Wondering What Abroad

CascataNerina · 01-05-2009, 05:15 AM

I'm an English teacher in Korea, and an avid reader. I sort of ignored the whole problem of the thought of a miniature apartment being filled with my books. I also ignored the problem of the cost of English books in a foreign land. I love my job, but I love books too.

Second strange aspect - My laptop is a Linux (An Asus eeePC to be exact), and so it won't work with a lot of the eReaders out there.

I wanted a Kindle originally, but it's not worth the price if I can't have connectivity (Korea has a closed cell phone system so I believe it won't work).

As for Sony's theirs doesn't say anything about a Linux interface.
Neither does the SoriBook.
The eSlick may interface with Linux, but I'm not sure what kind, and it's not available in Korea.

HELP!
I'm sure there are or were others out there in similar predicaments...

Please help,
Casi

http://www.leahildebrand.blogspot.com

pdurrant · 01-05-2009, 05:42 AM

The Bookeen Cybook would work for you. It connects via USB using the standard USB Mass Storage device protocols, so if USB memory sticks formatted as FAT32 work on your laptop, the CyBook will work on your laptop.

This would give you access to all the Mobipocket ebooks out there, even the DRMed ones, since the CyBook can read those too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CascataNerina

I'm an English teacher in Korea, and an avid reader. I sort of ignored the whole problem of the thought of a miniature apartment being filled with my books. I also ignored the problem of the cost of English books in a foreign land. I love my job, but I love books too.

Second strange aspect - My laptop is a Linux (An Asus eeePC to be exact), and so it won't work with a lot of the eReaders out there.

I wanted a Kindle originally, but it's not worth the price if I can't have connectivity (Korea has a closed cell phone system so I believe it won't work).

As for Sony's theirs doesn't say anything about a Linux interface.
Neither does the SoriBook.
The eSlick may interface with Linux, but I'm not sure what kind, and it's not available in Korea.

HELP!
I'm sure there are or were others out there in similar predicaments...

Please help,
Casi

http://www.leahildebrand.blogspot.com

MickeyC · 01-05-2009, 09:33 AM

Hi Casi and welcome to the Forum.

desertgrandma · 01-05-2009, 09:44 AM

Hi, Casi. Welcome to the forum.

First of all, if you have a U.S. based credit card and address tied to your amazon account, the Kindle would work. You would just download to your computer, then transfer to your Kindle. Whispernet is not able t work out of country, and even here in some areas its not available. You also could not download samples.
They won't ship the Kindle out of country, either. Here is the customer support number for 'international customers' (I know) if you would like to contact them about the Linux.

International customers can reach us at 1-206-266-0927.

Good Luck!

slayda · 01-05-2009, 09:45 AM

Also the Hanlin V3 (by Jinke - also sold in the States as the EZ Reader) will work via USB. I have an EZ Reader (the American English version of the Chinese Hanlin V3) and an ASUS EEE running Linux. They recognize each other just fine. As stated above, the Cybook (which I also have) should work equally well. Both allow you to use Mobipocket books (with or without DRM - Digital Rights Management) and there are several places to get reasonable priced ebooks (e.g. Fictionwise, Books on Board, Baen).

One nice thing with the EZ Reader is that you can use RTF files which you can create (your own work, etc.) using Open Office that comes with teh ASUS EEE so you could have your lesson plans, etc. on the Reader.

Oh & welcome to the forum.

zelda_pinwheel · 01-05-2009, 12:12 PM

hi casi and welcome !

as others have said, the cybook will work with linux as it is seen as a usb mass storage device. actually, the sony 700 will also, for the same reason, and i believe also the 505. there may be even more options available to you ! the sony devices will read the epub format natively, and you can easily convert mobipocket so those books are available to you as well.

whatever device you choose, since you are on linux, i recommend you take a look at calibre for your library management and format conversion : it is available for linux, and it is really handy for managing your ebooks and also for rss feeds (among other things !). i use it exclusively, although i am using a windows pc.

i'm sure you will be really happy with whatever device you choose !

pilotbob · 01-05-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

as others have said, the cybook will work with linux as it is seen as a usb mass storage device. actually, the sony 700 will also, for the same reason, and i believe also the 505. there may be even more options available to you ! the sony devices will read the epub format natively, and you can easily convert mobipocket so those books are available to you as well.

True. But, the problem with the Sony for non-Windows users is that the firmware updaters run on Windows. And, we can only assume or hope that there will be firmware updates for the 700 if not the 505.

BOb

zelda_pinwheel · 01-05-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

True. But, the problem with the Sony for non-Windows users is that the firmware updaters run on Windows. And, we can only assume or hope that there will be firmware updates for the 700 if not the 505.

BOb

oh okay, i didn't know that. that's a good point. although, the firmware updates probably won't come out every week ; perhaps casi could get occasional access to a pc for that purpose.

CascataNerina · 01-06-2009, 02:51 AM

The Cybook might work. I was already aware of the problem for the Sony, but thanks for mentioning it. The problem with the Cybook would be the expense of getting it to me.

Does anyone know anything about SoriBook or NUUTbook? Both are directly out of South Korea, so they would be cheaper. I just need to know if I can get an English interface, and if they will interface with the Linux.

hanasea · 01-25-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CascataNerina

I'm an English teacher in Korea, and an avid reader. I sort of ignored the whole problem of the thought of a miniature apartment being filled with my books. I also ignored the problem of the cost of English books in a foreign land. I love my job, but I love books too.

Second strange aspect - My laptop is a Linux (An Asus eeePC to be exact), and so it won't work with a lot of the eReaders out there.

I wanted a Kindle originally, but it's not worth the price if I can't have connectivity (Korea has a closed cell phone system so I believe it won't work).

As for Sony's theirs doesn't say anything about a Linux interface.
Neither does the SoriBook.
The eSlick may interface with Linux, but I'm not sure what kind, and it's not available in Korea.

HELP!
I'm sure there are or were others out there in similar predicaments...

Please help,
Casi

http://www.leahildebrand.blogspot.com

Hi Casi, Nice to meet you.
I'm a native Korean and live in Korea right now.
I ordered my kindle from ebay and waiting for it.

As you know it is hard to reach for English books in here. Since I love Heinlein, Bujold, and other lovely English classics I bought several paper-back from U.S, but it cost a lot and there is no more bookshelves for me.

I guess I'm fine with no-wireless-enviroment and ok with USB connection. I'd like to read Sharing Knife #4 as soon as possible, and Ebook will be arrive sooner than other hard-cover books. I just download them. It's much simpler than buying them for physical copy (ship to international and wait for them.. it's hard part)

I think My kindle will be arrive around 2 weeks, and If you live near Seoul maybe we can meet and talk about kindle. :-)

In Korea, most of people do not interest in kindle(and other Ebook) and I'd like to talk with somebody who has actual interest for it.

Happy new korean year

Hana Yu
Nursing Student of Korea Catholic University

01-05-2009, 05:15 AM	#1
CascataNerina Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: None	Wondering What Abroad I'm an English teacher in Korea, and an avid reader. I sort of ignored the whole problem of the thought of a miniature apartment being filled with my books. I also ignored the problem of the cost of English books in a foreign land. I love my job, but I love books too. Second strange aspect - My laptop is a Linux (An Asus eeePC to be exact), and so it won't work with a lot of the eReaders out there. I wanted a Kindle originally, but it's not worth the price if I can't have connectivity (Korea has a closed cell phone system so I believe it won't work). As for Sony's theirs doesn't say anything about a Linux interface. Neither does the SoriBook. The eSlick may interface with Linux, but I'm not sure what kind, and it's not available in Korea. HELP! I'm sure there are or were others out there in similar predicaments... Please help, Casi http://www.leahildebrand.blogspot.com

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01-05-2009, 09:33 AM	#3
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Casi and welcome to the Forum.

01-05-2009, 09:44 AM	#4
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462841 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Hi, Casi. Welcome to the forum. First of all, if you have a U.S. based credit card and address tied to your amazon account, the Kindle would work. You would just download to your computer, then transfer to your Kindle. Whispernet is not able t work out of country, and even here in some areas its not available. You also could not download samples. They won't ship the Kindle out of country, either. Here is the customer support number for 'international customers' (I know) if you would like to contact them about the Linux. International customers can reach us at 1-206-266-0927. Good Luck! Last edited by desertgrandma; 01-05-2009 at 09:49 AM.

01-05-2009, 09:45 AM	#5
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Also the Hanlin V3 (by Jinke - also sold in the States as the EZ Reader) will work via USB. I have an EZ Reader (the American English version of the Chinese Hanlin V3) and an ASUS EEE running Linux. They recognize each other just fine. As stated above, the Cybook (which I also have) should work equally well. Both allow you to use Mobipocket books (with or without DRM - Digital Rights Management) and there are several places to get reasonable priced ebooks (e.g. Fictionwise, Books on Board, Baen). One nice thing with the EZ Reader is that you can use RTF files which you can create (your own work, etc.) using Open Office that comes with teh ASUS EEE so you could have your lesson plans, etc. on the Reader. Oh & welcome to the forum.

01-05-2009, 12:12 PM	#6
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	hi casi and welcome ! as others have said, the cybook will work with linux as it is seen as a usb mass storage device. actually, the sony 700 will also, for the same reason, and i believe also the 505. there may be even more options available to you ! the sony devices will read the epub format natively, and you can easily convert mobipocket so those books are available to you as well. whatever device you choose, since you are on linux, i recommend you take a look at calibre for your library management and format conversion : it is available for linux, and it is really handy for managing your ebooks and also for rss feeds (among other things !). i use it exclusively, although i am using a windows pc. i'm sure you will be really happy with whatever device you choose !

01-06-2009, 02:51 AM	#9
CascataNerina Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: None	The Cybook might work. I was already aware of the problem for the Sony, but thanks for mentioning it. The problem with the Cybook would be the expense of getting it to me. Does anyone know anything about SoriBook or NUUTbook? Both are directly out of South Korea, so they would be cheaper. I just need to know if I can get an English interface, and if they will interface with the Linux.