UPDATE: If you've come to us through Google, you'll be delighted to hear that we just launched our dedicated iPhone as an e-book reader forum!

Join the discussions here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=170) --Alex, 07/24/08

To my surprise, the iPhone has turned out to finally fill the mobile PDF needs I have tried to satisfy with the Sony eBook reader and my TabletPC. The PDF reader built-in to the system is fast and supports zoom and landscape view, making it very easy to read any document, especially if it has two or more columns, which fit the screen really well. You either need to store the PDFs as email attachments, save them to something like box.net to view using the browser, or else jailbreak your phone and use the PDFViewer software, but these are relatively easy...

To my surprise, the iPhone has turned out to finally fill the mobile PDF needs I have tried to satisfy with the Sony eBook reader and my TabletPC. The PDF reader built-in to the system is fast and supports zoom and landscape view, making it very easy to read any document, especially if it has two or more columns, which fit the screen really well. You either need to store the PDFs as email attachments, save them to something like box.net to view using the browser, or else jailbreak your phone and use the PDFViewer software, but these are relatively easy...

Actually the best available today is the iLiad or a full blown laptop. The iPhone screen is too small to be the best.

Dale

I guess it depends on your definition of "mobile" :). I entirely agree that the iLiad is far and away the best machine (other than a full-blown laptop) for displaying PDFs, but some may not consider it to be a particularly portable system. It's certainly not pocket sized.

You either need to store the PDFs as email attachments, save them to something like box.net to view using the browser, or else jailbreak your phone and use the PDFViewer software, but these are relatively easy...

Sounds like a pain in the proverbial to me. I hope Apple sort this out soon as I would really like an iPod Touch.

FoxItReader is worth checking out for Windows and WindowsMobile. As is PocketXpdf for Windows Mobile.

I guess it depends on your definition of "mobile" :). I entirely agree that the iLiad is far and away the best machine (other than a full-blown laptop) for displaying PDFs, but some may not consider it to be a particularly portable system. It's certainly not pocket sized.

Certainly true but the original poster made no such stipulation that is had to be pocket size. The original statement made a huge claim that I didn't feel was justified and could be misleading. There are many folks out there wanting to read PDF files and many go out and buy hardware and are very disappointed with the results. PDF files are very misunderstood and what you can successfully read them with is very confusing. Expectations are everything when it comes to PDF reading.

Dale

I completely agree, Dale. It is an unfortunate fact that many people buy bookreaders with the expectation of being able to read A4/Letter PDFs and are disappointed by the limitations that the format imposes on such things.

Sounds like a pain in the proverbial to me. I hope Apple sort this out soon as I would really like an iPod Touch..

Not really, its a lot easier than using any of the PDF conversion tools for the Sony Reader, since it supports native PDFs. To jailbreak your phone, you just go to a website (jailbreakme.com) and click on a link, then you can install the PDF reader right from the AppTap installer on the phone. The whole thing is three clicks.

And I agree that tablets are good for reading PDFs (I have one), but they just aren't as portable, are expensive, and are not that great for casual reading. Have either of you tried using an iPhone for PDFs? It really is an impressive experience, though I have not tried the iLiad (which is much priceir)

Not really, its a lot easier than using any of the PDF conversion tools for the Sony Reader, since it supports native PDFs. To jailbreak your phone, you just go to a website (jailbreakme.com) and click on a link, then you can install the PDF reader right from the AppTap installer on the phone. The whole thing is three clicks.

And I agree that tablets are good for reading PDFs (I have one), but they just aren't as portable, are expensive, and are not that great for casual reading. Have either of you tried using an iPhone for PDFs? It really is an impressive experience, though I have not tried the iLiad (which is much priceir)

Yes I have tried the PDF on an iPhone and found it not very good for a letter sized pdf with lots of text to read. But I an not an expert at contantly zooming out and then back in to read stuff.

Dale

Hmm, I picked up an iPod Touch recently and went through the whole jailbreak routine without any issues. While I've looked at a PDF via the web browser, I have yet to figure out how to get the PDF's onto the Touch and into the directory the viewer states they need to be in. Is there some other tool I need to load on it and my PC to enable being able to directly access the file system on the Touch? Also, what forums do you recommend for the Touch? I've found a few, but I'm really interested in the whole third-party app concept. Thanks!

While I've looked at a PDF via the web browser, I have yet to figure out how to get the PDF's onto the Touch and into the directory the viewer states they need to be in. Is there some other tool I need to load on it and my PC to enable being able to directly access the file system on the Touch? Also, what forums do you recommend for the Touch? I've found a few, but I'm really interested in the whole third-party app concept. Thanks!

Modmyifone and Hackintosh are the best forums, TUAW is a good blog.

In order to easily move files, you need to install something like iPhoneBrowser (http://www.modmyifone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1817), it has a nice GUI interface. If you have problems, you need to install a2fc first, directions are here: http://modmyifone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11945

The other way to move files is using SSH, which you can do remotely.

I am relatively new to the whole mobile reading thing, but I love my iPod Touch. I use it to read pdfs and take notes via the notes app. I also like the books.app that i can use for ebooks. I am sure many will think it too small, but Ihave found it very readable. I can only hope that the touch is just the begining and a newton is in the works. Make it just 20% larger in screen size and I think it would be a great portable internet tablet.

To setup safari to read pdfs go to ipodtouchfans.com. it is a forum with all the instructions. You ave to install apache and you are all set. Hope this helps.

It does show PDFs better than other devices so far but the constant zoolling (zooming-scrolling) really gets on my nerves. When I read I get put off by the fact a reader should get so much attention. It should really fade-off and let the story come alive. That would be the better performance of a reader, a device that would let the story come alive better than a Pbook.

Try the Good Reader app for iPhone. I've been using it for several months to read PDFs, and it's been very usable. It lets you zoom in as much as needed without losing crispness, and handles large PDFs well by rendering one page at a time. The developers are also very responsive to email questions/suggestions.
Good luck!

I use FileAid (http://www.digidna.net/fileaid/), which is available for free at the moment. I've reviewed it briefly on my blog (http://www.fluidscape.co.nz/node/163), along with the other iPhone apps I use and recommend. (I don't work for digidna or know anyone who does, I just love their app and am happy to plug it).

The best PDF reader out there is definitely GoodReader. PDF support is really great.

According to one of the testimonials it handles PDF files up to 1 gb.

Highly recommended.

The brand new PDF business-productivity solution for iPhone called PDF Expert seems great. PDF Expert provides set of professional functions to overcome the limitations of built-in iPhone PDF viewer. Saving PDF email attachments, full text search, support for password protected documents, navigation through embedded PDF bookmarks, handling large PDF files are the most essential to mention..
If you looking for a good PDF reader - you should take a look at PDF expert.

I use pdf extreme iphone app. it seems the best for ever. it can Crop page margin automatically and default is landscape model. That make the pdf word size very big and readable. love it and recommend to try. one bad thing it is not free, need 99cents

I use pdf extreme iphone app. it seems the best for ever. it can Crop page margin automatically and default is landscape model. That make the pdf word size very big and readable. love it and recommend to try. one bad thing it is not free, need 99cents

Doesit do text searches? Is navigation easy (e.g. can I go straight to page 100)?

Which is the best for eBooks including text eBooks. And, what is the best PDF reader (http://it-org.blogspot.com/2009/10/amd-vs-intel.html) for PDFs with images?...

The best PDF reader out there is definitely GoodReader. PDF support is really great.

According to one of the testimonials it handles PDF files up to 1 gb.

Highly recommended.

totally agree, but i think you get more battery life with an ipod touch

goodreader has what other apps lack

50x zoom! so small screen is irrelavent
Bookmarks
Table of contents support
Support for links within the PDF document
search
jump to page
refolow

this is coming from an ex-owner of

Palm TX
Sony PRS 505
Sony PRS 700

the way those LARGE PDFs run on the iphone is superior to anything I've ever used