Best Linux Distro for Pocketbook readers?

patrick295767 · 08-31-2016, 03:37 AM

Hello,

Another distro recommendation...

I would like to ask which is the best Linux distro for the Pocketbook readers.

Best regards
Pat

Mitt Green · 08-31-2016, 12:35 PM

Android. It depends on what you're going to do with the e-reader.

patrick295767 · 09-01-2016, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitt Green

Android. It depends on what you're going to do with the e-reader.

Android on it might very likely be too heavy and will be very slow, isn't it?

ondoho · 09-01-2016, 12:56 PM

some info about the hardware?
what did it come with originally, and what are you currently running on it? how did you install that?
so many questions...

snowday · 09-02-2016, 09:18 AM

PocketBook ereaders since 2010 come with Android preinstalled. So you are likely using Linux already.

Mitt Green · 09-02-2016, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick295767

Android on it might very likely be too heavy and will be very slow, isn't it?

Android in the past ran on pretty crappy hardware, like, say, ARMv6 (or even ARMv4) and 256RAM was more than enough. For 5.0-6.0 ARMv7 and ~1-2GB of RAM are needed. They heavily rely on graphics these days. If there's Android inside, it's probably something like 2.2-2.3. Here's a good link.

patrick295767 · 09-04-2016, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitt Green

Android in the past ran on pretty crappy hardware, like, say, ARMv6 (or even ARMv4) and 256RAM was more than enough. For 5.0-6.0 ARMv7 and ~1-2GB of RAM are needed. They heavily rely on graphics these days. If there's Android inside, it's probably something like 2.2-2.3. Here's a good link.

Usually Pocketbooks run Linux with Busybox with a custom kernel.
I don't believe that they run Android on current hardwares.

If they manage, ok, fine, but why to bring Google again, it could simply be Linux, no?
Why to bring Android everywhere? Android (Google) will lock you one day guys.

Mitt Green · 09-04-2016, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick295767

Usually Pocketbooks run Linux with Busybox with a custom kernel.
I don't believe that they run Android on current hardwares.

If they manage, ok, fine, but why to bring Google again, it could simply be Linux, no?
Why to bring Android everywhere? Android (Google) will lock you one day guys.

Unless you create or continue using a Google account it probably won't. Android runs on most recent ARMs. Would be nice to know your hardware.

patrick295767 · 09-04-2016, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitt Green

Unless you create or continue using a Google account it probably won't. Android runs on most recent ARMs. Would be nice to know your hardware.

It is better not to have a Google account if you have any professional non-opensource activities.

Android runs on such ARMs machines, and Android requires a relatively good configuration.
For this reason, various ARMs can still employ Linux and not Android!

Since wasting hardware resources is no longer a topic today, people may think to run Android on whatever ARMs hardware.

Would you manage to run Android on this hardware?

Code:

 Specifications

    Display: 9.7" (246 mm) E-Ink® Vizplex, 1200x825 pixel resolution (4:3).
    OS: Linux (kernel 2.6.28)
    CPU: Samsung ARM 533 MHz.
    RAM: 256 MB.
    Internal memory: 2 GB.
    3G support (Sim Card Slot)
    passive Touchscreen (Stylus)
    Expansion Memory: microSD/microSDHC card up to 64 GB.
    Wireless: WiFi (802.11 b/g) + Bluetooth.
    G-sensor.
    USB Port: Micro-USB Type B x 1.
    Speaker: "0.5 W x 2.
    Earphone jack (Audio out): 3.5mm stereo x 1.
    Battery capacity: 5.5W, 3.7V/1530 mAH (Li-Polymer).
    Battery life cycle: Up to 7000 page flips on one charge.
    Supported e-Book formats: FB2, TXT, PDF, DJVU, RTF, HTML, PRC, CHM, EPUB, DOC, TCR.
    Supported picture formats: JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF.
    Supported audio formats: MP3.
    Software: Games, Text-to-speech.

Mitt Green · 09-04-2016, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick295767

Code:

 Specifications

    Display: 9.7" (246 mm) E-Ink® Vizplex, 1200x825 pixel resolution (4:3).
    OS: Linux (kernel 2.6.28)
    CPU: Samsung ARM 533 MHz.
    RAM: 256 MB.
    Internal memory: 2 GB.
    3G support (Sim Card Slot)
    passive Touchscreen (Stylus)
    Expansion Memory: microSD/microSDHC card up to 64 GB.
    Wireless: WiFi (802.11 b/g) + Bluetooth.
    G-sensor.
    USB Port: Micro-USB Type B x 1.
    Speaker: "0.5 W x 2.
    Earphone jack (Audio out): 3.5mm stereo x 1.
    Battery capacity: 5.5W, 3.7V/1530 mAH (Li-Polymer).
    Battery life cycle: Up to 7000 page flips on one charge.
    Supported e-Book formats: FB2, TXT, PDF, DJVU, RTF, HTML, PRC, CHM, EPUB, DOC, TCR.
    Supported picture formats: JPG, BMP, PNG, TIF.
    Supported audio formats: MP3.
    Software: Games, Text-to-speech.

I'm not sure, looking at the amount of RAM. But, hey, it already has Linux. Anyway, you can always build kernel and userland yourself, without relying on a particular distribution.

ondoho · 09-05-2016, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick295767

Would you manage to run Android on this hardware?

Code:

    OS: Linux (kernel 2.6.28)
    CPU: Samsung ARM 533 MHz.
    RAM: 256 MB.
    Internal memory: 2 GB.

is that a single core?
pretty lean, all in all.

i'm a bit lost, are you looking for a suitable android or suitable gnu/linux for this?

if android, take android 2.x, or the corresponding cyanogenmod.

if gnu/linux: slitaz, tinycore, damnsmalllinux...

IsaacKuo · 09-05-2016, 03:18 AM

Is it running Android already? If so, then maybe "Debian noroot" is the solution. It doesn't truly install Debian GNU/Linux, but rather it's a compatibility layer to run Debian software. I'm not sure whether it will run with only 256MB of RAM. By default, it gives you a Debian install with X and a lightweight window manager.

patrick295767 · 09-07-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitt Green

I'm not sure, looking at the amount of RAM. But, hey, it already has Linux. Anyway, you can always build kernel and userland yourself, without relying on a particular distribution.

Android is not flexible enough, and Linux is much much much better. You own the code, you basically do not need anything.

The way it runs is today based on 2.6 kernel, custom, busybox, and running linux from init.

You can do the same with any pc, and it'll boot Linux in 3-5 seconds only!

ondoho · 09-07-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrick295767

The way it runs is today based on 2.6 kernel, custom, busybox, and running linux from init.

so all's good and topic solved?
which gnu/linux are you running on it now?
or what?