Hi, I'm new to eBooks - help!

fishnchips · 11-05-2008, 06:15 AM

Hi,
I’m new to eBooks and have recently bought a Sony PRS-505 reader. I like it very much, however, I need some help.

I thought I’d purchase a book from the Waterstone’s website. What a nightmare! Firstly, it seems really difficult to search for eBooks. Secondly, there appears to be a really poor selection and they didn’t have the particular book I wanted.

I found the book I wanted on the WH Smith website and downloaded the eBook in Adobe PDF format, which I thought would be ok. On my laptop its fine but when I transferred it to my reader the text size is too small for me to read and when I increase the text size the layout goes out of whack.

Is there anything I can do about this? Please bear in mind that I’m a complete novice and not particularly conversant in techno-babble.

Thanks

LazyScot · 11-05-2008, 07:14 AM

Hi fishnchips, and welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the PRS-505.

I'd recommend posting your question again in another group. I'm not sure what the best one is, but I'd guess either the Sony PRS-505/500 or the Format Conversion are the best ones to look at. I'm sure the people there will be able to to help.

I don't know the WHSmith site, but it might be worth checking on it to see if you can download a PDF formatted specifically for the Sony (or a similar sized device such as the CyBook).

Patricia · 11-05-2008, 08:49 AM

Welcome to the forum, fishnchips.

You're not the only person to be disappointed with Adobe PDFs. See this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30308

I tend to get books in LIT format and convert them to the Sony's native LRF. This can be done very quickly using Calibre or Book Designer. Both are free and Calibre has many other useful features.

Just because you are in the UK it doesn't mean that you can only buy books from UK sources. Many forum members speak well of Fictionwise and Books on Board, which sell books in a variety of formats.
Here's a link to the bookstores page in our wiki:
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_stores
(There's a link to the wiki at the very top of this page, and it's a very informative resource.)
This thread also list some sources for sony-formatted books:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11052
And there is our own book upload section too.

What sort of books are you interested in?

fishnchips · 11-05-2008, 11:36 AM

Thanks Patricia, that's really helpful...it's not jus me then!

I tend to choose books that I've heard or read a good review of, or that sound intriguing. I don't favour particular genre, although I do like a bit of Terry Pratchett when I want a chuckle.

MickeyC · 11-05-2008, 12:31 PM

Hi fishnchips and welcome to the Forum. I've had mixed results with ADE books. Some read fine at the larger size and other not so fine.

11-05-2008, 06:15 AM	#1
fishnchips Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK Device: Sony Reader	Hi, I'm new to eBooks - help! Hi, I’m new to eBooks and have recently bought a Sony PRS-505 reader. I like it very much, however, I need some help. I thought I’d purchase a book from the Waterstone’s website. What a nightmare! Firstly, it seems really difficult to search for eBooks. Secondly, there appears to be a really poor selection and they didn’t have the particular book I wanted. I found the book I wanted on the WH Smith website and downloaded the eBook in Adobe PDF format, which I thought would be ok. On my laptop its fine but when I transferred it to my reader the text size is too small for me to read and when I increase the text size the layout goes out of whack. Is there anything I can do about this? Please bear in mind that I’m a complete novice and not particularly conversant in techno-babble. Thanks

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11-05-2008, 07:14 AM	#2
LazyScot DSil Posts: 3,201 Karma: 6895096 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hants, UK Device: Kindle, Cybook	Hi fishnchips, and welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the PRS-505. I'd recommend posting your question again in another group. I'm not sure what the best one is, but I'd guess either the Sony PRS-505/500 or the Format Conversion are the best ones to look at. I'm sure the people there will be able to to help. I don't know the WHSmith site, but it might be worth checking on it to see if you can download a PDF formatted specifically for the Sony (or a similar sized device such as the CyBook).

11-05-2008, 08:49 AM	#3
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Welcome to the forum, fishnchips. You're not the only person to be disappointed with Adobe PDFs. See this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30308 I tend to get books in LIT format and convert them to the Sony's native LRF. This can be done very quickly using Calibre or Book Designer. Both are free and Calibre has many other useful features. Just because you are in the UK it doesn't mean that you can only buy books from UK sources. Many forum members speak well of Fictionwise and Books on Board, which sell books in a variety of formats. Here's a link to the bookstores page in our wiki: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_stores (There's a link to the wiki at the very top of this page, and it's a very informative resource.) This thread also list some sources for sony-formatted books: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11052 And there is our own book upload section too. What sort of books are you interested in?

11-05-2008, 11:36 AM	#4
fishnchips Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hampshire, UK Device: Sony Reader	Thanks Patricia, that's really helpful...it's not jus me then! I tend to choose books that I've heard or read a good review of, or that sound intriguing. I don't favour particular genre, although I do like a bit of Terry Pratchett when I want a chuckle.

11-05-2008, 12:31 PM	#5
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi fishnchips and welcome to the Forum. I've had mixed results with ADE books. Some read fine at the larger size and other not so fine.

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