Linux just keeps popping up on many of the popular gadgets that are hogging the limelight nowadays. Some are quite conspicuous about it, like the Android phone that is being developed by a group that makes it very obvious, calling themselves the Open Handset Alliance. However, there are some that don't flaunt Linux around, like the Amazon Kindle. Not that they have to, but well, allow me to do it for them here anyway.What's there to flaunt?
"To flaunt" is synonymous to "to display", so let's take it from there. The Kindle is just one of a number of eBook readers that have been popularized by their distinctive displays, operating on a technology named electronic paper or e-paper. Uh-huh, E-paper... WHICH IS? Ok, E-paper is a type of display that has two essential features: an appearance that closely mimics that of ink on paper and an energy consumption that is substantially lower than those of conventional displays like CRT or LCD. So why would you want to have a display that is just like, well, ordinary paper? The answer is pretty simple; ordinary if you like: think eyestrain. How long can you peer into that CRT monitor or even an LCD screen before your eyes start telling you that it's had enough? Not longer than you could when reading from a book, right? The reason lies in the fact that reading from paper makes use of reflective light while reading from a conventional screen is practically reading from the light source itself; backlight remember?
Largely because of this feature, practically all of the popular eBook readers make use of this technology. Yes, yes, but where does Linux come in? Well, most of these readers run on the Linux operating system. Below is a list of the more popular eBook readers operating on e-paper technology and at the same time running Linux.
Amazon Kindle
Arguably the most popular eBook reader, this device would top this list even if it were not alphabetically arranged. While it may not hold the largest display area, at 6" diagonally, its ability to download eBooks from Amazon has made it an overwhelming favorite.
BEBook eReader
Talk about file format support: pdf, mobi, prc, epub, lit, txt, fb2, doc, html, rtf, djvu, wol, ppt, mbp, chm, bmp, jpg, png, gif, tif, rar, zip, mp3. Talk about built-in language support: English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, Greek, Ukraine, Turkish, Japanese, Korean, Bulgarian, Estonian, and Polish.
Cybook Gen3
This device is stocked with a built-in dictionary lookup; one feature that the other readers on this table are not endowed with. Note taking is also made easier with its bookmark menu. At 0.9 s, it provides one of the faster full-screen refresh rates, resulting in a more seamless reading experience.
eRead STAReBOOK
One of the thinnest, at 3"; one of the longest battery lives, serving up to 10,000 page turns per charge; one of the fastest boot up times, at 15s; and one of the lightest at 176g. This eBook reader is packed with superlatives. And to top it all, price isn't one of them.
Ganaxa GeR2
Not much has been written about this particular eBook reader. Some of the known features are: a primary display with 8 levels of gray, a higher contrast, and a faster display (although no number has been specified). One notable description is its striking resemblance with the STAReBook (shown directly above).
Hanlin eReader V3
This reader has one of the better batteries in the lot, allowing you to turn 9,000 continuous pages on a single charge. Supports SD/MMC expansion memory. Also supports a wide array of file formats: PDF, TXT, RTF, EPUB, LIT, PPT, WOLF, DOC, CHM, FB2, PRC/MOBI, HTML, DJVU, MP3, TIFF, JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, RAR, ZIP.
Hanlin eReader V9t
Tied with the iRex Digital Reader, this device tops this list in terms of screen size, at 10" when measured diagonally. It has a touch panel, which is one of its best qualities, and can support the ff formats: PDF, DOC, WOLF, HTML, JPG, TXT, CHM, RAR, ZIP, and other image files.
iRex Digital Reader
Also fitted with a 10" screen, it is one of two of the largest in this class. And like that other large screen reader, it allows you to make handwritten notes onscreen just like an ordinary pen and paper combo. This device however is equipped with WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity.
iRex iLiad
While it does not have a colored display, it is one of the more graphically-empowered readers with 16 gray levels. The same screen also allows user interaction through a touch-sensitive surface. It offers an SDK, allowing users to port or develop a number of Linux apps.
Sony Reader Digital Book
This device comes equipped with a front light that can come handy when a backup light source is needed. It is one of the thinnest in this class, coming in at a sexy 0.4". Its touchscreen surface allows user interaction through a finger or a stylus.
Visit website HERE
If you're interested, you can play around in an environment that closely mimics these devices. E-ink, the company that supplies the displays for almost all of the devices mentioned above provides a prototype kit with a host system that comes with a pre-installed Linux operating system. Yes, that means it's pretty hackable. If you want to see how Linux runs on paper, electronic paper that is, I suggest you give it a shot... and don't bother to take out your pen.
This entry was written for Tech Source from Bohol by John Carl P. Villanueva of Steaming Open Cup.
It's not actually "ten", you've got some duplicates in the list. Cybook, STAReBOOK (discontinued) and Ganaxa (not available to consumers AFAIK) all use the same hardware produced by Netronix. BeBook is also just rebranded Hanlin V3. Hanlin V9t does not exist (besided a few prototype units) and is pretty much vaporware at this point.
BTW, Sony PRS-700 has just started shipping.
@Anonymous: Thanks for the info. One of the main purposes of this article is just to preview some of the Linux E-readers regardless of the brand or the current availability, so we'll keep it this way.
You do realize that the prototype kits are $3000? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks for the info, anonymous. I think that's what they call white labeling or private labeling (I'm always confused by these two)? That technically makes them distinct products. That's very common in a number of industries. For comparison, a huge majority of the ebook readers out there use the same display, all from the company named E Ink.
About the price of the prototype kits, that's a pretty hefty sum isn't it? Maybe the last paragraph does sound as if it's easily accessible. I'll keep that in mind on my future feature articles. Thanks for the observation. cheers!
Nice list, but that's all it is - a list. You say they all run on "the Linux" distribution - AFAIK there are hundreds of Linux distributions - which ones are used in these readers?
The Sony Reader DOES NOT have a front light and DOES NOT have a touchscreen!!! Check your own link! I've got one (PRS-505)
If you want to see a video of the bebook in action, check my blog where I have a review and video of the BeBook.
http://pookey.co.uk/blog/archives/61-BeBook-review.html
anonymous, I never said "the linux distribution" as I am fully aware that there are more than just a hundred distributions out there. I said they run on Linux. That basically means the Linux kernel, which is pretty much used in all Linux distros. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Hi Edson,
You're right. The Sony Reader PRS-505 doesn't have a touchscreen but the Sony Reader PRS700 does. Nevertheless, I acknowledge the mistake there as the image shows the PRS-505. Maybe I can request Jun to allow me to correct that error. Thanks for the info.
What you said was: "Well, most of these readers run on the Linux operating system."
Your are correct, Linux technically refers to the kernel of an OS, but you did not refer to the kernel, you said "operating systems". As complete Linux-based operating systems are called 'distributions', I ask you again: Which Linux distributions do they run on? If you don't know, just say so but don't try to fob off your readers with smug responses to legitimate questions.
@ anonymous.
First of all, I had no intention of being smug, and if it sounded like that to you, then allow me to apologize.
Now, I hope you will allow me to rebut: here's an excerpt from http://www.linux.org/: "What is Linux? Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds...."
you may also refer to the row entitled OS in the table found here:
http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix
which also refers to Linux as an operating system.
I assumed we could refer to the Linux operating system as loosely as these.
As for the specific distros on each product, I suppose they're using their own customized versions.
At any rate, this will be my last reply to this post as I see we're slowly generating sparks that might evolve into a flame. If you drink, then let's just drink to this. cheers!
An interesting introduction to e-ink and ebook readers. For those that want a more detailed picture of what is currently available I suggest checking out the MobileRead Wiki on the devices at http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix
RWood
John:
You and I both had the same thought about the MR Wiki. For some reason I missed the reference in your last post. Sorry about that.
Feel free to delete that last post and this one as well.
RWood
Ah, so at last we meet halfway. It's nice to finally know the name behind anonymous.
cheers!, Mr. Wood.
in many cases the term "distribution" may mean slightly different to the term "OS" as in he case of linux..