it was available.

Also, as Nat said, using Parallels/BootCamp (if you have an Intel Mac) will enable you to use Sony's site. And someday, I hope they explain why they won't work with Macs...

JeffElkins · 09-01-2008, 11:35 AM

And a must have application will be Calibre. It's a free open-source, multiplatform application for managing ebooks on Windows. Linux or OS X. It pretty much replaces the "stock" software, unless you're dealing with DRM'ed books.

la bete · 09-02-2008, 05:08 AM

Thanks for help guys. Seems Waterstones haven't told their customer service guys how the books will be being sold, which leads me to suspect it will be Sony driven.

Sadly I don't really have the space on my machine to add parallels+xp at the moment. Looks like I'll have to look at other options.

Bitgod · 09-03-2008, 01:34 AM

Now if they'd just make a 64-bit Vista compatible version of the software, sigh. Guess I'll just install it on my XP partition on my macbook.

09-01-2008, 09:22 AM	#1
la bete Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: none yet	Noob questions re: OS X Hi, I'm somewhat confused. I'm considering getting the new (to the UK) Sony Reader from Waterstones, but I am concerned about how easy it will be to get books on to it. I'm fine with the basics but the one thing that is really confusing me is if it is possible to buy a newly published ebook from WHSmith, Waterstones or the like and use my mac to get them on the reader, converting them where required. Is this possible? Will I be able to buy an ebook from whichever bookseller and get it on to the reader without having to resort to windows? Thanks in Advance!

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09-01-2008, 09:42 AM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Welcome to MobileRead, la bete! I'm not entirely sure of the answer here, it'll depend a good bit on what mode Waterstones uses to sell their books. If they use the same software that Sony has been using in the U.S. and Canada, then (for reasons known only to mysterious figures at Sony) it won't run (directly) on a MacPuter. However, it usually will run under a Parallels or BootCamp installation of XP or Vista. If that's the case, then you'll probably be able to go one of those paths. If it's not, well, it'll depend on what they're using instead of the Sony application. That all only applies to encrypted BBeB, and Adobe books, howerver. The 505 shows up as a standard flash drive when connected to a MacPuter's USB port, so any unencrypted books that you get elsewhere, which are one of the Sony supported formats, will work just fine being shuttled in through the USB port, just as you'd put files on a flash drive. I hope that helps, please do let us know if you have other questions, or if I wasn't as clear about all that as I think/hope I was.

09-01-2008, 11:13 AM	#3
Aurora W Addict Posts: 208 Karma: 2435146 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: back in the Midwest, USA Device: PRS-950, iPad, Nexus 7	Welcome to MobileRead, and greetings fellow Mac user! As NatCh said, a lot will depend on the format the site uses for downloading. If it's a .pdf, no problems - that is how I handled my downloads until recently. I also used .rtf from time to time when it was available. Also, as Nat said, using Parallels/BootCamp (if you have an Intel Mac) will enable you to use Sony's site. And someday, I hope they explain why they won't work with Macs...

09-01-2008, 11:35 AM	#4
JeffElkins Guru Posts: 780 Karma: 1416 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Kobo Clara 2E/HD, Kindle PW	And a must have application will be Calibre. It's a free open-source, multiplatform application for managing ebooks on Windows. Linux or OS X. It pretty much replaces the "stock" software, unless you're dealing with DRM'ed books.

09-02-2008, 05:08 AM	#5
la bete Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: none yet	Thanks for help guys. Seems Waterstones haven't told their customer service guys how the books will be being sold, which leads me to suspect it will be Sony driven. Sadly I don't really have the space on my machine to add parallels+xp at the moment. Looks like I'll have to look at other options.

09-03-2008, 01:34 AM	#6
Bitgod Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sacramento Device: iPad / PRS-600 / iPhone 3G	Now if they'd just make a 64-bit Vista compatible version of the software, sigh. Guess I'll just install it on my XP partition on my macbook.