Installing Android on old laptop to use Paratext Lite?

Question

Hi there,

Has anyone tried installing Android on an old laptop to use Paratext Lite?

One of our translators has an old laptop with just 2GB of RAM and 30GB hard drive. That’s not enough to run full Paratext, but judging from the tutorials and download page below, it in theory should be possible to wipe the hard drive, install Android OS on the laptop, and run Paratext Lite.

Our translator just needs the basic tasks of viewing the draft, comparing with other translations, and interacting with notes.

Please let me know if you’ve tried it, and if so, how the experience was for you! And I’ll comment if I end up trying it out too.

Thanks!

android-x86.org

Android-x86 - Porting Android to x86

Android-x86 is an Android Open Source Project licensed under Apache Public License 2.0. Some components are licensed under GNU General Public License (GPL) 2.0 or later.

Answer 1

This isn’t exactly answering you question (and I can’t as I haven’t tried installing android, on anything).

But there is a Beta version of Paratext Lite that runs on any Linux machine that can install snap packages. (which I guess is all main stream Linux dists?)

Install Paratext Lite on Linux | Snap Store (snapcraft.io)

Install Linux might be easier than installing android (but as I haven’t done it, that’s just and educated guess). The Linux versions has a couple of advantages over the android version when used with a machine with keyboard an mouse. (its UI layout is a little more like regular PT than the android version, and you can do things like move the location of windows panes, using the mouse to drag and drop.)

The downside is that it still beta, but we are hoping that an initial release will be done soon. (< 2 months). Also the beta is quite stable (as it the same underlying code as the android version)

If you still want to go the android approach then a slightly different approach might be to install chrome OS. (this supports install android apps, including Paratext Lite, and might possibly work better on a keyboard and mouse machine. (again I guessing as I haven’t install android on a PC, but given how widespread chromeos is on PC’s I’d guess it more polished than android on a PC)

Comments

Hi anon094061,

I would go with installing Wasta-Linux on the old laptop and using the Paratext Lite via Snap as hindlemail describes. I have never tried installing Android on anything, but I can confirm that Wasta is a mature OS that includes Keyman, Golden Dict–a good off-line dictionary program into which many “majority” language dict’s can be added, and other language-work-specific apps. And Paratext Lite for Linux is in active development, as hindlemail indicates, so it works at least as well as the Android version now, but enhancements are coming in the near future.

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Yes, Linux on old PC’s is the simpler route.

Answer 2

Thanks so much @hindlemail, @KimB, and @anon044949! I had no idea that Linux and Chrome OS would also be an option for Paratext Lite.

For those of you on Linux, is your work environment such that the Linux users have easy access to computer support from other people familiar with Linux?

In our case, the translator is newer to computers, works remotely, and would be depending on help from friends and family. They have experience with Android, but may not have even heard of Linux, and may not have experience with Windows either.

For these reasons I am still leaning towards Android, but will keep Wasta in mind if I come across a user who needs more functionality on a low-resource PC.

I’ll updates here on how it goes!

Thanks.

Comments

If support is really the issue, then buy an Android tablet that can run Paratext lite. Some super low end tablets do not run Paratext lite well, or may not support Send/receive through the USB port. On some tablets the USB port only supports charging the tablet and does not support file transfers. Moving files onto the tablet from a flash drive is a good way to put projects and resources on the tablet where the Internet is slow or non-existent.

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Thanks! That’s also a good way to go. He’d need a physical keyboard setup also. Thanks for the tips on picking a good tablet too.

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Yes, a Bluetooth keyboard is recommended if the user is going to do drafting on the device. This website has recommendations on tablets. I don’t see Bluetooth keyboards listed, but they should be easy enough to find at a variety of price points. Paratext Lite for Android - Bible Translation Software

Answer 3

Hi anon094061… I was on holiday so late to this party, but VERY interested in how you get on with this project and your final choices… so please do report here how it goes. I’m about to present PT-Lite at a major conference soon, and so your experience might be helpful to report to others. That of course would be on conventional phones and tablets.

Now I agree with everything said before, and I’m a complete Linux user, like KimB and hindlemail. But I like testing “assumptions” in your first (I always do this ). It sounds like you are NOT doing any heavy lifting under normal Paratext anyway, so I am questioning the restraint of a mere 2GB main memory. Sure everyone says that PT is a dog with 2 GB main memory, but that does not mean it UN-useable completely, especially if you are doing simple tasks. So if indeed Windows OS is still an option, and the SUPPORT is there, then you might not want to discount that approach so quickly. I say all this as a solid fan of all things Linux; I don’t personally do Windows at all . Long live the Penguin! -B

Answer 4

@anon329004, with a 30 GB HDD, I don’t think they’d be able to install Windows, or it could be pretty iffy. Microsoft is recommending 32 GB minimum (How to Check Windows 10 Computer System Specs & Requirements - Microsoft), though they say it could work on less. I’d be hesitant to try it.

If they would be relying on friends and family for support, I would also recommend the Android tablet approach. Without techie people around to help with Wasta, I’m concerned they would get into an issue that couldn’t be solved and be stuck. And they would likely be able to find somebody to help them if a tablet had an issue. It’s amazing how many people know about tablets and smartphones, even in what seem to be very remote places!

I’ve really like this bluetooth keyboard: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0148NPH9I. It uses standard AAA batteries, which can be replaced and reduces the need for charging. If I recall correctly, @KimB also preferred bluetooth keyboards with standard batteries because once a built-in rechargeable battery stops working, the whole keyboard is worthless.

james_post

Answer 5

Yes! I missed the HD being too small for Windows. Thanks.

Answer 6

Great info on the Bluetooth keyboards! I’m also a big fan of replaceable batteries. And the best part is with rechargeable AAA batteries and a battery charger, one gets the best of both worlds. For the tablet option, with a dongle, I wonder if a wired keyboard could work too. (Though one couldn’t charge at the same time.)

I think what I saw being 30GB HDD is likely 32GB without formatting.

I think this laptop is the same one that our backtranslator used for a while. PT was super slow and once it crashed, causing a whole chapter of back translation to be lost. For some reason, nothing could be recovered.

In any case, this translator will be back in town next week, on Monday. I plan to visit him then and try it out booting from the USB drive to see if it works. If so, and he wants to go forward, I can wipe the drive and do a full install.

I’ll keep you all posted!

Answer 7

I’m realizing now that he would also need to run Skype and possibly Keyman simultaneously. So, we’ll have to see. I’ll try it out.

Comments

One should not have to run Keyman for Paratext Lite use. Current version of PT Lite recognizes autocorrect.txt in a PT project folder. PT help gives a good discussion of how to use autocorrect.txt to type non-standard characters. Note that the file must be saved in UTF-8 format! We placed the same key sequences into autocorrect.txt as in our Keyman layout so that computers that do not have “our” Keyman installed can still type into Paratext (any version). [Keyman and autocorrect.txt do not seem to conflict, in my experience, by the way.] The file is included in Send/Receive so it stays with the project. Keyman might be desirable for other typing, of course.

I think it might not be the best idea to use a corded usb keyboard with a tablet, unless there’s some sort of pass-through so it can be charged with the keyboard plugged in. I think having the USB port unavailable for charging would cause users to use the tablet until the battery is fully discharged and the tablet turns off. This will kill the tablet’s battery, and a tablet with a dead battery is pretty useless.

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Great tips KimB! Thanks so much.

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Update: trying to run Android off of the boot drive didn’t work, and the translator got access to a better laptop before I could figure anything out, so this project is shelved for the time being. Thanks, in any case, for all the info!