Anyone run Linux on an ereader?

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

A nook STR is old and slow and good luck running Linux on that obsolete thing.

Now, now Jon, if he thinks he can turn an OLD ereader into a computer then we shouldn't discourage him. If nothing else, it will keep him off the streets and out of trouble.
Not only that, it will give him hands on experience with Linux.
What is the worst that can happen? He bricks an old device.

[Philippe D.]

I don't know what the processor in this reader is, but the very first time I installed Linux on a computer, it was on a PC with a 486DX processor, and it ran fine - including the X system (that added about 10 floppies to the installation, though). That was pre-Linux v1; now there are plenty of low-requirement Linux distributions. Is this Nook e-reader that low in processor capabilities?

(Now, this doesn't change much to the fundamental problem: running Linux on your e-reader isn't the end goal, and it's most certainly not the best way to get familiar with Linux as a user. There's plenty of low-cost hardware nowadays that is very well suited to that - not to mention, Linux will also install pretty easily as a double boot solution on any PC. If the goal is to still use the e-reader for its intended use, but with Linux under the hood, then hardware power is still very much an issue, in tandem with selecting the appropriate reading software)

[Hellmark]

I am a big fan of eInk, and a Linux diehard. I've been mulling over making my own Raspberry Pi based offering, as there has been some effort to have homebrew methods for driving the display. While not good for much on the desktop, eInk would be great for command line.

[varlog]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

.... eInk would be great for command line.

Nope.
I had a command line on my t1. As soon as your output needs scrolling it is dancing bears.

[leebase]

If your goal is to learn Linux...install Linux in a vm on your windows computer, VirtualBox is a free virtual machine tool and from there you can learn any flavor of Linux you like....all while still having your windows computer and apps still available to you

[ApK]

Originally Posted by varlog

Nope.
I had a command line on my t1. As soon as your output needs scrolling it is dancing bears.

So write a term program that paginates for eink....

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

So write a term program that paginates for eink....

Or just pipe the output through "more".

[Panchax]

Thank you everyone for your help. I think I will pull a Windows XP computer out of the basement and start with that rather than the nook.
Thank you Billi for the link, it is very helpful.

[Dutchbook]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Many of which a casual user will never have to know or use. And if they do need them, there's nothing to stop them from picking them up piecemeal as they go.

A big part of the reason people are afraid of Linux is because people have convinced them that there's deep, dark, juju surrounding it that they'll need to grok in order to make "proper" use of it. Well guess what?? There's deep, dark juju at the core of all operating systems. But do you ever hear of anyone teaching a new Windows user how to use msiexec from the command line to install programs? Must an Apple user be well-versed in bash-scripting to make use of OSX? Of course not. Because a user doesn't need to start out as a power-user of any OS.

You just use them. And ask/study when you run into something you don't understand. It's the same with all of them.

I fully agree

I learned using Linux by googling “How to dual-boot Windows XP/Ubuntu” and “Starter tips Ubuntu”

When using it, you automatically learn about “Sudo” this and “Apt-Get” that.

Ubuntu isn’t scary, it is just as easy to use as Windows, but people are afraid of it for no good reason

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Dutchbook

When using it, you automatically learn about “Sudo” this and “Apt-Get” that.

You don't "automatically" learn. You "are forced" to learn.

I maintain you could learn it easier, faster and better, with less fear and frustration, if you seek out the education explicitly, while using it.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ApK

I maintain you could learn it easier, faster and better, with less fear and frustration, if you seek out the education explicitly, while using it.

If you maintain the same thing for any user attempting to pick up ANY new OS, I'll give it to you. Otherwise, your theory doesn't really hold water if you're singling out Linux. Suggesting that learning Linux requires special considerations that are not required for picking up Windows or OSX for the first time doesn't really make sense.

Would you recommend someone "educate" themselves on iOS before buying their first iPhone? Or take a course on Android before getting their first Android tablet or phone? The first step in becoming proficient with any user interface has always been "just start using it."

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

If you maintain the same thing for any user attempting to pick up ANY new OS, I'll give it to you. Otherwise, your theory doesn't really hold water if you're singling out Linux. Suggesting that learning Linux requires special considerations that are not required for picking up Windows or OSX for the first time doesn't really make sense.

Would you recommend someone "educate" themselves on iOS before buying their first iPhone? Or take a course on Android before getting their first Android tablet or phone? The first step in becoming proficient with any user interface has always been "just start using it."

If "using" means only using the desktop apps and user controls that are designed with the most appliance-like and user friendly GUIs, then I could recommend that anyone just start using any of them...assuming we are talking about modern GUI desktop Linux versions for Linux.

Most iOS and Android users have no proficiency--or need or desire for proficiency-- beyond that.

There is a spectrum of ease of use and configurability ranging one big red button on an appliance to system programming on a general purpose computing device.

iOS and Android are purpose built to live closer to the Appliance end of that spectrum than most OSes.

Windows is quite a bit farther away from that end, depending on what level of proficiency one is looking for.

Most Windows user, I'd estimate, use it like an appliance and have no need or desire to go beyond that...and they still tend to need more tech support than iOS or Android users do to enable that kind of use.

Linux is farther away still. There are just too many variations and options and basic adjustments that require the command line or informed editing of files, even compared to Windows, for a user with that appliance-level of needs to use it comfortably unless the essence of the OS is completely hidden from them, as in an embedded system or appliance like an eReader, or Tivo, or a replacement operating environment that's closer to the appliance end of the spectrum, like Android itself, or OSX.

Most people are frightened of the command line or text editors.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ApK

If "using" means only using the desktop apps and user controls that are designed with the most appliance-like and user friendly GUIs, then I could recommend that anyone just start using any of them...assuming we are talking about modern GUI desktop Linux versions for Linux.

I'm not bothering to define "using". You're the one who seems to think that "using Linux" needs to inherently mean some deeper understanding of the OS than "using Windows" does—or "using iOS" or "using android" does. Use means use. Nothing more nothing less. It all begins with becoming familiar with the interface, which in turn begins by "just using it."

Originally Posted by ApK

Most iOS and Android users have no proficiency--or need or desire for proficiency-- beyond that.

I don't know what you're trying to say here.

Originally Posted by ApK

There are just too many variations and options and basic adjustments that require the command line or informed editing of files, even compared to Windows, for a user with that appliance-level of needs to use it comfortably unless the essence of the OS is completely hidden from them, as in an embedded system or appliance like an eReader, or Tivo, or a replacement operating environment that's closer to the appliance end of the spectrum, like Android itself, or OSX.

Again ... I fail to understand why you think being comfortable with all the options/variations/command-line/configuration-files is "required" to "use" Linux. Nor why even if someone DID want to become proficient at that sort of stuff, that they still couldn't best begin that journey by "just using it"? You can install|launch|use|update programs (or update the OS) without ever opening a command-line or editing a configuration file on Linux.

For some strange reason, you seem to believe that "using Linux" equals "system administration" while "using Windows" equals "farting around on the internet and checking email." And for the life of me, I don't understand why. "Using" both can be as simple or as complex as the needs/desires of the user in question. And it all begins with "just using it."

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm not bothering to define "using". You're the one who seems to think that "using Linux" needs to inherently mean some deeper understanding of the OS than "using Windows" does—or "using iOS" or "using android" does. Use means use. Nothing more nothing less. It all begins with becoming familiar with the interface, which in turn begins by "just using it."

You believe OP only wants to know enough to run desktop apps?
That's the only level of "user-ship" it takes to get Linux running on an eReader?

I don't know what you're trying to say here.

That using a smart phone or tablet is closer to using a consumer appliance than using a general purpose computer OS.

Again ... I fail to understand why you think being comfortable with all the options/variations/command-line/configuration-files is "required" to "use" Linux. Nor why even if someone DID want to become proficient at that sort of stuff, that they still couldn't best begin that journey by "just using it"? You can install|launch|use|update programs (or update the OS) without ever opening a command-line or editing a configuration file.

For some strange reason, you seem to believe that "using Linux" equals "system administration" while "using Windows" equals "farting around on the internet and checking email." And for the life of me, I don't understand why. "Using" both can be as simple or as complex as the needs/desires of the user in question. And it all begins with "just using it."

That's not been my experience, neither personally, nor from observing other users.

Perhaps it boils down to standardization. There are fewer variations, so more standardization on how common things are done, and those things have been made very easy to do, and to find.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ApK

You believe OP only wants to know enough to run desktop apps?
That's the only level of "user-ship" it takes to get Linux running on an eReader?

No, I don't believe that. But what the OP wants to know has zero relevance to my opinion on what the best way to begin becoming proficient with Linux is.

From desktop user to aspiring Linux SysAdmin (or Embedded Linux Systems Engineer); my advice for beginning would be the same: jump in with both feet--start using Linux. There's a crap-ton you can teach yourself before anything more formal is required.