Hi, TSquared. Perhaps the people on this other thread below may be able to help you. They seem to be having a similar discussion. At least one person on that thread reports success at using WINE + ADE on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...ight=650+linux
By the way, ADE for Mac does not recognize the Sony ereaders. That's why ADE on your work laptop wouldn't see it. On the Mac, you have to use the Sony Reader Library software to transfer files. It's not like a Windows PC where you can use ADE to transfer files to your ereader.