PRS-900 just bought my readers,have some questions

JLYates · 06-09-2010, 10:01 PM

[SIZE="3"]I just bought four days ago my 900 series, and I have some questions that I hope can be answered.
I have visited at the Sony Forum (sonyreader.proboards.com) and in some of the posts they have discussed about some problems with the Reader software in the aspect of the Library. Some stated that they prefered the Calibre. I am learning what Calibre is, but I am not sure of how it works with Sony Library. Can I get books from the Sony store if I have Cailbre?
Someone also mentioned a problem with synchronizing, and I am not sure what that is.
Also, there was mention of epub, which I understand what that is, but is there a problem with it and Adobe? Can you get books that are epub and then later get some books with Adobe, or there a problem having them both and you have to use only one?

The SonyForum is VERY slow, I posted some questions two days ago, but no one has visited it yet it seems to answer them. I am hoping to get some help here. I would like to start getting some books, but don't want to do anything and mess it up.
I am probably being paranoid, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Any help you can give me I would appreciate.

Janette

toomanybooks · 06-10-2010, 12:30 AM

You can run Sony software and calibre on the same computer. Justbe sure you don't run both programs at the same time.

Download and install calibre, the Sony software and adobe editions. You will need to setup a free adobe digital editions account on your laptop and authorize your reader on that account. Just google adobe digital editions to do this. With a valid ADEaccount you can purchase from the Sony bookstore, kobo and books onboard as well as others. Just make sure you buy drmfree files or Adobe PDFs and pubs.

Calibre can manage any books you buy or download, but it cannot convert drm files.

You can also download free ebooks directly to your Sony here in the ebooks section, at www.feed books.com, and at many books.net There are many other resources for free ebooks.

neilmarr · 06-10-2010, 06:47 AM

If you're outside the US, Janette, the Sony store is pretty useless. I stopped using it a year or so ago after only a month with a Sony-505 reader. There are many, many alternatives, so it's no big deal. I now use Calibre exclusively. Best wishes. Neil

JLYates · 06-10-2010, 08:26 AM

thanks, will get with the calibre and then go to Sony. I am overly cautious, but I'd rather be that then screw up my reader.

Neil,
I live in the States, Ohio exactly. Can't wait to try it out, get some books from the library. Have to see what ones in my state I can get books from. In my home area I doubt they have the ebook loan setup, and even if they did, a lousy selection Last time I was there they had around 12 rows of books and these are short rows. VERY limited in selection. I live in a village, pop less than 6,000 and the town it is located in has probably less than 15,000.

With mobility problems, it is hard to travel to the town, I do my buying online.

Again, thanks for the help.

On a good note, Best Buy has dropped the price from $350 to $300, and when I called and asked, they said I can come and get the $50 difference. Hubby is drving me up this evening.

Janette

dsvick · 06-10-2010, 08:35 AM

Hi Janette, welcome!!

To answer your questions....

Can I get books from the Sony store if I have Cailbre?
Sure you can. You can get your books from anywhere that sells them in the format you can read on your reader. Depending on where you get them they may end up in different places on your computer but you just import them into Calibre and it will copy them to a consolidated directory (easy for back up purposes).

Someone also mentioned a problem with synchronizing, and I am not sure what that is.
I dont think either the Sony software or Calibre does a true synchronization where you can click a button and end up with the same books on your reader as your computer. I've not found that to be a problem though in that I usually just move new books to the reader. The only time it gets to be tricky is when you need to change the collection(s) a book is in. I've found it easier to delete it from the reader and then re-import it. It might work if you just copy it over - but I've not tried that way, I'm big on fresh starts

Also, there was mention of epub, which I understand what that is, but is there a problem with it and Adobe?
If you have DRMd ePub then, like toomanybooks mentioned, you'll need to download digital editions, this lets the book be opened and read and passed to your reader in a readable format.

Can you get books that are epub and then later get some books with Adobe, or there a problem having them both and you have to use only one?
As long as your reader will read them you can have as many different formats of books on it as you like.

hope that helps

dsvick · 06-10-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLYates

I live in the States, Ohio exactly. Can't wait to try it out, get some books from the library. Have to see what ones in my state I can get books from. In my home area I doubt they have the ebook loan setup, and even if they did, a lousy selection Last time I was there they had around 12 rows of books and these are short rows. VERY limited in selection. I live in a village, pop less than 6,000 and the town it is located in has probably less than 15,000.

I'm in Ohio too, just West of Cleveland. If you are in a city that participates with the Cleveland library system I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, there are several thousand eBooks available through the CleveNet network. I know Lorain county does, and there is probably a way to get a card if you know anyone that lives in the area.

Good luck and enjoy your reader!!

sirmaru · 06-10-2010, 10:49 AM

Frankly, I'd only stick with Sony Library Software if you live in the USA. In Europe Calibre would be better.

Sony Library Software syncrhonizes perfectly with the PRS 900. One creates collections on the PC and then syncronizes to the PRS 900.

One must set up an Adobe ID and password first at www.adobe.com. Then install the Sony Reader Software.

Then you can easily buy books at the Sony Reader Store from your PC with those purchases automatically syncing to the PRS 900.

Personally, I do most of my reading on the PC with Sony, Barnes&Noble and Amazon Kindle software. I use the PRS 900 for reading away from home. I am not sure if Calibre has as good a reader as the big three since I have never used it. I find purchased books are far batter than any free books but that is my personal opinion. The big three compete with big price differences and you can shop around as long as you will read them on the PC.

Your library may offer books free using Overdrive software but you must have a library card to read this way.

There have been problems having both PDF and ePub books on the PRS 900. Thus, I only have ePub books there. I read my PDF books on the PC only using Adobe Reader 9. If the PRS 900 ever freezes, just do a quick charge for 15 minutes and that will usually unfreeze it. If the freeze happened with a specific eBook, open to another eBook after the quick charge. Then start on page one of the frozen book and the freeze will be gone.

Keep permanent bookmarks and notes on the PC. Delete all bookmarks and notes on the PRS 900 after using it and transferring all that information to the PC. Extensive bookmarks and notes tend to freeze the PRS 900.

toomanybooks · 06-10-2010, 11:49 AM

If you don't have a local library that offers ebooks you can join the Philadelphia Free Library for $15 a year.

chc59 · 06-10-2010, 12:49 PM

I too have a 900 and love it, with all of its glare faults. Suggest you go to www.overdrive.org where they have a place to find ebook libraries in your zipcode area. I live in a small Ohio town about 60 miles south of Cleveland. My local library uses the Cleveland library's collection of ebooks. The overdrive site showed me that not too far away from my home there was a library system that did not use Cleveland for ebooks but used two other systems, namely SE Ohio Library Consortium and Ohio eBook Project. I called that library and asked about a card. Sure, no problem. My daughter put me onto the Philadelphia library. Got the application on line, sent it in with my $15 check, and got a card about 3 weeks later. (They sent the check back because cards are free for us senior citizens over 65. Nice.) So, now I have 4 different places to go to borrow ebooks. Needless to say, I have plenty to read. The Sony Bookstore quite often has free books for sale. Don't forget about their connection to the Google collection of free public domain books. BTW, I use the Sony software. Works for me.

Joe

dsvick · 06-10-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomanybooks

If you don't have a local library that offers ebooks you can join the Philadelphia Free Library for $15 a year.

tponzo · 06-17-2010, 07:42 AM

hi dave,
I'm in Cleveland too. thanks for the info. I just got the sony 900 a couple of weeks ago. still trying to figure everything out but loving it so far.

dsvick · 06-17-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tponzo

hi dave,
I'm in Cleveland too. thanks for the info. I just got the sony 900 a couple of weeks ago. still trying to figure everything out but loving it so far.

Hi tponzo and welcome to MR!!

You'll love your reader! I had a couple of "oh crap" days when I first got it as I adjusted to reading on it but now I take it with me everywhere and love the convenience and ease of use.

If you have any questions on it let us know here and we'll be happy to help.

vxf · 06-17-2010, 03:50 PM

I have both Calibre and SONY's software installed. I used them alternatively - but I am careful not to plug my prs-900 via USB when Calibre is open - it likes to upload files and to mess with my organization of files. Basically, I use Calibre to download magazines and newspapers from websites as e-pubs (nice to have the Economist on my prs).

I think using both software to upload files is a bit tricky, so I upload everything via SONY's interface. I would rather do everything via Calibre - but I have not yet found a way to view my pdf annotations in Calibre, which is important to me. And using them alternatively to upload files... maybe I just didn't figure it out... but it seems to mess things up.

06-09-2010, 10:01 PM	#1
JLYates Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 44 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Sony 900BC	just bought my readers,have some questions [SIZE="3"]I just bought four days ago my 900 series, and I have some questions that I hope can be answered. I have visited at the Sony Forum (sonyreader.proboards.com) and in some of the posts they have discussed about some problems with the Reader software in the aspect of the Library. Some stated that they prefered the Calibre. I am learning what Calibre is, but I am not sure of how it works with Sony Library. Can I get books from the Sony store if I have Cailbre? Someone also mentioned a problem with synchronizing, and I am not sure what that is. Also, there was mention of epub, which I understand what that is, but is there a problem with it and Adobe? Can you get books that are epub and then later get some books with Adobe, or there a problem having them both and you have to use only one? The SonyForum is VERY slow, I posted some questions two days ago, but no one has visited it yet it seems to answer them. I am hoping to get some help here. I would like to start getting some books, but don't want to do anything and mess it up. I am probably being paranoid, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Any help you can give me I would appreciate. Janette

06-10-2010, 10:49 AM	#7
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	Stick with Sony Library Software Frankly, I'd only stick with Sony Library Software if you live in the USA. In Europe Calibre would be better. Sony Library Software syncrhonizes perfectly with the PRS 900. One creates collections on the PC and then syncronizes to the PRS 900. One must set up an Adobe ID and password first at www.adobe.com. Then install the Sony Reader Software. Then you can easily buy books at the Sony Reader Store from your PC with those purchases automatically syncing to the PRS 900. Personally, I do most of my reading on the PC with Sony, Barnes&Noble and Amazon Kindle software. I use the PRS 900 for reading away from home. I am not sure if Calibre has as good a reader as the big three since I have never used it. I find purchased books are far batter than any free books but that is my personal opinion. The big three compete with big price differences and you can shop around as long as you will read them on the PC. Your library may offer books free using Overdrive software but you must have a library card to read this way. There have been problems having both PDF and ePub books on the PRS 900. Thus, I only have ePub books there. I read my PDF books on the PC only using Adobe Reader 9. If the PRS 900 ever freezes, just do a quick charge for 15 minutes and that will usually unfreeze it. If the freeze happened with a specific eBook, open to another eBook after the quick charge. Then start on page one of the frozen book and the freeze will be gone. Keep permanent bookmarks and notes on the PC. Delete all bookmarks and notes on the PRS 900 after using it and transferring all that information to the PC. Extensive bookmarks and notes tend to freeze the PRS 900. Last edited by sirmaru; 06-10-2010 at 10:53 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Questions to those who bought Boox just recently.	pashlit	Onyx Boox	2	09-19-2010 11:56 PM
just bought my reader: follow-up questions	JLYates	Sony Reader	9	06-18-2010 06:56 PM
Just bought an Aluratek Libre and have questions	artemisblossom	Ectaco jetBook	12	03-21-2010 09:37 PM
Just bought a new in box 1150 for Mom-few questions?	onerubberducky	Fictionwise eBookwise	2	03-19-2009 01:00 PM
Bought the PRS-505 - some questions	Dr. Drib	Sony Reader	5	04-12-2008 12:47 PM

06-10-2010, 12:30 AM	#2
toomanybooks Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 1039424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Ipad, Ipod Touch, KIndle Fire	You can run Sony software and calibre on the same computer. Justbe sure you don't run both programs at the same time. Download and install calibre, the Sony software and adobe editions. You will need to setup a free adobe digital editions account on your laptop and authorize your reader on that account. Just google adobe digital editions to do this. With a valid ADEaccount you can purchase from the Sony bookstore, kobo and books onboard as well as others. Just make sure you buy drmfree files or Adobe PDFs and pubs. Calibre can manage any books you buy or download, but it cannot convert drm files. You can also download free ebooks directly to your Sony here in the ebooks section, at www.feed books.com, and at many books.net There are many other resources for free ebooks.

06-10-2010, 06:47 AM	#3
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	If you're outside the US, Janette, the Sony store is pretty useless. I stopped using it a year or so ago after only a month with a Sony-505 reader. There are many, many alternatives, so it's no big deal. I now use Calibre exclusively. Best wishes. Neil

06-10-2010, 08:26 AM	#4
JLYates Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 44 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Sony 900BC	thanks, will get with the calibre and then go to Sony. I am overly cautious, but I'd rather be that then screw up my reader. Neil, I live in the States, Ohio exactly. Can't wait to try it out, get some books from the library. Have to see what ones in my state I can get books from. In my home area I doubt they have the ebook loan setup, and even if they did, a lousy selection Last time I was there they had around 12 rows of books and these are short rows. VERY limited in selection. I live in a village, pop less than 6,000 and the town it is located in has probably less than 15,000. With mobility problems, it is hard to travel to the town, I do my buying online. Again, thanks for the help. On a good note, Best Buy has dropped the price from $350 to $300, and when I called and asked, they said I can come and get the $50 difference. Hubby is drving me up this evening. Janette

06-10-2010, 08:35 AM	#5
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	Hi Janette, welcome!! To answer your questions.... Can I get books from the Sony store if I have Cailbre? Sure you can. You can get your books from anywhere that sells them in the format you can read on your reader. Depending on where you get them they may end up in different places on your computer but you just import them into Calibre and it will copy them to a consolidated directory (easy for back up purposes). Someone also mentioned a problem with synchronizing, and I am not sure what that is. I dont think either the Sony software or Calibre does a true synchronization where you can click a button and end up with the same books on your reader as your computer. I've not found that to be a problem though in that I usually just move new books to the reader. The only time it gets to be tricky is when you need to change the collection(s) a book is in. I've found it easier to delete it from the reader and then re-import it. It might work if you just copy it over - but I've not tried that way, I'm big on fresh starts Also, there was mention of epub, which I understand what that is, but is there a problem with it and Adobe? If you have DRMd ePub then, like toomanybooks mentioned, you'll need to download digital editions, this lets the book be opened and read and passed to your reader in a readable format. Can you get books that are epub and then later get some books with Adobe, or there a problem having them both and you have to use only one? As long as your reader will read them you can have as many different formats of books on it as you like. hope that helps

06-10-2010, 11:49 AM	#8
toomanybooks Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 1039424 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Ipad, Ipod Touch, KIndle Fire	If you don't have a local library that offers ebooks you can join the Philadelphia Free Library for $15 a year.

06-10-2010, 12:49 PM	#9
chc59 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Sony 900 Reader	I too have a 900 and love it, with all of its glare faults. Suggest you go to www.overdrive.org where they have a place to find ebook libraries in your zipcode area. I live in a small Ohio town about 60 miles south of Cleveland. My local library uses the Cleveland library's collection of ebooks. The overdrive site showed me that not too far away from my home there was a library system that did not use Cleveland for ebooks but used two other systems, namely SE Ohio Library Consortium and Ohio eBook Project. I called that library and asked about a card. Sure, no problem. My daughter put me onto the Philadelphia library. Got the application on line, sent it in with my $15 check, and got a card about 3 weeks later. (They sent the check back because cards are free for us senior citizens over 65. Nice.) So, now I have 4 different places to go to borrow ebooks. Needless to say, I have plenty to read. The Sony Bookstore quite often has free books for sale. Don't forget about their connection to the Google collection of free public domain books. BTW, I use the Sony software. Works for me. Joe

06-17-2010, 07:42 AM	#11
tponzo Addict Posts: 239 Karma: 237 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OH USA Device: Sony PRS 900(gave it to my sister); Sony PRS-T1; onyx book note air	hi dave, I'm in Cleveland too. thanks for the info. I just got the sony 900 a couple of weeks ago. still trying to figure everything out but loving it so far.

06-17-2010, 03:50 PM	#13
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I have both Calibre and SONY's software installed. I used them alternatively - but I am careful not to plug my prs-900 via USB when Calibre is open - it likes to upload files and to mess with my organization of files. Basically, I use Calibre to download magazines and newspapers from websites as e-pubs (nice to have the Economist on my prs). I think using both software to upload files is a bit tricky, so I upload everything via SONY's interface. I would rather do everything via Calibre - but I have not yet found a way to view my pdf annotations in Calibre, which is important to me. And using them alternatively to upload files... maybe I just didn't figure it out... but it seems to mess things up.

Advert

Advert