In my previous post, I described running Arch on an OpenWRT router. Today, I’ll be taking it a step further and running Arch and a full LXDE installation natively on an Amazon Kindle, which can be interacted with directly using the touch screen. This is possible thanks to the Kindle’s operating system being Linux!
Neat.
The lines between desktop, tablet, console, router etc. are so very blurred now. And that’s a good thing.
All because of the Linux kernel
Yep, that’s for sure. I saw a comment on a Raspberry Pi video of some kind the other day saying “wow, it’s amazing what the rPi is capable of!” and I had to respond that “It’s Linux that’s doing the magic here.”
I’m not a Linux fan so couldn’t care less whether it runs Linux or not. That said I think its cool people have OS and OS variants they can swap out, and also make more of the Kindle platform than the out of the box experience. No screenshots and a wall of jargon means the uptake by regular people is going to be low.
Kindle and Kindle Fire are pretty good for an affordable price and options to turn the platform into a general use platform is a very attractive proposition. What does bother me are the competition aspects. If Ebooks were a proper open market with choice and books from any bookseller could be read on any device I would be happier. What I do like about the Kindle and Kindle Fire is they provide an affordable and adequate platform more like older analogue technology like dial phones and CRT televisions. These kinds of things would have a standard interface and be good for a lifetime. Maybe it’s because I’m getting old but feature creep and forced obsolecence and the constant money drain of technology is a hassle I can do without.