Best reader for sub-optimal PDFs.

thefloydian · 01-06-2016, 07:08 AM

Hi, I'm looking to buy an e-reader, but I it to work for a specific task. I have a lot of PDFs of academic texts that have been scanned in page-by-page. The result is that they're just image files, so the font can't be re-sized or played with in any way. Is there a reader that can do anything useful with that? I would also like it to work well with the standard ebook types, but my biggest concern is the type of PDFs I have described.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can lend.

meeera · 01-06-2016, 07:39 AM

What do you mean by "anything useful"? Are you looking to just read the texts, or something else? For reading them, I suggest a ten inch tablet.

eschwartz · 01-06-2016, 09:58 AM

E-Ink ereaders as a rule don't do very well with PDF, and especially image PDFs.

Either use a tablet, or try k2pdfopt which will resize and reflow the PDF (yes, even image ones) in an effort to make it a bit more readable.
KOReader, an alternative PDF (and more) reader available for Android as well as community addons for the Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook, uses k2pdfopt to dynamically do the same.

Rizla · 01-06-2016, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefloydian

Hi, I'm looking to buy an e-reader, but I it to work for a specific task. I have a lot of PDFs of academic texts that have been scanned in page-by-page. The result is that they're just image files, so the font can't be re-sized or played with in any way. Is there a reader that can do anything useful with that? I would also like it to work well with the standard ebook types, but my biggest concern is the type of PDFs I have described.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can lend.

If you insist on e-ink...

You want maximum screen-size and maximum software options.

If you have the budget, the Onyx M96 is 9.7 inches and open Android so you can install a multitude of pdf reading apps.

Onyx also makes a 6.8 inch e-reader.

A six inch android reader (Onyx or a Boyue-type device) is better than nothing because again you can install pdf reading apps and read the pdfs in landscape.

I do read pdfs from time to time in this way. If you go this route, try to get an e-reader with a no-flash/A2 monochrome mode as it means you can scroll pdf documents without the screen flashing, rather like a tablet. I find this makes a big difference. I believe the Onyx has an A2 mode, but check.

I will add that it really helps if you have some tech savvy. This solution is not simple out-of-the-box like a Kindle. But you can get it to work okay.

rkomar · 01-07-2016, 03:35 AM

I scanned in my old textbooks and references many years ago, to use on my old PocketBook 902 ereader (9.7" screen). One thing I found was that gray scale images were hard to read, because of poor contrast. I had to convert all of the text to black-and-white to make it clear enough to read. E-Ink displays have improved since then, but I wouldn't doubt that gray scale images of text are still hard to read. If that's how your PDF's are scanned, then getting a tablet with a LCD display may be the best option.

meeera · 01-07-2016, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Either use a tablet, or try k2pdfopt which will resize and reflow the PDF (yes, even image ones)

How does it cope with diagrams, images, tables, and graphs?

eschwartz · 01-07-2016, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

How does it cope with diagrams, images, tables, and graphs?

I believe: images, images, reflowed, images.

I'm not sure of the exact heuristics, since I don't really do PDFs. But it has an impressive reputation for handling things like this in a way that makes people happy.

HarryT · 01-08-2016, 10:03 AM

I use a 9.7" iPad Air 2 to read academic PDFs. Works extremely well, and I'd highly recommend it if it's within the OP's budget.

01-06-2016, 07:08 AM	#1
thefloydian Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: none	Best reader for sub-optimal PDFs. Hi, I'm looking to buy an e-reader, but I it to work for a specific task. I have a lot of PDFs of academic texts that have been scanned in page-by-page. The result is that they're just image files, so the font can't be re-sized or played with in any way. Is there a reader that can do anything useful with that? I would also like it to work well with the standard ebook types, but my biggest concern is the type of PDFs I have described. Thanks in advance for any insight you can lend.

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01-06-2016, 07:39 AM	#2
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,814 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	What do you mean by "anything useful"? Are you looking to just read the texts, or something else? For reading them, I suggest a ten inch tablet.

01-06-2016, 09:58 AM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	E-Ink ereaders as a rule don't do very well with PDF, and especially image PDFs. Either use a tablet, or try k2pdfopt which will resize and reflow the PDF (yes, even image ones) in an effort to make it a bit more readable. KOReader, an alternative PDF (and more) reader available for Android as well as community addons for the Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook, uses k2pdfopt to dynamically do the same.

01-07-2016, 03:35 AM	#5
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,054 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I scanned in my old textbooks and references many years ago, to use on my old PocketBook 902 ereader (9.7" screen). One thing I found was that gray scale images were hard to read, because of poor contrast. I had to convert all of the text to black-and-white to make it clear enough to read. E-Ink displays have improved since then, but I wouldn't doubt that gray scale images of text are still hard to read. If that's how your PDF's are scanned, then getting a tablet with a LCD display may be the best option.

01-08-2016, 10:03 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I use a 9.7" iPad Air 2 to read academic PDFs. Works extremely well, and I'd highly recommend it if it's within the OP's budget.

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