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

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Those running XP with an obsolete process can run Calibre from source and compile Qt5 without the need for a more advanced processor or they can upgrade the hardware [snip]

Ah thank you for that. So you changed your mind about your also incorrect claim that QT5 cannot possibly be run perfectly well under Linux on old hardware? That is the difference between a WinXP program that ships with pre-compiled libraries and a Linux program that merely says "hey, I need QT5 to run, go get it if it is not there yet, and I will work."

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Ah thank you for that. So you changed your mind about your also incorrect claim that QT5 cannot possibly be run perfectly well under Linux on old hardware? That is the difference between a WinXP program that ships with pre-compiled libraries and a Linux program that merely says "hey, I need QT5 to run, go get it if it is not there yet, and I will work."

Does the Linux version of Qt5 say this hardware is obsolete so I will lobotomize myself to run with this old stuff?

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Does the Linux version of Qt5 say this hardware is obsolete so I will lobotomize myself to run with this old stuff?

You assume wrongly that lack of SSE2 means a big performance hit. You also assume that all gimmicks need to be enabled to function. You can sometimes speed your system up by disabling features you never use. Want to see how fast Windows can be? Load Windows 3.1 into a ramdisk. You could have done that about 20 years ago. And maybe, just maybe, you should believe those that say how much faster Linux runs on the same machine that previously ran WinXP.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

You assume wrongly that lack of SSE2 means a big performance hit. You also assume that all gimmicks need to be enabled to function. You can sometimes speed your system up by disabling features you never use. Want to see how fast Windows can be? Load Windows 3.1 into a ramdisk. You could have done that about 20 years ago. And maybe, just maybe, you should believe those that say how much faster Linux runs on the same machine that previously ran WinXP.

My Surface Pro 2 has a 512GB SSD and it runs quite well. I cannot see Linux running any better. Also, I cannot see Linux running all the software I'm running.

But, one way to get ANY OS to run faster is to take a system that can run 64GB DDR4. Dedicate all but 20GB for a cache and away you go.

But to get back on topic (sort of), if Gregg does get a new system, he can have Windows 8.1 and Lunix dual-booting and then he can see which he prefers once he has a faster/better system and then he can compare a faster Windows to Linux and then decide which to run or keep both dual-booting.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Been thinking about this one. http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...product_110072 But somebody's gotta convince me fast because the sale is over on the the third. (Flame away!)

That's basically the one I'm thinking of upgrading to -- well, actually, one that's slightly older (Optiplex 755) but with almost the same specs. I've already got a hard drive and don't need Windows 7, so mine will cost me about $50 locally.

Taking a closer look -- the one you're thinking of getting also has a DVDRW in it (I think I have to pay a bit extra for that) and a year warranty. With Windows 7 Pro -- which costs somewhere around $100 on its own -- it's a good deal. (And I almost forgot the 1 TB hard drive -- really good deal.)

I like the design of this box (I think Dell still uses this design, but it looks a little different now). A big open screen on the front and back so air is pulled directly through case over CPU. The design allows the big fan to run slowly, so it makes very little noise. And, except for the front grill, it hardly collects any dust at all. All my kids and my wife have variations of this model.

If you're thinking of using it as a game machine at any point be aware of two things. The power supply is really not sufficient for most high powered video cards and it uses the PCIe card slot, which limits your choice of video cards. The Radeon Silent HD 5450 works well for the kids -- for my wife (and potentially me) there is no need to add a video card. The built-on Intel video port would be all I would need.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

My Surface Pro 2 has a 512GB SSD and it runs quite well. I cannot see Linux running any better.

You would have to run it to see it. Believe DuckieTigger, what he says is true. Heck, I think Gregg also mentioned a significant speed improvement on his computer after going to Xubuntu. And I can vouch for it on my computer. It's a dramatic change. The performance of Linux is why I can look at a seven year old computer as an upgrade option. To be honest, my wife's computer even runs Windows 7 just fine on an Optiplex 360 -- which is basically the same model of computer I'm looking at.

That said, I run a fairly light desktop (Mate). Personally I don't see the point of a lot of goo-gaws and gadgets on my desktop. In my opinion, the desktop is there to get out of the way. But, if I did like a lot of gee whiz golly lookie, lookie at the which-a-ma-callits desktop, there are also "heavy" Linux desktops with animations and whatever "pretties" you like. Maybe if I favored one of those desktops I'd be more interested in a more powerful computer than what I'm looking at. As is, there's just no point in the overkill. I can't even really justify upgrading my 12 year-old computer to a seven year-old one, except I just kind of want to do it.

EDIT: I should also mention that, if I was playing games or compiling programs, or into heavy into video, photo or music editing -- I would also consider a newer computer. But I don't do any of these and I simply don't need a newer computer.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by rcentros

That's basically the one I'm thinking of upgrading to -- well, actually, one that's slightly older (Optiplex 755) but with almost the same specs. I've already got a hard drive and don't need Windows 7, so mine will cost me about $50 locally.

Taking a closer look -- the one you're thinking of getting also has a DVDRW in it (I think I have to pay a bit extra for that) and a year warranty. With Windows 7 Pro -- which costs somewhere around $100 on its own -- it's a good deal. (And I almost forgot the 1 TB hard drive -- really good deal.)

I like the design of this box (I think Dell still uses this design, but it looks a little different now). A big open screen on the front and back so air is pulled directly through case over CPU. The design allows the big fan to run slowly, so it makes very little noise. And, except for the front grill, it hardly collects any dust at all. All my kids and my wife have variations of this model.

If you're thinking of using it as a game machine at any point be aware of two things. The power supply is really not sufficient for most high powered video cards and it uses the PCIe card slot, which limits your choice of video cards. The Radeon Silent HD 5450 works well for the kids -- for my wife (and potentially me) there is no need to add a video card. The built-on Intel video port would be all I would need.

Thanks rcentros. No, wouldn't be using it for gaming. But I've got a friend warning me off it. Says I should build my own. Thing is, like you said in your next post, I don't really need a new computer if mine's working good. I figure it's old and I should upgrade but why not wait--as several of you have said--until it makes me. I still might get it though. And if I do I'll feel much more comfortable with all the info. you supplied about it. Appreciate it.

Originally Posted by rcentros

Heck, I think Gregg also mentioned a significant speed improvement on his computer after going to Xubuntu.

I was simply amazed at how much faster the Xubuntu was. I mean, I was ready to toss the computer because it had XP and couldn't run Win7. Then it was like pow--Xubuntu! Brand new computer. And so fast. (XP was like molasses.) And it hasn't lost any speed in the year plus I've been using it.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Thanks rcentros. No, wouldn't be using it for gaming. But I've got a friend warning me off it. Says I should build my own. Thing is, like you said in your next post, I don't really need a new computer if mine's working good. I figure it's old and I should upgrade but why not wait--as several of you have said--until it makes me. I still might get it though. And if I do I'll feel much more comfortable with all the info. you supplied about it. Appreciate it.

I used to be the kind who said "build your own computer." And, if I was interested in the latest, greatest, cutting edge, whiz bang computer I would probably still feel that way. But I simply don't need a cutting edge computer. There was a time when every hardware advance was matched by more demanding software -- but that time is gone. Modern computers -- even 10-12 year-old computers -- have so much unneeded overhead that, for most uses, the hardware just idles. I think what really made this happen was that memory got so cheap. But now the newest, cutting-edge hardware is simply not needed for day to day computing. I think that's partly why the PC market has fallen so deeply into the crapper. There's just no need to upgrade every year, or every two years, or even every five years. I think that's also why tablets had such a good run. PC owners wanted to buy something new, but their computers were working fine.

As for this particular model ... I like Dell Optiplexes because they're rugged and easy to work on and maintain. HP makes (made?) a similar business line and I liked those also. But living in Texas (now) and the fact that Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, I think Dells are (were) just more common in this area -- so that's what I've worked on are what is available. Consumer computers tend to heat up more (partly because they have bigger power supplies so they can run fancier graphic cards), they have cheaper cases, are harder to work on and seem to collect dust more readily. Besides, business class computers go off lease -- lots of them at one time -- which makes them cheaper to buy. And, if they do the job I want done, why do I need to spend more money on a custom, high end, computer?

There's another point. Optiplexes seem to last forever and, should the power supply or even mother board go out, there were so many of them made (at least during the years for the ones I'm looking at) that parts are cheap and readily available. The trade off is you don't get a gaming computer. What you do get is a solid, well built, cool-running computer.

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

I was simply amazed at how much faster the Xubuntu was. I mean, I was ready to toss the computer because it had XP and couldn't run Win7. Then it was like pow--Xubuntu! Brand new computer. And so fast. (XP was like molasses.) And it hasn't lost any speed in the year plus I've been using it.

While my GX270 could run XP SP3, I also own a Dell Latitude D400 laptop (uses a 1.2 Pentium M -- which is really a modified Pentium 3). It ran XP reasonably well ... slowed down noticably with SP2 ... slowed down to a crawl with service pack 3. Literally, once I upgraded it Windows XP SP3, it would take ten minutes of thrashing the hard drive doing ... whatever Windows does ... before I could use it. By then I had already installed Linux and was dual booting. Basically I only booted into Windows to update it and update whatever anti-virus I was using at the time ... I think AVG. I finally decided it was a waste of time to do this and installed a newer version of Linux (Linux Mint 13), deleting the Windows partition and using the whole hard drive. Whenever I travel, I still use that computer. And it boots and is ready to use in about 50 seconds. I fire it up about every two months and update it. That laptop is going on 13 years old and it's basically mirrors what I have on my desktop.

Since the Pentium M is based on the Pentium 3, it doesn't have the SSE (and SSE2) features that we've (especially one of us) have been talking about so much in this thread. I think I installed Calibre on it the last time I fired it up, but I can't remember for sure. I think I'll turn it on and see ... if it's not there I'll check to see if I can install it.

Sorry to ramble.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

As for this particular model ... I like Dell Optiplexes because they're rugged and easy to work on and maintain. HP makes (made?) a similar business line and I liked those also. But living in Texas (now) and the fact that Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, I think Dells are (were) just more common in this area -- so that's what I've worked on are what is available. Consumer computers tend to heat up more (partly because they have bigger power supplies so they can run fancier graphic cards), they have cheaper cases, are harder to work on and seem to collect dust more readily. Besides, business class computers go off lease -- lots of them at one time -- which makes them cheaper to buy. And, if they do the job I want done, why do I need to spend more money on a custom, high end, computer?

I like Dell, too.

I'm about to replace my current Dell Laptop, which I bought in 2010. Not because there's anything wrong with it - I've used it without problem for close to 5 years - but simply because laptop displays have improved enormously over the last 5 years, and, being a keen photographer, a higher resolution screen with more vivid colours will be a real benefit for me. I also want a laptop with a touchscreen for Windows 8.1 (I have a little Surface Pro machine with a touchscreen, which I find works very well).

[Billi]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm about to replace my current Dell Laptop, which I bought in 2010. Not because there's anything wrong with it - I've used it without problem for close to 5 years

So, in the spirit of this thread (and if you don't have any other plans with it) put some Linux on it and try and enjoy!

[rcentros]

Staples is now advertising an Optiplex 755 (with 2 GBs of memory, 250GB hard drive and a 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo CPU), for $110. For those who want Windows 7, it's almost like the computer is thrown in for free.

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...nalize=certona

(It's Windows 7 Home Premium, not Windows 7 Pro.)

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Staples is now advertising an Optiplex 755 (with 2 GBs of memory, 250GB hard drive and a 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo CPU), for $110. For those who want Windows 7, it's almost like the computer is thrown in for free.

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...nalize=certona

(It's Windows 7 Home Premium, not Windows 7 Pro.)

Dells rock. I wouldn't even think of buying anything else. My office bought an HP Pavillion. The keyboard was beyond cheesy. Tiny little keys. Just about unusable.

And you keep coming up with good buys. Like you said, Windows 7 with a free computer. Newegg wants $139 for Windows 7 professional 64 bit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-_-Win7Pro-OEM

The computer I like has Win7 Pro 64 bit and it's only $157

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...product_110072

I was going to pass on getting it because my computers are working fine. But hey, it won't hurt to have Win7 and the 4GB and 1TB. I'm weakening.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Staples is now advertising an Optiplex 755 (with 2 GBs of memory, 250GB hard drive and a 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo CPU), for $110. For those who want Windows 7, it's almost like the computer is thrown in for free.

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...nalize=certona

(It's Windows 7 Home Premium, not Windows 7 Pro.)

It's still only 2GB of ram and as we well know, sometimes Calibre needs more then that.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Dells rock. I wouldn't even think of buying anything else. My office bought an HP Pavillion. The keyboard was beyond cheesy. Tiny little keys. Just about unusable.

And you keep coming up with good buys. Like you said, Windows 7 with a free computer. Newegg wants $139 for Windows 7 professional 64 bit. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-_-Win7Pro-OEM

The computer I like has Win7 Pro 64 bit and it's only $157

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Optiplex...product_110072

I was going to pass on getting it because my computers are working fine. But hey, it won't hurt to have Win7 and the 4GB and 1TB. I'm weakening.

Go for it. You'll definitely be able to run Qt5 no problem. So that means Calibre and Sigil will work. Also, you'll have a system with Windows so that means an easier time dealing with eBooks as the DRM tools are easier to deal with under Windows.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given that it's a standard part of the Calibre installation, which innumerable Windows users install without difficulty, it would seem not to be difficult.

In Windows, most programs provide install their own private versions of any libraries they need. This is one of the reasons why programs needing very different versions of the same library can run together, without issues, and can run on different Windows versions as well, often 15 years apart.

The only exception basically are Microsoft components such as .NET, DirectX, C++ distributables, and extremely common stuff such as Flash and Java. Programs often expect you to have them installed. These components are not always shipped along.

In Linux, the norm is one library install per system to be used by all programs. Advantages are easier updating, less disk space usage, less memory usage. Disadvantage is that you either update everything, or nothing. Therefore you can get conflicts, if one program is compiled against QT5, and the other against 5.01. One of then will not run, unless the distribution provides a mechanism to install both QT5 and 5.01, you do it via a hack, or the program goes the "un-linux-like" route of providing its own statically linked private version. (I believe the official Calibre from Kovid's site uses this route.)