PRS-600 Is the Sony software necessary?

civil · 12-28-2009, 09:36 PM

Good People,

After much research regarding the nook, Kindle and Sony PRS-600 I bit the bullet and bought the Sony which should be arriving here tomorrow. Trouble is, nearly everything I've read regarding the Sony software for the thing reads like a Who's Who of software nightmares. I've read quite a bit about Calibre and have a question I haven't been able to find the answer to: Is it necessary to even install the Sony software or can I go directly to Calibre?

I ask because - using iTunes and iPods as parallels - I've thankfully avoided the mess that is iTunes with all my iPods by using Media Monkey and never dealing with iTunes. I would love to go the same route with my PRS-600. Please say it's possible!

TIA

grooks · 12-28-2009, 09:40 PM

You can skip the Sony software and only install Calibre. The only negative will be you cannot purchase books from Sony. May not be a big deal as there are other online stores to purchase ebooks.

civil · 12-28-2009, 09:47 PM

Good to know, thanks. I think I'll hold off on the Sony software until the last minute as I'm checking out the Sony site right now and there's nothing there that screams "Buy me" as of yet. I intend to do most of my reading through Google Books and the library, anyway. At least until I need that trashy vacation fix.

lilac_jive · 12-28-2009, 09:52 PM

Give it a shot now and see if you have any problems downloading it. That's where the problems lie. You don't need to have the Reader to download it. But if you hate iTunes, you'll probably hate the Sony Library

I like it just fine, by the way.

But yeah, you can survive without it. The tricky part will be buying new releases if you want to.

ficbot · 12-28-2009, 10:29 PM

If you want to read library books, you will need to install either the reader library or ADE in order to authenticate the reader and download the books. Personally, I hated ADE. It kept trying to make itself my default reader for things even after I told it not to, and would pop up at the strangest times and demand attention. I never use the reader software except to download library books but it behaves much better than ADE did.

wifish · 12-28-2009, 11:58 PM

don't mind softwares ,you can read any text formats supported by your readbook

incogneato · 12-29-2009, 01:15 AM

I might be buying a Sony reader soon and I was wondering if it was possible just to drag and drop PDFs and other files into it? (Not for buying, just for transferring from my PC)

chainring · 12-29-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by incogneato

I might be buying a Sony reader soon and I was wondering if it was possible just to drag and drop PDFs and other files into it? (Not for buying, just for transferring from my PC)

Yes, and as a matter of fact, that's how I tested some of my technical manuals before purchasing the 600. I took an SD card with a few of the pdf's to a local Best Buy, stuck the card in, waited for it to index the files, then read them. Same premise as copying over via USB, just without a cable.

benlau · 12-29-2009, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooks

You can skip the Sony software and only install Calibre. The only negative will be you cannot purchase books from Sony. May not be a big deal as there are other online stores to purchase ebooks.

Two more weakness of only use Calibre
1. Can not change the Tag/Collection of a book after sent to EBook
2. Can not view the text memo and handwriting on PC.

For (2), my PRS Note Reader can solve the problem , it also can export the note to svg/txt format. I am going to port to Windows and Mac.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67113

incogneato · 12-29-2009, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chainring

Yes, and as a matter of fact, that's how I tested some of my technical manuals before purchasing the 600. I took an SD card with a few of the pdf's to a local Best Buy, stuck the card in, waited for it to index the files, then read them. Same premise as copying over via USB, just without a cable.

whoa thats a great idea, ive been dying to look at some of the PDFs i want to read on an eBook Reader. cant believe i didnt think of that! BestBuy here i come!

HarryT · 12-29-2009, 04:26 AM

The vast majority of users have no problems whatsoever with the Sony software. It's basic, but it gets the job done. As always, it's the minority who do have problems who are "vocal" about them - that's just human nature.

Bremen Cole · 12-29-2009, 06:14 AM

I just drag and drop books to my 300, no need for all the complicated software if you use your reader just to read books. I do have Calibre installed and enjoy its converting format abilities, and keeping track of my ebooks on my computer.

I do not buy books from the Sony Store.....

kennyc · 12-29-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The vast majority of users have no problems whatsoever with the Sony software. It's basic, but it gets the job done. As always, it's the minority who do have problems who are "vocal" about them - that's just human nature.

astra · 12-29-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The vast majority of users have no problems whatsoever with the Sony software. It's basic, but it gets the job done. As always, it's the minority who do have problems who are "vocal" about them - that's just human nature.

Very true.

I use eBook Library only. It is the best way to upload books to any Sony Reader.

12-28-2009, 09:36 PM	#1
civil This Tornado Loves You. Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The City of Chicago Device: PRS-300	Is the Sony software necessary? Good People, After much research regarding the nook, Kindle and Sony PRS-600 I bit the bullet and bought the Sony which should be arriving here tomorrow. Trouble is, nearly everything I've read regarding the Sony software for the thing reads like a Who's Who of software nightmares. I've read quite a bit about Calibre and have a question I haven't been able to find the answer to: Is it necessary to even install the Sony software or can I go directly to Calibre? I ask because - using iTunes and iPods as parallels - I've thankfully avoided the mess that is iTunes with all my iPods by using Media Monkey and never dealing with iTunes. I would love to go the same route with my PRS-600. Please say it's possible! TIA

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12-28-2009, 09:40 PM	#2
grooks Wizard Posts: 1,326 Karma: 30250 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Device: Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma	You can skip the Sony software and only install Calibre. The only negative will be you cannot purchase books from Sony. May not be a big deal as there are other online stores to purchase ebooks.

12-28-2009, 09:47 PM	#3
civil This Tornado Loves You. Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The City of Chicago Device: PRS-300	Good to know, thanks. I think I'll hold off on the Sony software until the last minute as I'm checking out the Sony site right now and there's nothing there that screams "Buy me" as of yet. I intend to do most of my reading through Google Books and the library, anyway. At least until I need that trashy vacation fix.

12-28-2009, 09:52 PM	#4
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Give it a shot now and see if you have any problems downloading it. That's where the problems lie. You don't need to have the Reader to download it. But if you hate iTunes, you'll probably hate the Sony Library I like it just fine, by the way. But yeah, you can survive without it. The tricky part will be buying new releases if you want to.

12-28-2009, 10:29 PM	#5
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	If you want to read library books, you will need to install either the reader library or ADE in order to authenticate the reader and download the books. Personally, I hated ADE. It kept trying to make itself my default reader for things even after I told it not to, and would pop up at the strangest times and demand attention. I never use the reader software except to download library books but it behaves much better than ADE did.

12-28-2009, 11:58 PM	#6
wifish SONY FAN Posts: 22 Karma: 22 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: SHANGHAI CITY Device: PRS-600	don't mind softwares ,you can read any text formats supported by your readbook

12-29-2009, 01:15 AM	#7
incogneato Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: none	I might be buying a Sony reader soon and I was wondering if it was possible just to drag and drop PDFs and other files into it? (Not for buying, just for transferring from my PC)

12-29-2009, 04:26 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The vast majority of users have no problems whatsoever with the Sony software. It's basic, but it gets the job done. As always, it's the minority who do have problems who are "vocal" about them - that's just human nature.

12-29-2009, 06:14 AM	#12
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	I just drag and drop books to my 300, no need for all the complicated software if you use your reader just to read books. I do have Calibre installed and enjoy its converting format abilities, and keeping track of my ebooks on my computer. I do not buy books from the Sony Store.....

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