13.3” for RPG books?

[tiltowait]

I have a few hundred RPG books on PDF. While I have a 12.9” iPad, I much prefer eInk. I’m currently reading on my Kobo Aura One with KOReader, but this is a subpar experience for a number of reasons I won’t bother getting into. I’d like a reader that lets me display the entire page in full size, and the 13.3” eReaders are the closest thing to that goal.

I’m looking for one with the following features:

* 13.3” (duh)
* Frontlight, if possible
* File tagging rather than just folders
* Cropped reading (like KOReader)

Do any of the available models have these features? Note-taking with a stylus would be nice, but it’s not a necessity.

[etn]

As far as I know, no 13.3 inch reader on the market today has frontlight. (I'd buy one in a heartbeat if there were one... holding off for now)

[stumped]

Originally Posted by etn

As far as I know, no 13.3 inch reader on the market today has frontlight. (I'd buy one in a heartbeat if there were one... holding off for now)

I guess that shining light evenly from the edges across such a wide expanse is a challenge - given that many 6 inch devices still don't get it good enough to satisfy all customers

backlight with LED is probably much simpler

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by stumped

I guess that shining light evenly from the edges across such a wide expanse is a challenge - given that many 6 inch devices still don't get it good enough to satisfy all customers

backlight with LED is probably much simpler

The light layer must also be flat, while the large plastic-substrate displays are slightly bumpy and flexible. I'm sure they tried it, but the light was probably annoyingly uneven. You need a glass-substrate display to use a light layer, and that would need a case that didn't allow the display to flex at all. Pocketbook had plans for a 13.3" device with a glass substrate for viewing architectural drawings, but it was a flop because it apparently was ridiculously heavy and still very fragile. So, the choice is either light and durable with no light, or heavy and fragile with light.

[ratinox]

eInk is great for reading but it's not so good for skimming for example through spell lists. Tried it with my Kindle DX back in the day and it was not the best experience. Even a 7" tablet does a better job with my game books than the DX did or my Aura One does.

And a Surface Pro does even better, for what little that's worth.

[robko]

Originally Posted by rkomar

You need a glass-substrate display to use a light layer,....

That's not true. The Kobo Forma has a plastic substrate and front lighting.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by robko

That's not true. The Kobo Forma has a plastic substrate and front lighting.

Huh! I wonder how they get the backplane to stay flat? The Sony forum has lots of posts from people asking if anyone else's display is bumpy or wavy. Maybe the Forma uses a thicker backplane since it doesn't have to be as flexible as Sony's devices.

[BookyHatguy]

I cant find any free rpg book to read. Never read anything in this genre.. Any advice where to get at least one of these? Im not even sure how it works.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Huh! I wonder how they get the backplane to stay flat? The Sony forum has lots of posts from people asking if anyone else's display is bumpy or wavy. Maybe the Forma uses a thicker backplane since it doesn't have to be as flexible as Sony's devices.

Plastics like polycarbonate can be extruded with optically smooth surfaces. If Sony units exhibit irregularities it's not due to plastics per se.

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by ratinox

Plastics like polycarbonate can be extruded with optically smooth surfaces. If Sony units exhibit irregularities it's not due to plastics per se.

The plastic is the substrate for the display electronics. It could be that the process of building the electronics onto the plastic can warp the latter from the heat. A thin substrate would probably warp more than a thicker one.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by rkomar

The plastic is the substrate for the display electronics. It could be that the process of building the electronics onto the plastic can warp the latter from the heat. A thin substrate would probably warp more than a thicker one.

Depends on polymer. Some like PLA melt at fairly low temperatures (~150C); others like PEEK melt at much higher temperatures (~350C). In other words, there's more to it than "it's plastic".

Pretty sure they're not using PLA; it's too brittle. Owners would be seeing cracks rather than warps.