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View Poll Results: The choice of scientists: tablet or ereader | |||
I am not a scientific academician (BSc. or above). |
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9 | 22.50% |
I use an e-reader (e-paper) > 60% of the time. |
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9 | 22.50% |
I use a tablet (LCD) > 60% of the time. |
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13 | 32.50% |
I use both a tablet and an e-reader (50/50). |
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7 | 17.50% |
I use an Entourage Edge (PE or EE). |
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0 | 0% |
I use another solution (please specify). |
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2 | 5.00% |
Voters: 40. You may not vote on this poll |
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#1 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 4096
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lausanne (CH)
Device: none yet
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Hello,
I read lots of posts about which is the best solution for an academicians, more specifically scientists. It seems there exist no real consensus on that question. Therefore, I would like to have a better, quantified, insight about the subject. If you are using both a tablet (LCD) and an e-reader (e-paper), please choose the device you are using most of the time for your scientific work (> 60 %). Of course, you may want to share with us what is the particular device you are using (e.g., Kindle DXG). I would be interested, too. Thank you for your participation! Thierry
Last edited by Thierry.C; 07-19-2011 at 08:04 PM. Reason: Precisions |
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#2 |
Wizard
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Karma: 5843878
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: UK
Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura
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Thierry, I cheated, as I confess currently I use both an e-reader and a laptop - for webbrowsing and downloading of papers it is much more convenient, which is why I think I will end up with a tablet, too - as much as I hate (i mean I really hate) lcd screens - but to display math on the web, unfortunately things are not yet good with e-ink readers
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#3 |
Wizard
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Karma: 11862367
Join Date: Apr 2008
Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2
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I'm sorry however I don't like the tablet. If I want a computer experience, I use my laptop. A lab book works well too.
The ebook reader is used for, well, reading, as well as random jots. |
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#4 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 120
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: Kobo Touch
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I'm not a researcher, but I have a friend who used to work as IT in research. He's told me a few things.
More information would be needed about the type of work is being done. For example, if you'd actually like to be able to do some light data-crunching on the side, then it's unlikely that you'd want an ebook reader. For reading through journals and papers, I imagine the ability to do highlights and notes would be mandatory. So far the only ebook reader I know of that can do that practically would be the Kindle. Tablets are far more efficient though if for nothing else but the screen real-estate and better file handling overall. There's also your work environment to consider. Some network administrators for research institutes also double as an android or apple app developers. If you know your admin well, and they have this kind of technical ability, then it may be a good investment to buy a tablet with their preferred OS. Some research also makes use of .csm files gathered from instrumentation, which is basically nothing more than a text file with comma separated values in it. Ebook readers can probably display these, but tablets are better since a spreadsheet application on a tablet may be able to present the data in a way that's easier to read and even manipulate. |
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#5 |
Wizard
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Karma: 11862367
Join Date: Apr 2008
Device: Sony Reader PRS-T2
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We're all after real estate!
Few displays handle letter/A4 (A4 preferred). A good ebook reader that is A4 sized would be a boon. I don't mean with similar amount of real estate as A4, but actually honest-to-goodness A4 sized. I'm hoping Sony or Amazon rise to the challenge. Colour would be good for papers too, especially in my field. |
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#6 |
Fanatic
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Karma: 1121392
Join Date: May 2008
Location: USA
Device: HTC One M8
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I'm transitioning between reading printouts and using a NookColor (booting Android 2.3 off an SD card). Still investigating pdf reader apps to find out which is best suited to my needs (annotations are a bit of a pain but seem doable).
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#7 | ||
Connoisseur
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Karma: 4096
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lausanne (CH)
Device: none yet
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Quote:
I feel I perfectly understand what you mean, even if for now I haven't had the opportunity to test either a tablet or an e-reader. The latter will be better for my eyes and for autonomy. Usually lighter, too. Leaving completely my computer won't be possible. But if I can browse (read) the web and download some papers on the device, then its better, of course. Quote:
So the point with either a tablet or an e-reader, is to be able to leave the computer for some "low intensive" tasks, especially reading. The purpose is mostly a greater comfort and, perhaps, mobility. Note that by reading, I mean reading for research/work. Hence, to get rid of printouts and computer for this task, the device should not only allow you to read, but also enable at least some light researches (dictionaries, web, within other files, etc.) and some light annotations. As there are lots of things to read on the web, it surely is a benefit if one can transform some texts into PDF or ePUB (like with, e.g., the Readable plugin). For 10" devices, I would summerize the advantages of each type of devices as : E-readers
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#8 |
Enthusiast
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Karma: 729
Join Date: Dec 2010
Device: Kindle DX
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I wish there was a third option for how much time you use paper books also.
Unfortunately, ebooks don't seem to really support equations yet, so for books, I still resort to paper books (or google books on my computer). For reading papers, I mostly use my ereader- but since they are pdf's I'd definitely recommend a larger screen device. For research, where I'm flipping back and forth between 4 papers and such, I end up using my computer because it's easier to have them all open, and scrolling through the pages are faster. (And, of course, I often need my computer anyway to run mathematica.) As for particulars, I'm a Ph.D. student in theoretical particle physics. I have a Kindle DX. I certainly wouldn't get anything with a smaller screen, but pdf support is pretty bad. On the other hand, I haven't really found anything with much better pdf support. The big thing that the kindle line does is automatically crop each page; as far as I know, no other device does that yet. However, it doesn't support hyperlinks which drives me crazy. Hope that helps! |
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#9 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 120
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: Kobo Touch
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#10 | ||
Connoisseur
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Karma: 4096
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lausanne (CH)
Device: none yet
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Hi physics,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Quote:
Quote:
Thierry |
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#11 |
Zealot
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Karma: 9252
Join Date: Jul 2011
Device: (prospective) kobo touch
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Seriously, you really have even the slightest hope for a color e-ink screen that's useful for scientific applications?
If it were still the 1970s and many color science/medical books were normally only available with poorly pigmented printing, then current color e-ink would be a perfect substitute for viewing anatomy or geology photos. But if black and white is insufficient information and you need color photos for certain imagery, nobody today would use anything other than the latest beautiful color text books or printed photographs or digital photographs. I would be blown away by color e ink that wasn't merely nice but good enough for natural photography as a near substitute for quality books or digital. It would truly be "star trek" level futuristic cool at last. All I can think of today for purposes where color is informationally critical, that would look good on color eink as is, are maps that color code instead of pattern coding. |
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#12 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 120
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: Kobo Touch
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The tech does exist. We'll see it in 3 years, I'm thinking.
http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/ |
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#13 | |
Zealot
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Karma: 9252
Join Date: Jul 2011
Device: (prospective) kobo touch
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Now, now, that's not quite e-ink. But I stand corrected, nevertheless. And blown! Away!
I was just thinking about this exact issue yesterday, in an unrelated matter. I guess I didn't waste my day after all. Quote:
Last edited by readingglasses; 07-28-2011 at 12:00 AM. |
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#14 |
Connoisseur
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Karma: 4096
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lausanne (CH)
Device: none yet
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UP.
In case some holiday-makers are back. (Welcome back to work!
![]() Thierry |
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