So, I have a rather large collection of computer graphics and 3D game development eBooks on PDF format. These PDF files are rather large (10-20MB), letter page size and complex layouts with pictures and diagrams. I am afraid that converting it to a more portable-device-friendly format will detract too much from the reading (unless I convert to JPG, but meh, I would like to avoid that).

Anyways, I'm looking for some portable device (E-ink eReader, smartphone, PDA, web tablet, low cost UMPC) under $400 that will allow me to read them. Hopefully with a large screen and good resolution, although I won't die if I have to do some horizontal scrolling. The thing is: it has to be rock solid and fast at rendering large, complex PDF and CHM files, and it has to allow zooming/scrolling/panning. I don't care about other functionality, features and/or formats supported.

So far, I've looked at the matrix from the sticky in this forum, and after some asking around, it seems like most E-ink devices don't do what I want (don't handle PDF well), other than the iLiad, which is unfortunately out of budget. I've also considered getting an Asus EeePC, a Blackberry Curve, a T-Mobile Wing or Dash, and I entertained the idea of using an Archos 605 for this purpose.

Any ideas? Would a Nokia N800 do it? Maybe some other device I'm missing? Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

BUMP! Please help me out guys!

Would the Cybook Gen3 do PDF the way I want it? What about the Nokia N800 web tablet?

The best eink based device for reading PDF is the iRex iLiad. It has a higher resolution and a larger screen and better software for reading PDF available for it.

I guess my major concern is rendering speed. If I throw a large PDF file (~15MB) with complex layouts and lots of pictures (I'm thinking game development books), will the iLiad take 1+ min to render each page?

What about the Nokia N800? It seems like something within my price range with a nice big screen and good resolution. Will it render PDF fast and robustly enough?

I don't know about the Nokia, but the ilIad will display them pretty good.

Would the Cybook Gen3 do PDF the way I want it?
No - the only eInk based device that might be worth looking at would be the iLiad, but the larger screen has a direct inpact on the price tag.

If you require fast displays of complex PDF's, I think you're going to have to be looking at a PC variant of some sort - Maybe the Asus' Eee PC?

Hi Calverez, My needs are very similar to yours, but I'm still looking. One of the things putting me off the illiad (well two if you count the price), is the huge startup time - 45 seconds! (although page turning after that is meant to be okay)

yes, redbaron101, the iLiad seems ideal but it's way too expensive for me.

I really want to know if the Nokia N800 can render .pdf files fast and reliably (I know it's a hassle to turn pages on it).

Again, I really want to avoid reflowing or converting my PDF files to some other format, as some of the content (especially code snippets) get messed up and become illegible.

Bump! Any experiences with large, complex PDF files in the N800?

How large is the screen of the N800? Is it large enough for your needs? :headscratch:

How much your books would have cost as paper versions?
How much would a bookcase cost?
How much would it cost to move all the paper books in a new flat?

Count this and you have a iLiad :D :2thumbsup

;)Gogolo

Hi Calvarez -- have similar requirements like you (have lots of technical papers on A4 pdf format that I would like to have available when mobile). I don't think the Nokia N800 would be the solution for me: although its screen at a resolution of 800x480 in landscape (scrolling is no problem) even beats the Iliad in portret (scrolling is not an option with eInk), the screen with a diagonal of 4.1" is simply too small.

Saw a video on Youtube demonstrating the pdf capabilities of the N810 (same screen size and resolution): click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgsVdzrbJ9w).

Perhaps wait for the next generation of 9.7" eInk readers?

Count this and you have a iLiad :D :2thumbsup
Did you factor in the cost of screen crashes? :chinscratch: :D

Hi Calvarez -- have similar requirements like you (have lots of technical papers on A4 pdf format that I would like to have available when mobile). I don't think the Nokia N800 would be the solution for me: although its screen at a resolution of 800x480 in landscape (scrolling is no problem) even beats the Iliad in portret (scrolling is not an option with eInk), the screen with a diagonal of 4.1" is simply too small.

Saw a video on Youtube demonstrating the pdf capabilities of the N810 (same screen size and resolution): click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgsVdzrbJ9w).

Perhaps wait for the next generation of 9.7" eInk readers?

Thanks Johannes. I decided to go for an iPhone as soon as my T-mobile contract expires. I tested its built-in PDF reader and it's quite good. I decided that I just wanted something small enough to carry, and if this device also is a cellphone, the better.

I took a look at the N810, and it seems like a very cool device indeed.

An IPhone as a PDF reader is a really bad idea. an iPhone as a phone is a really bad idea. Basically, you'll get a device you won't be happy with. You'll want to read more then just PDF and the iPhone is really bad at that. So please save your money and get something decent. An iPhone is not that.

Of course, later this year we will be getting 9.7" eink devices that if they support PDF will do an even better job rendering due to the even higher resolution and the larger screen size. So your best best is to wait.

If you could still get one I'd say the XO by the One Laptop Per Child Foundation would meet your needs very well. It has a top resolution of 1200x900 in its "extremely low power" reflective (no backlight) monochrome screen mode, and it folds over like a tablet.

You're on crack. I've got an iLiad and I love it, but the best phone... the best device... I have ever used is my unlocked iPhone. Flame me if you want, but the phone features are so intuitive, the music/features are unbelievable, and the unbricked iphone's installer app for new tools is the best application deployment system i've seen in a mobile device. minimo on the iliad? the iPhone has the best mobile browser ever!

Sorry. The iLiad would be great for your needs. The iPhone, however well the PDF reader works, would be a terrible viewing experience. I've tried and it was all zoom in/ zoom out hell.

If you could still get one I'd say the XO by the One Laptop Per Child Foundation would meet your needs very well. It has a top resolution of 1200x900 in its "extremely low power" reflective (no backlight) monochrome screen mode, and it folds over like a tablet.

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually have an Eee PC, and it's awesome, but it's still too big for what I have in mind (I was hoping for something that would fit in a pocket).

About the iPhone, I tried the PDF reader and it works well for me. I will be mostly reading text (computer books and academic journal articles), and not magazines (where you would definitely be needing to zoom in/zoom out all the time.

I have other reasons for getting an iPhone as well (I want to do software development on them), so it seems like the perfect match for my particular needs.

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually have an Eee PC, and it's awesome, but it's still too big for what I have in mind (I was hoping for something that would fit in a pocket).

About the iPhone, I tried the PDF reader and it works well for me. I will be mostly reading text (computer books and academic journal articles), and not magazines (where you would definitely be needing to zoom in/zoom out all the time.

I have other reasons for getting an iPhone as well (I want to do software development on them), so it seems like the perfect match for my particular needs.

Hi calverez,

like you, i have a fair number of pdf's too. I still want to buy a dedicated reader, looking at the Assus Eee they bought a 9" ones out with more memory and one that runs windows xp and one on linux - but that'll be too big for your needs.

I recently bought iphone, after playing with itouch and being very impressed with it (btw it works brilliantly on TMobile, Im on the web n walk plan, even gprs works without setting anything up). Theres a couple of pdf's viewers on iphone, they are still rough round the edges, but ok for viewing pdfs for reference use. For more comfortable reading, a larger device like the 9" Eee would handle my needs.

sood

ps. u mention you do software dev - i used to develop a lot in the old days (delphi / pascal), looking at picking it up again. Where would i start looking to develop for iphone? (any good web sites)

Get the SDK! Apply off of the Apple site.

SHAMELESS BUMP! (I hope this is not considered rude in this board, I know it is in some. My apologies.)

So, my T-mobile contract expired, and I decided not to get the iPhone. The device is amazing, but I think I don't need all the capabilities of the iPhone (and the data plan cost) when what I really need is a portable device for reading PDFs.

So, I want to ask: would the Cybook Gen3 with the new firmware satisfy my needs?
1)Large (filesize-wise) A4-sized PDF files with complex layout and pictures
2)I don't want to reflow, as that usually ruins the layout of my particular books
3)I want my device to fit in my big pocket, I don't want to be forced to carry around a backpack or bag just for the device. So no EeePC-sized things, but I am willing to put up with something larger than an iPhone. ~6'' screen is acceptable, ~10'' isn't.
4)Because of 1), 2) and 3), I am willing to put up with zooming and panning as long as it is fast enough (2-3 secs. top)
5)US$400 is my budget, I can't go over (so, I can't afford an iRex device)
6)eInk is preferable, but I'd be willing to go for something else

Does the Cybook Gen3 satisfy this? Thanks for your input.

SHAMELESS BUMP! (I hope this is not considered rude in this board, I know it is in some. My apologies.)

So, my T-mobile contract expired, and I decided not to get the iPhone. The device is amazing, but I think I don't need all the capabilities of the iPhone (and the data plan cost) when what I really need is a portable device for reading PDFs.

So, I want to ask: would the Cybook Gen3 with the new firmware satisfy my needs?
1)Large (filesize-wise) A4-sized PDF files with complex layout and pictures
2)I don't want to reflow, as that usually ruins the layout of my particular books
3)I want my device to fit in my big pocket, I don't want to be forced to carry around a backpack or bag just for the device. So no EeePC-sized things, but I am willing to put up with something larger than an iPhone. ~6'' screen is acceptable, ~10'' isn't.
4)Because of 1), 2) and 3), I am willing to put up with zooming and panning as long as it is fast enough (2-3 secs. top)
5)US$400 is my budget, I can't go over (so, I can't afford an iRex device)
6)eInk is preferable, but I'd be willing to go for something else

Does the Cybook Gen3 satisfy this? Thanks for your input.


yeah having used my unlocked iphone for a while now, I would agree pdf's dont really cut it on the iphone - its brill for text/html, but pdfs just takes too much effort and detracts from the reading experience, especially if they are large pdf files. If your going for the cygen 3 have you considered the sony 505? Another contender might be the hanlin v3 (r2) which is supposed to do pdfs and chm fairly well?

I took a look at the N810, and it seems like a very cool device indeed.

You are right, it is. But I like it more due to Internet access. Reading a pdf really works, but the letters are so small that I can read only without glasses...

In addition, the processor is not very fast and you cannot turn the page in a landmark position.

So I just have ordered a Sony Reader (505) a couple of days ago, not knowing about the new device (700)

I will tell you what seems better for me.

All the best

Julianor

Hi Calvarez

For your budget and your needs you need a small laptop - Asus Eepc.

Positives:
Reads everything you throw at it, no problems with Pdf’s at all.

Negatives:
Battery is a joke (compared with a eInk device), you will not be able to read anything useful in direct sun.

If you this way, get the windows version.

Good shopping,