pdf tablets

peaceridge · 07-31-2015, 10:09 PM

It seems that all the threads on this are at least a year old, so I though I start a newer one. I have a Nexus 7 2013 and am perfectly happy with it as an epub reader. However, I'm starting some research and need to view pdf files with lots of tables and such (so no converting with Calibre). I want to view pdf files without having to zoom. I'm thinking of a tablet around 9-10". Been researching like crazy - aspect ratios - ppi - etc. and am now completely confused.

Would really like an expansion slot but not totally necessary. Currently am looking at the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1. Can't see much difference except the price tag.

Am I missing one that might be better than the above 2?

ebusinesstutor · 07-31-2015, 11:36 PM

Surface Pro 3 is a nice size for this.

meeera · 07-31-2015, 11:51 PM

iPad Air 2. If nothing else, the weight difference alone should put it on your list. Battery life, too.

AnemicOak · 08-01-2015, 12:01 AM

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" & Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2" both look really nice.

Are these PDF's mostly 8-1/2 x 11 or some other page dimension?

HarryT · 08-01-2015, 03:28 AM

I've not come across an Android PDF reader that's as good as Goodreader for the iPad, so an iPad is my recommendation. I read a lot of PDFs on my iPad for my Egyptology degree and it works very well indeed. I also find that that 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad is a better fit to the page shape of most PDFs than the 16:10 of most Android tablets is.

Teknikal · 08-01-2015, 05:45 AM

My Note Pro 12.2 does the job pretty well with pdf files/comics (big advantage of the huge screen as it shows the full page big and readable) but I think you could get away with no zooming on a roughly 10" tablet.

I would think going any smaller would force you zoom a lot and be irritating.

Mantano Reader is a very good PDF reader for Android which doubles as an epub reader it's what I use anyway.

Biggest difference between the Note series and the tab series is probably the S-pen which is a Wacom based stylus which comes with the Note range, I like it a lot it lets you do things like go into a drawing app and choose pen only mode, then you can draw without your hands effecting the screen it's also handy for being more accurate really anywhere and things like handwriting etc.

HarryT · 08-01-2015, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teknikal

My Note Pro 12.2 does the job pretty well with pdf files/comics (big advantage of the huge screen as it shows the full page big and readable) but I think you could get away with no zooming on a roughly 10" tablet.

I would think going any smaller would force you zoom a lot and be irritating.

That's what I used to think, but almost all PDF docs are readable without zooming on my iPad Mini, which has a 7.9" screen. It's just a matter of zooming such that the margins are removed.

peaceridge · 08-01-2015, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

Surface Pro 3 is a nice size for this.

Yes, I thought about that one - but - it is Windows 8.1 which I don't like - as far as Windows 10 - I travel with a limited data plan, so their automatic downloads might cost me big $. Maybe if XDA comes out with a way of keeping that from happening before I buy a tablet, that would be the one I go for.

peaceridge · 08-01-2015, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" & Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2" both look really nice.

Are these PDF's mostly 8-1/2 x 11 or some other page dimension?

Yes, most of them are PDF scans of really old unobtainable books. Readable, but not really convertable.

peaceridge · 08-01-2015, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've not come across an Android PDF reader that's as good as Goodreader for the iPad, so an iPad is my recommendation. I read a lot of PDFs on my iPad for my Egyptology degree and it works very well indeed. I also find that that 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad is a better fit to the page shape of most PDFs than the 16:10 of most Android tablets is.

meeera, HarryT - thanks I don't particularly like Apple's closed system, but I'm willing to consider it, especially since, as HarryT says, it is a 4:3 aspect. This is something I needed to know.

peaceridge · 08-01-2015, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teknikal

Mantano Reader is a very good PDF reader for Android which doubles as an epub reader it's what I use anyway.

Biggest difference between the Note series and the tab series is probably the S-pen which is a Wacom based stylus which comes with the Note range, I like it a lot it lets you do things like go into a drawing app and choose pen only mode, then you can draw without your hands effecting the screen it's also handy for being more accurate really anywhere and things like handwriting etc.

That's what I was really asking (without knowing it) - the difference between the 2 series. I should have known as I have a Note 4 phone.

Definitely puts the Note above the tab on my list!

Yes, I agree with Mantano being the best for pdfs. I don't like it for epubs, I use Pocketbook for them.

cgsmom · 08-01-2015, 09:30 AM

Just my 2 cents. I have a lot of pdf craft magazines. The pdf reader apps that I tried on my old Nooks (Tablet and HD+) wouldn't show the first page as the cover. Since I got an iPad, I use iBooks as my pdf reader. It does a great job. The magazines fit the screen size better than the aspect ration of my Nooks. Since I don't buy books from Apple, I only have pdfs in iBooks. I organize them in collections. Works well for me.

peaceridge · 08-01-2015, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgsmom

Just my 2 cents. I have a lot of pdf craft magazines. The pdf reader apps that I tried on my old Nooks (Tablet and HD+) wouldn't show the first page as the cover. Since I got an iPad, I use iBooks as my pdf reader. It does a great job. The magazines fit the screen size better than the aspect ration of my Nooks. Since I don't buy books from Apple, I only have pdfs in iBooks. I organize them in collections. Works well for me.

Do you have an Apple computer? I have a Windows 7 and didn't think I could sideload books from it to an iPad.

ottdmk · 08-01-2015, 09:40 AM

I have an Asus FHD 10 tablet. Works great for PDFs, and it came fairly cheap.

HarryT · 08-01-2015, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaceridge

Do you have an Apple computer? I have a Windows 7 and didn't think I could sideload books from it to an iPad.

Yep - just drag and drop in iTunes.

07-31-2015, 10:09 PM	#1
peaceridge Wizard Posts: 1,019 Karma: 4407864 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Kobo Aura1, Nexus7.2, Galaxy Tab A 8.4, Ipad Air & Mini 6	pdf tablets It seems that all the threads on this are at least a year old, so I though I start a newer one. I have a Nexus 7 2013 and am perfectly happy with it as an epub reader. However, I'm starting some research and need to view pdf files with lots of tables and such (so no converting with Calibre). I want to view pdf files without having to zoom. I'm thinking of a tablet around 9-10". Been researching like crazy - aspect ratios - ppi - etc. and am now completely confused. Would really like an expansion slot but not totally necessary. Currently am looking at the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1. Can't see much difference except the price tag. Am I missing one that might be better than the above 2?

07-31-2015, 11:51 PM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,803 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	iPad Air 2. If nothing else, the weight difference alone should put it on your list. Battery life, too. Last edited by meeera; 08-01-2015 at 12:05 AM.

08-01-2015, 05:45 AM	#6
Teknikal Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 5264318 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belfast Device: Sony T1, Note Pro 12.2, Honor 10	My Note Pro 12.2 does the job pretty well with pdf files/comics (big advantage of the huge screen as it shows the full page big and readable) but I think you could get away with no zooming on a roughly 10" tablet. I would think going any smaller would force you zoom a lot and be irritating. Mantano Reader is a very good PDF reader for Android which doubles as an epub reader it's what I use anyway. Biggest difference between the Note series and the tab series is probably the S-pen which is a Wacom based stylus which comes with the Note range, I like it a lot it lets you do things like go into a drawing app and choose pen only mode, then you can draw without your hands effecting the screen it's also handy for being more accurate really anywhere and things like handwriting etc. Last edited by Teknikal; 08-01-2015 at 06:19 AM.

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07-31-2015, 11:36 PM	#2
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Surface Pro 3 is a nice size for this.

08-01-2015, 12:01 AM	#4
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" & Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2" both look really nice. Are these PDF's mostly 8-1/2 x 11 or some other page dimension?

08-01-2015, 03:28 AM	#5
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've not come across an Android PDF reader that's as good as Goodreader for the iPad, so an iPad is my recommendation. I read a lot of PDFs on my iPad for my Egyptology degree and it works very well indeed. I also find that that 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad is a better fit to the page shape of most PDFs than the 16:10 of most Android tablets is.

08-01-2015, 09:30 AM	#12
cgsmom Addict Posts: 322 Karma: 3141593 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Device: Kindle Colorsoft, Nook GL4+, Nook GL4, Kindle Oasis 3, iPhone 14	Just my 2 cents. I have a lot of pdf craft magazines. The pdf reader apps that I tried on my old Nooks (Tablet and HD+) wouldn't show the first page as the cover. Since I got an iPad, I use iBooks as my pdf reader. It does a great job. The magazines fit the screen size better than the aspect ration of my Nooks. Since I don't buy books from Apple, I only have pdfs in iBooks. I organize them in collections. Works well for me.

08-01-2015, 09:40 AM	#14
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,220 Karma: 3804496 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M9	I have an Asus FHD 10 tablet. Works great for PDFs, and it came fairly cheap.

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