Any recommended OCR software for Linux?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by leebase

Now you got me lusting after a Chromebook when I've never wanted one before. And I have a powerful MacBook, and iPad, and...well, I just like tech toys in general

Be aware that the cheaper Chromebooks save costs by providing lesser screens. Since you use a MacBook and iPad, this will probably be more noticeable for you than for me — but even I can see it. As a matter of fact, I'm in the process of upgrading to a 14" HP Chromebook with a better (but not great) screen. 11.6" screens are just a little too small for me for long term use.

Also, if you think you'll be using Android apps on a regular basis, you might look into one of the "convertible" Chromebooks that fold back on themselves and have a touch screen (so they can work like a tablet). Usually a Chromebook with a touch screen automatically has better graphic specs. (Still, a far cry from your MacBook specs, however.) There are expensive, top of the line, Chromebooks but I don't get the point of those.

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by leebase

Now you got me lusting after a Chromebook when I've never wanted one before. And I have a powerful MacBook, and iPad, and...well, I just like tech toys in general

If the keyboard isn't detachable or doesn't fold back then it's useless in my opinion for android apps. The android apps are stuck in the center of the screen with huge amounts of space on the left and right; you can't resize them. Otherwise you're holding it sideways with the keyboard sticking out at you which is idiotic. It's hard for me to imagine why google designed theirs this way.

[leebase]

I want cheap cheap cheap. I have excellent computers when I need one

[hobnail]

Originally Posted by leebase

I want cheap cheap cheap. I have excellent computers when I need one

Lenovo Duet.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by hobnail

If the keyboard isn't detachable or doesn't fold back then it's useless in my opinion for android apps. The android apps are stuck in the center of the screen with huge amounts of space on the left and right; you can't resize them. Otherwise you're holding it sideways with the keyboard sticking out at you which is idiotic. It's hard for me to imagine why google designed theirs this way.

I have almost zero interest in the Android apps (I even installed a Linux Mahjongg game instead of using an Android one. For some reason the Linux version of SimpleNote didn't work (installed but wouldn't start) so (for now) I've installed the Android version of that. I also have a simple Android app for screen capturing, Screencast-O-Matic — that's it for Android.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by leebase

I want cheap cheap cheap. I have excellent computers when I need one

If you want used, a really cheap choice is the Samsung Chromebook 3 (model numbers xe500c13-xxxxx and xe501c13-xxxxx). But be sure to find a model with 4 GBs of RAM (they come in 2 GB and 4 GB — and even one model was 6 GB). Also, I would look for one with at least a 32 GB SSD. There's a reason why these are cheap now. As of June, 2022, Google will not supply automatic updates for this model as they will reach "EOL." But these do run Crostini (Linux) and Android apps. (Don't confuse these with the Samsung Series 3, Chromebooks, which are older, do not use Intel chips and are already EOL. Their model numbers start with xe303c12, I believe.)

Here's about what they go for on eBay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22453326097...g7diO&LH_BIN=1

They're cheaper on Shop Goodwill when they're listed.

If you want something newer, the Samsung Chromebook 4 is supported through June, 2026. These are number xe310xba-xxxx. Currently Walmart has these on sale (or clearance?) for $129 (4 GB x 32 GB model, XE310XBA-K01US). Just last week they were $199 (I believe). This is a pretty nice Chromebook for the price — but be ready for a so-so screen. It has a USB C port (which is how it charges), a 3.x standard USB port, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD port (plus built-in Bluetooth and fast WiFi). I found one of these used on eBay (used, open box) for $100. The older one was the 2nd Chromebook, I wanted to see how cheap I could go.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-C...bucket=__bkt__

I'll quit yammering now. You might have a whole different idea of what you want.

[Pajamaman]

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...=340167&page=2

Here's the link to the end user trying to get Calibre working on his Chromebook. Poor guy. Get package via command line, install (and even compile? ) from command line, get and install missing libraries from command line And at the end of all that...Calibre can't see the attached e-reader because Crostini is no good with USB...

This comment doesn't reflect on the general discussion in this thread. But it's not for me. I think some people want to play around with this stuff, which is cool. For me, it's a hair-ripping-out-experience because I want to use my device to do tasks quickly, as opposed to tinkering with linux on a chromebook.

A google search on "crostini chromebook sucks" yielded a number of fun reads (for me, at least) that confirmed to me that I got out at the right speed (i.e. lightning fast) (i was in the game before crostini). Again, fun if you want to try and get a chromebook to run Linux, but not so much if you just want to just get a job done. I personally don't really see the point if you can get a cheap refurb Lenovo with more hardware resources, is well supported by drivers etc, and you can install full open Linux, instead of not-as-good (dare i say crappy?) google linux. But chromebooks are light-weight and very very shiny, I'll give them that.

[Pajamaman]

I too was drawn to chromebook via price, battery and lightweight. It was basically a writing device. I got an acer flip I think. 4gb ram. I think if crostini was out then, it would have been much better. But the 4gb meant it was impractical to run dual ChromeOS and chrouton, and actually install programs. I forget what inboard storage was. But it was not enough for even small programs really.

But the final showstopper was the screen. It was too shiny. I guess this is a personal eyesight thing. I can't work on shiny screens. I must have a matt screen.

I think once crostini matures, and a cheap Chromebook with decent resources becomes available, I could use one with Emacs and plugins. But... I can get a cheap W10 lenovo SSD Refurb with 8 hour battery life and that boots just as fast (bye bye Windows update) with a matt screen, and it does so much more out of the box. Admittedly I have spend 2-3 hours setting it up right, but once it's done, it's fine. I could put "real" Linux on it too. Indeed, with a big enough SSD I could run Linux and Windows. But I admit, the case is not shiny.

[Pajamaman]

Incidentally, most of my draft writing is done on an onyx 7.8 ereader. I use the onscreen keyboard. I use an app called quickedit that supports multiple files. Once I have the peice done in draft, I move to a laptop to edit. I personally find any kind of pc to be horribly distracting and it murders inspiration. Also I can carry the ereader easily and often work outside.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'll quit yammering now. You might have a whole different idea of what you want.

Thanks so much. I ordered the Samsung from Walmart. I'll go pick it up later today. $129 is close enough to an impulse buy price for me

Now...how to hide it from the wife

[Pajamaman]

On reflection, I can see that Linux battery management is not considered great, so Crostini on a Chromebook should offer major advantages. Also, I bought a Chromebook that was fanless, which for me is a major advantage. I can see that if in the future Crostini matures to the point that it sufficiently handles external devices and ports, and if all the software I need is available, that I might revisit Chromebook. But I will allow the pioneers to beat a path for me.

[Pajamaman]

Originally Posted by leebase

Thanks so much. I ordered the Samsung from Walmart. I'll go pick it up later today. $129 is close enough to an impulse buy price for me

Now...how to hide it from the wife

Yeah, wouldn't go less than 4GB 32GB. Chrome itself sucks about 8 GB I think. In Canada, Chromebooks are not that cheap, so it's not worth it.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

Yeah, wouldn't go less than 4GB 32GB. Chrome itself sucks about 8 GB I think.

Hopefully it's enough for couch web surfing. I have other powerful computers for computing

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by leebase

Thanks so much. I ordered the Samsung from Walmart. I'll go pick it up later today. $129 is close enough to an impulse buy price for me

Now...how to hide it from the wife

Originally Posted by leebase

Hopefully it's enough for couch web surfing. I have other powerful computers for computing

Hope I didn't steer you wrong. Mine works pretty well for browsing.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

Yeah, wouldn't go less than 4GB 32GB. Chrome itself sucks about 8 GB I think. In Canada, Chromebooks are not that cheap, so it's not worth it.

This particular model wasn't that cheap a week ago at Walmart either. It was priced at $209 until they put it on sale (or clearance) some time within the last week or ten days. Samsung must be about ready to come out with a Chromebook 5.