Tablet PC for PDFs?

Tester · 08-04-2008, 11:05 AM

Does anyone here use a Tablet PC to read PDFs? I had read on some earlier threads that they are too heavy and become too hot for comfortable reading. Is this true, or have people found solutions for using a Tablet PC as a reading device?

WillAdams · 08-04-2008, 12:41 PM

I've read a number of books on my Fujitsu Stylistic 4110 (and my 2300 and Point 510 and NCR-3125 before that).

Heft is relative, more than a paperpack or magazine, less than a largish reference book.

The heat thing can be a bit of an issue, though usually, running a .pdf reader doesn't tax the machine enough that it works hard enough that the fan has to come on (when I had the 2300 running off a Compact Flash card, it was much cooler though) --- playing a game is when heat becomes a concern IME.

William

RickyMaveety · 08-04-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tester

Does anyone here use a Tablet PC to read PDFs? I had read on some earlier threads that they are too heavy and become too hot for comfortable reading. Is this true, or have people found solutions for using a Tablet PC as a reading device?

I have an old TC1000 (HP) that I use as a pdf reader. It's not very heavy, and doesn't run so hot that it bothers me. However, I have used a silicone pad under it for comfort sometimes.

HowGozit · 08-09-2008, 10:29 AM

Hi,

I use a tablet a fair bit - they are good for PDF's, and I also use them for Zinio magazines. Toshiba M700 usually - I also read .lit and .prc files. Weight is significant, but in a train, you can live with it..

Also use a UMPC. Asus r2Hv. The colour screen is nice - and the machines are versatile. Battery life is grim though. The Sony 505 is nicer for novels - and it is lighter and the battery last for weeks,
Horses for courses...

Rosss

RCR · 08-10-2008, 06:35 PM

I've been considering getting a tablet PC to read pdf's. I have a Sony 505 which even with the upgrading, STILL does a poor job with pdf's.

My current travel laptop is an ASUS eee but that has such a small screen and is awkward to hold like a book when it is open. I often wish there was some way of folding the ASUS screen right back or swivelling it like a tablet.

But now... maybe the answer to my prayers...

jkOnTheRun has a review of the new "Kojinsha Sx3kpo6ma". This PC is approximately the same size as the ASUS eee, with better specs. And it has a swivel screen so it can be used in tablet mode. It's pricey, but maybe other manufacturers will copy.

parryl · 08-18-2008, 11:09 PM

for tablets

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/18/h...-off-on-video/

looks cools and waiting for the prices in singapore . got a feeling its going to come close to a iliad

also i test the dell's tablet for 6 months love it too .

http://www.istartedsomething.com/200...let-pc-review/

ProDigit · 10-19-2008, 03:24 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXGB2m3EqOU

bbusybookworm · 10-20-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCR

jkOnTheRun has a review of the new "Kojinsha Sx3kpo6ma". This PC is approximately the same size as the ASUS eee, with better specs. And it has a swivel screen so it can be used in tablet mode. It's pricey, but maybe other manufacturers will copy.

Have you considered Intel's Classmate, which I believe is expected to come out in January 09.

Its supposed to be small and to have swivel touch screen, and cost about $500.

JKontherun and Gottabemobile have both meade mention of it and given some specs.

mjh215 · 10-20-2008, 11:58 AM

The tablet I looked at (not made anymore) that seemed like the nicest format for someone just wanting a PDF reader was the NEC Versa LitePad. If it seems like what you want you might be able to get one secondhand. I found one locally but didn't have the spare dosh at the time.

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablet-pcs/n...-20867312.html

-MJ

ProDigit · 10-20-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCR

jkOnTheRun has a review of the new "Kojinsha Sx3kpo6ma". This PC is approximately the same size as the ASUS eee, with better specs. And it has a swivel screen so it can be used in tablet mode. It's pricey, but maybe other manufacturers will copy.

As far as I remember, the kohjinsha runs on Vista with a 1,2 to 1,3Ghz Atom processor. The processor was slower than most mini notebooks, since it was created for devices like Palmtops, nettops, and oversized cellphones, not for laptops.
We done the test on one of them and it runs XP very slow, so imagine Vista...
Was this the one you where referring to?

If you want something really good,why not a fujitsu? They've got a 5" screen with 1280x800 resolution. To today it's the smallest,most powerfull device you can get!

Or,go for a Gigabyte, which has swivel touch and/or swivel screen as well and is plenty cheaper!

I personally would not use a tablet pc for reading pdf's,although it is possible.
The difference between a tablet pc and a laptop is small, and I find no reason to pay more for the tablet version, and last with less battery than a normal laptop.
Like mentioned above, there are laptops these days with swivel screens.

They seem the more common thing to buy to view PDF.
Ofcourse, it'll all depend on what plastic logics is going to do.
If they are going to sell their Plastic Logics reader for a price near to $500-800,it would be certainly more common sense to buy a laptop, Especially if they didn't manage to get outstanding battery life out of the device.
A laptop is like 20x faster and can display colors. Worst case you can still use a laptop with swivel screen on low backlight outside in the sunshine and get the same effect as e-ink devices only a lot darker and more difficult to read, but in color.

If they could price it very competitive despite having excellent battery life, (sub $400-500),we could see affordable e-ink devices on the market very soon,that are excellent devices to read PDF's.

zensilby · 12-19-2008, 10:38 AM

I use an m1400 from Motion for reading. I read a large amount of Etextbooks that are all in .pdf format and can be graph/ formula heavy at times. I really had no choice if I wanted something ultra portable with a large screen. Reading novels and such can have a strain on your eyes compared to the e-ink options available though.

DDHarriman · 12-19-2008, 12:06 PM

Using them since 2003 and loving every moment.

Tabletpc’s rock as a reading experience... I still read all my A4 PDF papers in my tabletpc (now a venerable Toshiba M200 3.5 years old) and all the other stuff that does not play well in my Cybook too.

Also have a Acer C110 as a backup and a Asus R2H UMPC for vacations and the fun of it.

All of these babies manage to be outstanding PDF readers (and eBook readers too when needed).

08-04-2008, 11:05 AM	#1
Tester Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: EeePC	Tablet PC for PDFs? Does anyone here use a Tablet PC to read PDFs? I had read on some earlier threads that they are too heavy and become too hot for comfortable reading. Is this true, or have people found solutions for using a Tablet PC as a reading device?

08-10-2008, 06:35 PM	#5
RCR Addict Posts: 334 Karma: 992487 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: 2 x Sony 505, iPad, Samsung 7 Tablet, ASUS Transformer, Nexus 7	New mini tablet - Kojinsha I've been considering getting a tablet PC to read pdf's. I have a Sony 505 which even with the upgrading, STILL does a poor job with pdf's. My current travel laptop is an ASUS eee but that has such a small screen and is awkward to hold like a book when it is open. I often wish there was some way of folding the ASUS screen right back or swivelling it like a tablet. But now... maybe the answer to my prayers... jkOnTheRun has a review of the new "Kojinsha Sx3kpo6ma". This PC is approximately the same size as the ASUS eee, with better specs. And it has a swivel screen so it can be used in tablet mode. It's pricey, but maybe other manufacturers will copy.

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08-04-2008, 12:41 PM	#2
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,258 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	I've read a number of books on my Fujitsu Stylistic 4110 (and my 2300 and Point 510 and NCR-3125 before that). Heft is relative, more than a paperpack or magazine, less than a largish reference book. The heat thing can be a bit of an issue, though usually, running a .pdf reader doesn't tax the machine enough that it works hard enough that the fan has to come on (when I had the 2300 running off a Compact Flash card, it was much cooler though) --- playing a game is when heat becomes a concern IME. William

08-09-2008, 10:29 AM	#4
HowGozit Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 2226 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS650, Kobo, Asus Tab 8, iPod Touch, Galaxy Tab, Surface Pr2	Hi, I use a tablet a fair bit - they are good for PDF's, and I also use them for Zinio magazines. Toshiba M700 usually - I also read .lit and .prc files. Weight is significant, but in a train, you can live with it.. Also use a UMPC. Asus r2Hv. The colour screen is nice - and the machines are versatile. Battery life is grim though. The Sony 505 is nicer for novels - and it is lighter and the battery last for weeks, Horses for courses... Rosss

08-18-2008, 11:09 PM	#6
parryl Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 36 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: iliad / nokia 6600 slide	for tablets http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/18/h...-off-on-video/ looks cools and waiting for the prices in singapore . got a feeling its going to come close to a iliad also i test the dell's tablet for 6 months love it too . http://www.istartedsomething.com/200...let-pc-review/

10-19-2008, 03:24 PM	#7
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXGB2m3EqOU

10-20-2008, 11:58 AM	#9
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	The tablet I looked at (not made anymore) that seemed like the nicest format for someone just wanting a PDF reader was the NEC Versa LitePad. If it seems like what you want you might be able to get one secondhand. I found one locally but didn't have the spare dosh at the time. http://reviews.cnet.com/tablet-pcs/n...-20867312.html -MJ

12-19-2008, 10:38 AM	#11
zensilby Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: MC M1400	I use an m1400 from Motion for reading. I read a large amount of Etextbooks that are all in .pdf format and can be graph/ formula heavy at times. I really had no choice if I wanted something ultra portable with a large screen. Reading novels and such can have a strain on your eyes compared to the e-ink options available though.

12-19-2008, 12:06 PM	#12
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Using them since 2003 and loving every moment. Tabletpc’s rock as a reading experience... I still read all my A4 PDF papers in my tabletpc (now a venerable Toshiba M200 3.5 years old) and all the other stuff that does not play well in my Cybook too. Also have a Acer C110 as a backup and a Asus R2H UMPC for vacations and the fun of it. All of these babies manage to be outstanding PDF readers (and eBook readers too when needed).

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