Protected Page error: EPUB & PDF incompatibility

ejm · 07-12-2010, 11:46 PM

... So very frustrating!

I bought a PRS-600 as a birthday gift for my wife. SONY advertised a key feature of the reader (compared to, say, the Kindle) is that you can read library books of various formats. That was the main attraction in our case.

Now, the fact that SONY readers' firmware (all models?) has a defect that precludes one from being able to read both DRM-protected EPUB and PDF files at the same time (note: roughly 1/2 and 1/2 of our library's books are mixed between these 2 formats) is incredibly frustrating.

But the fact that SONY's advice to disappointed customers (trying to figure out why they get a "Protected Page" error when trying to open a library book) is to ignore the problem ... now, that's even more maddening.

Of course, first you have to google around to figure out WHY you're getting these darn error messages. SONY doesn't actually TELL you that its firmware is defective. You have to spend several hours of additional frustration figuring that out too.

Finally, you'll come across this little gem of a link:

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/d...nalId=C1008686

Along the path to knowledge, you may come across several well-intended folks suggesting it's a DRM issue or an Adobe Digital Edition problem. Rest assured, it's not. Other brand readers do NOT have this problem (now we also have a nook in our household and I've read other brands don't suffer from this - ignoring Kindle which can't read library books anyhow).

Simply put, SONY knows about the problem and as recently as yesterday, sent me the customer support link above - i.e., same link as has been around for a while now.

In effect, SONY's advice is: if hurts to exhale, then we suggest you don't exhale.

Unless you have no interest (now or in the future) in using your SONY e-reader to read library e-books, then I strongly suggest you NOT buy a SONY reader product. You WILL be frustrated and, yes, SONY will do nothing about it except tell you to refrain from using it the way it was advertised to be used.

Worldwalker · 07-13-2010, 12:27 AM

So you have resurrected how many years-old threads just to complain about Sony?

AprilHare · 07-13-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

So you have resurrected how many years-old threads just to complain about Sony?

Last Modified Date: 06-28-2010ID: C1008686

ejm · 07-13-2010, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

So you have resurrected how many years-old threads just to complain about Sony?

Apparently a considerable number. I'm sorry if that offended you in any way.

Worldwalker · 07-13-2010, 01:52 AM

I don't like spam. You could have put it all in one post, not stuck something on every remotely related thread in the forums. Normally I would have had some sympathy for your format problems, but not after that little stunt.

vxf · 07-13-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejm

Apparently a considerable number. I'm sorry if that offended you in any way.

It doesn't offend, but it does annoy.

ejm · 07-13-2010, 10:36 PM

I didn't mean to offend or annoy but felt my replies were valid followups to other posts I saw on the same topic.

I'll assume you're pleased with the performance of your SONY reader, in which case I'm genuinely glad for you and don't mean to detract from that.

07-12-2010, 11:46 PM	#1
ejm Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 430 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook & PRS-600	Protected Page error: EPUB & PDF incompatibility ... So very frustrating! I bought a PRS-600 as a birthday gift for my wife. SONY advertised a key feature of the reader (compared to, say, the Kindle) is that you can read library books of various formats. That was the main attraction in our case. Now, the fact that SONY readers' firmware (all models?) has a defect that precludes one from being able to read both DRM-protected EPUB and PDF files at the same time (note: roughly 1/2 and 1/2 of our library's books are mixed between these 2 formats) is incredibly frustrating. But the fact that SONY's advice to disappointed customers (trying to figure out why they get a "Protected Page" error when trying to open a library book) is to ignore the problem ... now, that's even more maddening. Of course, first you have to google around to figure out WHY you're getting these darn error messages. SONY doesn't actually TELL you that its firmware is defective. You have to spend several hours of additional frustration figuring that out too. Finally, you'll come across this little gem of a link: http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/d...nalId=C1008686 Along the path to knowledge, you may come across several well-intended folks suggesting it's a DRM issue or an Adobe Digital Edition problem. Rest assured, it's not. Other brand readers do NOT have this problem (now we also have a nook in our household and I've read other brands don't suffer from this - ignoring Kindle which can't read library books anyhow). Simply put, SONY knows about the problem and as recently as yesterday, sent me the customer support link above - i.e., same link as has been around for a while now. In effect, SONY's advice is: if hurts to exhale, then we suggest you don't exhale. Unless you have no interest (now or in the future) in using your SONY e-reader to read library e-books, then I strongly suggest you NOT buy a SONY reader product. You WILL be frustrated and, yes, SONY will do nothing about it except tell you to refrain from using it the way it was advertised to be used.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PDF to ePub: Page Error on Sony 600	Hogan	Calibre	6	10-23-2010 01:00 AM
Protected Page -- Not a PDF-EPUB issue	Arianne	Sony Reader	1	07-31-2010 12:23 AM
PRS-300 Protected Page EPUB v. PDF bug	netarc	Sony Reader	41	07-14-2010 02:53 PM
PRS-600 Manual synch epub pdf incompatibility Sony	rannbj	Sony Reader	5	05-31-2010 03:32 PM
Manual synch epub pdf incompatibility Sony	ruthbj@serv.net	Introduce Yourself	2	05-27-2010 12:26 PM

07-13-2010, 12:27 AM	#2
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	So you have resurrected how many years-old threads just to complain about Sony?

07-13-2010, 01:52 AM	#5
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	I don't like spam. You could have put it all in one post, not stuck something on every remotely related thread in the forums. Normally I would have had some sympathy for your format problems, but not after that little stunt.

07-13-2010, 10:36 PM	#7
ejm Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 430 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook & PRS-600	I didn't mean to offend or annoy but felt my replies were valid followups to other posts I saw on the same topic. I'll assume you're pleased with the performance of your SONY reader, in which case I'm genuinely glad for you and don't mean to detract from that.

Advert

Advert