Love my Sony Pocket Edition Reader, hate the Sony ebook software
Earlier in September I purchased the new Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300), which I gave a detailed review of here. The Reader itself is great. It sports a crisp display with plenty of contrast between the text and background. I love it! But the software Sony makes you download to buy their ebooks and load them onto your Reader is a totally different story.
Today I went to the Smashwords (aff link) ebookstore and bought an interesting looking short story for $0.99. Since Smashwords is awesome and lets you download your ebooks in whatever format you need, I downloaded my purchase in the lrf format for the Sony Reader. So far so good. I even managed to copy the ebook file into Sony’s ebook software’s library folder with little problems.
Then my troubles began.
I connected my Pocket Edition and within a few moments the software recognized it and I saw the device pop up on the menu. I tried to move my newly purchased short story to my device. Nothing. The status thingy kept going around and around, saying it was transferring, but the story stayed in some kind of digital limbo.
After waiting it out for several minutes with no progress, I noticed the fan on my Mac starting to get louder and louder. It appeared the Sony software was really getting my computer heated up. The fan usually comes on when I’m watching videos for an extended period of time.
Anyway, I closed the program down and disconnected my Reader. I restarted the program and repeated the same steps. This time Sony’s software froze up and I had to perform a ‘forced quit.’ This happened every subsequent time I tried to get my Reader connected to the software. It would recognize the device, but was unresponsive when I tried to open any of the folders.
Thank goodness for Calibre
Frustrated, I opened the ebook management software Calibre and once again plugged in my Reader. Much to my surprise Calibre didn’t even recognize the Pocket Edition – something I’ve never experienced in the past. I went to the website and downloaded the newest version. Success!
Calibre recognized the Pocket Edition right away. I copied the short story file into Calibre and then transferred it to my Reader. Everything went smoothly and now I can finally read a good short story!
Gave Sony another try
On a hunch I went back to the Sony software and browsed their ebookstore for another short story. I picked one that looked decent and also had a $0.99 price tag. I purchased it using my up-to-date credit card information and after I clicked ‘purchase’ I got a screen that said the store was currently unavailable.
By this time I’m pulling my hair out.
The second time worked, but I noticed that the short story I just purchased did not download and was not in my ebook library. Nowhere to be found. I had to basically go back to the ebookstore and go through the motions of buying the short story again. Only this time before I got to the payment screen the story downloaded and I was able to get it onto my Reader without any further problems.
Sony needs serious work on their ebook software
I love the Sony Pocket Edition, it has a great design, easy to use and is now open to the ePub format. The software Sony uses needs a lot of work. I hope they fix these problems in future upgrades or they will have problems competing with the Amazon Kindle.
Buying ebooks from their store, downloading the ebooks and then transferring them to my device should be a seamless process that only takes a few minutes at most. Apple has this down to a science with iTunes and their related devices.
It’s also kinda sad that I need to go to Calibre (third-party software) to do something that Sony’s own software should be able to do without any problems.
Okay, my rant for today is done. I wanted to share my experience so far. As I’ve maintained, the Pocket Edition itself is great. I love it and I read on it all the time. I’m still planning on taking pictures of it next to a mass market paperback so you can get an idea of how big the reading space is. Once I get around to that, I’ll be posting them right here on Brad’s Reader.
Does anyone else have experience with Sony’s ebook software? Share your experience, good or bad, in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
Related posts
- Sony releases new ebook software, compatible with Mac, leaves out PRS-500 support
- Resurrecting my Sony Reader PRS-500 with Calibre
- Review: The Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300) Reader
- Unboxing pictures of a new Sony Pocket Edition Reader
- Part 2: Ebook reader holiday roundup (7 items to consider when buying an e-reader)
Read More: Reading, Technology, eBooks
I hate the Sony eBook Store site. It is the single most frustrating electronic experience I’ve ever had. From messages ‘you are not connected to the internet’ (when you are) to ‘you have already purchased this title’ (when you can’t find it anywhere) to the e-mails that thank you for your purchase – when you still can’t get the book downloaded. It’s like finding the batcave when it works. A total mystery.
Hi Sandy – Thanks for your comment!
I agree, the Sony software is the worst I’ve seen. It crashes. It’s slow. It doesn’t do what I want it to do a lot of the times. I’ve been trying to load a book onto my Pocket Edition and the software freezes up and I have to restart my computer. Very frustrating!!!
Luckily there’s a program called Calibre that lets you manage your Reader content with ease. It’s third-party software that is open source. It really puts Sony to shame.
-Brad
At least you can get the program to open! I’ve been trying to buy my dad a gift card for the sony library for his birthday, they told me I have to download their program to buy the gift card, and the program won’t open on my computer. I’m gonna have to go to Best Buy or something to see if I can get one for him since the program at least works for him.
Makes me glad for my forever ago decision to get the Kindle instead of the Sony if the software to buy books won’t even work for me.
So, should I reconsider using my upcoming Christmas money to purchase the Spny Pocket Reader? I’m am NOT a technical person at all, and didn’t find loading iTunes on my iPod an easy task. Are there contant problems downloading books? I liked the idea the the Sony Pocket Edition was very affordable and that it came in different colors. I don’t need all the extra ‘gadgets’ the Kindles have – although the wireless feature would be nice. That being said, should I look at the Kindles since the ebooks are downloaded right to the unit instead of a PC?
I apprecaute your reply.
Hi Carla, thank you for your comment.
If you had trouble with iTunes, then I would stay away from Sony and their ebook software. It takes some getting used to and tends to freeze up and crash a lot. I use another program called Calibre that makes managing my ebook on my Pocket Edition much easier.
You might want to consider the Amazon Kindle. Ebooks are loaded right onto the device and you bypass all the hassles of learning a new software program. I know several people who own the Kindle and they love it because it is so easy to use. Another option you should look into is the new Barnes & Noble Nook. Like the Kindle, you can buy and download books right onto the device. And there’s no software to worry about. Both Amazon and B&N lets you manage your ebook library right on their website.
The ease of use with the Kindle and Nook will probably make up for them being more expensive than the Sony Pocket Edition. One thing to consider, however, is that the B&N Nook won’t be shipping until January 4. The Kindle is available right away.
I hope I helped answer your questions.
Thanks again for your comment, I always love hearing from readers!
-Brad
Please don’t buy a Sony, I received one for my birthday and have had nothing but trouble since. My first reader was returned within a month and replaced as the “main electronic unit” gave up the ghost. Then the software issues started. After hours on the phone with a techie I finally got the software to launch, low and behold a few days later it wouldn’t launch. 2 1/2 hours last night and 2 techies later they had shut down most of the anitvirus and firewalls on my computer and still couldn’t get it to launch. I buy books, they are “unavaible”. I will never buy another Sony Product. Never!
Hi Kay, thank you for your comment!
I’m sorry to hear about your troubles with your Sony Reader. I totally agree with you about Sony’s proprietary ebook software – it sucks, to say the least. While I can launch the software okay, it freezes up and/or crashes when I’m either downloading an ebook or trying to transfer the ebook to my device.
I have found ways around this. I use sites like Fictionwise to buy a lot of ebooks and then I use a program called Calibre to format the ebook to my reader.
My next ebook reading device will be something like the B&N Nook or Kindle where there is no software and you can manage everything from an online account.
Sorry again to hear about your troubles.
-Brad
My wife just won a sony pocket reader (lucky). Can I avoid using the sony software altogether by using calibre? I *hate* Sony software and all of their proprietary formats and have not bought one of their products for years because it always turns into a hassle.
Thanks,
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy, thank you for your comment and congrats to your wife for winning a Sony pocket reader.
I’d at least get the device registered with the software first. After that, all the content can be managed with Calibre. I’ve been buying a lot of ebooks from Fictionwise and Smashwords. However, I still buy the occasional novel from the Sony ebook store. Their software is horrible but sometimes they have an ebook at a lower price, or I can’t find it any other way.
But for the most part I use Calibre as my ebook management program for my Sony Pocket Edition. It’s always updated and improved and I’ve never had a problem with it crashing.
Like I’ve said, the Sony Reader itself is great, it’s the Sony software that really sucks!
Thanks again for your comment.
Brad,
I have a Sony Reader and haven’t had any problems until I downloaded their new upgrade and it froze the reader. They are sending me a new one but I have a concern that all of the books I have purchased from the Sony Store that reside on my computer as a back-up “luckily” will not be converted to the new format when I upload to the Reader and will once again corrupt the software. Any suggestions or reassurances?
Thanks,
Randy
I’ve bought a Sony Reader – the latest version of the software simply won’t work with Windows 7, and also has problems on older operating systems if you’re using any remote network drive mapping – which is utterly unbelieveable.
Sony are no help whatsoever – I’ve spent a day trying to sort out the problems and Sony technical support cannot provide any assistance: I’m a computer programmer and have been for the past ten years – if I can’t get this heap of junk to work, what chance has the average man in the street got?
Because of the lack of standards with eBooks right now, you are really limited where else you can buy books if you want to avoid the Sony store… so here I am with a brand new book reader that I simply cannot use. Utter trash.
Its going back to the store today.
I agree with everyone…the sony ebook store is terrible. I have had nothing but problems with it since I purchased my sony reader back in November. I wish I could get a full refund from Sony for the reader and I would purchase the Kindle. Very dissappointed.
Ok this ebook stuff is starting to get on my nerves!
The software won’t open on my computer at all.
I downloaded that Calibre program and got a couple free books to go on to my Reader, but I can’t get the ones that I paid for to be transferred! I don’t get it!
What version do you download the books in on Fictionwise.com? Maybe I’m doing something wrong …
I just bought the Sony reader last night and I cannot get it to connect to the Estore. It keeps saying check your internet settings…i have been on the phone with Sony twice and I did two tech chats online. They told me to call my internet provider which I did and they said i have no problem with my computer. I am going CRAZY…I dont want to return it but I really need some HELP!!!
Glad to see there is an alternative to the AWFUL Sony software. I’ve been struggling with it for months- they charged me a repair fee for finding ‘no fault found’ with the hardware when I reported it hanging. Now at least I have learnt how to stop that (you click on the little cross on the Sync screen and it cancels the current process!)
Now to go and load calibre.