Yes, it's the PRS-650 lurgy AGAIN...

[carpetmojo]

Blimey......... (putting it mildly)

Things were going fairly swimmingly, having boldly purchased 2 books, both found way to device.

Then thought a free "Treasure Island" would be nice.

Disaster!

For some reason, the PC Library threw a wobbly.

It refused to "accept" my first free d/load of  'T.Islnd'. from Sony recommended site.

Then I tried a different  provider. Still no joy - both d/loads were in my 'd/load' box, and trying to drag from box to      Reader "Library" panel resulted in a "no go "logo (like an end of speed limit sign) superimposed on the title, and no success.

So I remembered I had no problems with the bought ebooks, bought 'T. Islnd' from Smiths for .60p. They have sent it, I haven't got it - as far as I can see - not in my d/loads box (should I look somewhere else ? )

I then realised I had another "freebie" I overlooked from my very early experiments ,in the d/load box, tried to move that - no joy.

Right clicking on the titles, or indeed anything, in the box refuses to bring up any  "extract/Open

containing folder etc..'"  facility to mess about with.

( have fired off uncomplimentary email to Sony, fat lot of good that'do)

And how come FAQ's never address any Q's I never want to know? AND is the Sony W/site the slowest in the world or what ?! Sorry, will desist.

Any ideas anyone please?

Should I perhaps install the Calibre software ?    Is that any easier/more reliable/sensible/easy

to understand ?

[carpetmojo]

Sorry, I've solved it  - and I shall remember if it should happen again.

Scrub it all out - and say goodbye to .60p ! - and start again, VERY SLOWLY, double checking each step.

Now d/loaded 3 freebies, from different sites. I'm going to keep doing a few more - you don't have to actually want them, delete them if not - 'cos I reckon practice & repition is the answer - once you get it right that is !

Phew.

Oh, and (personally) put uit on a list and pibn on wall in clear view !

But, back to my boring premise: why does it have to be so complicated ? ( for a generation not accustomed to I.T. since birth that is.)

[Thalamus.]

Sorry, I've solved it  - and I shall remember if it should happen again.

Glad you managed to solve your problem..:smileyhappy:

[frustratedreader]

Sorry can't assist but can only say this PRS 650 is the worst device I have ever had - rubbish, complicated and incomplete instructions and so frustrating to even get started - its very close to going in the bin but I'm going to try and get my money back first!!! I hate it!!

[carpetmojo]

Hi Frustrated reader - I don't work for Sony, or have anything to do with  them, so this may be a strange reply, if you see my contribution above, and on another thread aerlier.

My initial, and basic premise remains - why does it have to be so complicated, prone to mistake, and un-user friendly ? AND the manual is absolute rubbish.

Sadly, I've concluded that's so with almost every piece of advanced "techware"   I've ever had contact with.

Its almost as if "they" (manufacturers and linked interests) don't want people with only a modicum of knowledge to benefit from the new technologies.

They seem to get more complicated , not easier, despite all the advances made.

BUT.........  please don't give up yet.

Because now I can at least download books and get them on the Reader, the PRS-650 is an absolute joy to have and use.

But it is with  no help from Sony, or their ghastly website & manual, but rather from this Forum, and the AV Forum,  and a couple of people who are tech-savvy (thanks for the patience , son !) .

I think it really has been worth the struggle, and this reader, now I am moderately happy with it, is a terrific adjunct for the serious reader.

And honestly, it is such a delight to look at and use compared to the opposition, the "Big K", which seems a bit cheap in comparison !

(And "Which" rated it top, with the 350 second.)

So my suggestion would be stick with it, it's worth it.

Perhaps pop into your friendly local Computer shop, and beg nicely ? ( Or ask practically anyone under 12 ! )

Best wishes.

[rogermanley]

I agree that the PRS 650 is great to read once you have a book loaded.  But it is a pain to load, delete, move to photographs in the book, use the index in a book or consult footnotes in a book!

The "Sync" function seems to dominate all other activities and frustrate any attempt to circumvent it.

I think Sony need to look at this software and do us all a favour by producing something superior. I bought my Readwer to read books not fight software.

Sadly it is not only Sony's Reader software that is wanting, the software which controls this Forum is also poor. Just like the Sony Home Page, if you elect to have it remember you when logging in it just ignores the command such that one has to go through the whole logging in process each time you visit.

The Sony Home Page also makes it quite complex to even find that this Forum exists!

I know I am am far from the first to complain about such matters. Do Sony read this Forum? Are they listening? Do they answer or at least comment?

SONY WHERE ARE YOU?

[carpetmojo]

Quote :

"....Just like the Sony Home Page, if you elect to have it remember you when  logging in it just ignores the command such that one has to go through  the whole logging in process each time you visit....."

Hummph...........

Think yourself lucky - for some reason it's decided to ignore even new passwords from me ! So I request a new password, & it ignores it, until I get lucky, and take it by surprise with one and it lets me through - like this time, which took 2 changes of passwords. I once got through with an old one .

And it likes to "remember" the last one.

Which is wrong.

(Mind you, it might just be that I fall asleep waiting for it to catch up with reality when changing destination - it IS the slowest website in the world after all.)

And when I think I'll simplify this lark and change the abracadra to something I'll remember ...How do you get to "My Account" to change it. Sometimes I'm lucky, sometimes not.....

I'm quite intruiged by the "Sync" feature you have - where'd that come from then, I don't think I've got one of those. Well, I have, but on Windows Media Player , which I used to think was complicated . Not any more !

So yes, Sony must produce better software if they want to make a decent fight of it with the big K, it's ridiculous, frankly. Ah..... that can be retro fitted please, for those of us that have struggled with the old stuff !

BUT............... someone  from Sony does look at this site because after I made some disparaging remarks at how silly the stylus was - they sent me a replacement as a gesture of goodwill. Which I'm very grateful for. Doesn't make it a good design, but still, thank you.

Speaking of which/whom.... my lad, who's fairly techy-friendly (despite reading Philosophy) and saved my bacon getting started with my 650, likes the 2 yoofs with Sony laptops on the log-in page very much.

He reckons if you're desperate to get

a) a lot of laughs and derision from your mates, or even perfect strangers,

or

b) your laptop nicked, probably with 3 years work on it - stand around a station/crowded public place waving it around grinning inanely like they are.

Oh, and choose bright red or subtle day-glow blue !

I must desist...........

[Thalamus.]

BUT............... someone   from Sony does look at this site because after I made some disparaging  remarks at how silly the stylus was - they sent me a replacement as a  gesture of goodwill. Which I'm very grateful for. Doesn't make it a good  design, but still, thank you.

This is primarily a user forum but some of us do pass comments onto Sony..:smileywink:

[carpetmojo]

Thanks Thalamus - that's very good news. Probably more efficient that way too !

(Umm.......... I just tried to log out - and they tell me the site's closed for repairs or somesuch !!!)

Can't win 'em all.

Some would be nice.........

[rogermanley]

IT GETS BETTER.....

Decided to ignore "Log in" and here I am reading and writing a reply!