Best Reader for Research?

scientificwriter · 11-19-2009, 04:39 PM

I have a huge amount of scientific papers as PDF files to read and I am looking for a paperless solution that doesn't fatigue my eyes. I think an e-book device of some sort would help me achieve this. What devices can you recommend me?

Some argue that screen size is important for reading academic papers in PDF (e.g. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=14) and students have complained about limited means of annotation (http://registrarism.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/ebooks/). I think I have to agree with screen size, but I am not sure if annotation is necessary for my purposes. I simply need to get a lot of reading done, efficiently and anywhere I choose to go, without dragging piles of paper with me.

I suppose that I'm looking for a reader with good support for the PDF that accurately displays tables and figures, and provides an enjoyable reading experience (more or less zoom-free). Any ideas?

/SciWri

Dulin's Books · 11-19-2009, 06:34 PM

Irex DR1000 as far as size currently. Plastic Logic "Que" details coming January 7th. Irex DR800SG due maybe by the end of the month. As far as over 6inch display size that is it.

hmm... there was one other I'm forgetting

Elfwreck · 11-19-2009, 07:11 PM

The Kindle DX is good if reading is all you need, but there's no annotation ability. (And it may not be available to you, but just getting it as a reader, if you don't care about buying from Amazon, is do-able.)

Right now, there's nothing that's great for academic PDFs. The biggest problem is that a large enough screen to read them comfortably is fragile, followed by the fact that most academic reading really wants to include note-taking of some sort, and that's expensive programming.

If most of your reading is of one particular type (a small range of similarly-formatted journals, for example), you could mention that, and people might know what readers are best for those PDFs, or if there are easy programs that will make them accessible on 6" readers.

Dulin's Books · 11-19-2009, 07:32 PM

One other I had a hard time remembering- the Brother SV 100 http://www.brother.co.jp/product/epa...100b/index.htm

of course with that there is the sticker shock, if you can get one from japan that is...

DDHarriman · 11-20-2009, 03:35 PM

Hi

Today: Irex DR1000 is the answer.

Best regards,

dmaul1114 · 11-21-2009, 02:15 PM

I'm keeping my eye on the Que. I need a larger screen AND annotation as I highlight and write a lot of notes on academic PDFs as I like to not have to re-read an article again, ever.

I'm honestly more interested in waiting for a tablet device though as I'd prefer it to be a nice multifunction device. Especially if the price is going to be around $1000 like the Irex DR1000. So I'm willing to be patient and see what comes out the next couple of years.

11-19-2009, 04:39 PM	#1
scientificwriter Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK & Sweden Device: none	Best Reader for Research? I have a huge amount of scientific papers as PDF files to read and I am looking for a paperless solution that doesn't fatigue my eyes. I think an e-book device of some sort would help me achieve this. What devices can you recommend me? Some argue that screen size is important for reading academic papers in PDF (e.g. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=14) and students have complained about limited means of annotation (http://registrarism.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/ebooks/). I think I have to agree with screen size, but I am not sure if annotation is necessary for my purposes. I simply need to get a lot of reading done, efficiently and anywhere I choose to go, without dragging piles of paper with me. I suppose that I'm looking for a reader with good support for the PDF that accurately displays tables and figures, and provides an enjoyable reading experience (more or less zoom-free). Any ideas? /SciWri

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11-19-2009, 06:34 PM	#2
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Irex DR1000 as far as size currently. Plastic Logic "Que" details coming January 7th. Irex DR800SG due maybe by the end of the month. As far as over 6inch display size that is it. hmm... there was one other I'm forgetting

11-19-2009, 07:11 PM	#3
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	The Kindle DX is good if reading is all you need, but there's no annotation ability. (And it may not be available to you, but just getting it as a reader, if you don't care about buying from Amazon, is do-able.) Right now, there's nothing that's great for academic PDFs. The biggest problem is that a large enough screen to read them comfortably is fragile, followed by the fact that most academic reading really wants to include note-taking of some sort, and that's expensive programming. If most of your reading is of one particular type (a small range of similarly-formatted journals, for example), you could mention that, and people might know what readers are best for those PDFs, or if there are easy programs that will make them accessible on 6" readers.

11-19-2009, 07:32 PM	#4
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	One other I had a hard time remembering- the Brother SV 100 http://www.brother.co.jp/product/epa...100b/index.htm of course with that there is the sticker shock, if you can get one from japan that is...

11-20-2009, 03:35 PM	#5
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Today: Irex DR1000 is the answer. Best regards,

11-21-2009, 02:15 PM	#6
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I'm keeping my eye on the Que. I need a larger screen AND annotation as I highlight and write a lot of notes on academic PDFs as I like to not have to re-read an article again, ever. I'm honestly more interested in waiting for a tablet device though as I'd prefer it to be a nice multifunction device. Especially if the price is going to be around $1000 like the Irex DR1000. So I'm willing to be patient and see what comes out the next couple of years.

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