I need advice!

fox0r · 04-16-2010, 01:48 AM

I am a college student, and I am looking to get a reader to hopefully download textbooks (if they are available) so that way I don't have to lug around so many at school. I have enough back problems as it is, carrying around 3 big ol hard bound text books isn't helping.

I was looking at the Nook and the Kindle. Amazon has a few of the books I am currently using (not sure what I need for next term yet), where as B&N has no ebook text books that I can fine.

I have read that it is possible to convert Amazon's Kindle formatted books into a format that the Nook can read, though.

I will need to be able to highlight, make notes, dog-ear, etc.

Anyone have any advice between the two? Or something better, maybe?

Thanks.

HarryT · 04-16-2010, 02:41 AM

No device with a 6" screen is really satisfactory when it comes to displaying textbook PDFs. I'd suggest looking at something like the iRex DR800SG instead.

fox0r · 04-16-2010, 12:27 PM

$400 is too much for my student budget, unfortunately. I was looking more in the $250-$300 range that the Kindle and Nook are in.

I also see that the iRex has a stylus... and I loathe them, personally. If there's one thing I always end up losing... LOL

OrcaBlue · 04-16-2010, 12:51 PM

I think Sony PRS-600 may be what you're looking for. You can highlight, annotate, and dog-ear your text book. You can highlight using your finger or the stylus. It also have a built-in dictionary.

You can get a refurbish one from Sony for $264.99 or get a used one from Ebay. There are few with Buy It now with $249. Some used one are going around $200.

Although, the screen for DR800SG is nice. There are quite a few figure that is not available at this time (i.e., scribbling, annotate, zoom, etc.) and no dictionary is planned for the future.

The PRS 600 screen is not as clear and has glare due to the touchscreen. However, all the features it has are rock solid. Work very well. It does have PDF zoom so you can zoom into your charts and diagrams.

fox0r · 04-16-2010, 01:05 PM

The Best Buy here has the Sony you suggested on display. I'll have to get over there and play with it one of these days.

OrcaBlue · 04-16-2010, 01:13 PM

Another contender is the Onyx Boox 60.

Pro: Lots of features, annotate, scribbling, zooming, better screen than PRS 600, wifi connection (limited to google, wikipedia, and onyx site).

Con: $339, use Wacom stylus, 4 days battery life.

Logseman · 04-16-2010, 01:53 PM

If you can wait until summer (right before classes begin), you could take a look aht the Pocketbook 901 and 902. It has a 9,7 inch screen, and if its PDF support is as good as it promises, you can count on a very valid ressource for reading textbooks.

soilwork · 04-16-2010, 05:52 PM

I would recommend not considering readers with 6 inch screen to read PDF books and journal articles. I tried to read journal articles using PRS-505 but 6 inch screen simply does not work. You need to put a lot of work to make PDF readable on 6 inch screen and, even then, it is not satisfactory.

With small screen, you need flexible zoom to read PDFs without conversion but it does not work well with slow e-ink screen. Only reasonable alternative is to get a bigger screen reader.

Recently, I got enTourage eDGe (499$), with 9.7in e-ink screen and very flexible zoom, most PDF journal articles work well. But, sometimes, I wish the screen is bigger with two column PDF jounals with very narrow side margins. If you are planning to read one column PDFs, then 9.7 inch screen will work fine.

Given your requirement enTourage eDGe may be the best alternative available at the moment even though it costs more than your price range (250~300$). So, I would recommend you to wait for eDGe to come down in price or new alternatives with bigger screen (Skiff maybe since Que has too high-price tag).

04-16-2010, 01:48 AM	#1
fox0r Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: none	I need advice! I am a college student, and I am looking to get a reader to hopefully download textbooks (if they are available) so that way I don't have to lug around so many at school. I have enough back problems as it is, carrying around 3 big ol hard bound text books isn't helping. I was looking at the Nook and the Kindle. Amazon has a few of the books I am currently using (not sure what I need for next term yet), where as B&N has no ebook text books that I can fine. I have read that it is possible to convert Amazon's Kindle formatted books into a format that the Nook can read, though. I will need to be able to highlight, make notes, dog-ear, etc. Anyone have any advice between the two? Or something better, maybe? Thanks.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New to all this and I need some advice	S-F	PDF	7	03-18-2010 09:27 AM
Help, I need some advice	usagi_chan	Which one should I buy?	2	08-19-2009 01:23 PM
need some advice	KingDani	iRex	17	01-28-2009 12:44 AM
Advice !!!	Lector	Upload Help	1	02-22-2008 08:42 AM
Looking For Advice	Thevor	Which one should I buy?	2	02-18-2008 11:41 PM

04-16-2010, 02:41 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No device with a 6" screen is really satisfactory when it comes to displaying textbook PDFs. I'd suggest looking at something like the iRex DR800SG instead.

04-16-2010, 12:27 PM	#3
fox0r Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: none	$400 is too much for my student budget, unfortunately. I was looking more in the $250-$300 range that the Kindle and Nook are in. I also see that the iRex has a stylus... and I loathe them, personally. If there's one thing I always end up losing... LOL

04-16-2010, 12:51 PM	#4
OrcaBlue Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 2190 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	I think Sony PRS-600 may be what you're looking for. You can highlight, annotate, and dog-ear your text book. You can highlight using your finger or the stylus. It also have a built-in dictionary. You can get a refurbish one from Sony for $264.99 or get a used one from Ebay. There are few with Buy It now with $249. Some used one are going around $200. Although, the screen for DR800SG is nice. There are quite a few figure that is not available at this time (i.e., scribbling, annotate, zoom, etc.) and no dictionary is planned for the future. The PRS 600 screen is not as clear and has glare due to the touchscreen. However, all the features it has are rock solid. Work very well. It does have PDF zoom so you can zoom into your charts and diagrams.

04-16-2010, 01:05 PM	#5
fox0r Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: none	The Best Buy here has the Sony you suggested on display. I'll have to get over there and play with it one of these days.

04-16-2010, 01:13 PM	#6
OrcaBlue Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 2190 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	Another contender is the Onyx Boox 60. Pro: Lots of features, annotate, scribbling, zooming, better screen than PRS 600, wifi connection (limited to google, wikipedia, and onyx site). Con: $339, use Wacom stylus, 4 days battery life.

04-16-2010, 01:53 PM	#7
Logseman Orisa Posts: 2,001 Karma: 1035571 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Onyx Poke 5	If you can wait until summer (right before classes begin), you could take a look aht the Pocketbook 901 and 902. It has a 9,7 inch screen, and if its PDF support is as good as it promises, you can count on a very valid ressource for reading textbooks.

04-16-2010, 05:52 PM	#8
soilwork useR! Posts: 299 Karma: 651 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NY Device: Onyx Boox Max 2, Kobo Libra H2O, iRiver Story HD	I would recommend not considering readers with 6 inch screen to read PDF books and journal articles. I tried to read journal articles using PRS-505 but 6 inch screen simply does not work. You need to put a lot of work to make PDF readable on 6 inch screen and, even then, it is not satisfactory. With small screen, you need flexible zoom to read PDFs without conversion but it does not work well with slow e-ink screen. Only reasonable alternative is to get a bigger screen reader. Recently, I got enTourage eDGe (499$), with 9.7in e-ink screen and very flexible zoom, most PDF journal articles work well. But, sometimes, I wish the screen is bigger with two column PDF jounals with very narrow side margins. If you are planning to read one column PDFs, then 9.7 inch screen will work fine. Given your requirement enTourage eDGe may be the best alternative available at the moment even though it costs more than your price range (250~300$). So, I would recommend you to wait for eDGe to come down in price or new alternatives with bigger screen (Skiff maybe since Que has too high-price tag).

Advert

Advert