View Full Version : Ubuntu compatible E-ink, e-book reader?
QwUo173Hy
April 14th, 2008, 08:45 PM
Hi folks. I hope I'm asking this in the right place. I'd love to get an e-book that uses the e-ink technology. But I don't want to be tied town to just the e-book format as I have some things in HTML and PDF myself, which I'd like to read.
Does anyone have any advice on what I should get or if such a gadget exists?
RevolutionMaster
April 14th, 2008, 08:55 PM
Hi folks. I hope I'm asking this in the right place. I'd love to get an e-book that uses the e-ink technology. But I don't want to be tied town to just the e-book format as I have some things in HTML and PDF myself, which I'd like to read.
Does anyone have any advice on what I should get or if such a gadget exists?
It's not pretty, it's not e-ink, but its the ASUS EEE pc.
JohnSearle
April 14th, 2008, 09:10 PM
I've been looking for a while for a decent ebook reader that is price right and supports a variety of formats.
Unfortunately most of the decent ebook readers are a good $300+, and very restrictive of their formats. The closest I found to what I was looking for was either the Sony PRS-500, which is both restrictive and expensive, or the Amazon Kindle, which is ugly, restrictive, and expensive. So if you stumble upon anything, then please let us (me) know.
- John
sanderella
April 14th, 2008, 09:44 PM
i use the old Rocket eBook and now the eBookwise 1150. There are ways and means for getting good downloads, but I haven't found anything that works with Linux yet, I'm just waiting.........[-o<
By the way, the Sony doesn't have a backlight, and it's really really restrictive. I sold mine on.
QwUo173Hy
April 15th, 2008, 04:19 PM
I'm really surprised at the pace these devices are being pushed out at. They could be so much more popular if they'd open up their specs and drop the prices a little.
As for the Asus EEEPC, thanks for the suggestion RevolutionMaster, but I have a laptop already and I'm looking for something I can have in one hand, a cup of coffe in the other. That is actually worth about $300 to me. But I'd really expect to be able to use all the formats I have on my computer.
vertago1
November 11th, 2009, 05:31 PM
Yes, it would be good to know which companies are producing E-ink e-book readers that allow the user to load their own OS / ubuntu.
Nordite
December 13th, 2009, 07:33 PM
I don't have an answer to your question but I wanted to add too it. I am wondering if I can read ebooks using my laptop or do I need to have a kindle type device? Also where do you get your ebooks? Can you find free ebooks? Obviously I know nothing about ebooks or ebook readers:)
Thanks,
Nordite
sanderella
December 13th, 2009, 09:10 PM
Start with the Online Books Page - http://*******ooks.library.upenn.edu/:)
drawkcab
December 14th, 2009, 12:15 AM
There aren't very many e-ink readers out there, and the few that you can find are crippled so that you are encouraged to buy content from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I bought an Asus eeepc 900a for $165. You can rotate the screen and hold it in one hand to read any documents that you have. It's not e-ink but it serves many purposes beyond ebook reader.
I think that eventually as more content providers emerge and competition between amazon and barnes and noble heats up that a more viable ebook reader will emerge within the next few years.
In the meantime, I don't want to pay $300 for a gadget with no wifi, no browser, no ability to read common file formats--that only accesses content that I have to pay for.
If someone came up with an energy-efficient, inexpensive e-ink tablet that ran on a slimmed down linux OS...well, I can dream.
Digital Magi
December 14th, 2009, 12:32 AM
In the meantime, I don't want to pay $300 for a gadget with no wifi, no browser, no ability to read common file formats--that only accesses content that I have to pay for.
My sentiments exactly. I like the new devices, but I refuse to be locked in to one merchant, or one who retains control over my device (the Kindle delete issue)
Until then, I am still using an HP ipaq and free reader software.
Greg
December 14th, 2009, 12:55 AM
I own a Kindle and am happy with the decision. You don't need to buy through Amazon- you can attain the pdfs however you like and transfer it to the device.
QwUo173Hy
December 14th, 2009, 02:25 AM
I was really hopeful about the cooler e-readers (http://www.coolreaders.com/swf/360-cooler.asp) but one of the reviews I saw turned me off it. It seems that it has a sturdy build but the buttons are hard to push. I'd imagine it could get irritation after a while.
I'm considering disconnecting the backlight from an old Dell laptop I have. Once I don't have the light shining in my face I'm happy.
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