First e-book reader with a specific purpose & restrictions

blacknail · 01-08-2013, 02:01 PM

Hello all,

I am currently considering buying my first e-book reader. I want to use it mainly in a very specific context: helping me during my radio broadcasting shows. So, to be more specific, I just need it to read PDFs (or equivalent) with text, created in my laptop at home, and I'm looking for something low-end: I don't need wi-fi or 3G, nor display colours, nor touch screen, nor video, mp3 or radio capabilities. It is desirable that it has good readability with light, (so I guess a e-ink display is desirable, guess a backlit one isn't crucial). Important things are also the ability to edit the documents (or to take notes), but also not vital. The most crucial thing is price: I won't spend more than 50€ (or equivalent in other currencies) in it.

Just to finish, some details that can be important: I don't own a smartphone, only a dumbphone (with Bluetooth, though). I also have a laptop (where I create the documents) with Bluetooth and I run Linux in it. If absolutely mandatory, I can also run Windows in it.

I've searched a little over the web and got to no conclusions. txtr beagle (http://us.txtr.com/beagle/) seemed like an almost perfect solution, but it turned out that a smartphone is needed to operate with it, and also it seems it will only be sold by telecommunications companies in selected countries and only with subscriptions.

So, does anyone has an advice on something more or less similar to what I need & looking for?

Thank you all very much in advance,
João

susan_cassidy · 01-08-2013, 02:22 PM

PDFs created for a page size of 8.5 x 11 are not going to work well on any 6" screen ereader. You will have to pan and zoom too much. If you create the PDF files yourself, you can create them with a more appropriate page size, and any ereader that reads PDF files should work ok.

blacknail · 01-08-2013, 02:31 PM

Thanks for your quick reply, Susan. PDF format is not mandatory, I just mentioned it because I'm used to create my radio scripts in PDF. I can create the document in other open, compatible formats :] If you have any suggestion or model, please let me know!

susan_cassidy · 01-08-2013, 03:43 PM

For an ebook reader, you need to create in either ePub (most ereaders), or .mobi (Kindle) formats. There are various free programs that you can use to convert Word documents output in filtered HTML to the various formats. Being a Kindle person, I would recommend a Kindle.

soulfuldog · 01-08-2013, 03:44 PM

You don't say where you are based?

You'll struggle to get anything that cheap, unless you buy second hand.... there was the Binatone ReadMe Classic that a couple of places were selling pretty cheaply (UK £35-50), but that was 1-2 years ago, can't see anywhere selling it now.

Currently there is the Kobo Mini (UK £49) it's got a smaller 5" screen and is a touch screen, more of a pocket reader, but it's probably the cheapest new one available, as well as the standard ebook format EPUB, it can handle both PDF and TXT files too.

The basic Kindle (£69 in the UK) has the more standard 6" screen and isn't a touch screen reader, it uses Amazon's MOBI/AZW ebook format and can handle PDF & TXT files.

I don't think either would be any good for editing or taking notes though.

You are right about the txtr beagle, it wouldn't be of any use to you (can't read anything other than the files that are loaded onto it via the smartphone and they aren't a standard file but some sort of image file).

Billi · 01-08-2013, 03:51 PM

As you're creating your pdf files yourself you can use pdf. Simply take care to create them for a page 9x12 cm.
Another possibility would be to create html files and convert them via Sigil or Calibre into epub. These are all open formats/programs.
I don't know of any ereader where you can edit the documents on the device. That's only possible on your laptop. What you can do is taking notes or making scribbles.
And I'm afraid you will have to spend a little bit more than 50 Euros. One advice would be the Sony PRS-T2 that sells in Germany for 99 Euros.

susan_cassidy · 01-08-2013, 03:58 PM

The Kindle can't handle .doc files unless they are converted to .mobi format.

soulfuldog · 01-08-2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

The Kindle can't handle .doc files unless they are converted to .mobi format.

Oops sorry you are right Susan, I missed the part that says it supports the following files through conversion..... I'll edit my post with the correction!

blacknail · 01-09-2013, 06:33 AM

Thank you all. By the way, l_macd, I'm from Portugal. I was hoping there was some old Kindle (or other model) version still available in some obscure site, but I guess that I'll only have luck in the second hand market (eBay, etc). Nevertheless and again, thanks!

01-08-2013, 02:01 PM	#1
blacknail Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: none	First e-book reader with a specific purpose & restrictions Hello all, I am currently considering buying my first e-book reader. I want to use it mainly in a very specific context: helping me during my radio broadcasting shows. So, to be more specific, I just need it to read PDFs (or equivalent) with text, created in my laptop at home, and I'm looking for something low-end: I don't need wi-fi or 3G, nor display colours, nor touch screen, nor video, mp3 or radio capabilities. It is desirable that it has good readability with light, (so I guess a e-ink display is desirable, guess a backlit one isn't crucial). Important things are also the ability to edit the documents (or to take notes), but also not vital. The most crucial thing is price: I won't spend more than 50€ (or equivalent in other currencies) in it. Just to finish, some details that can be important: I don't own a smartphone, only a dumbphone (with Bluetooth, though). I also have a laptop (where I create the documents) with Bluetooth and I run Linux in it. If absolutely mandatory, I can also run Windows in it. I've searched a little over the web and got to no conclusions. txtr beagle (http://us.txtr.com/beagle/) seemed like an almost perfect solution, but it turned out that a smartphone is needed to operate with it, and also it seems it will only be sold by telecommunications companies in selected countries and only with subscriptions. So, does anyone has an advice on something more or less similar to what I need & looking for? Thank you all very much in advance, João

01-08-2013, 03:44 PM	#5
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	You don't say where you are based? You'll struggle to get anything that cheap, unless you buy second hand.... there was the Binatone ReadMe Classic that a couple of places were selling pretty cheaply (UK £35-50), but that was 1-2 years ago, can't see anywhere selling it now. Currently there is the Kobo Mini (UK £49) it's got a smaller 5" screen and is a touch screen, more of a pocket reader, but it's probably the cheapest new one available, as well as the standard ebook format EPUB, it can handle both PDF and TXT files too. The basic Kindle (£69 in the UK) has the more standard 6" screen and isn't a touch screen reader, it uses Amazon's MOBI/AZW ebook format and can handle PDF & TXT files. I don't think either would be any good for editing or taking notes though. You are right about the txtr beagle, it wouldn't be of any use to you (can't read anything other than the files that are loaded onto it via the smartphone and they aren't a standard file but some sort of image file). Last edited by soulfuldog; 01-08-2013 at 04:02 PM. Reason: To correct supported files

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01-08-2013, 02:22 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	PDFs created for a page size of 8.5 x 11 are not going to work well on any 6" screen ereader. You will have to pan and zoom too much. If you create the PDF files yourself, you can create them with a more appropriate page size, and any ereader that reads PDF files should work ok.

01-08-2013, 02:31 PM	#3
blacknail Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: none	Thanks for your quick reply, Susan. PDF format is not mandatory, I just mentioned it because I'm used to create my radio scripts in PDF. I can create the document in other open, compatible formats :] If you have any suggestion or model, please let me know!

01-08-2013, 03:43 PM	#4
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	For an ebook reader, you need to create in either ePub (most ereaders), or .mobi (Kindle) formats. There are various free programs that you can use to convert Word documents output in filtered HTML to the various formats. Being a Kindle person, I would recommend a Kindle.

01-08-2013, 03:51 PM	#6
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	As you're creating your pdf files yourself you can use pdf. Simply take care to create them for a page 9x12 cm. Another possibility would be to create html files and convert them via Sigil or Calibre into epub. These are all open formats/programs. I don't know of any ereader where you can edit the documents on the device. That's only possible on your laptop. What you can do is taking notes or making scribbles. And I'm afraid you will have to spend a little bit more than 50 Euros. One advice would be the Sony PRS-T2 that sells in Germany for 99 Euros.

01-08-2013, 03:58 PM	#7
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The Kindle can't handle .doc files unless they are converted to .mobi format.

01-09-2013, 06:33 AM	#9
blacknail Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: none	Thank you all. By the way, l_macd, I'm from Portugal. I was hoping there was some old Kindle (or other model) version still available in some obscure site, but I guess that I'll only have luck in the second hand market (eBay, etc). Nevertheless and again, thanks!

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