E-Readers and Linux

I'm seriously interested in buying an e-reader. I thought about an iPad but really the only thing I'd do is read books anyway. I'm really interested in the Kobo E-Reader but the system requirements are Windows and Mac. Are there any e-readers that work on Linux systems (for syncing and such)? I read upwards of 200 books a year so this is an investment to me that has to work. Thanks!

 

There's a massive list of Android-powered tablet/ereaders (B&N Nook, Spring Design Alex, etc). The JooJoo runs GNU/Linux instead of Android. There are a few others as well, like the WePad. The ASUS Eee Pad will be launched sometime in the next few months, but the last I heard was that it was going to run Windblows. Another Eee Pad will come out after that that has Android, but I haven't seen when that is coming out. The Nook has been rooted, but I'm not sure even then if it's a good deal. I'm still waiting to see what comes out, it's a bit early in the game.

 

I have a sony touch (PRS 600) and along with Calibre I have no issues using it under linux.

I never used the sony software even under windows so I cannot vouch for its quality vs calibre

 

Ima keep an eye on this thread, I too, are interested in getting one, and using Ubuntu a lot, I'd need something compatible.

 

Most ereaders are compatible with calibre ergo compatible with linux.

Keep in mind most ereaders do not handle PDFs very well (screens are so small) but calibre converts nearly everything to a format your reader can handle. And its free software

 

So looking for something that has calibre is a good idea? PDFs are important. Thanks.

 

Calibre is a 3rd party software to convert one type of ebook format to another.

Most readers don't handle pdfs so well due to their size but you can convert a pdf (book) to say an epub.

Ereader chart

 

I have a kindle 2 global edition, and I use ubuntu - Kindle is recognised in 9.10 and calibre works in 9.10 too.
I've since updated to 10.04, but I've yet to try transferring anything to my kindle.

for pdfs, i personally convert it to .mobi if its just straight text (no columns)
if there are columns, I use something called "papercrop" (google it), which crops the columns into images and stitches it all into a pdf.
papercrop, combined with rotated view in kindle, works well for me.
(although if you want to read large pdfs such as scientific papers frequently, I'd suggest getting a kindle DX with its larger screen.)

as a side note, papercrop was written for windows, but works under wine in ubuntu 9.10 (yet to try 10.04)
any other questions, feel free to PM me or post here

 

I like the idea behind the Entourage Edge, but it's expensive, bulky and a battery guzzler.

Maybe in a few years they'll have a workable platform.

I still think it's early in the game to buy a reader. I desperately want one but I think I'm going to wait another year or so to see what happens.

 

I'll probably wait too, just look at all those who bought the Kindle. I like the Spring Alex, the WeTab and something I've only seen on youtube, an MSI Ebook, that was a single screen. I like the Nook but it is so much like the Kobo which is a lot cheaper. I did just hear from a manager in a bookstore that Indigo is planning on building kiosks in their bookstores where you can buy ebooks with cash. Excited!