Dell sells EBook reader based on Linux

[Evan Leibovitch]

D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
> http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Gadgets_Internet_Devices/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=A2845831
>
> This is $260 this week, $40 off normal.
>
> This is called the "Libre Electronic Book Reader Pro" by Aluratek.
>   

Note that Dell already sells the Sony Ebook reader:
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Gadgets_Internet_Devices/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=A1629897

> EBook readers are usually infested with DRM.  I have no idea if this one is.
>   
I note that the main DRM-infested format (Mobipocket, the native format
of the Kindle) is not supported.

Unfortunately, neither is the main Kindle-alternative format, EPUB, an
open standard is supported by Adobe (with its Digital Editions reader),
Google, Sony and others. (Reading under Linux is handled by the OSS
project "Calibre". Adding to the uncertainty is the fact there's no
mention of this unit at the Aluratek website to verify the EPUB
compatibility. So unless they change their specs this is a useful ebook
reader only if all your ebooks are (and forever will be) PDFs; I'd pass.

The Sony reader works fine with PDFs and EPUB.

More information on the epub standard is available at openebook.org

-Evan

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