Sony Reader - Mac users: Support needed

Xenophon · 05-31-2007, 02:25 PM

Calling All Mac Users...

Kovid Goyal's libprs500 is almost ready for prime time as a library manager for non-Windows-using PRS500 owners. The conversion features are in pretty good shape (especially for HTML conversion), but some GUI glitches remain to be fixed. This is great news for all Mac/Linux/FreeBSD/etc. users who don't want to run Windows.

So why am I calling Mac users in particular? Well... some of the remaining GUI glitches show up only on Mac OS X, and Kovid doesn't have access to a Mac machine for debugging. He can't fix the outstanding problems, because he can't duplicate them for debugging. An important additional piece that requires a Mac for development is a standard OS X installer for end-users who don't understand how to build from source in order to use the tools.

I'd like to arrange to provide a Mac for Kovid, so all of us Mac users can have a nice piece of library management software. I see two alternatives:

Someone who has a spare machine around loans it to Kovid for a long-ish period of time.
A bunch of us Mac users kick in some $$ (or Pounds, or Euros, or whatever) and buy an inexpensive used Mac that Kovid can debug on.

Obviously, the first choice would be ideal -- as long as the owner of the machine can afford to do without it for quite a while. Any volunteers? I don't have a spare machine (or I'd volunteer it), but I would be willing to cover shipping (up to $75) if someone else has the hardware.

The second choice requires raising money. I'll start the ball rolling by pledging $75. I figure that there's no point actually collecting any money unless and until enough people have volunteered to kick in enough money to do the job. Depending on model and prices, that'd be in the range of $275-400 or so. It has to be enough of a machine to run the Mac OS X 10.4.9 (at least), but need not be super-fast. In fact, if it's on the slow side, that'll lead to a leaner GUI implementation.

Xenophon

P.S. I originally posted this idea over in the "Reader Developer's Corner," where it has met with resounding silence. I guess that means either that no Mac users read that forum, or that no one else thinks it's a good idea. With this posting in the main forum, we'll find out which it is.

sammykrupa · 05-31-2007, 03:35 PM

Or maybe we are all starving from the lack of money induced by our reader purchases (-:

tsgreer · 05-31-2007, 03:37 PM

Hmmm, ok, I have an old iMac G3 that's running OS 10.3 that still works fine. I will have to check version, but if I can get it up to 10.4.9 I would be open to shipping it out....

But if that doesn't work, I would kick in some cash as well...I am loving the idea of a easy-to-install easy-to-use solution for the Reader.

Leaping Gnome · 05-31-2007, 05:29 PM

I think older model Mac Minis can be had for cheap.

Xenophon · 05-31-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaping Gnome

I think older model Mac Minis can be had for cheap.

My quick surfing of eBay suggests that older model G4 minis can be had for about $200 plus shipping. That means we'd need pledges for another $160 (over and above my $75).

JSWolf · 05-31-2007, 06:07 PM

Don't forget the cost of the latest OS X on top of the cost of the computer.

Stingo · 05-31-2007, 08:17 PM

Count me in.

tsgreer · 05-31-2007, 08:57 PM

I'll pledge $20

Xenophon · 05-31-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Don't forget the cost of the latest OS X on top of the cost of the computer.

I have an extra (original from Apple, not installed on any other machine, fully legal) 10.4 install disk I can donate to the cause. So that's covered.

caro · 06-01-2007, 11:56 AM

Hi,

I have an ibook G4 800 mhz with OS X that I could lend out.

Let me know if it would be useful.

Thanks
Caro

Xenophon · 06-01-2007, 02:46 PM

Caro -- That would certainly be useful! Do you have the shipping boxes for it? If you drop a PM to me and to Kovid, we can make arrangements. One of the key questions is "how long can you loan it for?" I'm guessing that a period of time like "all summer" or so is about right.

kovidgoyal · 06-01-2007, 04:10 PM

Certainly all summer will suffice to get v0.4.0 out the door.

Xenophon · 06-04-2007, 02:39 PM

Now for a quick status update:

MobileReader Caro is loaning his iBook (shipping expected today). I'm providing a licensed Mac OS X 10.4 (should have shipped today, but will actually go out tomorrow). I'm guessing that kovid should be on the air with the iBook sometime early next week.

NatCh · 06-04-2007, 02:44 PM

This community never ceases to amaze me.

JSWolf · 06-04-2007, 06:08 PM

People want good tools and will do whatever it takes to get them. I am pleased at the cooperation found here in the Sony forum.

05-31-2007, 02:25 PM	#1
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,481 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Sony Reader - Mac users: Support needed Calling All Mac Users... Kovid Goyal's libprs500 is almost ready for prime time as a library manager for non-Windows-using PRS500 owners. The conversion features are in pretty good shape (especially for HTML conversion), but some GUI glitches remain to be fixed. This is great news for all Mac/Linux/FreeBSD/etc. users who don't want to run Windows. So why am I calling Mac users in particular? Well... some of the remaining GUI glitches show up only on Mac OS X, and Kovid doesn't have access to a Mac machine for debugging. He can't fix the outstanding problems, because he can't duplicate them for debugging. An important additional piece that requires a Mac for development is a standard OS X installer for end-users who don't understand how to build from source in order to use the tools. I'd like to arrange to provide a Mac for Kovid, so all of us Mac users can have a nice piece of library management software. I see two alternatives: Someone who has a spare machine around loans it to Kovid for a long-ish period of time. A bunch of us Mac users kick in some $$ (or Pounds, or Euros, or whatever) and buy an inexpensive used Mac that Kovid can debug on. Obviously, the first choice would be ideal -- as long as the owner of the machine can afford to do without it for quite a while. Any volunteers? I don't have a spare machine (or I'd volunteer it), but I would be willing to cover shipping (up to $75) if someone else has the hardware. The second choice requires raising money. I'll start the ball rolling by pledging $75. I figure that there's no point actually collecting any money unless and until enough people have volunteered to kick in enough money to do the job. Depending on model and prices, that'd be in the range of $275-400 or so. It has to be enough of a machine to run the Mac OS X 10.4.9 (at least), but need not be super-fast. In fact, if it's on the slow side, that'll lead to a leaner GUI implementation. Xenophon P.S. I originally posted this idea over in the "Reader Developer's Corner," where it has met with resounding silence. I guess that means either that no Mac users read that forum, or that no one else thinks it's a good idea. With this posting in the main forum, we'll find out which it is. Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 06-01-2007 at 04:07 AM. Reason: Great idea - posted to frontpage ~Alex

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05-31-2007, 03:35 PM	#2
sammykrupa Reader of the Reader Posts: 103 Karma: 107 Join Date: Apr 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Or maybe we are all starving from the lack of money induced by our reader purchases (-:

05-31-2007, 03:37 PM	#3
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	Hmmm, ok, I have an old iMac G3 that's running OS 10.3 that still works fine. I will have to check version, but if I can get it up to 10.4.9 I would be open to shipping it out.... But if that doesn't work, I would kick in some cash as well...I am loving the idea of a easy-to-install easy-to-use solution for the Reader.

05-31-2007, 05:29 PM	#4
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	I think older model Mac Minis can be had for cheap.

05-31-2007, 06:07 PM	#6
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,976 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Don't forget the cost of the latest OS X on top of the cost of the computer.

05-31-2007, 08:17 PM	#7
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 559 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	Count me in.

05-31-2007, 08:57 PM	#8
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	I'll pledge $20

06-01-2007, 11:56 AM	#10
caro Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 48 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nashville	Hi, I have an ibook G4 800 mhz with OS X that I could lend out. Let me know if it would be useful. Thanks Caro

06-01-2007, 02:46 PM	#11
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,481 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Caro -- That would certainly be useful! Do you have the shipping boxes for it? If you drop a PM to me and to Kovid, we can make arrangements. One of the key questions is "how long can you loan it for?" I'm guessing that a period of time like "all summer" or so is about right.

06-01-2007, 04:10 PM	#12
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Certainly all summer will suffice to get v0.4.0 out the door.

06-04-2007, 02:39 PM	#13
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,481 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Now for a quick status update: MobileReader Caro is loaning his iBook (shipping expected today). I'm providing a licensed Mac OS X 10.4 (should have shipped today, but will actually go out tomorrow). I'm guessing that kovid should be on the air with the iBook sometime early next week.

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06-04-2007, 02:44 PM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	This community never ceases to amaze me.

06-04-2007, 06:08 PM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,976 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	People want good tools and will do whatever it takes to get them. I am pleased at the cooperation found here in the Sony forum.