This week, Sony announced the imminent arrival of two new models in its popular e-book Reader series: the Reader Pocket Edition and the Reader Touch Edition. These models are more affordable than the current PRS-505 and PRS-700, and should help fuel further interest in e-book technology.
This article will help new or potential owners of Sony e-book readers understand the basics of what these gadgets can do and locate some of the best e-bookstores. The information applies to any model of Sony’s e-book Readers.
E-Book Software and Operating Systems
Although a Mac version of the Sony Reader software (http://ebookstore.sony.com/download) is slated for release before the autumn of 2009, at the moment it is only for Windows. This software allows users to connect their Reader to the Sony Bookstore and manage their personal libraries. However, it is not the only option for managing the contents of the Reader.
One solution for Mac users, or Windows users who don’t want to use the Sony software, is to simply drag files into the Reader. Once the Reader is connected to the computer via USB, it will appear listed as a drive. Navigate inside this drive through the folders named “database,” “media,” and “books,” and drop the book files into this last folder. Then, eject the drive, unplug the cable, and look for the books.
Another solution is to use third-party software to manage library contents. One of the most popular programs is Calibre (http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net). It is freeware (though donations are welcome), and will work on both Macintosh and Windows operating systems. With Calibre, users can import books and convert them to other formats; they can also change file information and create categories. Caliber works well with the Sony Reader models, making it easy to transfer files.
E-Bookstores
The Sony Readers are compatible with a variety of file formats: .txt, RTF, Word, PDF, .epub, and more. This means that users have a wide range of options for acquiring reading material.
For mainstream fare (bestsellers, general fiction and nonfiction), the Sony Store (http://ebookstore.sony.com)is a good first stop for North American users. Owners from outside the U.S. and Canada have other options: Fictionwise (http://www.fictionwise.com/), Books on Board (http://www.booksonboard.com/index.html), and eBooks.com (http://www.ebooks.com) are some of the most popular sites for mainstream fiction and nonfiction.
Genre readers have access to a wide variety of smaller stores: Baen Books (http://www.baen.com) for science-fiction/fantasy, Harlequin (http://ebooks.eharlequin.com) for romance, and Amber Quill Press (http://www.amberquill.com) or Samhain Publishing (http://www.samhainpublishing.com) for non-mainstream fiction.. Users can search the internet to find e-book shops that cater to their interests.
Finally, there is a vast body of free, out-of-copyright literature. These are mostly classic works. Good sources are Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org), Feedbooks (http://www.feedbooks.com), and the MobileRead Forums (http://www.mobileread.com/forums). MobileRead also has a wiki with links to other free sources (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Free_eBooks).
There are two caveats that e-book purchasers need to be aware of before buying from any store. First, they need to understand that, due to publishing contracts, there might be geographical restrictions for the books they wish to purchase. Reading a site’s FAQ section can give consumers a good idea of how much material will be available to them.
Second, as with digital music, e-books are often subject to DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions; this is still a controversial issue among publishers, and often overlaps with the geographical restrictions imposed on distributors. Some small stores, such as Baen Books, sell only DRM-free e-books, while others sell DRM files or a mixture of both (Fictionwise offers both options). This does not apply to the free, out-of-copyright e-books.
Whatever one’s reading style, owners of a Sony Reader will never lack options for acquiring and managing their e-book collections.
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