MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Which one for me? math/sci grad student, tech docs + recreational reader + note takin

reso · 03-22-2009, 01:45 AM

Howdy Folks,

Thinking about making the jump and getting an ebook reader. Not necessarily because I think that any of the products out there are "there" yet for what I really want, but I want to support the technology so that the companies will eventually release what I fully want.

What I really want: Wifi and/or cell network (like the iphone), SDHC, 16 gb internal memory, touch screen, with note taking software that automatically renders mathematical equations into the LaTeX typesetting langauge, small sized ultra portable reader (size of sony reader but as thin as ipod) with ultra long lasting battery, backlight, rotate/zoom/next page gestures that work very fast like in the new macbook/macbook pros, audio voice recording of memos, free-form anotation of pdfs, with automatic synching with a desktop PC/mac, very fast searching of many gigabytes of pdfs, no drm and ability to access the Linux shell and/or compile my own programs and scripts for the device.

Well, as you all know, no products achieve all of that ambitious list, but maybe one day.

I am in Canada, so the amazons kindle wireless service isn't available for me, but the features that I *really* need are:

- Ability to read mathematics, physics and technical pdfs that I have downloaded from the web
- External memory support (SDHC)
- Touch screen (I really would like to be able to take notes as well)

I am open to any and all suggestions, comments and discussion about this! I have a bit of a problem with acquiring computers, so I have a couple of laptops I could always use to read media in a portable fashion, but I really like the idea of being able to whip out the ebook reader to read a book or take some notes.

I am thinking of the Sony PRS-700, but a few questions if anyone can answer them:

- How does it do at displaying Mathematics, especially those typeset with LaTex, or multi-column scientific PDF documents downloaded scientific journals?

- Can you take notes on it with the stylus? What format do you download the notes from the device in?

Anyone have any suggestions? Do you think the PRS-700 will be suitable for reading math, physics and other technical documents?

Thanks for the input!!

03-22-2009, 01:45 AM	#1
reso Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Which one for me? math/sci grad student, tech docs + recreational reader + note takin Howdy Folks, Thinking about making the jump and getting an ebook reader. Not necessarily because I think that any of the products out there are "there" yet for what I really want, but I want to support the technology so that the companies will eventually release what I fully want. What I really want: Wifi and/or cell network (like the iphone), SDHC, 16 gb internal memory, touch screen, with note taking software that automatically renders mathematical equations into the LaTeX typesetting langauge, small sized ultra portable reader (size of sony reader but as thin as ipod) with ultra long lasting battery, backlight, rotate/zoom/next page gestures that work very fast like in the new macbook/macbook pros, audio voice recording of memos, free-form anotation of pdfs, with automatic synching with a desktop PC/mac, very fast searching of many gigabytes of pdfs, no drm and ability to access the Linux shell and/or compile my own programs and scripts for the device. Well, as you all know, no products achieve all of that ambitious list, but maybe one day. I am in Canada, so the amazons kindle wireless service isn't available for me, but the features that I really need are: - Ability to read mathematics, physics and technical pdfs that I have downloaded from the web - External memory support (SDHC) - Touch screen (I really would like to be able to take notes as well) I am open to any and all suggestions, comments and discussion about this! I have a bit of a problem with acquiring computers, so I have a couple of laptops I could always use to read media in a portable fashion, but I really like the idea of being able to whip out the ebook reader to read a book or take some notes. I am thinking of the Sony PRS-700, but a few questions if anyone can answer them: - How does it do at displaying Mathematics, especially those typeset with LaTex, or multi-column scientific PDF documents downloaded scientific journals? - Can you take notes on it with the stylus? What format do you download the notes from the device in? Anyone have any suggestions? Do you think the PRS-700 will be suitable for reading math, physics and other technical documents? Thanks for the input!! Last edited by reso; 03-22-2009 at 02:59 AM.