Waterstones: Not Impressed So Far

Mick4545 · 12-12-2008, 08:45 PM

Bought a 505 on Monday from my local shop. The advertised 2.5% reduction in VAT was not deducted but I didn't make a fuss, I just wanted to get out of there. When I got to my car I had a look at my purchase and found that I had not been given a 505, they had given me the cover with light wedge instead. I went back and sorted things out without a problem, but, not a good start.

I will not be opening the box until xmas morning so a couple of questions:

1. What version software will it have out of the box?

2. I was told by the sales assistant that the 100 free books were pre installed on the reader, not on a CD. Is this true.

First post by the way. Hello everyone.

Mick

Nate the great · 12-12-2008, 08:55 PM

Welcome to MobileRead.

I don't know about your first question, but I can answer the second. Most people have found that downloading the 100 "free ebooks" is not worthwhile. All of the free ebooks are in the public domain and can be found in many other places on the Web, including here at MobileRead.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php?forumid=126

Aurora W · 12-12-2008, 10:12 PM

Welcome!

1. Not sure about the software version where you are - the last person I know who bought one got version 1.1, but it was purchased here in the States.

2. The only version of the free ebooks I've seen have been downloaded from the Sony site. Again, that was in the States - not sure about how they handled elsewhere.

pilotbob · 12-12-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick4545

1. What version software will it have out of the box?

It doesn't matter. You can update it right after you install it. I think 2.5 is the newest version... If the US and UK versions are kept in sync.

BOb

gwynevans · 12-13-2008, 06:16 AM

The reader will be 1.2 (in the UK) - you can download a copy of the Sony Windows software, no need for the CD. (Maybe the US one, not the UK, but not significant a diffference). Get the free books from here (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php?forumid=126) rather than the Sony site (better conversions here)

Roger Wilmut · 12-13-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick4545

I was told by the sales assistant that the 100 free books were pre installed on the reader, not on a CD. Is this true.

No. I bought mine a few weeks back in John Lewis and the CD was included in the box. As said, all the books are readily available from Gutenberg et al.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 12-13-2008, 06:29 AM

I got mine from Waterstones, and the free ebooks were on a CD, not already on teh reader. Having said that, if you want to keep those versions, it's easy enough to transfer them. Or you can get far better formatted copies from here (the ebooks link above).

You can also buy ebooks from places like booksonboard.com and fictionwise.com - which are both cheaper and easier to use than the Waterstones site!

And welcome

I'm sure you'll enjoy the 505!

Mick4545 · 12-13-2008, 07:16 AM

Thanks for the replies. So, the 2.5 ver will work on a UK 505, I need this as I am on Vista 64 and don't fancy workarounds. Is ver 2.5 a software or firmware upgrade?

HarryT · 12-13-2008, 07:21 AM

It's the "eBook Librarian" software you install on your PC.

Dr. Drib · 12-13-2008, 07:54 AM

The titles that come with your purchase are titles that, for the most part, are indeed available from Gutenberg and many from MobileRead - just to name two sources.

Those books, however, are formatted by Sony and formatted the way they want them formatted. This is, or is not, a good thing depending on your personal preferences.

Whether they come pre-loaded on the Reader or they are on a CD is one only of convenience; but again, depending upon your personal preference. If you don't like their formatting and the titles are on CD, then you're in luck. Put the CD away and forget about it, since you won't be putting them on your Reader, anyway.

Remember, also, that you will have access to your free books through their library whenever you want them.

I'm a hoarder, so I like to have different versions of the same title, even though I personally feel that they're formatting is inferior (but only on these $1.99 classics.)

But always -- and this is the important part - HAVE FUN!

Don

Mick4545 · 12-13-2008, 12:24 PM

OK, I'll junk the CD. I've downloaded some titles from Feedbooks and installed Adobe Digital Editions. Now, have I got this right, the act of placing the books into ADEs library folder and from there to the 505 automatically formats them for the 505?

winspiration · 12-13-2008, 12:48 PM

If the books are already in .lrf format, I don't think they need to go into ADE, I think you can download them to any folder. I have done this & transferred them using the Sony library software. I've only used ADE for the couple of books that I've bought so far from Waterstones (using the points accrued from buying the reader, so effectively free

)

I downloaded the US software, so that I could access the Sony US store - even if you don't buy from there, I think it is worth doing. You don't need the UK version to buy from Waterstones, and in the couple of months I've had the reader, I've downloaded quite a few free ebooks following tip offs on here

The free books were on a CD, rather than pre-loaded, although there were a few things (mainly samples) pre-loaded.

Enjoy your reader

DoctorH · 12-15-2008, 10:18 AM

A different gripe about Waterstone's: why are ebook prices higher than for a paperback?
C J Sansom's "Revelation" is priced at £6.49 for paperback on their website (£5.84 at Amazon incidentally) and an outrageous £10.40 for the ebook version! With such high prices I'm not likely to buy many new ebooks and that can't surely be in Waterstone's long term interests. Nearly all the books on my PRS 505 so far are free from Gutenberg through Manybooks.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 12-15-2008, 10:55 AM

As much as I'd like to support UK businesses, you're far better buying ebooks from places like booksonboard.com and fictionwise.com - they have better pricing and easier to search sites.

ShellShock · 12-15-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

As much as I'd like to support UK businesses, you're far better buying ebooks from places like booksonboard.com and fictionwise.com - they have better pricing and easier to search sites.

I'm from the UK too, and so far I have only bought from fictionwise and BooksOnBoard. However, the major disadvantage they have compared to Waterstones is that they have, quite naturally, relatively little coverage of UK authors. They are also carry a lot of sci-fi and romance titles, and do not seem quite as extensive in the general fiction and other categories. I do read a lot of sci-fi anyway, but I like to mix it up with other fiction and non-fiction; and diet of pure sci-fi is rather fattening.

So at some point I may have to give Waterstones a try; the ADE DRM is what is mainly putting me off.

12-12-2008, 08:45 PM	#1
Mick4545 Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 500 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hereford UK Device: Oasis 2	Waterstones: Not Impressed So Far Bought a 505 on Monday from my local shop. The advertised 2.5% reduction in VAT was not deducted but I didn't make a fuss, I just wanted to get out of there. When I got to my car I had a look at my purchase and found that I had not been given a 505, they had given me the cover with light wedge instead. I went back and sorted things out without a problem, but, not a good start. I will not be opening the box until xmas morning so a couple of questions: 1. What version software will it have out of the box? 2. I was told by the sales assistant that the 100 free books were pre installed on the reader, not on a CD. Is this true. First post by the way. Hello everyone. Mick

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12-12-2008, 08:55 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Welcome to MobileRead. I don't know about your first question, but I can answer the second. Most people have found that downloading the 100 "free ebooks" is not worthwhile. All of the free ebooks are in the public domain and can be found in many other places on the Web, including here at MobileRead. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php?forumid=126

12-12-2008, 10:12 PM	#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! 1. Not sure about the software version where you are - the last person I know who bought one got version 1.1, but it was purchased here in the States. 2. The only version of the free ebooks I've seen have been downloaded from the Sony site. Again, that was in the States - not sure about how they handled elsewhere.

12-13-2008, 06:16 AM	#5
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	The reader will be 1.2 (in the UK) - you can download a copy of the Sony Windows software, no need for the CD. (Maybe the US one, not the UK, but not significant a diffference). Get the free books from here (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php?forumid=126) rather than the Sony site (better conversions here)

12-13-2008, 06:29 AM	#7
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I got mine from Waterstones, and the free ebooks were on a CD, not already on teh reader. Having said that, if you want to keep those versions, it's easy enough to transfer them. Or you can get far better formatted copies from here (the ebooks link above). You can also buy ebooks from places like booksonboard.com and fictionwise.com - which are both cheaper and easier to use than the Waterstones site! And welcome I'm sure you'll enjoy the 505!

12-13-2008, 07:16 AM	#8
Mick4545 Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 500 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hereford UK Device: Oasis 2	Thanks for the replies. So, the 2.5 ver will work on a UK 505, I need this as I am on Vista 64 and don't fancy workarounds. Is ver 2.5 a software or firmware upgrade?

12-13-2008, 07:21 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's the "eBook Librarian" software you install on your PC.

12-13-2008, 07:54 AM	#10
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	The titles that come with your purchase are titles that, for the most part, are indeed available from Gutenberg and many from MobileRead - just to name two sources. Those books, however, are formatted by Sony and formatted the way they want them formatted. This is, or is not, a good thing depending on your personal preferences. Whether they come pre-loaded on the Reader or they are on a CD is one only of convenience; but again, depending upon your personal preference. If you don't like their formatting and the titles are on CD, then you're in luck. Put the CD away and forget about it, since you won't be putting them on your Reader, anyway. Remember, also, that you will have access to your free books through their library whenever you want them. I'm a hoarder, so I like to have different versions of the same title, even though I personally feel that they're formatting is inferior (but only on these $1.99 classics.) But always -- and this is the important part - HAVE FUN! Don

12-13-2008, 12:24 PM	#11
Mick4545 Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 500 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hereford UK Device: Oasis 2	OK, I'll junk the CD. I've downloaded some titles from Feedbooks and installed Adobe Digital Editions. Now, have I got this right, the act of placing the books into ADEs library folder and from there to the 505 automatically formats them for the 505?

12-13-2008, 12:48 PM	#12
winspiration Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 1305 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, Kindle Fire HD	If the books are already in .lrf format, I don't think they need to go into ADE, I think you can download them to any folder. I have done this & transferred them using the Sony library software. I've only used ADE for the couple of books that I've bought so far from Waterstones (using the points accrued from buying the reader, so effectively free ) I downloaded the US software, so that I could access the Sony US store - even if you don't buy from there, I think it is worth doing. You don't need the UK version to buy from Waterstones, and in the couple of months I've had the reader, I've downloaded quite a few free ebooks following tip offs on here The free books were on a CD, rather than pre-loaded, although there were a few things (mainly samples) pre-loaded. Enjoy your reader

12-15-2008, 10:18 AM	#13
DoctorH Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ross-shire, Scotland Device: Sony PRS-505	A different gripe about Waterstone's: why are ebook prices higher than for a paperback? C J Sansom's "Revelation" is priced at £6.49 for paperback on their website (£5.84 at Amazon incidentally) and an outrageous £10.40 for the ebook version! With such high prices I'm not likely to buy many new ebooks and that can't surely be in Waterstone's long term interests. Nearly all the books on my PRS 505 so far are free from Gutenberg through Manybooks.

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12-15-2008, 10:55 AM	#14
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	As much as I'd like to support UK businesses, you're far better buying ebooks from places like booksonboard.com and fictionwise.com - they have better pricing and easier to search sites.