13 votes

Topic deleted by author

5 comments

  1. [5]
    stu2b50
    Link
    I don't understand the premise. What's wrong with ePub, an open format, and the billions of devices including open source ones that can read said open format.

    I don't understand the premise. What's wrong with ePub, an open format, and the billions of devices including open source ones that can read said open format.

    3 votes
    1. [4]
      heady
      Link Parent
      epub is great. Open hardware is great because you have full control over your own device. I have a kobo now that I like, but there is nothing stopping a future update from removing features such...

      epub is great.

      Open hardware is great because you have full control over your own device.
      I have a kobo now that I like, but there is nothing stopping a future update from removing features such as epub support. In fact a similar occurrence happened to my phone where an update removed the ability to gain root access, which also removes the ability to downgrade the phone to restore that access.

      Why an ebook reader though? probably just what the creator was interested in or thought was achievable.

      6 votes
      1. [3]
        stu2b50
        Link Parent
        I mean I don't disagree, but there's no lack of open hardware that can read ePubs. There are open source phones, open source laptops, raspberry pi's, hell you can probably find a riscv-based...

        Open hardware is great because you have full control over your own device.

        I mean I don't disagree, but there's no lack of open hardware that can read ePubs. There are open source phones, open source laptops, raspberry pi's, hell you can probably find a riscv-based computers. The bar isn't very high.

        Like I don't get the "urgency" part of the premise. There is already open formats for books, and there are open hardware for reading those books, already in existence. And in use.

        1. Crestwave
          Link Parent
          They're aiming for an alternative to e-readers or maybe iPads used for reading; laptops aren't exactly comfortable to read books with IMO, and the RPI doesn't even come with a screen. Also, the...

          I mean I don't disagree, but there's no lack of open hardware that can read ePubs. There are open source phones, open source laptops, raspberry pi's, hell you can probably find a riscv-based computers. The bar isn't very high.

          They're aiming for an alternative to e-readers or maybe iPads used for reading; laptops aren't exactly comfortable to read books with IMO, and the RPI doesn't even come with a screen. Also, the RPI isn't open hardware, and I don't know of any open phone that's really available right now.

          6 votes
        2. burkaman
          Link Parent
          I didn't see anything about urgency. The premise is an open source Kindle, basically. Why not? I don't think anything like that exists yet. There are ereaders with open source firmware, but none...

          I didn't see anything about urgency. The premise is an open source Kindle, basically. Why not? I don't think anything like that exists yet. There are ereaders with open source firmware, but none with open hardware that I can find.

          4 votes