Classic PDF on the nook - a lost case?

LorenzL · 08-02-2010, 05:50 AM

When I bought the Nook, I was planning on viewing all those PDFs that had gathered on my laptop. For example I had downloaded the digital versions of a couple of Lonely Planet guides, magazines, etc.

It soon became obvious that there is no way to really view those PDFs properly on the nook. The screen is too small, there is no landscape mode, text reflow messes up most of the text. Even if the PDF is purely text, the conversion to epub via Calibre doesn't really work for me.

Do you think this is a software issue or is this just a problem we have to live with, because of the size of the Nook screen?

nyrath · 08-02-2010, 09:51 AM

This is an issue with PDFs and eBooks in general. It is not just the Nook, no current ebook reader handles PDFs well.

You see, a PDF is page oriented. It wants specify how an entire page looks. This is why when you view a PDF file on your laptop there are scroll bars on the window.

Ebooks are not page oriented. They want to re-flow the text. Unless your Ebook reader has a screen that is 8.5" x 11", the PDF is going to look terrible.

Kindle Addict · 08-02-2010, 03:41 PM

If you softroot your Nook, you can load a 3rd party PDF viewer that allows for landscape mode and different zoom levels. Not perfect, but at least equivalent to PDF support on my Kindle.

LorenzL · 08-03-2010, 05:23 AM

Thanks for the replies guys! Let's hope they upgrade it to be at least at the level of the Kindle then. Would be good if they made an app store... I don't want to soft root my Nook quite yet, don't want to void the guarantee. I just hope that the DRM free epub format starts to dominate a bit more. I'd hate if we get another proprietary format to dominate an industry...

Astro · 08-03-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kindle Addict

If you softroot your Nook, you can load a 3rd party PDF viewer that allows for landscape mode and different zoom levels. Not perfect, but at least equivalent to PDF support on my Kindle.

Can you post a link to the PDF viewer? I'm not coming up with any that run on the nook and have the features you listed.

Thanks!

Kindle Addict · 08-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro

Can you post a link to the PDF viewer? I'm not coming up with any that run on the nook and have the features you listed.

Thanks!

Sure; information and a download link can be found here.

Kindle Addict · 08-03-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LorenzL

Thanks for the replies guys! Let's hope they upgrade it to be at least at the level of the Kindle then. Would be good if they made an app store... I don't want to soft root my Nook quite yet, don't want to void the guarantee. I just hope that the DRM free epub format starts to dominate a bit more. I'd hate if we get another proprietary format to dominate an industry...

While not officially an app store, there is a NookMarket for softrooted Nooks. Quite handy to see what's available and to update any installed apps.

You can find out more and download here.

MangaEbooker · 08-14-2010, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kindle Addict

If you softroot your Nook, you can load a 3rd party PDF viewer that allows for landscape mode and different zoom levels. Not perfect, but at least equivalent to PDF support on my Kindle.

How does the zoom work? Well? I was thinking of using it for manga that is sometimes hard to read, is it good? I do plan on softrooting for coverflow already.

Kindle Addict · 08-14-2010, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MangaEbooker

How does the zoom work? Well? I was thinking of using it for manga that is sometimes hard to read, is it good? I do plan on softrooting for coverflow already.

It works ok - nowhere near zoom on the iPad, but you are able to choose a zoom level from several presets (auto, which does a best fit, and 25, 50, 60, 75, 90, 100, 115, and 125). It seems to do graphics very well, but I'm finding more and more books that aren't rendering properly.

The cover flow is great - nothing like it on an epaper display.

MangaEbooker · 08-14-2010, 03:11 AM

Thats good to hear, Just need a little zoom on some pages, not a constant thing...

vague_hit · 09-04-2010, 12:02 AM

i wish i could softroot my nook just for the pdf viewer zoom but unfortunately I only bought it a week ago so I'm on 1.4.1! Can't wait until they manage to softroot that as well.

jhempel24 · 09-07-2010, 12:07 AM

I tried that aPDF app, and it works pretty well, I just don't like the fact they don't have page numbers....small problem when compared to not being able to read PDF's, so great job on that from the dev team!

08-02-2010, 05:50 AM	#1
LorenzL Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook	PDF on the nook - a lost case? When I bought the Nook, I was planning on viewing all those PDFs that had gathered on my laptop. For example I had downloaded the digital versions of a couple of Lonely Planet guides, magazines, etc. It soon became obvious that there is no way to really view those PDFs properly on the nook. The screen is too small, there is no landscape mode, text reflow messes up most of the text. Even if the PDF is purely text, the conversion to epub via Calibre doesn't really work for me. Do you think this is a software issue or is this just a problem we have to live with, because of the size of the Nook screen?

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08-02-2010, 09:51 AM	#2
nyrath Addict Posts: 281 Karma: 52007 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: nook	This is an issue with PDFs and eBooks in general. It is not just the Nook, no current ebook reader handles PDFs well. You see, a PDF is page oriented. It wants specify how an entire page looks. This is why when you view a PDF file on your laptop there are scroll bars on the window. Ebooks are not page oriented. They want to re-flow the text. Unless your Ebook reader has a screen that is 8.5" x 11", the PDF is going to look terrible.

08-02-2010, 03:41 PM	#3
Kindle Addict kindict Posts: 64 Karma: 208 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Kindle 2, Kobo, iPad, Nook	If you softroot your Nook, you can load a 3rd party PDF viewer that allows for landscape mode and different zoom levels. Not perfect, but at least equivalent to PDF support on my Kindle.

08-03-2010, 05:23 AM	#4
LorenzL Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook	Thanks for the replies guys! Let's hope they upgrade it to be at least at the level of the Kindle then. Would be good if they made an app store... I don't want to soft root my Nook quite yet, don't want to void the guarantee. I just hope that the DRM free epub format starts to dominate a bit more. I'd hate if we get another proprietary format to dominate an industry...

08-14-2010, 03:11 AM	#10
MangaEbooker Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 24 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	Thats good to hear, Just need a little zoom on some pages, not a constant thing...

09-04-2010, 12:02 AM	#11
vague_hit Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Nook	i wish i could softroot my nook just for the pdf viewer zoom but unfortunately I only bought it a week ago so I'm on 1.4.1! Can't wait until they manage to softroot that as well.

09-07-2010, 12:07 AM	#12
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	I tried that aPDF app, and it works pretty well, I just don't like the fact they don't have page numbers....small problem when compared to not being able to read PDF's, so great job on that from the dev team!

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