Hacker friendly

soul_rebel · 01-30-2011, 10:33 AM

Hi guys,
I am looking for an hacker friendly ebook. Which means, in order of importance:
1: support for open standards: usable from GNU/Linux with calibre, with no need to install closed drivers. Support for open ebook formats
2: no mandatory updates or other "phoning home" to the factory.
3: simple but not dumbed-down interface. Decent speed.
4: good hardware and software quality and durability (high quality screen: dpi, glare, e-ink technology).
5: possibility to load code, get root privileges without risky jailbreak procedures.
6: wifi and possibility to browse and download ebooks from network shares OR possibility to ssh to the device and upload stuff.

Is there a 6" device out there that makes it at least to number 4?
Anything that gets all the six points?
Thanks for any help!

Dulin's Books · 01-30-2011, 01:03 PM

Onyx Boox 60

take a look at booxusers.com

available at the link below

wallcraft · 01-30-2011, 01:10 PM

I suggest the PocketBook 602. It meets all your requirements.

There is a comprehensive review, at The eBook Reader.

soul_rebel · 01-30-2011, 01:48 PM

how about the sony 7". It has a higher dpi and that is something I usually like.

wallcraft · 01-30-2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soul_rebel

how about the sony 7". It has a higher dpi and that is something I usually like.

The 7" and 6" EInk readers have the same dpi (167 dpi), the 7" is bigger so it has more pixels. The PRS-950 does have a Pearl screen, which has higher contrast than the Vizplex screen of the PocketBooks and the Boox.

The Sony does not have your #5, and only supports ePub and PDF - but Calibre can convert anything else to those formats. I'm not sure what you can do with the 950's WiFi except web browsing. The eBook Reader has a review.

soul_rebel · 01-31-2011, 03:42 AM

Quote:

The Sony does not have your #5

I thought I saw people speaking of having command shell access (ssh) on the thing. That would be enough. SSH rocks.

Now that I think of it, having wifi "ad-hoc" networking is kind of important too. So that you can connect the reader to a computer directly, with no access points.

About the dpi, it is higher compared to most 7", about the same as a 6".
Thanks again!

v1k1ng1001 · 02-04-2011, 08:38 PM

I like my PB 602 as well.

bearmann · 02-07-2011, 09:24 PM

What about Kindle 3 + Duokan? I am quite sure that this combo would meet the requirements 2-5, not so sure about 1+6, though.

regards.
bearmann

soul_rebel · 02-08-2011, 09:29 AM

the kindle is out of the question. Even if one could fix most of its shortcomings by re-flashing another firmware (which btw is a risky procedure), it would still be hypocrite to give money to a company that is totally not respecting any kind of user freedom, since I go out preaching the importance of that freedom.

The only thing I don't like about the PB 602 is the 6" screen. I was aiming for 7".
However it looks that the sonys are out of stock, so I might reconsider.

Namekuseijin · 02-08-2011, 09:41 AM

hacker friendly surely mean Android devices -- in other words, Linux with a Google interface. I'm a Linux desktop user myself and a programmer, though I see no point hacking away my mobile: I just want it to work.

that said, it was good fun mocking up some app in the desktop java IDE and loading them onto the device. Nothing serious, just checking out...

Runs4Brains · 02-09-2011, 06:12 PM

NookColor meets all your requirements except the 6" or smaller screen size. From what I understand, it's also unbrickable since the unit supports boot from SD card. B&N has also built-in a failsafe feature to reload the OS from a non-flashable firmware location in the event of 8 aborted reboots, which can be user initiated. This means OS recovery is basically 100% guaranteed no matter how badly you screw up.

soul_rebel · 02-11-2011, 04:08 AM

I want an ebook reader, so no color displays, but e-ink. No refreshing pixels, so no android as well.
I don't mean to spend a lot of time hacking the device, I just want to have the possibility in case I have an idea or a problem to solve.
The nook (non color) could do, but that colored stripe of screen at the bottom it's just stupid, and the e-ink is vizplex.
I hate Sony, but it seems they have the best product at the moment.

Clash · 02-13-2011, 09:34 PM

I'm pretty sure that the Kindle 3 meets all your needs.

01-30-2011, 10:33 AM	#1
soul_rebel Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	Hacker friendly Hi guys, I am looking for an hacker friendly ebook. Which means, in order of importance: 1: support for open standards: usable from GNU/Linux with calibre, with no need to install closed drivers. Support for open ebook formats 2: no mandatory updates or other "phoning home" to the factory. 3: simple but not dumbed-down interface. Decent speed. 4: good hardware and software quality and durability (high quality screen: dpi, glare, e-ink technology). 5: possibility to load code, get root privileges without risky jailbreak procedures. 6: wifi and possibility to browse and download ebooks from network shares OR possibility to ssh to the device and upload stuff. Is there a 6" device out there that makes it at least to number 4? Anything that gets all the six points? Thanks for any help! Last edited by soul_rebel; 02-11-2011 at 03:56 AM.

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01-30-2011, 01:03 PM	#2
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Onyx Boox 60 take a look at booxusers.com available at the link below

01-30-2011, 01:10 PM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	I suggest the PocketBook 602. It meets all your requirements. There is a comprehensive review, at The eBook Reader.

01-30-2011, 01:48 PM	#4
soul_rebel Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	how about the sony 7". It has a higher dpi and that is something I usually like.

02-04-2011, 08:38 PM	#7
v1k1ng1001 Addict Posts: 378 Karma: 1624276 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South, South Texas Device: Pocketbook 620	I like my PB 602 as well.

02-07-2011, 09:24 PM	#8
bearmann Member Posts: 14 Karma: 258 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	What about Kindle 3 + Duokan? I am quite sure that this combo would meet the requirements 2-5, not so sure about 1+6, though. regards. bearmann

02-08-2011, 09:29 AM	#9
soul_rebel Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	the kindle is out of the question. Even if one could fix most of its shortcomings by re-flashing another firmware (which btw is a risky procedure), it would still be hypocrite to give money to a company that is totally not respecting any kind of user freedom, since I go out preaching the importance of that freedom. The only thing I don't like about the PB 602 is the 6" screen. I was aiming for 7". However it looks that the sonys are out of stock, so I might reconsider.

02-08-2011, 09:41 AM	#10
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	hacker friendly surely mean Android devices -- in other words, Linux with a Google interface. I'm a Linux desktop user myself and a programmer, though I see no point hacking away my mobile: I just want it to work. that said, it was good fun mocking up some app in the desktop java IDE and loading them onto the device. Nothing serious, just checking out...

02-09-2011, 06:12 PM	#11
Runs4Brains Member Posts: 23 Karma: 324 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Aluratek Libre Pro	NookColor meets all your requirements except the 6" or smaller screen size. From what I understand, it's also unbrickable since the unit supports boot from SD card. B&N has also built-in a failsafe feature to reload the OS from a non-flashable firmware location in the event of 8 aborted reboots, which can be user initiated. This means OS recovery is basically 100% guaranteed no matter how badly you screw up.

02-11-2011, 04:08 AM	#12
soul_rebel Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	I want an ebook reader, so no color displays, but e-ink. No refreshing pixels, so no android as well. I don't mean to spend a lot of time hacking the device, I just want to have the possibility in case I have an idea or a problem to solve. The nook (non color) could do, but that colored stripe of screen at the bottom it's just stupid, and the e-ink is vizplex. I hate Sony, but it seems they have the best product at the moment.

02-13-2011, 09:34 PM	#13
Clash Member Posts: 17 Karma: 592 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3	I'm pretty sure that the Kindle 3 meets all your needs.

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