Linux and Mac forums?

Difflugia · 03-14-2015, 03:44 PM

I was wondering if there would be a spot (and enough interest) for a forum dedicated to Linux, maybe in "E-Book Readers" or "E-Book Software". The main focus for Linux questions is generally Calibre, but there have been several people expressing an interest in going "Linux only" in various threads. There's information sprinkled around the forums about getting things like Adobe Digital Editions or Kindle for PC to run in Linux, but having one spot might make things a little less daunting for those that want to try.

For that matter, maybe a general section for operating system specific questions would be appropriate. I know there are at least a few Mac experts around MobileRead as well and having a central place for them to watch for questions would make things better all around.

eschwartz · 03-15-2015, 03:17 AM

I wouldn't mind such a forum. I expect it wouldn't be busy enough for two separate ones -- one is enough, assuming thread prefixes.

theducks · 03-15-2015, 01:15 PM

I will be a nay Sayer,

because of additional confusion it would create with the software groups like Calibre and Sigil which support all 3 platforms

We ( the MR community) already have people posting Calibre questions in General Discussions. This would just add moderation efforts.

If a user pasted a MAC Calibre issue in a MAC forum, they might not know the issue also affected Windows. Worse, we may end up with 2 distinct forums-threads going for the issue (this already happens when a user cross posts instead of requesting a Thread be moved)

arjaybe · 03-15-2015, 01:45 PM

On the other hand, if we have a dedicated Linux forum we won't have to worry about the people who are always saying, "Yabbut Windows," whenever we want to talk about anything.

BetterRed · 03-15-2015, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjaybe

On the other hand, if we have a dedicated Linux forum we won't have to worry about the people who are always saying, "Yabbut Windows," whenever we want to talk about anything.

Au contraire, its the Linux users who push their choice of operating system down everyone's throats and who post misleading statements about windows.

A browse though the calibre forums, where Linux problems disproportionately abound, doesn't show too many posts from Windows users pushing there choice down the throats of the Linux using OP suffering the problem.

@theducks - Whilst Sigil runs on Linux its worth reading John's blog regarding Sigil on Linux, they're not dissimilar to Kovid Goyal's comments on the perils of calibre on linux

But to the OP's main point - I tend to agree with theducks for the reasons he's given - fragmentation.

BR

eschwartz · 03-15-2015, 02:49 PM

Jon more than makes up for us in sheer tenacity.

(Me, I try to limit myself to snide comments about WinXP -- justified. I proudly admit I think all WinXP users should immediately install linux.)

re: sigil on linux, the answer is of course to use DiapDealer's release. Same way calibre works fine using Kovid's release.

I suppose fragmentation is a concern. Maybe stickies for commonly-recycled info, say, running ADE through WINE, should suffice.

Difflugia · 03-15-2015, 05:02 PM

If we assume for the sake of argument that fragmentation would actually be a problem, then I have a practical question.

A while ago, the OP of this thread in General Discussions asked about a guide to switching to Linux for ereader support. After sixteen pages of (I'm sure well-meaning) people suggesting that the OP just use Windows, I wrote this post.

In the meantime, I've figured a few more things out and was thinking about making a few edits to the post and putting it somewhere more appropriate that would be easier for someone with the same questions to find.

Should I...

make updates to the same post, understanding that people with the same question will find it with a search?
create a new post in General Discussions and ask that it be made a sticky?
create a new post in the Calibre forum (since the rest of the software is just support for Calibre, anyway)?
create three new posts (one each in the Digital Editions, Barnes & Noble and Kindle forums, assuming that the Calibre forum already has Linux covered)?
not bother because there aren't enough interested in using Linux?

Or is there another suggestion?

ATDrake · 03-15-2015, 05:24 PM

#2 and #4 seem like the least likely to work on MR, as there are no stickies in General Discussions and it's unlikely that one would be created just for a Linux helpthread. Similarly, 3 new threads across assorted forums with what would presumably be mostly-identical info would likely get at least 2 of them deleted.

Personally, I'd consider creating a single new thread with a title which makes it clear that it's just for Linux compatibility help (and not for, say, comparative platform merit argumentation

) that would be easily spottable via a forum search and then:

reserve at least the 1st post for backgrounder explanation info and a list of links to other useful information
put your initial round of tips & tricks into the 2nd post and onwards
keep making updates as usual in new posts to the thread
every so often, go back and edit the OP to link to new info that you or other people have added to the thread or found in other posts/places online so people just opening the thread can easily see what can and can't be done

I personally found this to be a reasonably good strategy back when I was maintaining a couple of themed freebie round-up threads (for non-Amazon retail stores & non-Amazon backlist, respectively), though I will warn you, eventually the maintenance gets really, really tedious, though presumably less so if one is just adding info from time to time and not constantly checking/editing for new/expired stuff on a near-daily basis.

Also, it may work better to start your thread in the Reading & Management subforum under E-book Software (since technically, it is mostly dealing with software issues on Linux), and as the subject comes up in other threads, just post some specifically relevant tips if applicable and then link and mention that there's a dedicated thread available here for more info.

There's less traffic in R&M than GD, so there'll be greater long-term visibility, especially for people specifically looking for a problem solution, even if fewer people see it initially, but YMMV.

Difflugia · 03-15-2015, 05:33 PM

That's a great suggestion! Thanks.

JSWolf · 03-15-2015, 06:10 PM

Maybe all we need are more prefixes. I'd have to look at what's there to be sure.

ATDrake · 03-15-2015, 06:48 PM

I'll also add that if after a certain point it seems that some subjects keep coming up (like, say, a lot of potential Linux switchers asking sell-me-on-the-benefits-and-warn-me-about-the-drawbacks-of-my-particular-proposed-setup stuff, or people specifically needing ADE on WINE help again and again), it would probably be a good idea to fork the initial thread into dedicated separate threads for the ensuing subdiscussions.

That way, participating posters can focus best on whatever's of most interest/uses their range of expertise, so they can more easily find/give/get info on a specific problem that's not one of the FAQ-type things, or help a Linux newbie with a walkthrough of setting up their new OS/device interactions, or troubleshoot getting the supporting programs to work so that you can finally use "the tools", etc.

DaleDe · 03-16-2015, 02:07 PM

If you want to help Linux users with tips you can build a page in the wiki and then link to any and all forum discussions if you wish. There is already a Linux page in the wiki that could also point to this new page of Linux tips or other appropriate name.

Dale

03-14-2015, 03:44 PM	#1
Difflugia Testate Amoeba Posts: 3,049 Karma: 27300000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Many Android devices, Kindle 2, Toshiba e755 PocketPC	Linux and Mac forums? I was wondering if there would be a spot (and enough interest) for a forum dedicated to Linux, maybe in "E-Book Readers" or "E-Book Software". The main focus for Linux questions is generally Calibre, but there have been several people expressing an interest in going "Linux only" in various threads. There's information sprinkled around the forums about getting things like Adobe Digital Editions or Kindle for PC to run in Linux, but having one spot might make things a little less daunting for those that want to try. For that matter, maybe a general section for operating system specific questions would be appropriate. I know there are at least a few Mac experts around MobileRead as well and having a central place for them to watch for questions would make things better all around.

03-15-2015, 05:02 PM	#7
Difflugia Testate Amoeba Posts: 3,049 Karma: 27300000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Many Android devices, Kindle 2, Toshiba e755 PocketPC	If we assume for the sake of argument that fragmentation would actually be a problem, then I have a practical question. A while ago, the OP of this thread in General Discussions asked about a guide to switching to Linux for ereader support. After sixteen pages of (I'm sure well-meaning) people suggesting that the OP just use Windows, I wrote this post. In the meantime, I've figured a few more things out and was thinking about making a few edits to the post and putting it somewhere more appropriate that would be easier for someone with the same questions to find. Should I... make updates to the same post, understanding that people with the same question will find it with a search? create a new post in General Discussions and ask that it be made a sticky? create a new post in the Calibre forum (since the rest of the software is just support for Calibre, anyway)? create three new posts (one each in the Digital Editions, Barnes & Noble and Kindle forums, assuming that the Calibre forum already has Linux covered)? not bother because there aren't enough interested in using Linux? Or is there another suggestion?

03-15-2015, 05:24 PM	#8
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	#2 and #4 seem like the least likely to work on MR, as there are no stickies in General Discussions and it's unlikely that one would be created just for a Linux helpthread. Similarly, 3 new threads across assorted forums with what would presumably be mostly-identical info would likely get at least 2 of them deleted. Personally, I'd consider creating a single new thread with a title which makes it clear that it's just for Linux compatibility help (and not for, say, comparative platform merit argumentation ) that would be easily spottable via a forum search and then: reserve at least the 1st post for backgrounder explanation info and a list of links to other useful information put your initial round of tips & tricks into the 2nd post and onwards keep making updates as usual in new posts to the thread every so often, go back and edit the OP to link to new info that you or other people have added to the thread or found in other posts/places online so people just opening the thread can easily see what can and can't be done I personally found this to be a reasonably good strategy back when I was maintaining a couple of themed freebie round-up threads (for non-Amazon retail stores & non-Amazon backlist, respectively), though I will warn you, eventually the maintenance gets really, really tedious, though presumably less so if one is just adding info from time to time and not constantly checking/editing for new/expired stuff on a near-daily basis. Also, it may work better to start your thread in the Reading & Management subforum under E-book Software (since technically, it is mostly dealing with software issues on Linux), and as the subject comes up in other threads, just post some specifically relevant tips if applicable and then link and mention that there's a dedicated thread available here for more info. There's less traffic in R&M than GD, so there'll be greater long-term visibility, especially for people specifically looking for a problem solution, even if fewer people see it initially, but YMMV.

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03-15-2015, 03:17 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I wouldn't mind such a forum. I expect it wouldn't be busy enough for two separate ones -- one is enough, assuming thread prefixes.

03-15-2015, 01:15 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,062 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I will be a nay Sayer, because of additional confusion it would create with the software groups like Calibre and Sigil which support all 3 platforms We ( the MR community) already have people posting Calibre questions in General Discussions. This would just add moderation efforts. If a user pasted a MAC Calibre issue in a MAC forum, they might not know the issue also affected Windows. Worse, we may end up with 2 distinct forums-threads going for the issue (this already happens when a user cross posts instead of requesting a Thread be moved)

03-15-2015, 01:45 PM	#4
arjaybe Wizard Posts: 1,069 Karma: 12500000 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Okanagan Device: Sony PRS-650, Kobo Clara	On the other hand, if we have a dedicated Linux forum we won't have to worry about the people who are always saying, "Yabbut Windows," whenever we want to talk about anything.

03-15-2015, 02:49 PM	#6
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Jon more than makes up for us in sheer tenacity. (Me, I try to limit myself to snide comments about WinXP -- justified. I proudly admit I think all WinXP users should immediately install linux.) re: sigil on linux, the answer is of course to use DiapDealer's release. Same way calibre works fine using Kovid's release. I suppose fragmentation is a concern. Maybe stickies for commonly-recycled info, say, running ADE through WINE, should suffice.

03-15-2015, 05:33 PM	#9
Difflugia Testate Amoeba Posts: 3,049 Karma: 27300000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Many Android devices, Kindle 2, Toshiba e755 PocketPC	That's a great suggestion! Thanks.

03-15-2015, 06:10 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,760 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Maybe all we need are more prefixes. I'd have to look at what's there to be sure.

03-15-2015, 06:48 PM	#11
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	I'll also add that if after a certain point it seems that some subjects keep coming up (like, say, a lot of potential Linux switchers asking sell-me-on-the-benefits-and-warn-me-about-the-drawbacks-of-my-particular-proposed-setup stuff, or people specifically needing ADE on WINE help again and again), it would probably be a good idea to fork the initial thread into dedicated separate threads for the ensuing subdiscussions. That way, participating posters can focus best on whatever's of most interest/uses their range of expertise, so they can more easily find/give/get info on a specific problem that's not one of the FAQ-type things, or help a Linux newbie with a walkthrough of setting up their new OS/device interactions, or troubleshoot getting the supporting programs to work so that you can finally use "the tools", etc.

03-16-2015, 02:07 PM	#12
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	If you want to help Linux users with tips you can build a page in the wiki and then link to any and all forum discussions if you wish. There is already a Linux page in the wiki that could also point to this new page of Linux tips or other appropriate name. Dale

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