The choice of scientists: tablet or ereader

[Thierry.C]

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

[paola]

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

[AprilHare]

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.

[Toastedpine]

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.

[AprilHare]

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.

[wayrad]

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).

[Thierry.C]

Originally Posted by paola

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

Thanks for the precision Paola!
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.

Originally Posted by Toastedpine

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.

At the current stage, I think no real scientific work can be done without having a laptop or a desktop computer. At least for manipulating data and writing articles. In my case, I even need cluster of computers for some calculations.

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

• Readability
• Autonomy
• Lightness

Tablets

• Powerful
• Multitasking
• Quality sustained (raised) thanks to by well-established computer companies (software, hardware)

Unfortunately, it seems that we cannot have both at the moment.

[physics]

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!

[Toastedpine]

Originally Posted by physics

However, it doesn't support hyperlinks which drives me crazy.

By hyperlinks, are you speaking of links within the text, outside the text, or both?

[Thierry.C]

Hi physics,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Originally Posted by physics

I wish there was a third option for how much time you use paper books also.

You could use the another solution option for paper books if you rely more on paper than on other devices for reading. I did not think it was useful to add this option since my questionning is more like "what device are you using, if you use one". I assume anyone still use paper-based articles or books sometimes; maybe even more than devices overall.

Originally Posted by physics

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 [...]

That is indeed a problem with any electronic device (even computer to some extent). One more reason to consider my question is focused on actually reading, not necessarily using the text for, e.g., references.

Thierry

[readingglasses]

Originally Posted by AprilHare

Colour would be good for papers too, especially in my field.

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.

[Toastedpine]

The tech does exist. We'll see it in 3 years, I'm thinking.
http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/

[readingglasses]

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.

We'll see it in 3 years, I'm thinking.

Then that's exactly how long I'll wait to buy my ereader.

[Thierry.C]

In case some holiday-makers are back. (Welcome back to work! )

Thierry