Size of operating system vs. usable storage

Grins · 02-19-2023, 06:23 AM

I am wondering about the storage needed for the operating system and the remaining available storage which can actually be used for ebooks.

You can see the total onboard storage under "Settings/Device information/Onboard storage", e.g. 8 GB for the Kobo Clara HD. There you can also see the remaining free storage, e.g. 2.2 GB. Under "Settings/Manage downloads/Imported items" you can see the number of items (ebooks), e.g. 2956 imported items, and the related storage size, e.g. 3.26 GB. In this example the operating system has a size of 8 GB (total) - 2.2 GB (free space) - 3.26 GB (used space) = 2.54 GB.

I find that with the Kobo Clara HD (8 GB) the operating system takes 2.54 GB, with the Kobo Clara 2E (16 GB) it takes 5.66 GB and with the Kobo Libra 2 (32 GB) it takes 8.31 GB. Of course both the Clara2E and the Libra 2 can be used to listen to audiobooks (this functionality will increase the OS size) but I wonder if that really explains the drastic increases in size.

Do you find similar numbers with your devices?

Quoth · 02-19-2023, 07:17 AM

The reMarkable, which is for PDFs and sketched type notes has only 6 Gbyte including OS.
Old ereaders might have had 2G or 4G, or even 0.5G, but usually had an SD card slot.
Most newer ereaders are 8G minimum inc OS, even the tiny 4.7″ Y-Ben P47L and many are now 32 Gbyte,

8G inc OS is only low for PDFs and comics/graphic novels. The 5.5 G approx free is loads.

While Amazon and Kobo are doing audio books, an app on a phone makes more sense. It's only now on ereaders really because the BT is "free", included in the WiFi chip. Though early Kindles could play MP3s and do TTS it's not useful.

TTS is better on a phone than on an eink too.

rashkae · 02-19-2023, 03:46 PM

One thing to keep in mind is that the the Operating System is installed on it's own partition. The space you calculate here is not space used for the OS, but space allocated for the OS partition. (As well as a factory default reset image.)

When designing the default layout, Kobo has to decide on a space that will not only accommodate current firmware for the device, but also any future versions and enhancements they make for that model family.

02-19-2023, 06:23 AM	#1
Grins Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Germany Device: Kobo(s), Pocketbook(s), MacBook Pro, iPhone	Size of operating system vs. usable storage I am wondering about the storage needed for the operating system and the remaining available storage which can actually be used for ebooks. You can see the total onboard storage under "Settings/Device information/Onboard storage", e.g. 8 GB for the Kobo Clara HD. There you can also see the remaining free storage, e.g. 2.2 GB. Under "Settings/Manage downloads/Imported items" you can see the number of items (ebooks), e.g. 2956 imported items, and the related storage size, e.g. 3.26 GB. In this example the operating system has a size of 8 GB (total) - 2.2 GB (free space) - 3.26 GB (used space) = 2.54 GB. I find that with the Kobo Clara HD (8 GB) the operating system takes 2.54 GB, with the Kobo Clara 2E (16 GB) it takes 5.66 GB and with the Kobo Libra 2 (32 GB) it takes 8.31 GB. Of course both the Clara2E and the Libra 2 can be used to listen to audiobooks (this functionality will increase the OS size) but I wonder if that really explains the drastic increases in size. Do you find similar numbers with your devices?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Operating system to use best	ChrisEhv	General Discussions	7	09-01-2018 02:22 PM
Operating system	karpomatic	Barnes & Noble NOOK	3	02-06-2013 01:40 PM
Help - Operating System - GONE!	MCF3KIDS	Kindle Fire	1	01-10-2013 10:17 PM
What Operating System do you think Microsoft Uses?	artemisblossom	Lounge	9	12-30-2009 12:38 PM
Operating system ironies	haridasi	iRex	10	05-22-2008 12:22 PM

02-19-2023, 07:17 AM	#2
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 12,125 Karma: 89201339 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	The reMarkable, which is for PDFs and sketched type notes has only 6 Gbyte including OS. Old ereaders might have had 2G or 4G, or even 0.5G, but usually had an SD card slot. Most newer ereaders are 8G minimum inc OS, even the tiny 4.7″ Y-Ben P47L and many are now 32 Gbyte, 8G inc OS is only low for PDFs and comics/graphic novels. The 5.5 G approx free is loads. While Amazon and Kobo are doing audio books, an app on a phone makes more sense. It's only now on ereaders really because the BT is "free", included in the WiFi chip. Though early Kindles could play MP3s and do TTS it's not useful. TTS is better on a phone than on an eink too.

02-19-2023, 03:46 PM	#3
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,209 Karma: 5372421 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	One thing to keep in mind is that the the Operating System is installed on it's own partition. The space you calculate here is not space used for the OS, but space allocated for the OS partition. (As well as a factory default reset image.) When designing the default layout, Kobo has to decide on a space that will not only accommodate current firmware for the device, but also any future versions and enhancements they make for that model family.

Advert