Kindle to handle large pdf textbook?

simko · 02-27-2011, 01:40 PM

Hi everyone,

first post here.

I'm a busy university student, I haul tons of books and was wondering if the kindle would allow me to lighten my backpack....

I have a couple of my textbooks downloaded in large PDF files....one of the books is ~400MB in size.

I realize the kindle doesn't display colour images, which is fine by me, but the textbooks do show detailed diagrams etc

I was just wondering if a modified kindle 3 can handle these types of files, as this is what I would be using the kindle for.

If the kindle would not be good for this use, are there any inexpensive readers (around kindle pricepoint) that would be better suited for tihs?

thanks

Simko

spellbanisher · 02-27-2011, 01:54 PM

Are your pdfs actual text files or are they just scanned images of texts? The kindle can handle text based pdfs just fine, and you can zoom into pictures and diagrams. Pdfs which are basically just images of texts would not work in a practical way on a kindle. At 400 mb, it sounds like your pdfs are the later.

simko · 02-27-2011, 02:18 PM

the books arent text based, is there a way to convert them to that?

is there an e reader better suited for this?

Simko

susan_cassidy · 02-27-2011, 02:21 PM

I think a laptop or other pc with a larger screen is better for reading pdfs with large page sizes (e.g. 8.5 x 11 or A4). There simply isn't enough screen room for displaying everything without a lot of scrolling, zooming, etc. on a small screen.

tomsem · 02-27-2011, 02:46 PM

If the PDF is unrestricted, you may be able to reduce the file size with Acrobat or another PDF tool, or split it into smaller files that K3 can handle.

spellbanisher · 02-27-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simko

the books arent text based, is there a way to convert them to that?

is there an e reader better suited for this?

Simko

OCR software can convert images into text, but even the best ocr isn't great imho. It'll either have lots of errors in the translationor require an enormous amount of work. Plus its probably expensive, and the free ocr programs I know of aren't very good; they either limit how many pages you can convert, or are extremely slow and only allow you to convert one page at a time.

The best and cheapest solution would be a netbook, provided that you don't already own a laptop. A kindle Dx or an Ipad might be more effective because of their large screens, but I can't really say because I have not nor have ever used a dx and ipad. They are also fairly expensive.

paperwastage · 02-27-2011, 06:55 PM

it's possible to do it, but it'll be a pain

I'm a college student, have some PDFs (scanned ocr'd, plain PC-generated pdfs like scientific papers, some not) on my Kindle DXG

i say try to find something else, or wait for amazon to update the firmware first. it's readable, but its slow and not worth it

Some pdfs crash on mine. for the non ocr'

spellbanisher · 02-27-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

it's possible to do it, but it'll be a pain

I'm a college student, have some PDFs (scanned ocr'd, plain PC-generated pdfs like scientific papers, some not) on my Kindle DXG

i say try to find something else, or wait for amazon to update the firmware first. it's readable, but its slow and not worth it

Some pdfs crash on mine. for the non ocr'

Is there any device where viewing a pdf isn't slow and a pain in the...

bZkindle · 02-27-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperwastage

it's possible to do it, but it'll be a pain

I'm a college student, have some PDFs (scanned ocr'd, plain PC-generated pdfs like scientific papers, some not) on my Kindle DXG

i say try to find something else, or wait for amazon to update the firmware first. it's readable, but its slow and not worth it

Some pdfs crash on mine. for the non ocr'

have you tried installing Duoken?

JeremyR · 02-27-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

Is there any device where viewing a pdf isn't slow and a pain in the...

Paper!

spellbanisher · 02-27-2011, 08:04 PM

Paper may be best, but stone tablets will save you a lot of money on ink. The resolution on the charts might not be too great though.

st_albert · 02-27-2011, 08:08 PM

what will duoken do?

jbcohen · 02-27-2011, 08:29 PM

People that I have talked to indicate that a Kindle DX and a Bookeen are best for this job.

bZkindle · 02-27-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st_albert

what will duoken do?

it will allow you to reflow pdf text, add more contrast and even convert 2 columns to one on the fly, and more...IOW's- make pdf tolerable on a kindle.
oh yeah, you can read epubs too.

do a search here. very easy to install and won't overwrite the kindle firmware so you can duel boot.

oleoleoleusa · 03-14-2011, 02:37 AM

A group of Carnegie Mellon students are taking on a project to solve this problem.

Check it out: http://www.indiegogo.com/ALIPT

I'm interested in contributing and pledge to do so after 25 people contribute to the cause.

02-27-2011, 01:40 PM	#1
simko Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: kindle 3	Kindle to handle large pdf textbook? Hi everyone, first post here. I'm a busy university student, I haul tons of books and was wondering if the kindle would allow me to lighten my backpack.... I have a couple of my textbooks downloaded in large PDF files....one of the books is ~400MB in size. I realize the kindle doesn't display colour images, which is fine by me, but the textbooks do show detailed diagrams etc I was just wondering if a modified kindle 3 can handle these types of files, as this is what I would be using the kindle for. If the kindle would not be good for this use, are there any inexpensive readers (around kindle pricepoint) that would be better suited for tihs? thanks Simko

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02-27-2011, 01:54 PM	#2
spellbanisher Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 6566849 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: kindle keyboard, kindle fire hd, S4, Nook hd+	Are your pdfs actual text files or are they just scanned images of texts? The kindle can handle text based pdfs just fine, and you can zoom into pictures and diagrams. Pdfs which are basically just images of texts would not work in a practical way on a kindle. At 400 mb, it sounds like your pdfs are the later.

02-27-2011, 02:18 PM	#3
simko Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: kindle 3	the books arent text based, is there a way to convert them to that? is there an e reader better suited for this? Simko

02-27-2011, 02:21 PM	#4
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I think a laptop or other pc with a larger screen is better for reading pdfs with large page sizes (e.g. 8.5 x 11 or A4). There simply isn't enough screen room for displaying everything without a lot of scrolling, zooming, etc. on a small screen.

02-27-2011, 02:46 PM	#5
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,905 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	If the PDF is unrestricted, you may be able to reduce the file size with Acrobat or another PDF tool, or split it into smaller files that K3 can handle.

02-27-2011, 06:55 PM	#7
paperwastage Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 1310 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: kindle DX Graphite	it's possible to do it, but it'll be a pain I'm a college student, have some PDFs (scanned ocr'd, plain PC-generated pdfs like scientific papers, some not) on my Kindle DXG i say try to find something else, or wait for amazon to update the firmware first. it's readable, but its slow and not worth it Some pdfs crash on mine. for the non ocr'

02-27-2011, 08:04 PM	#11
spellbanisher Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 6566849 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: kindle keyboard, kindle fire hd, S4, Nook hd+	Paper may be best, but stone tablets will save you a lot of money on ink. The resolution on the charts might not be too great though.

02-27-2011, 08:08 PM	#12
st_albert Guru Posts: 697 Karma: 150000 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	what will duoken do?

02-27-2011, 08:29 PM	#13
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	People that I have talked to indicate that a Kindle DX and a Bookeen are best for this job.

03-14-2011, 02:37 AM	#15
oleoleoleusa Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle	A group of Carnegie Mellon students are taking on a project to solve this problem. Check it out: http://www.indiegogo.com/ALIPT I'm interested in contributing and pledge to do so after 25 people contribute to the cause.

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