FAQs

1. What is Reader?

Sony Reader is an electronic book reader. It’s a compact, lightweight device that lets you put a library of books in your pocket and take them with you to enjoy, wherever you go.

It holds around 160 books digitally (or several thousand if you insert a Memory Stick Duo™ or SD memory card).

Instead of a conventional LCD screen it uses innovative eInk® technology to create crystal clear graphics and text. The result is a paper-like effect which means you can take Reader outside and read even in bright sunshine.

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2. Why would I want an electronic book reader?

Sony designed Reader as a new way to enjoy and store thousands of eBooks, the new generation of electronic books, while you are on the go.

It has deliberately been built with reading pleasure in mind. This means we haven’t overloaded it with unnecessary features or technology so you get the best page-turning experience possible.

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3. When will Reader be available to buy?

Sony Reader is available now in the UK from the Sony Style online store, Waterstones.com/eBooks, over 200 High Street Waterstone’s stores and other selected electronic retailers.

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4. What do I get if I order Reader?

As well as the device, you’ll also receive a soft tan cover, USB cable connection for your computer, Quick Start Guide and CD-ROM to install the eBook Library software onto your computer. Preloaded onto your Reader you’ll find a selection of books and excerpts of new titles plus, while stocks last, you’ll get a CD-ROM featuring 100 classic titles absolutely free. There are optional luxury cases and other extras available to buy. And if you buy your Reader at Sony Style you’ll also receive a voucher entitling you to £5 off any of the Reader accessories range.

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5. Where do I get eBooks from?

Sony have teamed up with Waterstone’s to provide you with a whole world of eBooks on Waterstones.com. Browse the extensive collection, purchase the ones your want, download them into your eBook Library and import them into your Reader, it’s a simple as that.

eBooks of various kinds are available to download on either a free of charge or paid for basis elsewhere on the Internet. However, If you’re looking for a huge range of quality titles, all designed to be used on Reader, look no further than: Waterstones.com/eBooks

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6. Are new release titles available on eBook?

Yes there are, Waterstone’s have a huge range of eBooks available online. Covering every genre there is something for everyone, including all the top titles, best sellers and new releases in business, fiction and non-fiction. In fact there’ll be thousands of top titles to choose from on Waterstones.com/eBooks, which will be added to all the time.

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7. How much will each eBook cost?

Much the same price as normal paperbacks, but don’t just take our word for it, take a look at the range of eBooks on offer on Waterstones.com/eBooks.

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8. How much does Reader cost?

See the Sony Style online store price. Included while stocks last are 100 free classic titles and a £5 Reader accessory voucher. Prices in other stores, including Sony Centres, (which are independent retailers) may vary.

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9. A library of classics with every Reader

We’re giving away 100 classic eBooks with every order placed (while stocks last). When you receive your Reader you’ll receive a CD-ROM featuring 100 classic titles, simply download these into your eBook Library and import them into your Reader.

Reserve your Reader today and you could be enjoying classics such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, 20 000 Leagues under the Sea, Romeo and Juliet and many more.

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10. I love my books, will I enjoy using Reader?

Sony Reader is not a replacement for paper books and we certainly aren’t suggesting you should throw them all away. It’s just another way to enjoy reading.

Reader is handy, portable and lets you take a huge stack of books with you, wherever you go (160; or even up to 13 000 more if you have a Memory Stick Duo™). Plus, the eInk® technology means that the text on the 6-inch screen actually has a print-like quality.

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11. Is reading on Reader like a computer screen?

Not at all. The big difference between reading on a Reader screen and a computer screen is that Reader doesn’t have a back light. This means that there is no onscreen glare or flicker and you won’t get the eye strain you sometimes get from looking at a computer screen for hours on end.

It has an almost 180° viewing angle and is suitable for reading outside in the sunlight too. In fact, reading on a Reader is pretty much the same as reading a book.

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12. How do I put eBooks onto Reader?

Reader actually comes with a number of preloaded books and excerpts from books, but loading on your own books (including the 100 free classic titles we supply) is easy – it’s pretty much the same process as loading music on your mp3 player from your computer.

Once you’ve installed the eBook Library Software on your computer you can download eBooks from the internet, obtain them from friends or purchase titles from Waterstones.com/eBooks. These go onto your computer, from where you simply transfer them backwards and forwards onto Reader.

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13. How do I navigate through an eBook on Reader?

It’s really very easy to navigate around an eBook. There are page forward and back buttons to take you forward and back a page at a time.

If you want to move forward a few pages at a time you can do so by holding down the "Page Forward" or "Back" button for five seconds – this lets you jump ten pages in the direction of the button you pressed. There is also a row of numbered buttons in Reader to help you move many pages at at time (20% or 30% or half way through the book and so on.) Alternatively you can type out the page number you want to go to using the number buttons. Moving between eBooks is equally easy, with a couple of clicks you can view your collection by author, title and date.

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14. What type of memory cards can I use in Reader?

Reader supports a Memory Stick Duo™ of up to 16 GB, that’s roughly around 13 000 typical books. It also supports SD memory cards . It is important to note that Reader does not accept the “full sized” type of memory sticks or adapters.

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15. What different things can I do with the Reader

1. Use it to read books purchased and downloaded from Waterstones.com/eBooks and other eBook websites.
2. Read your personal documents, like PDF, Word files, .rtf and .txt files.
3. Carry and view photos and diagrams (black and white only) in .jpg, .gif, .png, .pdf formats.
4. Listen to mp3 or AAC songs or podcasts with your headphones. You can even listen as you read.

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How do I navigate through my Reader ebooks?

It’s really easy to navigate through your library. Reader has a navigation menu that lets you browse books by title, author or date.

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17. Can I use Reader with an Apple Mac?

Reader is only supported on Microsoft® Windows® XP and Microsoft® Windows® Vista™ operating systems. If you are not sure whether Reader will work on your PC or laptop please check out the system requirements.

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18. Do I need any special software or hardware?

The necessary eBook Library software is supplied on a disc with your product. You don’t need to have or buy any special extra software to be able to use Reader.

We do recommend you check the system requirements before you buy.

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19. What are the system requirements for Reader?

The recommended system requirements for using Reader on your computer are as follows:

Operating System : Windows® XP (Home Edition/Professional, Media Center Edition, Media Center Edition 2004, Media Center Edition 2005)& Windows Vista® (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate).
Processor : 800MHz Intel® Celeron® class processor or better
RAM : 128 MB Minimum, or 512 MB minimum for Windows Vista.
Hard Drive : 20 MB Minimum available Hard Drive space
Optical Drive : Optical Drive capable of reading CD-ROM
USB Port : USB 1.1 or faster USB Port (Optimal with USB 2.0)
Internet Connection : Broadband suggested.

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20. How long does the battery last?

With one single charge of the battery you can turn nearly 7000 pages, that’s like reading War and Peace five times over. The battery lasts so long because it only uses power when you turn a page, although you’ll use more power if you are listening to music or audio while you read.

If you do run out of battery the USB charger which accompanies your Reader will have it up and running again in four hours and if you buy a mains powered AC charger, you can recharge your Reader in just two hours.

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