Bought a kobo recently. Bought it direct from Kobo, Walmart wasn’t involved at all in any step. Worked perfectly out of the box with Caliber too. Nice little device, library interface could use some work but it’s functional.
Nice to know. I thought about buying from Walmart so I’d have recourse w/ retail, but if they have any change in firmware, I’ll just buy straight from Kobo.
Not sure when things changed but all I know is that when I bought mine years ago the Kobo site redirected me to Walmart and that’s where I had to buy it. My e-reader even displays the Walmart logo on it when I power it off.
“make” usually implies already having one, advising to just go out when given the option to recycle an existing kindle with a debloated experience to instead go and buy something else is encouraging ewaste
I meant a workstation OS. Or any Linux OS that’s not locked to a corporate account and probably filled with spyware.
here are my quick notes on how to do so step by step.
I don’t even understand the first sentence of these instructions. “Mount the device” followed by a bunch of seemingly random letters and characters. Mount it on what? What do I do with these?
I don’t even understand the first sentence of these instructions. “Mount the device” followed by a bunch of seemingly random letters and characters. Mount it on what? What do I do with these?
These instructions require a very basic understanding of the Linux command line and file system. As does installing a Linux OS without a GUI helper.
To be fair. I get where they’re coming from. Some people simply don’t want to take the time to learn the Linux command line nor learn how to utilize the tool, balena etcher.
That said, if one says “Is there a way to simply install a Linux OS”, I usually assume said person has at least a passing familiarity with burning an ISO as that is the bare minimum knowledge for starting the Linux installation process.
Hence my assumption that they were familiar with said tools when they asked the question.
Buy a Kobo EReader.
Hack the EReader so you don’t have to sign up with Walmart.
Install Calibre.
Install Kobo Driver Extension for Calibre.
Use a VPN (I prefer Mullvad), and go to your favorite Book piracy website for epubs.
Download epub books.
Connect Kobo device to your PC via USB.
Use Calibre to upload epub books to Kobo.
Disconnect Kobo from PC.
Profit.
I recommend installing calibre web on a home server, installing koreader on the Kobo, and accessing your eBook library over your WiFi and OPDS.
Koreader is such a good reading experience, I never want to go back to stock firmware (well, except for the dictionaries maybe, those are better.)
Bought a kobo recently. Bought it direct from Kobo, Walmart wasn’t involved at all in any step. Worked perfectly out of the box with Caliber too. Nice little device, library interface could use some work but it’s functional.
Nice to know. I thought about buying from Walmart so I’d have recourse w/ retail, but if they have any change in firmware, I’ll just buy straight from Kobo.
Or just:
No need for piracy, read a bunch of library books if you don’t want to pay for books.
I have a kobo but I don’t remember having to do anything with Walmart. Rest is spot on though.
Kobo was sold exclusively through Walmart in the US (at least when I bought my Kobo). I think they recently ended the partnership.
I thought they’ve been available directly from Kobo since they launched in the US.
As for other retail stores, they used to be exclusive to Walmart, but I now see them elsewhere (e.g. Target and Amazon both have them).
Not sure when things changed but all I know is that when I bought mine years ago the Kobo site redirected me to Walmart and that’s where I had to buy it. My e-reader even displays the Walmart logo on it when I power it off.
Got mine off Amazon in 2021, am Murican
“make” usually implies already having one, advising to just go out when given the option to recycle an existing kindle with a debloated experience to instead go and buy something else is encouraging ewaste
Is there no way to just install Linux on the Reader? I don’t understand any of those words in the hacking instructions.
The Kobo EReader is already a Linux machine.
As far as bypassing the sign up, here are my quick notes on how to do so step by step.
I meant a workstation OS. Or any Linux OS that’s not locked to a corporate account and probably filled with spyware.
I don’t even understand the first sentence of these instructions. “Mount the device” followed by a bunch of seemingly random letters and characters. Mount it on what? What do I do with these?
Yes, though I have not tried to utilize this:
https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill
These instructions require a very basic understanding of the Linux command line and file system. As does installing a Linux OS without a GUI helper.
Thanks, this looks like what I was looking for. Unfortunately these install instructions also look complicated.
No tengo, but thanks.
I don’t do that either.
If you read the instructions, it’s literally just downloading the binary, and using balenaEtcher to flash it onto the SD card.
To be fair. I get where they’re coming from. Some people simply don’t want to take the time to learn the Linux command line nor learn how to utilize the tool, balena etcher.
That said, if one says “Is there a way to simply install a Linux OS”, I usually assume said person has at least a passing familiarity with burning an ISO as that is the bare minimum knowledge for starting the Linux installation process.
Hence my assumption that they were familiar with said tools when they asked the question.
Did you think I decided the instructions were too complicated without reading them?
Quil os is an option for some.https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill
It’s a bit involved. Def not easier than the above but it’s an option. It worked for me for a while.