e-ink Linux only tablet

GregD · 08-27-2020, 12:50 AM

Hi I am new here but not new to linux.

What I would like to know is

- which is the best currently available e-ink device to run solely as a linux tablet.

I do understand many of the limitations of e-ink.

To be able to easily browse the web ( albeit without video of course)
ie run full firefox
read my emails
run the android IDE
run other simple apps
some type of ebook reader.
and perhaps use open office or the latest derivative.

I am not interested in buying books

I was looking at the kobo clara HD and that project looked interesting however it seems old and it is not clear if it is up to date.

I was going to roll my own with a PI and papertty however I thought I would ask here first.

Thank you all.
I appreciate all the work you do here and am currently enjoying my paperwhite amazon free. Thanks for that.

Greg

ottischwenk · 08-27-2020, 07:01 AM

How big should it be, what should it be able to do?

JSWolf · 08-27-2020, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

How big should it be, what should it be able to do?

The best Android Reader for what you want is the Onyx Boox Max 3 with Android 9.0 and a 13.3" eInk screen.

https://www.boox.com/max3-3

ottischwenk · 08-27-2020, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The best Android Reader for what you want is the Onyx Boox Max 3 with Android 9.0 and a 13.3" eInk screen.

I prefer light, SD and USB OTG with NTFS capability.
And there is only Likebook Alita, 10.3 inches,

GregD · 08-28-2020, 05:01 AM

Thanks guys
ottischwenk Size is not allways important 6 inch would be fine but maybe 10 inch would be better.

and sorry JSWolf Andriod???? sorry that is not linux. It's googl's polluted version of something that once looked like linux.

JSWolf · 08-28-2020, 07:05 AM

But the thing is, I don't think you can do all you want with a Linux based eInk Reader. You have a much better chance doing what you want with Android.

PeterT · 08-28-2020, 12:01 PM

I think you'll have a real challenge finding an eink based device with adequate resources to run a non stripped down linux

ottischwenk · 08-28-2020, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think you'll have a real challenge finding an eink based device with adequate resources to run a non stripped down linux

I wish you the best of luck - I don't think that's possible.
So the kindle would be a Linux device.

Pajamaman · 08-28-2020, 04:04 PM

Someone did it on the old Kobo Glo:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=222123

You can also run terminal emulator on Android e-reader, though you have stated you don't want Android.

hobnail · 08-28-2020, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

I think you'll have a real challenge finding an eink based device with adequate resources to run a non stripped down linux

A brief google search brought up a bunch of articles about connecting a raspberry pi to an e-ink display. But I suspect that those are output/display only, not touch screen. But a pi would at least have adequate horsepower.

GregD · 08-28-2020, 08:41 PM

Thanks guys that info is enough to convince me to roll my own.
I can build a 6" one with a Pi a waveshare 1448×1072 epaper add a resistive touch overlay for about $150 US so i'll go with that for now.

Thanks again.

DaleDe · 08-29-2020, 04:10 PM

You might want to look at our wiki. An article on how to convert Debian Linux on a Kobo

Dale

GregD · 08-31-2020, 10:31 PM

Thanks DaleDe
I have already checked that and thus I asked here.
the info is at least 5 years old.

I did post a question
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...=222123&page=8
With no results
I have now ordered my parts to roll my own.

This doesn't seem to be something people are yet interested in.
as evidenced by the failure of
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...;ref=discovery

Thanks heaps everyone

shalym · 09-01-2020, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregD

Thanks DaleDe
I have already checked that and thus I asked here.
the info is at least 5 years old.

I did post a question
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...=222123&page=8
With no results
I have now ordered my parts to roll my own.

This doesn't seem to be something people are yet interested in.
as evidenced by the failure of
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...;ref=discovery

Thanks heaps everyone

Please do come back and update us on this project, as it sounds really interesting!

Shari

GregD · 09-03-2020, 11:48 PM

Ok
but for anyone interested there is a roll your own version at.
https://github.com/joukos/PaperTTY
I will be pretty much just be following this at first.

Also wavshare have brought out a HDMI 10.3inch E-paper Monitor
which looks pretty cool however they don't reckon it has a very long life span
$500 + US with a short life ... cool but maybe no.

Thanks everyone.

08-27-2020, 12:50 AM	#1
GregD Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: PW B0214....	e-ink Linux only tablet Hi I am new here but not new to linux. What I would like to know is - which is the best currently available e-ink device to run solely as a linux tablet. I do understand many of the limitations of e-ink. To be able to easily browse the web ( albeit without video of course) ie run full firefox read my emails run the android IDE run other simple apps some type of ebook reader. and perhaps use open office or the latest derivative. I am not interested in buying books I was looking at the kobo clara HD and that project looked interesting however it seems old and it is not clear if it is up to date. I was going to roll my own with a PI and papertty however I thought I would ask here first. Thank you all. I appreciate all the work you do here and am currently enjoying my paperwhite amazon free. Thanks for that. Greg

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08-27-2020, 07:01 AM	#2
ottischwenk Wizard Posts: 2,910 Karma: 3933245 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Salzburg AT Device: Bigme 3/3, Boox 4/14, Like-/Meebook 2/8, Tolino 1/10, Ki/Ko 0/8	How big should it be, what should it be able to do?

08-28-2020, 05:01 AM	#5
GregD Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: PW B0214....	Thanks guys ottischwenk Size is not allways important 6 inch would be fine but maybe 10 inch would be better. and sorry JSWolf Andriod???? sorry that is not linux. It's googl's polluted version of something that once looked like linux.

08-28-2020, 07:05 AM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,756 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	But the thing is, I don't think you can do all you want with a Linux based eInk Reader. You have a much better chance doing what you want with Android.

08-28-2020, 12:01 PM	#7
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,512 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I think you'll have a real challenge finding an eink based device with adequate resources to run a non stripped down linux

08-28-2020, 04:04 PM	#9
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,861 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Someone did it on the old Kobo Glo: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=222123 You can also run terminal emulator on Android e-reader, though you have stated you don't want Android.

08-28-2020, 08:41 PM	#11
GregD Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: PW B0214....	Thanks guys that info is enough to convince me to roll my own. I can build a 6" one with a Pi a waveshare 1448×1072 epaper add a resistive touch overlay for about $150 US so i'll go with that for now. Thanks again.

08-29-2020, 04:10 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	You might want to look at our wiki. An article on how to convert Debian Linux on a Kobo Dale

08-31-2020, 10:31 PM	#13
GregD Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: PW B0214....	Thanks DaleDe I have already checked that and thus I asked here. the info is at least 5 years old. I did post a question https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...=222123&page=8 With no results I have now ordered my parts to roll my own. This doesn't seem to be something people are yet interested in. as evidenced by the failure of https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...;ref=discovery Thanks heaps everyone

09-03-2020, 11:48 PM	#15
GregD Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: PW B0214....	Ok but for anyone interested there is a roll your own version at. https://github.com/joukos/PaperTTY I will be pretty much just be following this at first. Also wavshare have brought out a HDMI 10.3inch E-paper Monitor which looks pretty cool however they don't reckon it has a very long life span $500 + US with a short life ... cool but maybe no. Thanks everyone.

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