[riverteeth]

I'm a grad student in the market for an ereader with decent PDF support, the ability to easily highlight and take lots of notes in books and articles, and the ability to sync those annotations with versions on my computer at home. I've see lots of discussions about the former, but less about the latter two. Here are my requirements, followed by a (incomplete) list of readers with their relative pros and cons. I'd like to get a reader as close to my ideal as possible, but I realize compromise is inevitable! Please comment if you can!

Primary use: Reading AND taking notes on journal articles, mostly PDFs, but some other formats. Some of my PDFs have actual PDF formatting (table of contents, ability to select text), but others are scanned images of books in Chinese (so no selecting text... a touch screen would seem to be the only solution)

Would replace: printed copies, or reading and annotating in computer PDF software like Adobe Acrobat.

Computer: Mac

eBook software: Calibre


Most important features:
- true epaper display (no LCD screen tablets).
- large enough screen to view full width of a PDF without having to zoom left and right (cutting page into two or three vertical parts is fine).
- highlights and notes I can sync with my Mac, so that my annotations are there whether I'm viewing file on my eReader or on my Mac (For PDFs, I think it would be ideal if they could be saved in the PDF itself, like Adobe Acrobat does).

Least important features:
- 3G connectivity
- Associated bookstore like Kindly store
- Other functions like a good browser, etc.


Notes:
- I think my ideal ereader would essentially be a light, epaper device that allows me to mark up my PDFs with a stylus in a similar way that I do with a pen on paper, or with mark-up tools in Adobe Acrobat. These files would then be viewable with my notations in Acrobat on my computer at home.
- I'm considering getting a Kindle 3 as a second device for casual eBook reading, just cause it's so cheap and easy to read on.
- I'm in Taiwan, so obtaining an Asus might be the easiest. I can't find the Sony readers on sale anywhere here, so if I decide on Sony or Kindle, I might have to order it from the US.
- I've heard Pocketbook and Hanvon readers have excellent PDF support, but I haven't found much info about them, or where I might get one.


eReader Notes:


Asus Eee Note EA-800, $200

Pros:
- large display
- looks awesome for notating due to Wacom stylus screen

Cons:
- stylus only touch (Sony can use finger or stylus)
- readability (not a true epaper display)
- batter life, only 10 hours


Asus DR-900 eReader

Pros:
- readability: ePaper display (Sipix, not E-ink pearl)


Sony PRS-950 Daily Edition, $300

Pros:
- large 7" screen makes text larger in landscape mode
- readability: Pearl
- touch screen, looks best for taking notes next to Eee Note.
- syncing: looks not to be a problem, plays with mac (not sure about annotations though)


Sony PRS-650

Pros:
- readability: Pearl
- portability: 6" E-ink pearl display (still big enough for PDF support?)
- touch screen, looks best for taking notes next to Eee Note.
- syncing: looks not to be a problem, plays with mac (not sure about annotations though)

Cons:
- Small screen

Kindle 3, $130

Pros:
- readability: Pearl
- portability: 6" E-ink pearl display (still big enough for PDF support?)

Cons:
- small screen
- not as much PDF functionality as Sony readers
- no touch screen

Kindle DX, $380

Pros:
- readability: Pearl
- screen size: seems to be the only device people say you can read a full page of PDF on (without zooming or scrolling)