Student's choice?

wishi · 04-24-2008, 02:21 PM

Hi!

I'm looking for an eBook Reader. In my case I looked at the Kindle, but it seems to be Amazon's own DRM device.

Well, I just want an e-Ink Display, which is highly readable. It should be able to get my pdfs from my Computer and that's it: pdf support, maybe chm, html.

Is there any device, that reads my entire pdf collection without hindrances?

Thanks,
wishi

NatCh · 04-24-2008, 02:28 PM

In a word: nope.

The displays of the current e-ink devices are simply too small for hindrance free PDF viewing, unless the "pages" in the PDF files are sized to match the device's display size, that is.

The iRex iLiad is the least bothersome because it has a bigger display (8" diagonal), and there are some 9" displays that are supposed to be coming out over the summer (breath holding is not recommended!). Those should be better still, but most likely won't really be big enough either for most purposes.

NatCh · 04-24-2008, 02:30 PM

Forgive me for my poor manners! Welcome to MobileRead, wishi!

wishi · 04-24-2008, 02:42 PM

Thanks

So... (nearly) all eBook Readers are too small to display pdfs in a readable way. Seems, you've to convert them.
What I especially don't like at Kindle and other eBook devices is the proprietary addiction, because it seems, with this Kindle thing you have to mail to an Amazon eMail address to get he stuff converted. That's not my solution.

What I've to look for is a converter, making my stuff readable. What are your solutions?

DaleDe · 04-24-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wishi

Thanks

So... (nearly) all eBook Readers are too small to display pdfs in a readable way. Seems, you've to convert them.
What I especially don't like at Kindle and other eBook devices is the proprietary addiction, because it seems, with this Kindle thing you have to mail to an Amazon eMail address to get he stuff converted. That's not my solution.

What I've to look for is a converter, making my stuff readable. What are your solutions?

First try mobipocket reader on a pc. It will convert lots of formats to a form that can be read on a Kindle. It that is not satisfactory then you will need a specific PDF converter.

Dale

wallcraft · 04-24-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wishi

What I especially don't like at Kindle and other eBook devices is the proprietary addiction, because it seems, with this Kindle thing you have to mail to an Amazon eMail address to get he stuff converted. That's not my solution.

What I've to look for is a converter, making my stuff readable. What are your solutions?

Mailing to Amazon for conversion has the advantage that Amazon has lots of servers and can put money into getting good conversion software. What you get back (at least today) is a DRM-free MOBI file, so it is readable on many devices (change the extension from .azw to .mobi). However, Amazon could decide at any time to convert to the Kindle-only AZW1 format instead.

The Windows MobiPocket Reader does similar conversions to the MOBI format, so that is one option is you have a Windows PC. Conversion of PDFs is of variable quality. I was surprised how well MobiPocket Reader converted (reflowed) some of my scientific journal papers, but these are all relatively recent and they all started out as LaTeX.

carandol · 04-25-2008, 02:44 PM

I've been using an iLiad as a student, and found it worked fine. Most PDF academic papers I've needed to read (I'm studying history) had big enough borders that I could zoom in and read the text fine, or if not, turn it sideways. The other thing about the iLiad is you can annotate the text, and it's a very cool thing to make notes on in lectures!

Of course, it's rather expensive.

JSWolf · 04-25-2008, 02:46 PM

Well, the iLiad is currently the best one. But we are expecting a new 9.7" screen based reader sometime this summer. So my suggestion is if you want to read PDF, wait and see how this new Netronix device handles PDF.

wishi · 04-25-2008, 05:53 PM

Okay I wait

.

Depends on the price. Probably there'll be lots of brilliant devices, but I'm a student. So the price is important. I'll see. As long as there's no proprietary DRM stuff, it's okay. I just fear that the device will not like my eBooks from university, that are quite huge.

Any idea for a price-worth reader? I mean: good technique is the one thing.

Tblossom · 04-26-2008, 01:07 PM

You might want to look at this sie: https://www.mobileread.com/eink/

-Thomas- · 04-26-2008, 02:18 PM

If you have the money I would suggest the iLiad. I use the annotation functionality very often in lectures, and IMO it's the best PDF reader available at the moment (because of the 8.1" screen). In addition it has a native PDF reader, so you don't have to do any format conversion etc.

But you should consider that I really love my iLiad and recommend it to nearly everyone, so I'm not very objective

04-24-2008, 02:21 PM	#1
wishi Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: none	Student's choice? Hi! I'm looking for an eBook Reader. In my case I looked at the Kindle, but it seems to be Amazon's own DRM device. Well, I just want an e-Ink Display, which is highly readable. It should be able to get my pdfs from my Computer and that's it: pdf support, maybe chm, html. Is there any device, that reads my entire pdf collection without hindrances? Thanks, wishi

04-26-2008, 02:18 PM	#11
-Thomas- Addict Posts: 325 Karma: 1725 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Münster, Germany Device: iRex iLiad v2	If you have the money I would suggest the iLiad. I use the annotation functionality very often in lectures, and IMO it's the best PDF reader available at the moment (because of the 8.1" screen). In addition it has a native PDF reader, so you don't have to do any format conversion etc. But you should consider that I really love my iLiad and recommend it to nearly everyone, so I'm not very objective Last edited by -Thomas-; 04-26-2008 at 02:22 PM. Reason: added another point

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04-24-2008, 02:28 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	In a word: nope. The displays of the current e-ink devices are simply too small for hindrance free PDF viewing, unless the "pages" in the PDF files are sized to match the device's display size, that is. The iRex iLiad is the least bothersome because it has a bigger display (8" diagonal), and there are some 9" displays that are supposed to be coming out over the summer (breath holding is not recommended!). Those should be better still, but most likely won't really be big enough either for most purposes.

04-24-2008, 02:30 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Forgive me for my poor manners! Welcome to MobileRead, wishi!

04-24-2008, 02:42 PM	#4
wishi Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: none	Thanks So... (nearly) all eBook Readers are too small to display pdfs in a readable way. Seems, you've to convert them. What I especially don't like at Kindle and other eBook devices is the proprietary addiction, because it seems, with this Kindle thing you have to mail to an Amazon eMail address to get he stuff converted. That's not my solution. What I've to look for is a converter, making my stuff readable. What are your solutions?

04-25-2008, 02:44 PM	#7
carandol Evangelist Posts: 423 Karma: 2153430 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: BeBook	I've been using an iLiad as a student, and found it worked fine. Most PDF academic papers I've needed to read (I'm studying history) had big enough borders that I could zoom in and read the text fine, or if not, turn it sideways. The other thing about the iLiad is you can annotate the text, and it's a very cool thing to make notes on in lectures! Of course, it's rather expensive.

04-25-2008, 02:46 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,157 Karma: 144284184 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Well, the iLiad is currently the best one. But we are expecting a new 9.7" screen based reader sometime this summer. So my suggestion is if you want to read PDF, wait and see how this new Netronix device handles PDF.

04-25-2008, 05:53 PM	#9
wishi Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: none	Okay I wait . Depends on the price. Probably there'll be lots of brilliant devices, but I'm a student. So the price is important. I'll see. As long as there's no proprietary DRM stuff, it's okay. I just fear that the device will not like my eBooks from university, that are quite huge. Any idea for a price-worth reader? I mean: good technique is the one thing.

04-26-2008, 01:07 PM	#10
Tblossom Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Dx	You might want to look at this sie: https://www.mobileread.com/eink/

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