Sub-$200 for pdf, djvu, etc.

marglartifar · 04-09-2021, 06:48 PM

I know the recommendation is to use 10"+ screens for viewing fixed-format documents, but so far all the options I've seen are out of my price range. Waterproofing is a big bonus for me, so I'm tempted by the kobo libra H20. I saw someone say they're happy using one to read PDF in landscape. Compared to a smartphone, this still seems like a big improvement to me.

Are there other options in or close to my price range I should be considering? Any other thoughts? Thanks!

ottdmk · 04-10-2021, 01:25 PM

I have an 8" Lenovo tablet (the Tab 8 HD) that I use for on-the-go PDF reading. It's currently priced at $169 in Canada; I got really lucky on a sale and picked it up last November for $99. The next model up, the Tab 8 FHD, is currently on sale, so it's the same price as the HD right now, $169.

Anyways, it's not waterproof, but it's a great PDF reader. It runs Android 10, so pretty much any app works on it. One of the PDF readers I use, EBookDroid, will handle djvu.

I've heard that the Libra is ok for PDF. Heck, my Aura H2O (1st Gen) is ok for PDF. I don't use it on a regular basis, as I find my tablet far superior, but I've read a few gaming books (which are all PDF) on the H2O and it's been ok.

marglartifar · 04-10-2021, 02:54 PM

Interesting perspective, thank you! I'm leaning more toward something with an e-ink display because I want something that is *just* for books, papers, etc. (and I've never owned one), but I will have to look a little closer at the tablets. Thanks for the extra thoughts on the Libra/Aura as well!

Quoth · 04-10-2021, 04:04 PM

The Libra is only OK for small PDFs. I use my Lenovo 10" for magasines and datasheets. Some old scanned books are small enough for the 6.8" Mars, which has auto-crop and settings to remove watermarks and make background white. You'd need to preprocess PDFs or install a 3rd party reader on the Libra, even then plenty of PDFs are too big.
Small instruction books/manuals (A5 size max) are OK on the Libra. The libra is one of the best for ebooks. Screen size and of features on the PDF reading is an issue for PDFs.

marglartifar · 04-10-2021, 04:12 PM

Hmm, OK. You guys are getting me more and more interested in the Lenovos. The 8" FHD appears to be on sale too, but maybe it's worth forking over for the 10". :thinking_face: Thanks!

04-09-2021, 06:48 PM	#1
marglartifar Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2021 Device: none	Sub-$200 for pdf, djvu, etc. I know the recommendation is to use 10"+ screens for viewing fixed-format documents, but so far all the options I've seen are out of my price range. Waterproofing is a big bonus for me, so I'm tempted by the kobo libra H20. I saw someone say they're happy using one to read PDF in landscape. Compared to a smartphone, this still seems like a big improvement to me. Are there other options in or close to my price range I should be considering? Any other thoughts? Thanks!

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04-10-2021, 01:25 PM	#2
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 8" Lenovo tablet (the Tab 8 HD) that I use for on-the-go PDF reading. It's currently priced at $169 in Canada; I got really lucky on a sale and picked it up last November for $99. The next model up, the Tab 8 FHD, is currently on sale, so it's the same price as the HD right now, $169. Anyways, it's not waterproof, but it's a great PDF reader. It runs Android 10, so pretty much any app works on it. One of the PDF readers I use, EBookDroid, will handle djvu. I've heard that the Libra is ok for PDF. Heck, my Aura H2O (1st Gen) is ok for PDF. I don't use it on a regular basis, as I find my tablet far superior, but I've read a few gaming books (which are all PDF) on the H2O and it's been ok.

04-10-2021, 02:54 PM	#3
marglartifar Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2021 Device: none	Interesting perspective, thank you! I'm leaning more toward something with an e-ink display because I want something that is just for books, papers, etc. (and I've never owned one), but I will have to look a little closer at the tablets. Thanks for the extra thoughts on the Libra/Aura as well!

04-10-2021, 04:04 PM	#4
Quoth Still reading Posts: 13,933 Karma: 103895653 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	The Libra is only OK for small PDFs. I use my Lenovo 10" for magasines and datasheets. Some old scanned books are small enough for the 6.8" Mars, which has auto-crop and settings to remove watermarks and make background white. You'd need to preprocess PDFs or install a 3rd party reader on the Libra, even then plenty of PDFs are too big. Small instruction books/manuals (A5 size max) are OK on the Libra. The libra is one of the best for ebooks. Screen size and of features on the PDF reading is an issue for PDFs.

04-10-2021, 04:12 PM	#5
marglartifar Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2021 Device: none	Hmm, OK. You guys are getting me more and more interested in the Lenovos. The 8" FHD appears to be on sale too, but maybe it's worth forking over for the 10". :thinking_face: Thanks!

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