Greentings from Northern California

ndorf · 03-25-2011, 03:12 PM

I am brand new to this forum, and I am on the "hunt" for the perfect eReader for my needs--which I suspect are more a niche than mainstream. I thought I would post this to get some opinions or suggestions on where I should be looking.

I do pre-sales technical support and marketing. I have a bookshelf full of hardcopy technical and product manuals in 8 1/2 x 11" format, most all of which are in soft PDF format and for those that are not, I have access to a high speed scanner that can scan to PDF. I would very much benefit by having a thin, light, slate device that would allow me to carry in my briefcase (in which I already have to still carry a laptop) all that reference material, rapidly available with instant-on and robust folder organization and search function.

I don't care if the screen is color. I don't even care if it is less readable outdoors, because all my use would be indoors.

This is what is important to me:

* large screen, 9.x" or better
* excellent battery life
* fast page turns
* extensible storage such as SD or microSD card
* USB support to xfer files between laptop and device
* WiFi, but 3G not so important
* Support for hyperlinks including Table of Contents
* PDF Zoom (not just font selection)
* PDF reflow would be nice
* PDF cropping would be nice, although could use "Briss" on PC
* Would really like the device to double as a note-taking slate
* PDF annotations
* lightweight and thin
* manufacturer reputation for support, firmware updates
* A decent web browser--something more than "experimental" would be great.

I don't read alot of fiction so I don't care so much about ebooks such as mobi, ePub and eCommerce bookstores.

OK so where does that leave me? Seemingly empty-handed for now.

iPAD?
A colleague has an iPAD, and the screen is amazing, the page turns are fast, but no extensible storage and no USB xfer (at least without jailbreaking it.

Kindle DX?
Great screen. Thin and light. No extensible storage. Not a touch screen. Weak PDF support. The latest firmware supposedly improved PDF support as far as I know, no hyperlinks. An alternate OS called Duokan, developed by a Chinese team and available also in English, looks very promising with respect to enhanced PDF support, but I am skeptical about going away from the mainstream. Comments?

ASUS DR-900?
Not available in the U.S., only Europe and Asia. I suspect I might not be satisfied with the Sipix screen vs. the Visplex or Pearl technologies.

Onyx Boox M90?
Might possibly be the device of my dreams. Seems like it may meet every requirement. The manufacturer, via email, advised me that it should be to the U.S. in May 2011. I have read at least one horror story on this bbs about support, and hope it is only an anomaly.

Pocketbook Pro 903?
Also looks very promising. I would LOVE to see a side by side comparison of this device vs. the M90. The manufacture, via email, told me expect availability this fall. Not sure I want to wait.

HP TouchPad running WebOS?
Looks intriguing, probably too heavy. I know nothing at this point about the PDF support, which again is my key application.

Any and all advice welcome.

Thanks,

Neil

MickeyC · 03-25-2011, 05:37 PM

Hi Neil and welcome to MobileRead. I'd suggest you post your question on our Which One Should I Buy section

GeoffC · 03-26-2011, 06:44 AM

^^^^As he says ! ^^^^

Welcome to Mobileread ….

Follow two links in my signature that may help you out .... One goes to a matrix on our Wiki, the other to a Forum specifically for questions like yours....

03-25-2011, 03:12 PM	#1
ndorf Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Boox M90 or Pocketbook Pro 903	Greentings from Northern California I am brand new to this forum, and I am on the "hunt" for the perfect eReader for my needs--which I suspect are more a niche than mainstream. I thought I would post this to get some opinions or suggestions on where I should be looking. I do pre-sales technical support and marketing. I have a bookshelf full of hardcopy technical and product manuals in 8 1/2 x 11" format, most all of which are in soft PDF format and for those that are not, I have access to a high speed scanner that can scan to PDF. I would very much benefit by having a thin, light, slate device that would allow me to carry in my briefcase (in which I already have to still carry a laptop) all that reference material, rapidly available with instant-on and robust folder organization and search function. I don't care if the screen is color. I don't even care if it is less readable outdoors, because all my use would be indoors. This is what is important to me: * large screen, 9.x" or better * excellent battery life * fast page turns * extensible storage such as SD or microSD card * USB support to xfer files between laptop and device * WiFi, but 3G not so important * Support for hyperlinks including Table of Contents * PDF Zoom (not just font selection) * PDF reflow would be nice * PDF cropping would be nice, although could use "Briss" on PC * Would really like the device to double as a note-taking slate * PDF annotations * lightweight and thin * manufacturer reputation for support, firmware updates * A decent web browser--something more than "experimental" would be great. I don't read alot of fiction so I don't care so much about ebooks such as mobi, ePub and eCommerce bookstores. OK so where does that leave me? Seemingly empty-handed for now. iPAD? A colleague has an iPAD, and the screen is amazing, the page turns are fast, but no extensible storage and no USB xfer (at least without jailbreaking it. Kindle DX? Great screen. Thin and light. No extensible storage. Not a touch screen. Weak PDF support. The latest firmware supposedly improved PDF support as far as I know, no hyperlinks. An alternate OS called Duokan, developed by a Chinese team and available also in English, looks very promising with respect to enhanced PDF support, but I am skeptical about going away from the mainstream. Comments? ASUS DR-900? Not available in the U.S., only Europe and Asia. I suspect I might not be satisfied with the Sipix screen vs. the Visplex or Pearl technologies. Onyx Boox M90? Might possibly be the device of my dreams. Seems like it may meet every requirement. The manufacturer, via email, advised me that it should be to the U.S. in May 2011. I have read at least one horror story on this bbs about support, and hope it is only an anomaly. Pocketbook Pro 903? Also looks very promising. I would LOVE to see a side by side comparison of this device vs. the M90. The manufacture, via email, told me expect availability this fall. Not sure I want to wait. HP TouchPad running WebOS? Looks intriguing, probably too heavy. I know nothing at this point about the PDF support, which again is my key application. Any and all advice welcome. Thanks, Neil

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03-25-2011, 05:37 PM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Neil and welcome to MobileRead. I'd suggest you post your question on our Which One Should I Buy section

03-26-2011, 06:44 AM	#3
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	^^^^As he says ! ^^^^ Welcome to Mobileread …. Follow two links in my signature that may help you out .... One goes to a matrix on our Wiki, the other to a Forum specifically for questions like yours....

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