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Old 02-08-2010, 12:18 AM   #1
arcanekn
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Best e-reader for a geeks tech library

Hi all
have been thinking about getting some kind of e-reader for a long time now and as my reading habits tend toward the Nerd/Geek/Dork/Dweeb end of the spectrum (read: tech manuals) that are non-DRM'ed pdfs and epub files i was just wondering "What is the best e-reader for a geeks tech library?".

am living in the land of Vegemite and drop bears if that helps.
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Old 02-08-2010, 01:10 AM   #2
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Depends on how detailed the pdfs get. If they have multi-columns, graphs, tables, etc..., that would fall in the realm of a larger screen device. It also depends if those pdfs are image based, or text based. Open one in Acrobat Reader and try selecting text. If you can't, it's likely image based and you would only be able to zoom those on readers with that feature, like Sony. If it's text based, reflow can help by increasing the font size, but it often destroys formatting and pictures.

Large screen devices:
iRex 1000
iRex 800
Amazon Kindle
Sony PRS-900 (large~ish screen)

Here's a thread that may give a bit of help regarding tech manuals on a 6" screen device.

Before picking up my PRS-600, I took some manuals for my HP 50g calculator with me on an SD card and gave it a try. Nothing too complicated in the manuals, but it worked out for me quite well.
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Old 02-08-2010, 01:29 AM   #3
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thanks for the info.
no a vast majority of the pdfs are text based.
might have to take some in and play with a few readers
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Old 02-08-2010, 01:46 AM   #4
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take a look at the pocketbook 360
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Old 02-08-2010, 12:36 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arcanekn View Post
thanks for the info.
no a vast majority of the pdfs are text based.
might have to take some in and play with a few readers
Oh boy, with mostly text based that opens you up to just about any of the readers. You can use soPDF (in the PDF forum) to crop margins and gain, essentially, a permanent zoom.
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Old 02-09-2010, 03:13 AM   #6
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ok well i narowed the list down to the iriver story or the kindle. but i think i may get the iriver as it seems to render the text better (IMHO).
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Old 02-09-2010, 06:59 AM   #7
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I have the Story, and about half of the eBooks are tech books. (You are aware of O'Reilly's "EBook deal of the day" $9.99 eBooks? Look at oreilly.com)

I am very satisfied so far, the firmware updates released since I have the device (1.61) have very much improved the usefulness, enabling zooming on pdfs and reflow. The keyboard is nice for searching, but I use this rather seldom so far.

What should be improved is enabling pdf zoom in landscape mode and enabling access to bookmarks from within the book (you have to got to the home screen for that).

I have tried the Story in a bookstore (after ordering online ) while bringing a SD card with a variety of books. The firmware in the store was old, so I would recommend to bring the current firmware with you on the card for an update .
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Old 02-09-2010, 06:12 PM   #8
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@ischeriad: Thanks for the info on O'Reilly's may just visit and see for myself.

well im getting a story it does everything i want.
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