PRS-950 How usable are the two memory slots?

cko1x · 12-04-2010, 12:42 PM

The PRS-950 has two memory slots. One is for SD memory and the other is for Sony's Memory Stick Duo. I bought a 4GB SD memory card and it seems to work fine. Can I also insert a Memory Stick Duo in the other slot and have them both work at the same time? Calibre seems to indicate that I have an A and B slot and that the SD card is in the B slot while the A slot is not active. Has anyone tried to use both slots at the same time? That means that the max memory on line at any one time could be 66GB (a 32GB memory stick, a 32GB SD card and 2GB internal. I don't know what you'd need all that for (maybe you need the Library of Congress available at all times) but it's an interesting idea.

BTW, I bought a Sony cover with a light and I really like it. The only problem I see is that the closure is not really secure. It's OK for me but I'm thinking of using a rubber band to keep it closed if I have to take it out of the house.

elcreative · 12-04-2010, 01:32 PM

Yes, you can use both slots together... but not much point as once you get to 2K+ books, the re-index (each time you add a new book(s) and disconnect) takes a prohibitively long time unless you install a hacked system like PRS+... and that isn't available for the 950, nor likely to be... didn't get done for the 900, sorry...

kartu · 12-04-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

...takes a prohibitively long time unless you install a hacked system like PRS+... and that isn't available for the 950, nor likely to be...

It's actually more than likely to be available for the 950.

(probably in second half/end of January, but no hard dates)

The 900 part is harder, as I don't have the device. But will give it a try with amutin's help. (provided, he finds time for it as well) There is about 30% chance it will work.

antistar · 12-05-2010, 04:35 AM

66g for books may be impractical, but it sounds attractive if the extra storage room is filled with MP3s or audiobooks. That means one device less to bring when you travel. I know the battery will be drained much faster, but if the device can offer about 8 to 10 hours of playback time, i would still be tempted to do it.

cko1x · 12-05-2010, 07:42 AM

I have been using the 4GB SD card that I have and the boot speed doesn't seem to be a problem. I don't yet have 2 GB of data in the main memory and the SD card combined so maybe that will slow things down when I get there. The SD card does offer the ability to archive reading material off the Reader though. That might be useful if there is something that you want to keep personal too since there doesn't seem to be any security. Archiving can be done with a CD or DVD too if your PC supports a CD and/or DVD writer

cko1x · 12-05-2010, 07:44 AM

Kartu,
What is PRS+ and does it replace the OS on the Reader?

Soul_Est · 12-05-2010, 10:05 AM

For me, I'd probably use the memory cards to hold data that I want hidden from prying eyes. The TSA has been getting pretty touchy feely with people's computers (and data) lately and I expect it to continue for some time (and most likely get worse before it gets better).

antistar · 12-08-2010, 06:52 PM

For audio playback time: I put in the audiobook "Emma" in mp3 format (64 kbps) and played for a whole night with wifi on. When I woke up this morning the battery was only down by one bar and the book was on part 10. Very impressive.

SeaBookGuy · 12-08-2010, 07:23 PM

My problem with audiobooks is that there's no resume/bookmark feature.

kartu · 12-09-2010, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cko1x

Kartu,
What is PRS+ and does it replace the OS on the Reader?

Click on the link in my signature (youtube demo). You'll see how it looks like on 600.

AGB · 12-09-2010, 11:27 AM

I have the PRS900 and the 650, but both of them has two slots. I wowed a long time ago I wouldn't limit myself to proprietary hardware, so I only use the SDHC slot and the internal memory in those things.

I like how easy it is to take the card, slot it into my Thinkpad and put it back in the reader.
Most of my other things use SDHC cards too: Kamera (a pocket Leica), my cheap recorder (Olympus LS11), my music player (Cowon D2). The only thing that doesn't use SDHC-cards is my other recorder (Sound Devices 722) , but that one has a 500GB harddisk and a CF slot and can copy between them directly, or record to both at the same time if I want it to.
The rest of the equipment can use the sd cards and can be interchanged in a pinch, I only have to consider speed when it's put in my camera.

So, to me, the Memorystick slot is unused and useless, and the plastic fake card is inserted to protect the hole from settling dust. SD cards are everywhere as is SD readers.

SeaBookGuy · 12-09-2010, 11:58 AM

My new mobile phone included a 1GB micro-SD card, and adapter (for loading material from one's hard drive). I have no use for it on the phone, so I keep my e-books on it instead, where 1 GB goes a long way!

I have no intention of obtaining a proprietary Sony card whatsoever!

Halk · 12-09-2010, 12:31 PM

I have a 32GB micro SD card with my music on it in my phone. I like that I can stick it into the Reader and still have main memory, and still have a 'backup' of books in addition. So I can have the books I think I might want to read in memory, and limit that to perhaps a couple of hundred, and carry every other book I have on the Memory Sick, and still be able to insert my music should I want to use the Reader as a music player (erm, assuming it supports Ogg Vorbis!)

kartu - Do you think there's any chance of your wonderful project coming to the PRS650?

pete_1967 · 12-09-2010, 04:42 PM

I got 1GB SD card with some music and 2GB Memory Stick on my 650. Calibre automatically uploads my news and magazines into the Memory Stick instead of main memory or SD card which I think is nice.

kartu · 12-10-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halk

kartu - Do you think there's any chance of your wonderful project coming to the PRS650?

I have yet to order 650 (black ones are out of stock, silvers are there but I hate silver for reflecting light from my LED lamps), but chances are quite close to 100%.

12-04-2010, 12:42 PM	#1
cko1x Member Posts: 16 Karma: 166 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Daily Reader PRS950	How usable are the two memory slots? The PRS-950 has two memory slots. One is for SD memory and the other is for Sony's Memory Stick Duo. I bought a 4GB SD memory card and it seems to work fine. Can I also insert a Memory Stick Duo in the other slot and have them both work at the same time? Calibre seems to indicate that I have an A and B slot and that the SD card is in the B slot while the A slot is not active. Has anyone tried to use both slots at the same time? That means that the max memory on line at any one time could be 66GB (a 32GB memory stick, a 32GB SD card and 2GB internal. I don't know what you'd need all that for (maybe you need the Library of Congress available at all times) but it's an interesting idea. BTW, I bought a Sony cover with a light and I really like it. The only problem I see is that the closure is not really secure. It's OK for me but I'm thinking of using a rubber band to keep it closed if I have to take it out of the house.

12-08-2010, 06:52 PM	#8
antistar Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 32758 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Taiwan Device: PRS-500, dr800sg, prs-950, MS SP3, Boox i86ML, Sony Z3TC, KV, Sony RP1	For audio playback time: I put in the audiobook "Emma" in mp3 format (64 kbps) and played for a whole night with wifi on. When I woke up this morning the battery was only down by one bar and the book was on part 10. Very impressive. Last edited by antistar; 12-08-2010 at 08:09 PM.

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12-04-2010, 01:32 PM	#2
elcreative Wizard Posts: 2,888 Karma: 5875940 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: PRS505, 600, 350, 650, Nexus 7, Note III, iPad 4 etc	Yes, you can use both slots together... but not much point as once you get to 2K+ books, the re-index (each time you add a new book(s) and disconnect) takes a prohibitively long time unless you install a hacked system like PRS+... and that isn't available for the 950, nor likely to be... didn't get done for the 900, sorry...

12-05-2010, 04:35 AM	#4
antistar Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 32758 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Taiwan Device: PRS-500, dr800sg, prs-950, MS SP3, Boox i86ML, Sony Z3TC, KV, Sony RP1	66g for books may be impractical, but it sounds attractive if the extra storage room is filled with MP3s or audiobooks. That means one device less to bring when you travel. I know the battery will be drained much faster, but if the device can offer about 8 to 10 hours of playback time, i would still be tempted to do it.

12-05-2010, 07:42 AM	#5
cko1x Member Posts: 16 Karma: 166 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Daily Reader PRS950	I have been using the 4GB SD card that I have and the boot speed doesn't seem to be a problem. I don't yet have 2 GB of data in the main memory and the SD card combined so maybe that will slow things down when I get there. The SD card does offer the ability to archive reading material off the Reader though. That might be useful if there is something that you want to keep personal too since there doesn't seem to be any security. Archiving can be done with a CD or DVD too if your PC supports a CD and/or DVD writer

12-05-2010, 07:44 AM	#6
cko1x Member Posts: 16 Karma: 166 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony Daily Reader PRS950	Kartu, What is PRS+ and does it replace the OS on the Reader?

12-05-2010, 10:05 AM	#7
Soul_Est Gadgetic Young Man Posts: 58 Karma: 300 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BlackBerry Z30, Sony PRS-650, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1	For me, I'd probably use the memory cards to hold data that I want hidden from prying eyes. The TSA has been getting pretty touchy feely with people's computers (and data) lately and I expect it to continue for some time (and most likely get worse before it gets better).

12-08-2010, 07:23 PM	#9
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	My problem with audiobooks is that there's no resume/bookmark feature.

12-09-2010, 11:27 AM	#11
AGB Headbutting stupidity Posts: 1,703 Karma: 2526196 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Greater Cph Device: PRS650	I have the PRS900 and the 650, but both of them has two slots. I wowed a long time ago I wouldn't limit myself to proprietary hardware, so I only use the SDHC slot and the internal memory in those things. I like how easy it is to take the card, slot it into my Thinkpad and put it back in the reader. Most of my other things use SDHC cards too: Kamera (a pocket Leica), my cheap recorder (Olympus LS11), my music player (Cowon D2). The only thing that doesn't use SDHC-cards is my other recorder (Sound Devices 722) , but that one has a 500GB harddisk and a CF slot and can copy between them directly, or record to both at the same time if I want it to. The rest of the equipment can use the sd cards and can be interchanged in a pinch, I only have to consider speed when it's put in my camera. So, to me, the Memorystick slot is unused and useless, and the plastic fake card is inserted to protect the hole from settling dust. SD cards are everywhere as is SD readers.

12-09-2010, 11:58 AM	#12
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	My new mobile phone included a 1GB micro-SD card, and adapter (for loading material from one's hard drive). I have no use for it on the phone, so I keep my e-books on it instead, where 1 GB goes a long way! I have no intention of obtaining a proprietary Sony card whatsoever!

12-09-2010, 12:31 PM	#13
Halk Fanatic Posts: 538 Karma: 469999 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Sony PRS-650 (PRS+ alpha - thanks Kartu!)	I have a 32GB micro SD card with my music on it in my phone. I like that I can stick it into the Reader and still have main memory, and still have a 'backup' of books in addition. So I can have the books I think I might want to read in memory, and limit that to perhaps a couple of hundred, and carry every other book I have on the Memory Sick, and still be able to insert my music should I want to use the Reader as a music player (erm, assuming it supports Ogg Vorbis!) kartu - Do you think there's any chance of your wonderful project coming to the PRS650?

12-09-2010, 04:42 PM	#14
pete_1967 Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 22002 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650	I got 1GB SD card with some music and 2GB Memory Stick on my 650. Calibre automatically uploads my news and magazines into the Memory Stick instead of main memory or SD card which I think is nice.

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