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#1 |
monkey on the fringe
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Chrome OS vs eBooks & Audiobooks
Just how useful is Chrome OS for purchasing, borrowing, downloading, and reading ebooks and audiobooks? In other words, can it completely replace a Windows machine or only partially so? In this thread, I'll explore each of these functions and how well Chrome OS can handle them. The device I'll be using for this is an Acer C720, utilizing an Intel Haswell CPU.
Book-Related Programs not supported by Chrome OS
Last edited by tubemonkey; 12-13-2013 at 03:44 PM. |
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#2 |
monkey on the fringe
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Library Books
Since most libraries use OverDrive for their collections, this post will only deal with that source. Borrowing isn't an issue, since it's web-based and easily accomplished on any Chrome OS device. Problems arise when attempting to use Chrome OS devices for reading and listening; and when trying to transfer these titles to other devices. Two key pieces of software used for managing library books are incompatible with Chrome OS -- Adobe Digital Editions and OverDrive Media Console. OverDrive Formats (8 total) 1- Kindle Book
2- OverDrive Read
3- EPUB eBook
4- PDF eBook
5- Open EPUB eBook
6- Open PDF eBook
7- OverDrive MP3 Audiobook
8- OverDrive WMA Audiobook
-more to follow- Last edited by tubemonkey; 03-05-2014 at 12:45 PM. |
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#3 |
monkey on the fringe
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eBooks
Purchasing ebooks should pose no problem, since it's web-based. Downloading and reading however, may pose problems. Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Google Play
Kobo Books
-more to follow- Last edited by tubemonkey; 03-05-2014 at 12:47 PM. |
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#4 |
monkey on the fringe
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Audiobooks
Again, purchasing is not a problem. What may pose problems are downloading and listening to audiobooks on Chrome OS devices or transferring these audiobooks to mobile devices. To test transferability, I'm using a Sansa Clip Zip. Audible
Downpour
Tantor Audio
-more to follow- Last edited by tubemonkey; 12-13-2013 at 08:12 AM. |
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#5 |
Ex-Helpdesk Junkie
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The Open ePub and Open PDF download directly, without encryption of any sort. The encryption is the only thing stopping other formats from being read on Chrome -- isn't it kind of a given that they are compatible?
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#6 |
monkey on the fringe
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I'm trying out each format on my Chromebook and I haven't reached the open formats yet.
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#7 |
Wizard
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This is going to be a very useful thread. Thanks, tubemonkey. :-)
I have Readium installed on my device for ePub, which may help with the 'not supported' error on the open ePub library book. Not sure. Graham |
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#8 |
Basculocolpic
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How about Calibre? Would it be easy to port it to ChromeOS?
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#9 |
Wizard
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Hard, I would expect, but we'd need to ask one of the Calibre devs. Calibre's largely written in Python, and there is a Python shell for ChromeOS, but I expect it would be a major rewrite.
Calibre would probably run on a Chromebook running Linux via Chrubuntu or Chrouton, but Kovid notes that it needs an Intel chip, so that would rule out the ARM Chromebooks. Graham |
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#10 | |
monkey on the fringe
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Quote:
![]() This thread is in its infancy, so major revisions are to be expected until I get the basics in order and the content streamlined. Thanks for the tip on Readium. I haven't had a chance to check the Chrome Store for apps yet, but this one will be first on my list. The stumbling block will be the DRM slapped on OverDrive content. |
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#11 | |
Basculocolpic
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Quote:
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#12 | |
Wizard
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Quote:
However, I've been using the word 'secondary' and this isn't quite right now. For me, the Chromebox and Chromebook are undoubtedly my primary devices. I only boot up Windows now when I have to, so, for me, Windows is now 'secondary'. I should probably install Chrouton on my Chromebox, giving me the option to run things like Calibre without having to start my Windows machine, but I really like the "no hassle, switch on and use" nature of the ChromeOS devices at the moment, and adding Linux to the Chromebox might dispel that for me. Graham Last edited by Graham; 12-12-2013 at 07:01 AM. Reason: sorry, thought I was replying in the 'pundits' thread. |
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#13 | |
monkey on the fringe
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Quote:
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#14 |
Basculocolpic
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There is no virtual machine available that will run Windows under ChromeOS?
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#15 | |
Award-Winning Participant
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Quote:
Having an easy, officially-supported ChromeOS Windows VM is not likely to happen. That all being said, I run Linux on my Chromebook, and in Linux I can run VM software and run Windows in that. I did in fact run an XP vm on it when I first got it. It was not exactly a snappy performer, and I deleted it before getting as far as trying Overdrive or any DRM-related activities. ApK |
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