Raspberry Pi based ebook reader

johnwhelan · 03-09-2021, 06:28 PM

It appears one or two have been built. The Open Book project is floating around in the air.

Does it offer anything?

The downside is Moonreader+ pro probably won't run on it. Calibre will run on a Raspberry Pi and it does have an ereader.

Thoughts?

Thanks John

hobnail · 03-09-2021, 09:32 PM

Considering how small the Pi Zero is I can see how it's possible. For whatever reason the linux based handheld game players and linux based watches have no appeal to me. But an ebook gizmo could be interesting.

aardbewoner · 07-26-2022, 09:38 AM

On the 64Bit PI4 you can install calibre !! works great only problem i had was the reader.

aardbewoner · 05-30-2025, 03:56 AM

This days and version 8 it install just fine, no reader problems nothing.
PI 5 bookworm 64 bit.. A verry happy PI user

johnwhelan · 06-06-2025, 08:52 AM

So what sort of screen are you using and what sort of case? I assume Calibre for the reader?

Thanks John

aardbewoner · 06-13-2025, 05:05 AM

As i am a old guy i read mostly on big screens,not on the mobile much,if i am, using a 15" screen and the standard pi case. And now calibre 8.4.
Using X-11 and install libxcb-cursor0 then Installing and updating using the standard " sudo -v && wget -nv -O- https://download.calibre-ebook.com/linux-installer.sh | sudo sh /dev/stdin"

Quoth · 06-14-2025, 02:12 PM

My Pi 4B has a portable 5V or USB-C powered screen. 16″ and QHD (2560 x1440). OS is Ubuntu for Pi with Mate Desktop using X (Wayland isn't finished yet).
The case is small custom alloy box with heatsink pillars. I have 2 x USB power banks, 2 x mains PSUs and a 12V LiFePO4 pack that has up to two large portable panels (about 100W @ 1000 W / sq m illumination) as three alternate power sources. A single large capacity SD Card. Small USB or BT keyboard and mouse. Total cost exceeded a decent cheap 17″ Lenovo laptop (with SSD & 1T HDD), though it has only HD (1920 x 1080) screen.

Pi is good for experimental or small headless stuff. It's not reasonable price/performance to replace a cheap laptop, unless you have all the spare stuff already (PSU, keyboard, mouse, case, big SD card, screen, cables). I've an x86-64 Chromebook wiped and running Linux Mint with Mate and that was €150 plus an extra SD card for user files. The G RAM is better. My "cheap" Pi 4B only has enough RAM for a couple of major programs at the same time if one is Firefox.

Get a 5B with max RAM. Or a real laptop.

03-09-2021, 06:28 PM	#1
johnwhelan Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 475752 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Touch, Cybook Gen 3, Google Nexus7, LG V20, Kobo Clara HD	Raspberry Pi based ebook reader It appears one or two have been built. The Open Book project is floating around in the air. Does it offer anything? The downside is Moonreader+ pro probably won't run on it. Calibre will run on a Raspberry Pi and it does have an ereader. Thoughts? Thanks John

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03-09-2021, 09:32 PM	#2
hobnail Running with scissors Posts: 1,584 Karma: 14328510 Join Date: Nov 2019 Device: none	Considering how small the Pi Zero is I can see how it's possible. For whatever reason the linux based handheld game players and linux based watches have no appeal to me. But an ebook gizmo could be interesting.

07-26-2022, 09:38 AM	#3
aardbewoner Grumpy Posts: 76 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: linux computers ,raspberry	On the 64Bit PI4 you can install calibre !! works great only problem i had was the reader.

05-30-2025, 03:56 AM	#4
aardbewoner Grumpy Posts: 76 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: linux computers ,raspberry	This days and version 8 it install just fine, no reader problems nothing. PI 5 bookworm 64 bit.. A verry happy PI user

06-06-2025, 08:52 AM	#5
johnwhelan Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 475752 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Touch, Cybook Gen 3, Google Nexus7, LG V20, Kobo Clara HD	So what sort of screen are you using and what sort of case? I assume Calibre for the reader? Thanks John

06-13-2025, 05:05 AM	#6
aardbewoner Grumpy Posts: 76 Karma: 2222222 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: linux computers ,raspberry	As i am a old guy i read mostly on big screens,not on the mobile much,if i am, using a 15" screen and the standard pi case. And now calibre 8.4. Using X-11 and install libxcb-cursor0 then Installing and updating using the standard " sudo -v && wget -nv -O- https://download.calibre-ebook.com/linux-installer.sh \| sudo sh /dev/stdin"

06-14-2025, 02:12 PM	#7
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,838 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	My Pi 4B has a portable 5V or USB-C powered screen. 16″ and QHD (2560 x1440). OS is Ubuntu for Pi with Mate Desktop using X (Wayland isn't finished yet). The case is small custom alloy box with heatsink pillars. I have 2 x USB power banks, 2 x mains PSUs and a 12V LiFePO4 pack that has up to two large portable panels (about 100W @ 1000 W / sq m illumination) as three alternate power sources. A single large capacity SD Card. Small USB or BT keyboard and mouse. Total cost exceeded a decent cheap 17″ Lenovo laptop (with SSD & 1T HDD), though it has only HD (1920 x 1080) screen. Pi is good for experimental or small headless stuff. It's not reasonable price/performance to replace a cheap laptop, unless you have all the spare stuff already (PSU, keyboard, mouse, case, big SD card, screen, cables). I've an x86-64 Chromebook wiped and running Linux Mint with Mate and that was €150 plus an extra SD card for user files. The G RAM is better. My "cheap" Pi 4B only has enough RAM for a couple of major programs at the same time if one is Firefox. Get a 5B with max RAM. Or a real laptop.