• Rolder@reddthat.com
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      1 month ago

      I have a kobo but I don’t remember having to do anything with Walmart. Rest is spot on though.

      • DharkStare@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Kobo was sold exclusively through Walmart in the US (at least when I bought my Kobo). I think they recently ended the partnership.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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          1 month ago

          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).

          • DharkStare@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            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.

    • teuto@lemmy.teuto.icu
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      1 month ago

      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.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        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.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      Or just:

      1. buy a Kobo eReader from Kobo directly
      2. connect Overdrive w/ your local library

      No need for piracy, read a bunch of library books if you don’t want to pay for books.

    • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 month ago

      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.)

      • z3rOR0ne
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        1 month ago

        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.

          • z3rOR0ne
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            1 month ago

            I meant a workstation OS. Or any Linux OS that’s not locked to a corporate account and probably filled with spyware.

            Yes, though I have not tried to utilize this:

            https://github.com/Quill-OS/quill

            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.

              • GreenAppleTree@lemmy.world
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                1 month ago

                Unfortunately these install instructions also look complicated.

                If you read the instructions, it’s literally just downloading the binary, and using balenaEtcher to flash it onto the SD card.

                • z3rOR0ne
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                  1 month ago

                  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.

    • JustARaccoon@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      “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