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Thread: E-book reader devices

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Amherst, MA, USA
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    Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

    E-book reader devices

    Hi all. I'm currently in the market for an e-book device. I'd like something that Ubuntu recognizes obviously, at least as a mass storage volume. But honestly I could probably live without that if I had to so long as it had a micro SD or SD slot. Most important to me is that it can read .pdf files flawlessly, possibly with zoom. (I want it mostly for reading scholarly journal articles, not MOBI or PRC.) Something that doesn't automatically link me to some ****** online store would be ideal. It would also be nice if it generally had a decent interface for handling miscellaneous .pdfs since some of these things seem to only like to look pretty when you're buying the books from their store.

    I don't want to go anywhere near the Kindle.

    The Cybook Opus looks interesting but I'm unsure what to make of this from wikipedia: "The Cybook technically supports PDF files, however it doesn't actually reflow text. Current firmware revisions support ten levels of zoom and allow scrolling around the page, making the device suitable for reading many PDF files."

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybook_Opus
    http://www.bookeen.com/ebook/ebook-reading-device.aspx

    What does reflow text mean for PDFs?

    Foxit eSlick Reader is another contender. I imagine it would read PDFs pretty well since it comes from the makers of the Foxit Reader. Wikipedia says it can be recognized by Linux OSes but that you can only update the firmware on Windows.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESlick
    http://www.foxitsoftware.com/ebook/o...ification.html

    If anyone has any experience with a Cybook or eSlick it would be much appreciated.

    (Reposted from another thread in the Community Cafe section of the forums because I thought more people might see it here.)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Re: E-book reader devices

    You will probably want to get a Sony, Cybook Gen 3, or Amazon Kindle. I say this because those are the only books that currently Calibre supports. http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/ Currently it only supports the sony 500/505/700 but it should probably have support for the new sonys coming out as well.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Los Angeles
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    Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal

    Re: E-book reader devices

    Is there a way to read Kindle files on my laptop?

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: E-book reader devices

    The only way that I have found to read Kindle books (Amazon books for Kindle) on the desktop/laptop is to download Amazon's free Kindle Desktop software. It works well, but it also only works in Windows. The software will allow you to download any books you've bought for the Kindle and read them on your desktop.

    -CMJ

  5. #5

    Re: E-book reader devices

    I usually only download ebooks by torrents or from the library....anywhere that is free.

    That is a cool program though.....Does the Alurtec have any similar software?


    This is my thread where I ask some very specific questions about a similar subject.

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...40#post9362240

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    Re: E-book reader devices

    Hi!

    I have an entry Sony e-reader.

    Does everything but dma protected.

    As such I'm buying only e-books from sony.

    KegHead

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
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    Missouri
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: E-book reader devices

    The following link may be of interested to you: http://arstechnica.com/open-source/n...ook-reader.ars

  8. #8

    Re: E-book reader devices

    Does it have touch screen support? Can I turn pages or scroll down with my old HTC mogul?


    In the case of ebook readers, its not just the software that I am interested in......I have no problem viewing ebooks on my laptop.....its just not very convenient to hold a laptop like a book, and the screen isnt the best for reading it like a book....it causes eye strain.

    Something like the alurtec has technology that makes the screen look like paper..... softer on the eyes. Easier to sit and stare at up closer for long periods of time.

    A touch screen tablet is a step up in that you can turn it sideways and hold it like a book, but you still dont have that soft screen.


    I would consider using open source sofware and installing it on the hardware of some company that has decent hardware but crappy interface....maybe it would end up being cheaper, if it could be done....but its really the hardware I am interested in. A reader is more convenient than a standard laptop or netbook for reading, unless it folds over to be used as a touch screen tablet.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
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    spudville
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    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: E-book reader devices

    What about the B&N nook? Linux friendly?

  10. #10

    Re: E-book reader devices

    Yes and no. It runs android which is Googles version of Linux, but it doesnt run an X desktop so the software isnt compatible....but its somewhat compatible.

    I hear it can be hacked to give you free 3g.

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