Best e-reader for linux user in Canada

lajestic · 11-12-2011, 02:57 PM

I have been researching ebook readers for a bit. Does a Kobo Wifi meet these requirements? Any other device that would be better?

Cost under $100 (or close)
Compatible with PDF files
Connect to a computer running linux (preferably without WINE, synced reading would be great, but I could live without)
available and supported in Canada
bonus: possible to root the device for hacking fun

Thanks for any advice!

robko · 11-12-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lajestic

I have been researching ebook readers for a bit. Does a Kobo Wifi meet these requirements? Any other device that would be better?

Cost under $100 (or close)
Compatible with PDF files
Connect to a computer running linux (preferably without WINE, synced reading would be great, but I could live without)
available and supported in Canada
bonus: possible to root the device for hacking fun

Thanks for any advice!

I think you need to define "compatible with PDF files". Yes you can read pdf's on it, but (like pretty much any other 6" e-ink reader) it's really not a friendly experience. The Kobo forum on here has a thread on Linux that can probably answer your compatiblilty question that way.
I have both a Wifi and a Kobo Touch. I would recommend splurging for the Touch if you can just for a faster machine with more options. The pdf experience is far from perfect on the KT, but it's a lot easier/faster to scroll around on it.

lajestic · 11-12-2011, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

I think you need to define "compatible with PDF files". Yes you can read pdf's on it, but (like pretty much any other 6" e-ink reader) it's really not a friendly experience. The Kobo forum on here has a thread on Linux that can probably answer your compatiblilty question that way.
I have both a Wifi and a Kobo Touch. I would recommend splurging for the Touch if you can just for a faster machine with more options. The pdf experience is far from perfect on the KT, but it's a lot easier/faster to scroll around on it.

Yeah, in this case, I define compatible with PDF this way. I want something that will display PDFs significantly better than my old Palm Treo with a 2.5" screen. That sets the standard fairly low I think. I actually read a significant part of The Linux Command Line on my Palm a while back.

Thanks for the opinion. I am leaning favorably towards getting a Kobo Touch at this point in time. Linux compatibility seems ok and PDF support is there in a pinch in case I need it.

HarryT · 11-13-2011, 03:28 PM

I don't know if the Kobo supports book buying on the device itself, but, if not, there's one thing to be wary of. In order to buy an ePub book you have to transfer it via a program on your PC called Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). ADE is available for Windows and the Mac only; it's not available for Linux, and the latest version of ADE won't run under WINE.

Rizla · 11-13-2011, 09:24 PM

The Kobo Touch fits your budget but is cheap and nasty IMO.

Maybe a Kindle Keyboard / K3. I wouldn't touch the new Kindle models. Also cheap and nasty.

Personally I'd get a T1. Sony, Android and hackable. The only caveat is it's still a bit buggy.

quicksilver · 11-27-2011, 01:47 PM

This is what you want https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=157879

treadlightly · 12-01-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver

This is what you want https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=157879

One of the OP's criteria was "available and supported in Canada".

quicksilver · 12-01-2011, 10:51 AM

Oops, my bad. I'm from Canada and enjoy Linux devices as well. I ended up getting the Nook STR so I was too quick in responding to the OP.

treadlightly · 12-01-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quicksilver

Oops, my bad. I'm from Canada and enjoy Linux devices as well. I ended up getting the Nook STR so I was too quick in responding to the OP.

Did you end up getting one at the Black Friday price? I was toying with the idea as something to play with but couldn't figure out how to get it shipped here without incurring extra costs.

quicksilver · 12-02-2011, 02:25 AM

No, I was a day too late. I bought a refurbished one on ebay. It was about $80 something dollars and $10 something for shipping.

lajestic · 12-05-2011, 11:12 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. in the end I decided to wait and see what another year brings. Sounds like too many potential pain points with DRM, Canadian availability, requiring Windows, etc.

My netbook will have to serve for ebook reading for a while longer I guess.

spindlegirl · 12-06-2011, 10:15 PM

I too am a (Debian) Linux user. I find the e-Reader market to be quite Linux unfriendly. I have a Kobo Touch and the "setup" part of it (where you enter your kobo account details) requires that you use the Kobo desktop which requires you have Mac or Windows.

I wish I could find an ereader that didn't require a huge song and dance to set up.

For my audio needs (podcast etc) I simply was able to plug it in (A Sansa Clip) , stick my own mp3 files on and it worked, didn't need to do anything else. JUST out of the box. I took it home, plugged it in, and in seconds I was listening to my own music files and some CBC podcasts. Why can't an e-reader work like that (for ebooks)? I was planning to get a Sony reader but it appears that it, too, requires windows software to just start using it. The "setup" part.

mwerle · 12-07-2011, 09:58 AM

I just got a Sony PRS-T1 (also a Debian user).

Apart from getting it registered with Adobe (*) it works perfectly with Linux in combination with Calibre for DRM-free ebooks.
I have not yet rooted it but I'm tempted in order to get the new Homescreen.

Cheers,
- Micha.

(*) This may be a non-issue in countries which already support the Sony ebook store, which is not the case in the UK at present.

See this thread for my efforts: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=159899

spindlegirl · 12-07-2011, 01:30 PM

This is encouraging to see. My birthday is in May, I am planning to upgrade to a different e-reader and I find myself leaning towards The Sony PRS-T1. My husband and I are kind of leaning that way.

I've had to factory reset my Kobo a number of times, due to buggy issues. Last night was one of those times. My husband took it to work so he could "register" it over there for me, as we don't have a windows system at home. I have a good several months to do my research, but I am hoping that my next e-reader is as close to "out of the box" as I can get, for good personal use and being able to put my own non-DRM epubs on there.

I'd love for an e-ink e-reader to work in principle, the way my Sansa Clip does, simply plays whatever files I stick on there, period. Yes, i know they are entirely different devices, but I can dream

mwerle · 12-07-2011, 02:00 PM

Hi spindlegirl,

You don't need Calibre to use it although I would highly recommend it.

Under Debian (using the Gnome desktop), when I plug the T1 in it gets automatically mounted. It's quite possible to just drag-and-drop compatible eBooks from the computer into the T1's ebook folder.

Cheers,
- Micha.

11-12-2011, 02:57 PM	#1
lajestic Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 628 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	Best e-reader for linux user in Canada I have been researching ebook readers for a bit. Does a Kobo Wifi meet these requirements? Any other device that would be better? Cost under $100 (or close) Compatible with PDF files Connect to a computer running linux (preferably without WINE, synced reading would be great, but I could live without) available and supported in Canada bonus: possible to root the device for hacking fun Thanks for any advice!

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11-13-2011, 03:28 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I don't know if the Kobo supports book buying on the device itself, but, if not, there's one thing to be wary of. In order to buy an ePub book you have to transfer it via a program on your PC called Adobe Digital Editions (ADE). ADE is available for Windows and the Mac only; it's not available for Linux, and the latest version of ADE won't run under WINE.

11-13-2011, 09:24 PM	#5
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	The Kobo Touch fits your budget but is cheap and nasty IMO. Maybe a Kindle Keyboard / K3. I wouldn't touch the new Kindle models. Also cheap and nasty. Personally I'd get a T1. Sony, Android and hackable. The only caveat is it's still a bit buggy.

11-27-2011, 01:47 PM	#6
quicksilver dude Posts: 51 Karma: 628 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Nook	This is what you want https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=157879

12-01-2011, 10:51 AM	#8
quicksilver dude Posts: 51 Karma: 628 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Nook	Oops, my bad. I'm from Canada and enjoy Linux devices as well. I ended up getting the Nook STR so I was too quick in responding to the OP.

12-02-2011, 02:25 AM	#10
quicksilver dude Posts: 51 Karma: 628 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Nook	No, I was a day too late. I bought a refurbished one on ebay. It was about $80 something dollars and $10 something for shipping.

12-05-2011, 11:12 PM	#11
lajestic Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 628 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	Thanks for all the feedback. in the end I decided to wait and see what another year brings. Sounds like too many potential pain points with DRM, Canadian availability, requiring Windows, etc. My netbook will have to serve for ebook reading for a while longer I guess.

12-06-2011, 10:15 PM	#12
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	I too am a (Debian) Linux user. I find the e-Reader market to be quite Linux unfriendly. I have a Kobo Touch and the "setup" part of it (where you enter your kobo account details) requires that you use the Kobo desktop which requires you have Mac or Windows. I wish I could find an ereader that didn't require a huge song and dance to set up. For my audio needs (podcast etc) I simply was able to plug it in (A Sansa Clip) , stick my own mp3 files on and it worked, didn't need to do anything else. JUST out of the box. I took it home, plugged it in, and in seconds I was listening to my own music files and some CBC podcasts. Why can't an e-reader work like that (for ebooks)? I was planning to get a Sony reader but it appears that it, too, requires windows software to just start using it. The "setup" part.

12-07-2011, 09:58 AM	#13
mwerle Micha Posts: 37 Karma: 3144 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Glo	I just got a Sony PRS-T1 (also a Debian user). Apart from getting it registered with Adobe () it works perfectly with Linux in combination with Calibre for DRM-free ebooks. I have not yet rooted it but I'm tempted in order to get the new Homescreen. Cheers, - Micha. () This may be a non-issue in countries which already support the Sony ebook store, which is not the case in the UK at present. See this thread for my efforts: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=159899

12-07-2011, 01:30 PM	#14
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	This is encouraging to see. My birthday is in May, I am planning to upgrade to a different e-reader and I find myself leaning towards The Sony PRS-T1. My husband and I are kind of leaning that way. I've had to factory reset my Kobo a number of times, due to buggy issues. Last night was one of those times. My husband took it to work so he could "register" it over there for me, as we don't have a windows system at home. I have a good several months to do my research, but I am hoping that my next e-reader is as close to "out of the box" as I can get, for good personal use and being able to put my own non-DRM epubs on there. I'd love for an e-ink e-reader to work in principle, the way my Sansa Clip does, simply plays whatever files I stick on there, period. Yes, i know they are entirely different devices, but I can dream

12-07-2011, 02:00 PM	#15
mwerle Micha Posts: 37 Karma: 3144 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Kobo Glo	Hi spindlegirl, You don't need Calibre to use it although I would highly recommend it. Under Debian (using the Gnome desktop), when I plug the T1 in it gets automatically mounted. It's quite possible to just drag-and-drop compatible eBooks from the computer into the T1's ebook folder. Cheers, - Micha.

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