[brbubba]

Originally Posted by FF2

I'm not sure that the resolution would help me for a portrait mode pdf - I think I would still have to scroll left-right which would drive me crazier!

You missed my point entirely. With a high enough resolution you can READ a pdf in portrait mode without scrolling back and forth. Yes, the entire page is right there, full screen.

Originally Posted by stanislaw lem

thanks for the responses, its been very informative.

I think some people were missing the point of my fact finding mission, I know all about the features of devices such as net books, the ipad and kindle, for me technology is always about a means to an end, i own a powerful desktop that handles music, video and computer graphic creation and i own a laptop that I can get similar smaller work done out and about but to me the ideal third device seems to be completely missing from the market. Like snipenekkid says, the pocket word processor! I've no idea why it doesn't exist, something smaller than a laptop, that you can take out to read and write like an electronic notepad.

I remember in school when laptops first started coming out and were insanely expensive the school bought these very small purse sized laptops for kids who had hurt their arms. They had small calculator sized screens and only supported text files creating and editing, which you then plugged into the desktop and printed out your work. Where have they gone?

If any CEO's of netbook/ereader companies are reading they should think in investing in a true B&W notebook. One can only dream..

but for now I think a cheap device like the jetbook mini seems on the cards, I need not any of the features of the snazzy ipad also I've read about seemingly adequate solutions to the pdf problem such as pdf reflow or converting pdf's into ePUB's that seems to be able to make pdfs readable on normal ereader devices, if this is incorrect let me know.

Whoaaa, you didn't say, "write," in the original post.