Adobe Ebooks on Sony PRS-500 - doesnt import to Sony

Jim,
Wish I had found this site earlier. My wife gave me a PRS-505 for Xmas and I've spent the past several hours trying to figure out why e-books downloaded from my local library (viewable on my desktop with Adobe Digital Editions software) wouldn't transfer to my Sony library for download.
Anything you folks at Adobe can do to speed the "openness" process with the differing software formats would be greatly appreciated. (And thanks for this forum - bookmarked now so I can stay abreast of what's going on.)
Stu Forsyth

Patricia

The answer is unfortunately not. Neither the Sony Reader 500 or 505 will read DRM protected or unencrypted version of the .lit (Microsoft Reader) format (or Mobipocket for that matter). While there are plenty of conversions tools available that will convert from .lit to HTML or PDF, they will only work on on non-secured .lit files. This vendor lock-in that results from the fragmented DRM schemes is the sort of thing that drives all of us consumers mad, but unfortunately there is no immediate solution other than to choose vendors who offer non DRM secured like you have already done with the Multiformat books from Fictionwise.com.

Jim Lester
Adobe Systems

I am thinking of getting a Sony 500 or 505, but I am worried about what books I can get for it and how long they will last. I had a RCA 1100 and when they stopped production they closed their book store. The RCA will not work with my computer so I can't get any new books for it.
I Had a HP PDA which supported Micro soft Reader so I have alot of Micro soft Reader books on my computer, but when I updated to a new computer and tried to sync my PDA to the reader, the PDA rejected my account and locked me out of the reader. I asked HP for help, and they said sorry we don't offer support for that model any more. I am a devoted reader. I like the "just released books" as well as re reading my old favorite ones.
I travel so the weight restrictions on airplane luggage also has to be considered when packing books.
I love having a digital e.-book reader, but I am getting tired of having to buy the same books over and over. I have tried to find out if the Sony reader will support the Micro soft Reader format. I get most of my books from Fictionwise. I have a few multi-format,a few mobile-pocket,and a few adobe, but most of my books are secured Micro soft because of my old PDA. Will the Sony accept the books I have already bought?

I just e-mailed Sony's comments making a similar argument Al, I have to say that Amazon's Kindle, while interesting, has some serious limitations (privacy, language, compatibility with eDOCs, independent use i.e. independent of Amazon, price, screen size, style those are my issues personally) I also don't like the fact that the old ebooks I bought from Amazon no longer work, this happened a few months before Amazon turned out to have financial reasons for the ebook format change. I'm seriously only buying things I can't get elsewhere from Amazon.

This isn't to say other e-readers don't have their own issues. Sony's most notably would be DRM issues (though more flexible than Amazon, restrictive nonetheless) Battery-life isn't the most efficient, language limits, no newspaper service! Price (still relatively expensive) and finally, reliability in terms of longevity (can you say MD player?)

Amazon might have an edge in terms of access to customer feedback, while it's too obvious to maybe notice, people tend to leave very insightful comments in those reviews they leave for products.

My conclusion, I'm sticking with Sony until a major change happens. It's funny Newsweek's cover this week is about books going digital (Amazon's CEO hold a Kindle). The writers might be undermining the fact that customers still want to be in control of what they pay for. The hype will soon taper off, reality will set in and both Amazon and Sony will have to realize that in the end, customers do hold the final word (pun intended).

Jim,
I received the Sony Reader ( 505 ) as a gift and I think it a great little device - does what it's supposed to do -- easy to read and very long battery life. My main issue is, like others have noted above, the limitations imposed by the DRM, preventing broader access to content. Within several days after I got the Reader, Amazon's making an amazing amount of noise in the press about their new device. Its been on "Google's" front page for days. They are obviously not motivated to have customers get content from sources other than Amazon. I think this is clearly an opportunity for Sony ( and other readers) to be highly motivated ( since they aren't "book stores" per se - like Amazon )to make their devices compatible with Digital additions. It will set a standard format more quickly, while Amazon will spend money and improve visibility. I'm sure that none of this is lost on Sony et al. Hopefully, these recent events will catalyze the process!
Al

Ron,

Unfortunately I can't give you any satisfying answers. Bill's announcement meant what it said - at some point in the future there will be a Sony Reader released that will be able to display ePub files and PDFs that use Adobe DRM. This hasn't happened yet, although we are working on it. Sony has not publicly released any information (that I'm aware of) on their plans for this device and if there will be any backward support for older devices. When Sony does release that information, I'll post it here.

Jim Lester
Adobe Systems

Jim,

Did I purchasee a brick? It seems like it if I can't read Digital Editions Adobe documents.

What exactly did this mean:

"Mobile/device support is also coming, as evidenced by our announcement today that Sonywillll be incorporating Digital Editioncapabilitiess, including EPUB and Adobe DRM support, into the Sony Reader product line. "

I foolishly assumed that Sony's new device would, of course, have it. As you know, it doesn't. Not only that, apparently nobody else's eInk device will either. Now what?

Ron Compton

Ron,
There is no current eInk device which works with Adobe DRM. Getting devices to work with Digital Editions is something we are actively looking at. Back in June, Bill McCoy (our fearless leader) announced on his blog that we are working with Sony on getting the eReader line to support Adobe DRM (read the second to last paragraph). Unfortunately I can't really provide more information than that. (Mutual NDAs and normal reticence to talk about ongoing work since schedules are nice estimates and features change - plus management gets touchy if I upstage their announcements).

Jim Lester
Adobe Systems

Is there ANY ebook reader which will read the Reader DRM encrypted books? I'm not talking about a PDA or full computer. I mean a purpose designed ereader which uses eink, etc.

If not, it certainly seems more than time for Adobe to get with these manufacturers to make them work with the devices.

Come on Adobe, what's going on?

thanks alot Jim, I sent an email to the ebook.com support team and they just emailed me back that they would reimburse me for the book. As for the book I bought, I found a free version of it on the web in PDF format and I was able to download it directly and copy it into my ereader via libprs500. so all is well, so far I have all the books I could need, once I need a new book I'll just search the web, and its bound to come up somewhere.

thanks,

Sanford.