Netbook or something, Calibre-capable? - Page 2

BetterRed · 10-07-2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cortman

Whoa, didn't know about that limitation of Starter. I knew it was pathetic but didn't know it was THAT pathetic.

I will have to see.
I do have to wonder what you mean by violating the license. It's the license for that computer, and it shouldn't be any different than if my hard drive crashed and I wanted to reinstall.

If your HDD died and you installed another, you'd still be using the same mobo.

S/W vendors get the system id from the mobo not the HDD, and my experience is that if your mobo dies then they'll issue a new license key for your new mobo - without further charge. Not sure if that's true for Windows Starter - IIRC its all spelt out in the license T&C's.

BR

toomuchreading · 10-07-2013, 06:14 PM

Although it may be out of your budget and some here will not like it, but you might consider a windows tablet if its within your budet. Not the RT ones, but the Windows Pro tables. The Pro tablets have the full Windows 8 installed, and not the cut down version that RT has. You wouldn't be able to install Calibre or Sigl on the RT tables (that I know). The Pro tablets have USB slot and SD slot, and should be light enough for you. I have had the opportunity to play on one for a few hours and it was surprisingly nice to use, once I got used to the differences in the OS from windows 7.

cortman · 10-09-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

If your HDD died and you installed another, you'd still be using the same mobo.

S/W vendors get the system id from the mobo not the HDD, and my experience is that if your mobo dies then they'll issue a new license key for your new mobo - without further charge. Not sure if that's true for Windows Starter - IIRC its all spelt out in the license T&C's.

BR

Yeah, and I am still using the same mobo- it's the same Windows key for the same machine, so I don't believe that is a problem.

travger · 10-11-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomuchreading

Although it may be out of your budget and some here will not like it, but you might consider a windows tablet if its within your budet. Not the RT ones, but the Windows Pro tables. The Pro tablets have the full Windows 8 installed, and not the cut down version that RT has. You wouldn't be able to install Calibre or Sigl on the RT tables (that I know). The Pro tablets have USB slot and SD slot, and should be light enough for you. I have had the opportunity to play on one for a few hours and it was surprisingly nice to use, once I got used to the differences in the OS from windows 7.

Thanks, that's a good suggestion. I'll check it out, at least as a comparison. it will probably take me some months (at least) to weigh the specs and prices and to decide what I must have (like at least usb ports).

toomuchreading · 10-12-2013, 03:11 PM

The Windows 8 Pro will allow installation of both Calibre and Sigl. Just make sure you don't get RT. I do not envy you the task. I know that when my PRS-T1 gives up the ghost, I'll be hard pressed to find something that I can have text to speech & an e-ink screen. Most readers now are removing their MP3 capabilities, which means no TTS. Good luck.

travger · 11-05-2013, 01:04 PM

Well, I have decided at last on the Lenovo x200(s), with Windows 7. Used or refurbished are in my price class. Or, maybe refurbished x61(s) - even cheaper, and comes often with XP (I know it's practically dead, but it'll do for a few years). Everything with Win8 in much more expensive.

BetterRed · 11-05-2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travger

...and comes often with XP (I know it's practically dead, but it'll do for a few years...

... and maybe by then ReactOS will be SFW

BR

Tarana · 11-15-2013, 12:17 AM

I use an Acer Aspire One all the time with Calibre. It runs fine until your library gets fairly large. Then it is SLOW. If your library is under 5000 ebooks, you shouldn't see any hesitation at all.

travger · 11-15-2013, 07:02 AM

I just got the x200s. Setting up Calibre from memory is such a pain! And I'm not planning on returning home till summer.At least I have (somewhat) outdated portable on memory stick, so I'm not bookless.
Probably best route is to cope somehow until summer (and spend more time reading/fixing

!), then uninstall-reinstall and copy the settings files from my PC.

stevenaleach · 11-16-2013, 10:53 AM

My only computer is a netbook with only 1 gb of ram. Calibre runs - but you will notice performance lag as your library grows. I currently have two libraries - one with 28,000+ books, and another which had 689 books as of a few minutes ago (and a bunch more that it is slowly importing at this moment). The big library takes a minute or more to run a search, several minutes to launch, etc. The smaller one takes around a minute to launch, but searching and browsing is fast enough.

speakingtohe · 11-16-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travger

Well, I have decided at last on the Lenovo x200(s), with Windows 7. Used or refurbished are in my price class. Or, maybe refurbished x61(s) - even cheaper, and comes often with XP (I know it's practically dead, but it'll do for a few years). Everything with Win8 in much more expensive.

I have had nothing but trouble with refurbished Lenovo. Make sure everything works when you get it. Run tests, run on battery only, burn dvd.

3 out of 3 had one or more things not working when they arrived. QC is not good on refurbished in my experience.

Helen

theducks · 11-16-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I have had nothing but trouble with refurbished Lenovo. Make sure everything works when you get it. Run tests, run on battery only, burn dvd.

3 out of 3 had one or more things not working when they arrived. QC is not good on refurbished in my experience.

Helen

In some places, 'Refurbished' simply means:
Clean the Dust
Wipe the case:
Reload the OS (may include a new drive as many companies SHRED their drives before doing lease returns)

grumbles · 11-19-2013, 08:30 PM

I have an old HP / Compaq mini running XP Home that I use to run ADE and download all my DRM infested epubs. I have been running Calibre on this machine since I bought it without any problems. Well almost no problems, at time the metadata screen exceeds the height of the screen and the buttons disappear at the bottom of the screen. XP Home on these machines is limited to 2G memory and 160G hard drive but this has never been a problem. It also has a very anemic 1.6Ghz single core Atom processor. Win 7 is somewhat more restricted, I think. I was told but have not verified that it will only run three applications at a time (seems nonsensical but who knows) and many things can not be changed (like the wallpaper?) so that a newer netbook with Win 7S may not be as useful.

In addition to running ADE and Calibre, this computer, which is in the living room also has an USB external D/A (digital to analogue) converter and an USB external hard drive that I use to play my losslessly ripped CD collection through the stereo. It frequently runs everything at once without a problem.

I would recommend trying to find an old netbook running XP Home if you can find one. Certainly, from a hardware standpoint, a netbook is more than good enough, but Microsoft want to pay more for Windows than you did for the hardware to run anything on a more current machine. In fact you may find it cheaper to get a very cheap laptop than getting a netbook and upgrading windows. The problem for me is that there are no cheap laptops with 10 or 11 inch screens.

travger · 11-27-2013, 09:42 AM

Thank you all, your answers gave me courage to plunge into laptop world.

Well, I've been playing around for a time and so far my refurbed x200s works fine. Win 7 is a bit different than XP, but mostly in good ways.

About only 3 applications at a time I can't agree - I regularly have open Chrome (with several tabs), Calibre, Sigil, several folders, winrar and whatever.

I was most anxious about smooth working of Calibre and Sigil, and both are fine.

Thanks again.

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10-07-2013, 06:14 PM	#17
toomuchreading Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 1720 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Libre Color	Although it may be out of your budget and some here will not like it, but you might consider a windows tablet if its within your budet. Not the RT ones, but the Windows Pro tables. The Pro tablets have the full Windows 8 installed, and not the cut down version that RT has. You wouldn't be able to install Calibre or Sigl on the RT tables (that I know). The Pro tablets have USB slot and SD slot, and should be light enough for you. I have had the opportunity to play on one for a few hours and it was surprisingly nice to use, once I got used to the differences in the OS from windows 7.

10-12-2013, 03:11 PM	#20
toomuchreading Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 1720 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Libre Color	The Windows 8 Pro will allow installation of both Calibre and Sigl. Just make sure you don't get RT. I do not envy you the task. I know that when my PRS-T1 gives up the ghost, I'll be hard pressed to find something that I can have text to speech & an e-ink screen. Most readers now are removing their MP3 capabilities, which means no TTS. Good luck.

11-05-2013, 01:04 PM	#21
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	Well, I have decided at last on the Lenovo x200(s), with Windows 7. Used or refurbished are in my price class. Or, maybe refurbished x61(s) - even cheaper, and comes often with XP (I know it's practically dead, but it'll do for a few years). Everything with Win8 in much more expensive.

11-15-2013, 12:17 AM	#23
Tarana Wizard Posts: 4,040 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	I use an Acer Aspire One all the time with Calibre. It runs fine until your library gets fairly large. Then it is SLOW. If your library is under 5000 ebooks, you shouldn't see any hesitation at all.

11-15-2013, 07:02 AM	#24
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	I just got the x200s. Setting up Calibre from memory is such a pain! And I'm not planning on returning home till summer.At least I have (somewhat) outdated portable on memory stick, so I'm not bookless. Probably best route is to cope somehow until summer (and spend more time reading/fixing !), then uninstall-reinstall and copy the settings files from my PC.

11-16-2013, 10:53 AM	#25
stevenaleach Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 134116 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Android Tablet	My only computer is a netbook with only 1 gb of ram. Calibre runs - but you will notice performance lag as your library grows. I currently have two libraries - one with 28,000+ books, and another which had 689 books as of a few minutes ago (and a bunch more that it is slowly importing at this moment). The big library takes a minute or more to run a search, several minutes to launch, etc. The smaller one takes around a minute to launch, but searching and browsing is fast enough.

11-19-2013, 08:30 PM	#28
grumbles Addict Posts: 238 Karma: 1500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Pandigital Novel (Black), T-2 and 3, Nexus 7	I have an old HP / Compaq mini running XP Home that I use to run ADE and download all my DRM infested epubs. I have been running Calibre on this machine since I bought it without any problems. Well almost no problems, at time the metadata screen exceeds the height of the screen and the buttons disappear at the bottom of the screen. XP Home on these machines is limited to 2G memory and 160G hard drive but this has never been a problem. It also has a very anemic 1.6Ghz single core Atom processor. Win 7 is somewhat more restricted, I think. I was told but have not verified that it will only run three applications at a time (seems nonsensical but who knows) and many things can not be changed (like the wallpaper?) so that a newer netbook with Win 7S may not be as useful. In addition to running ADE and Calibre, this computer, which is in the living room also has an USB external D/A (digital to analogue) converter and an USB external hard drive that I use to play my losslessly ripped CD collection through the stereo. It frequently runs everything at once without a problem. I would recommend trying to find an old netbook running XP Home if you can find one. Certainly, from a hardware standpoint, a netbook is more than good enough, but Microsoft want to pay more for Windows than you did for the hardware to run anything on a more current machine. In fact you may find it cheaper to get a very cheap laptop than getting a netbook and upgrading windows. The problem for me is that there are no cheap laptops with 10 or 11 inch screens.

11-27-2013, 09:42 AM	#29
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	Thank you all, your answers gave me courage to plunge into laptop world. Well, I've been playing around for a time and so far my refurbed x200s works fine. Win 7 is a bit different than XP, but mostly in good ways. About only 3 applications at a time I can't agree - I regularly have open Chrome (with several tabs), Calibre, Sigil, several folders, winrar and whatever. I was most anxious about smooth working of Calibre and Sigil, and both are fine. Thanks again.

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