Private Linux Device

[A boy who knows]

I am looking for a Linux/Android e reader that can basically act as a tablet. Why wouldn't I get a tablet? I have controlling people in my life. I want it to seem like a simple e reader. I also want it to have encryption capabilities, (even if it involves the command line (I am not a complete skid)). I want to be able to use it to code also. I originally thought the Remarkable Paper Pro Move would be the best bet, and it has a package manager called Toltec that makes it like a typical Linux distro, but not everything has been ported to the Remarkable Paper Pro Move yet because it has a different CPU architecture. Even though I am not a skid, I am still relatively a beginner, and would find that kind of annoying. I also set my sights on the Kobo since you can easily install a full Linux distro on it, but it had worse specs, and I thought that a full Linux distro (not a chroot Alpine container like I have on my KOA3) would be pretty obvious. I did think of selling my Remarkable though, since the Kobo seems to have similar specs while being way cheaper. To be specific, I was thinking of the Kobo Libra Color. I will also say I would like color, since I want to be able to play video games (though that is not necessary) and I want to read comic books (and be able to understand what is going on).

[haertig]

You want a piece of eReader hardware to run a regular Linux distro that you can code on and play games on?

That's not going to happen unless the games you are talking about are text-based Tic-Tac-Toe and the coding you intend to do is programming something to print out "Hello World!" and exit.

It sounds like your actual desire is to run a Linux system without others being able to find out you are running a Linux system? What I would do is load up "MX Linux" on a thumbdrive and boot a regular household computer off that thumbdrive to do your stuff. When you're done, reboot the computer off it's regular HDD/SSD and remove the thumbdrive. You will need a USB-3 thumbdrive and a USB-3 port (and obviously, a computer that is capable of booting off a thumbdrive - most recent ones are).

I recommend MX Linux for this task not only because it is full featured, but because it has phenomenal "boot from thumbdrive" capabilities that other distros lack. "AntiX Linux" is an alternate choice to MX Linux if you need a distro that is lighter weight (both MX and AntiX share the same boot from thumbdrive capabilities).

[A boy who knows]

The people in my life take all storage mediums, and I rarely have access to a desktop computer, hence asking what e reader would be the best. I do have access to a flip phone and other low spec devices like a 2DS on occasion, but I almost always have access to my e reader (and literally always have access to my Remarkable).

[Sirtel]

What about Onyx Boox devices? They run Android, not Linux, but I think you can use them as tablets.

[Sirtel]

There's also PineNote, but it's not color.
https://pine64.org/devices/pinenote/

[haertig]

Originally Posted by A boy who knows

The people in my life take all storage mediums, and I rarely have access to a desktop computer,

Are you in prison or a mental health facility? If not, it sounds like you should be contacting social services for help. Your situation, as you describe it, is not normal.

Converting an eReader into a functional and usable general purpose computer is not a realistic goal. And even if it was, it would require skills and knowledge that the people in your life would no doubt have prevented you from acquiring, based on your description of the situation.

How are you posting on this forum? You're not doing it from a flip phone or an eReader.

[A boy who knows]

Originally Posted by haertig

Are you in prison or a mental health facility? If not, it sounds like you should be contacting social services for help. Your situation, as you describe it, is not normal.

My dad doesn't understand computers and thinks I am a master hacker or something.

Converting an eReader into a functional and usable general purpose computer is not a realistic goal. And even if it was, it would require skills and knowledge that the people in your life would no doubt have prevented you from acquiring, based on your description of the situation.

Actually, surprising enough, I have been able to get Comptia and coding books (though they were from another family member.) I have also read about computers on my Kindle.

How are you posting on this forum? You're not doing it from a flip phone or an eReader.

To be completely honest, I am doing it on a school computer I unenrolled and used murkmod on.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by haertig

You want a piece of eReader hardware to run a regular Linux distro that you can code on and play games on?

That's not going to happen unless the games you are talking about are text-based Tic-Tac-Toe and the coding you intend to do is programming something to print out "Hello World!" and exit.

It sounds like your actual desire is to run a Linux system without others being able to find out you are running a Linux system? What I would do is load up "MX Linux" on a thumbdrive and boot a regular household computer off that thumbdrive to do your stuff. When you're done, reboot the computer off it's regular HDD/SSD and remove the thumbdrive. You will need a USB-3 thumbdrive and a USB-3 port (and obviously, a computer that is capable of booting off a thumbdrive - most recent ones are).

I recommend MX Linux for this task not only because it is full featured, but because it has phenomenal "boot from thumbdrive" capabilities that other distros lack. "AntiX Linux" is an alternate choice to MX Linux if you need a distro that is lighter weight (both MX and AntiX share the same boot from thumbdrive capabilities).

Yes. On MX Linux via USB stick, otherwise Linux Mint + Mate.

You need a small laptop as a minimum. I've used Linux on a repurposed Windows 10 tablet, and that does work, but even an x86-64 Chromebook reflashed (only some) to Linux is better.

Tablet computing started about 1991. No matter what OS is used, it's more for content browsing and consumption, not coding or content creation. Apps for Android and iOS are created on desktop computers (Linux, Mac, Windows).

I've a reMarkable. It's a PDF reader and sketchbook and poor compared to a 14.25" Android tablet costing the same.

I've programmed for decades and I would bother writing for a Kobo or reMarkable. They are really appliances. The Kobo and Pocketbook are very good ereaders.

Eink can just about work for Go, Chess, Draughts, etc, but even Solitaire is abysmal.

[Quoth]

My family decades ago:

"Do any of your family suffer from mental health issues?"
– No, they don't suffer. Perhaps others do.

[Quoth]

I've an eink Android tablet and it's poor as a tablet, and not as good as an ereader as a dedicated Sony, Nook, Kindle or Kobo. The reMarkable models are neither tablets or ereaders. They are for PDFs. The first two reMarkable models have also too little Flash and RAM to do much.

[A boy who knows]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The first two reMarkable models have also too little Flash and RAM to do much.

I have a Remarkable Paper Pro Move.

[A boy who knows]

Originally Posted by Quoth

You need a small laptop as a minimum. I've used Linux on a repurposed Windows 10 tablet, and that does work, but even an x86-64 Chromebook reflashed (only some) to Linux is better.

I have access to my school Chromebook, but it only has 32 Gigabytes of storage, and the people in my life would freak out if they ever saw a USB drive plugged in for even a short moment. In fact, I have had my U.S.B. Drives stolen, so I currently have none. I do have access to a few micro SD cards, and one or two regular SD cards, but I've found it to be harder to run live boot operating systems off of those.

[xor_]

Originally Posted by A boy who knows

My dad doesn't understand computers and thinks I am a master hacker or something.

Any chance you can teach your dad? Show him something cool you can do that doesn't scare him? He should be proud of you having such interests, and you shouldn't have to hide them.

[A boy who knows]

Originally Posted by xor_

Any chance you can teach your dad? Show him something cool you can do that doesn't scare him? He should be proud of you having such interests, and you shouldn't have to hide them.

I currently am not supposed to have devices for about another three and a half months.

[PeterT]

I hate to say it but if your father is that strict and you're already limited, doing anything to get around it is just going to make the situation worse.