is there a guide for how to use an ereader in linux?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

I am afraid you have fully qualified yourself as a "zealot" as what you have to say about supposed Window's issues is gross exaggeration, and what you have to say about Linux on PC's in a non professional or in other than an enthusiast's environment is grossly glorified.

I'm not going to read through your whole spiel. As for Windows problems -- I've experienced them first-hand -- unfortunately -- because I was always (and still am ocassionally) getting "volunteered" to fix extended family's and family friend's Windows' issues. Just do a Google search for Windows Registry Corruption and/or Windows Ransomware and/or Windows Malware if you think I exaggerate the issue. Just the fact that there are thousands of applications and services and websites to fix these issues should say all you need to know. The Windows Registry is just a pathetic design -- corruption waiting to happen.

As for "grossly glorifying" my Linux experience ... how would you have any kind of clue about my Linux experience? I don't lie. Linux works much, much better for many than Windows, installs much faster and is easier to maintain. It has been working much better for me for seven years now. I don't have to guess, I know. You can call me a liar if you wish, that's your prerogative. It's the cowardly thing to do, but your prerogative.

As for "zealotry" -- I'm trying to defend Linux against Windows zealots in a Linux thread. One of the Window's zealots obviously has never tried Linux and is stuck in a Microsoft anti-Linux FUD time warp.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Gregg asks "is there a guide for how to use an ereader in linux?" and your solution is to buy a new computer? Is that the Windows Way?-)

Yep. Or reinstall. My nephews and their friends used to reinstall Windows about every three months, to try to get back that "new Windows feeling." Bit rot is another serious issue with Windows. (Yeah, and maybe I am in a bit of an XP time warp, but I'm pretty sure the Windows basic infrastructure design hasn't changed. And when I do a Google search for Windows 8 Registry Corruption I get over a million hits.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Hey JS. Here's the stats on my computer:
Dell Optiplex 170 L
1.5 GB RAM
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
distro is Xubuntu 14.10
Hard drive a massive 39GB

My Optiplex GX270 has almost identical specs, except I have 2.0 GBs of RAM instead of 1.5. Windows XP SP3 would be slow enough -- Windows 7 or 8 (if they ran at all) would be excruciatingly slow. Linux Mint 13 runs great.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

To me this setup sounds like a perfect Linux candidate. I am still using an ancient Thinkpad (a X200s), which I love dear for its portability. It doesn't run well with Windows 7, but it works great with Linux.

Gregg, if you are new to Linux I recommend something like Linux Mint. It's a relative light-weight distribution and it works well out of the box.

But the problem is that the processor isn't up to running Qt5 and thus, it cannot run the latest Sigil and the latest Calibre. So regardless of how well it runs Linux, the computer isn't up to the job of running what's needed to be run. That's the problem.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My Optiplex GX270 has almost identical specs, except I have 2.0 GBs of RAM instead of 1.5. Windows XP SP3 would be slow enough -- Windows 7 or 8 (if they ran at all) would be excruciatingly slow. Linux Mint 13 runs great.

WRONG! Windows 7 & Windows 8 are both faster then Windows XP. Windows XP is slow.

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My Optiplex GX270 has almost identical specs, except I have 2.0 GBs of RAM instead of 1.5. Windows XP SP3 would be slow enough -- Windows 7 or 8 (if they ran at all) would be excruciatingly slow. Linux Mint 13 runs great.

Do you think Gregg could run XP in Virtualbox on those specs?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Gregg asks "is there a guide for how to use an ereader in linux?" and your solution is to buy a new computer? Is that the Windows Way?-)

No, that's the way to run Qt5 on a computer that's too old. The processor isn't up to the job. If Gregg does buy a Kobo Aura he will want the latest Calibre to support the firmware. That needs Qt5 and that needs a newer processor and in this case, a newer computer.

Gregg may also want to run the latest Sigil and that too needs Qt5. So again, the computer isn't up to the job regardless of Linux or any version of Windows.

The problem here is that Linux is the problem. Linux will allow Sigil and Calibre to be installed and they won't work and will lead to crashes and possible data loss. So it's time to get a new computer that will run Qt5.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Do you think Gregg could run XP in Virtualbox on those specs?

Yes and he's hate every minute of it. 2gigs or ram is not enough to have Linux, the VM software and XP going all at the same time. Plus, the computer is just too old to do what needs to be done and needs to be replaced.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But the problem is that the processor isn't up to running Qt5 and thus, it cannot run the latest Sigil and the latest Calibre. So regardless of how well it runs Linux, the computer isn't up to the job of running what's needed to be run. That's the problem.

I run the latest version of Calibre (2.14) under Linux Mint 13 (Mate) without issue on a computer with the same specs. I have no idea of what version of QT I use, but either I have QT5 -- or I don't need it -- to run Calibre 2.14. Maybe QT5 is required to compile Calibre from source?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

WRONG! Windows 7 & Windows 8 are both faster then Windows XP. Windows XP is slow.

It's not faster if the hardware is not supported. i can guarantee that my hardware is not supported in Windows 7 and 8.x.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

It's not faster if the hardware is not supported. i can guarantee that my hardware is not supported in Windows 7 and 8.x.

Is it because some driver(s) you need do not exist or is it because the processor cannot handle it?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Do you think Gregg could run XP in Virtualbox on those specs?

No. I think a VM is not the way to go, even with much better specs than these. In my opinion, dual-booting or using Wine would both be better choices.

[PeterT]

Actually calibre 1.48 will support all Kobo devices except the H2O.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

No. I think a VM is not the way to go, even with much better specs than these. In my opinion, dual-booting or using Wine would both be better choices.

Dual-booting is my choice. Then you do have a full Windows handy to run whatever is needed under Windows.

But one issue...Choose to use Calibre under Linux or Windows and not both as problems can occur running Calibre with Linux and Windows. My opinion is to run Calibre under Windows as all the DRM tools are (overall) easier to setup/configure then they are under Wine.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But one issue...Choose to use Calibre under Linux or Windows and not both as problems can occur running Calibre with Linux and Windows. My opinion is to run Calibre under Windows as all the DRM tools are (overall) easier to setup/configure then they are under Wine.

My opinion (and choice) is to not run Windows. So, even if running Alf's Tools is a bit more of a challenge under Linux, it's a one time deal and once done, it's no harder at all to run Calibre and these tools under Linux. Using Linux, Gregg and I can continue to effectively use our older hardware and are still able to run Calibre with all needed add-ons.

Non-problem solved.