MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - 16:10 vs 4:3 For Reading? Including PDFs.

Fret44 · 02-15-2015, 03:19 AM

I'm trying to decide on a new (first) tablet, and I'm looking for advice about aspect ratios.

I found an old discussion on this board dating from the 16:9 days, but I could not find anything specifically related to the 16:10s that are the norm these days. So I wanted to refresh the topic and see what you folks thought now.

Reading aside, I'd like a general use tablet that'll work well for web browsing and light, on the go computing. I will probably watch the occasional video on it, but I don't mind black bars. For that, I expect a 4:3 is the way to go.

For reading specifically, maybe 1/3rd of the material I'm going to be reading are properly formatted in a mobile format like epub. But about 2/3rds of what I need to read will be PDFs.

Those PDFs will be books, articles, and scans, which are either 8x11 format or standard hardcover sizes. Those, I believe, are actually closer to 16:10.

I was originally thinking I'd prefer 4:3, but now I'm having second thoughts. I'd like to see complete pages on those PDFs. Maybe 16:10 is the better choice.

I don't have enough experience to make an informed choice here, but I know a lot of you folks do.

Can you help me?

02-15-2015, 03:19 AM	#1
Fret44 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: none	16:10 vs 4:3 For Reading? Including PDFs. I'm trying to decide on a new (first) tablet, and I'm looking for advice about aspect ratios. I found an old discussion on this board dating from the 16:9 days, but I could not find anything specifically related to the 16:10s that are the norm these days. So I wanted to refresh the topic and see what you folks thought now. Reading aside, I'd like a general use tablet that'll work well for web browsing and light, on the go computing. I will probably watch the occasional video on it, but I don't mind black bars. For that, I expect a 4:3 is the way to go. For reading specifically, maybe 1/3rd of the material I'm going to be reading are properly formatted in a mobile format like epub. But about 2/3rds of what I need to read will be PDFs. Those PDFs will be books, articles, and scans, which are either 8x11 format or standard hardcover sizes. Those, I believe, are actually closer to 16:10. I was originally thinking I'd prefer 4:3, but now I'm having second thoughts. I'd like to see complete pages on those PDFs. Maybe 16:10 is the better choice. I don't have enough experience to make an informed choice here, but I know a lot of you folks do. Can you help me?