Question regarding SD Cards

Fractalis · 12-04-2008, 02:42 PM

I've never used or considered using SD cards before I purchased the 505, was wondering if anyone could tell me if I have to get a SD card reader in order to upload books to it, or if I can do so via the interface in Sony's eBook Library software?

BlackVoid · 12-04-2008, 02:58 PM

You do not need an SD card. Built-in memory is good for 200+ books. The card also drains battery power, shortening your battery time.
The Reader can directly access books from the SD card, but in this case the first loading and the first font size change takes some time (10 - 60 seconds) due to formatting. If you transfer with the eBook Library software, the formatting is done on your PC (much faster).
Too many books on the SD card will result in very slow performance when navigating between books on the reader.

I see no reason using an SD card at all.

dordale · 12-04-2008, 05:56 PM

To expand on BlackVoid's answer--

If you do buy a SD card for your 505, Windows will see it as an additional drive--essentially using the 505 as a card reader. You can transfer files to and from the card when you have your 505 plugged in directly through Windows Explorer. You can also use the Sony Reader software to transfer files to the card. This will alleviate the first loading/font size changing times BlackVoid is referring to.

dordale

wmrawls · 12-05-2008, 09:17 AM

Let me speak up in favor of the SD card and subsequent card reader you might or might not want to add.
First I have well over 2000 E-books and find that separating them by author on a SD card adds simplicity to my keeping up with my collection, in adding new books and since I travel internationally some and may be gone for weeks at a time, I can carry a variety of books with me.
As to the charges that a SD card drains the battery, well after nearly a year of ownership I have not found the battery drain to be significant enough to be a problem, far from it.
SD card readers are cheap, really cheap, less than $20 and well worth it IMHO. I can add and move E-books between SD cards much faster than trying to Sync up the 505 to the computer and its library. The more books on the 505 and indeed on each card will increase your index time when you open new books. I keep my SD cards (which are really cheap by the way) about half full and they index very quickly.
By the way my Dell Axim uses both SD and CF cards and I can transfer books to it and then from it to my home or alternate computer and then transfer to a SD card with out installing the Sony Software, which I think is inefficient to say the least....these are just my thoughts of course.

Billydog · 12-05-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

You do not need an SD card. Built-in memory is good for 200+ books. The card also drains battery power, shortening your battery time.
The Reader can directly access books from the SD card, but in this case the first loading and the first font size change takes some time (10 - 60 seconds) due to formatting. If you transfer with the eBook Library software, the formatting is done on your PC (much faster).
Too many books on the SD card will result in very slow performance when navigating between books on the reader.

I see no reason using an SD card at all.

Is the SD card not handy for mp3 files and for storing your overall/historic library without clogging up the in machine memory?

HistoryWes · 12-05-2008, 11:43 AM

That was my plan: to fill the SD card with mp3s, but the mp3s seem to crash when I play them from the card. That doesn't happen when I play them from the device's memory. I have no problem with books on the SD card. I also haven't noticed significant battery drain.

sealbeater · 12-05-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

Too many books on the SD card will result in very slow performance when navigating between books on the reader.

That's not true at all, please don't spread misinformation. There is no perceivable decrease in speed when navigating a lot of books.

wmrawls · 12-05-2008, 06:30 PM

regarding mp3's on the 505...don't....IMHO it makes a crappy mp3 player.

Diogene · 12-06-2008, 05:51 AM

I have a BeBook, not a Sony.
When I use my cheap SD card reader, transfers are much, much faster than transferring to the SD card still in my BeBook, which is painfully slow.
Here is a test of 21 card readers. It is French, but you only need to look at the number of stars under each product to pick the best:
http://www.lesnumeriques.com/article-319.html

HarryT · 12-07-2008, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sealbeater

That's not true at all, please don't spread misinformation. There is no perceivable decrease in speed when navigating a lot of books.

The actual process of navigation isn't slower, but you will, on average, have further to "go" with a lot of books, and hence reaching any specific book is a slower process.

Personally I don't have a need for an SD card. The internal memory is sufficient for several years' worth of reading matter. That suffices!

Valloric · 12-07-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Personally I don't have a need for an SD card. The internal memory is sufficient for several years' worth of reading matter. That suffices!

I have to agree with Harry here. I bought a memory card along with the Reader, only to find out I have no real use of it. The internal memory is more than enough for me.

Now, if the Reader had folder support... that would be a different matter entirely.

kellynj · 05-26-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sealbeater

That's not true at all, please don't spread misinformation. There is no perceivable decrease in speed when navigating a lot of books.

Actually, if you sort your books by collection (I do it by author), there IS a lag in speed when trying to switch books - I just got my 505 back from Sony and the "solution" I was given by their tech support was "you just need to not put so many books on the card, it's going to take a long time to load that many books"

kazbates · 05-26-2009, 05:00 PM

I have also noticed a slight lag time when using the back button on my 700 when using my SD card.

willanaya · 05-26-2009, 06:28 PM

i have yet to use my card for music but i do have music on it just in case. I carry my Lg Vu with a 4 GB card so if i need to listen to music, that is my first choice.

however,

i am using the cards for the games made for the 505 by some of our great readers and contributors: sudoku and the 5 balls game. its a nice distraction if i need to rest from the reading during a trip.

Renaldo · 05-26-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellynj

Actually, if you sort your books by collection (I do it by author), there IS a lag in speed when trying to switch books - I just got my 505 back from Sony and the "solution" I was given by their tech support was "you just need to not put so many books on the card, it's going to take a long time to load that many books"

See my comments in the other thread you posted in, and buy a high quality memory card. Not all memory cards are created equal, and where the less expensive or lower quality ones fail is read/write speeds.

12-04-2008, 02:42 PM	#1
Fractalis Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Question regarding SD Cards I've never used or considered using SD cards before I purchased the 505, was wondering if anyone could tell me if I have to get a SD card reader in order to upload books to it, or if I can do so via the interface in Sony's eBook Library software?

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12-04-2008, 02:58 PM	#2
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	You do not need an SD card. Built-in memory is good for 200+ books. The card also drains battery power, shortening your battery time. The Reader can directly access books from the SD card, but in this case the first loading and the first font size change takes some time (10 - 60 seconds) due to formatting. If you transfer with the eBook Library software, the formatting is done on your PC (much faster). Too many books on the SD card will result in very slow performance when navigating between books on the reader. I see no reason using an SD card at all.

12-04-2008, 05:56 PM	#3
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	To expand on BlackVoid's answer-- If you do buy a SD card for your 505, Windows will see it as an additional drive--essentially using the 505 as a card reader. You can transfer files to and from the card when you have your 505 plugged in directly through Windows Explorer. You can also use the Sony Reader software to transfer files to the card. This will alleviate the first loading/font size changing times BlackVoid is referring to. dordale

12-05-2008, 09:17 AM	#4
wmrawls Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rock Hill,SC Device: Sony PRS 505, Dell Axim X50V	Let me speak up in favor of the SD card and subsequent card reader you might or might not want to add. First I have well over 2000 E-books and find that separating them by author on a SD card adds simplicity to my keeping up with my collection, in adding new books and since I travel internationally some and may be gone for weeks at a time, I can carry a variety of books with me. As to the charges that a SD card drains the battery, well after nearly a year of ownership I have not found the battery drain to be significant enough to be a problem, far from it. SD card readers are cheap, really cheap, less than $20 and well worth it IMHO. I can add and move E-books between SD cards much faster than trying to Sync up the 505 to the computer and its library. The more books on the 505 and indeed on each card will increase your index time when you open new books. I keep my SD cards (which are really cheap by the way) about half full and they index very quickly. By the way my Dell Axim uses both SD and CF cards and I can transfer books to it and then from it to my home or alternate computer and then transfer to a SD card with out installing the Sony Software, which I think is inefficient to say the least....these are just my thoughts of course.

12-05-2008, 11:43 AM	#6
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	That was my plan: to fill the SD card with mp3s, but the mp3s seem to crash when I play them from the card. That doesn't happen when I play them from the device's memory. I have no problem with books on the SD card. I also haven't noticed significant battery drain.

12-05-2008, 06:30 PM	#8
wmrawls Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rock Hill,SC Device: Sony PRS 505, Dell Axim X50V	regarding mp3's on the 505...don't....IMHO it makes a crappy mp3 player.

12-06-2008, 05:51 AM	#9
Diogene Banned Posts: 71 Karma: 154 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: BeBook	I have a BeBook, not a Sony. When I use my cheap SD card reader, transfers are much, much faster than transferring to the SD card still in my BeBook, which is painfully slow. Here is a test of 21 card readers. It is French, but you only need to look at the number of stars under each product to pick the best: http://www.lesnumeriques.com/article-319.html

05-26-2009, 05:00 PM	#13
kazbates Wizard Posts: 2,627 Karma: 406616 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Device: SurfacePro, SurfaceBook 2	I have also noticed a slight lag time when using the back button on my 700 when using my SD card.

05-26-2009, 06:28 PM	#14
willanaya Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony prs-350	i have yet to use my card for music but i do have music on it just in case. I carry my Lg Vu with a 4 GB card so if i need to listen to music, that is my first choice. however, i am using the cards for the games made for the 505 by some of our great readers and contributors: sudoku and the 5 balls game. its a nice distraction if i need to rest from the reading during a trip.

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