Reader For Research Papers (8.5x11 PDFs)

roninmedia · 09-23-2014, 09:55 PM

I am looking to purchase a large reader whose most important task is to read drug research papers. Most research papers are letter sized PDFs with two-columned documents with graphs and figures.

I've tried reading them on mid-range devices between 8 and 9 inches and those have not done for it me, so I need to look at larger devices. I am not tied to either Android or Apple as I own an Samsung S4 and an Ipod Touch and have not purchased much from either platform's store.

Is the iPad the current recommendation for this because of the aspect ratio?

susan_cassidy · 09-23-2014, 11:48 PM

Yes, it is.

robko · 09-23-2014, 11:59 PM

Depending on your budget (if you're willing to pay $$ for what you want), it may be worth doing some research on the Sony Digital Paper DPT-S1. Large PDF e-ink reader. Not cheap, but may be worth it depending on your usage.
Barring that, yes a tablet is next best bet and Ipad aspect ratio may be best for you.

markom · 09-24-2014, 07:45 AM

If you would like e-ink reader than any better 6" or 10" can read 2-column pdf without problem using its own 2-column mode (4 screens per page).

On 6" readers in 2-column mode we can get letters at similar size as on A4 paper and on 10" readers magnified significantly.

10" e-ink reader can also show it comfortably and relatively quickly (second and a half per screen or more) in landscape, and if zoomed in without margins we can even get magnification compared to A4/letter paper sheets, because 10" Onyx M92' or Kindle DX' screen is 202 mm wide and text on A4/letter sized paper (without margins) is usually about 180-190 mm wide.

When we need color for tables, diagrams etc. we can use some 7" or 10" tablet simultaneously.

HarryT · 09-24-2014, 08:10 AM

I read a lot of PDF journal articles and academic papers (I'm doing a part-time degree in Egyptology) and find the combination of iPad and GoodReader app to be extremely good for it.

mgbino · 09-24-2014, 09:09 AM

When I was in grad school, I used a 3rd gen iPad to read PDFs all the time. It was great, and saved me a ton of money on printing. It was also super, stupidly, ridiculously helpful when I working on my dissertation to have all of my research in one place without having to shuffle through a billion pages of printed paper.

HarryT · 09-24-2014, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgbino

When I was in grad school, I used a 3rd gen iPad to read PDFs all the time. It was great, and saved me a ton of money on printing. It was also super, stupidly, ridiculously helpful when I working on my dissertation to have all of my research in one place without having to shuffle through a billion pages of printed paper.

Yep. The GoodReader app has really good organisational capabilities, which is very helpful indeed.

roninmedia · 09-26-2014, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robko

Depending on your budget (if you're willing to pay $$ for what you want), it may be worth doing some research on the Sony Digital Paper DPT-S1. Large PDF e-ink reader. Not cheap, but may be worth it depending on your usage.
Barring that, yes a tablet is next best bet and Ipad aspect ratio may be best for you.

I'm a pharmacist so I spend a fair amount of time reading on clinical trials on medications, new therapies and continuing education. That's where my first search took me, as I was looking for large e-book readers, but the prices for the larger e-ink devices made me go

. Especially for the DPT-S1.

I'm hoping to see what Apple and Google have for their supposed announcements next month with the iPad Air 2, the larger iPad Pro and the new Nexus devices. At the very least, they may drive down the price of older model tablets this holiday season.

vxf · 09-27-2014, 10:17 PM

I have tried tons of options and I currently read and annotate almost everything on an ipad (tenure-track assistant professor in Finance at a research university). I said almost, because I also use a MS Surface Pro. It's too heavy to hold, but, when you use it while sitting at a desk, it's a much better annotating experience than any iPad.

Regarding software - I like GoodReader, but I am not up to par with the most recent updates. When I originally compared them, I preferred iAnnotate - and I stuck with it. I looked at GoodReader once or twice since - and both packages had added features. Yet, I couldn't see a reason to switch. I wonder if anyone has compared the two recently, I would love to hear a detailed comparison.

09-23-2014, 09:55 PM	#1
roninmedia Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 2137752 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: Galaxy Tab 2	Reader For Research Papers (8.5x11 PDFs) I am looking to purchase a large reader whose most important task is to read drug research papers. Most research papers are letter sized PDFs with two-columned documents with graphs and figures. I've tried reading them on mid-range devices between 8 and 9 inches and those have not done for it me, so I need to look at larger devices. I am not tied to either Android or Apple as I own an Samsung S4 and an Ipod Touch and have not purchased much from either platform's store. Is the iPad the current recommendation for this because of the aspect ratio? Last edited by roninmedia; 09-23-2014 at 10:12 PM.

09-24-2014, 07:45 AM	#4
markom Banned Posts: 488 Karma: 1080260 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: sony prs t1 kindle dx ipad	If you would like e-ink reader than any better 6" or 10" can read 2-column pdf without problem using its own 2-column mode (4 screens per page). On 6" readers in 2-column mode we can get letters at similar size as on A4 paper and on 10" readers magnified significantly. 10" e-ink reader can also show it comfortably and relatively quickly (second and a half per screen or more) in landscape, and if zoomed in without margins we can even get magnification compared to A4/letter paper sheets, because 10" Onyx M92' or Kindle DX' screen is 202 mm wide and text on A4/letter sized paper (without margins) is usually about 180-190 mm wide. When we need color for tables, diagrams etc. we can use some 7" or 10" tablet simultaneously. Last edited by markom; 09-24-2014 at 08:12 AM.

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09-23-2014, 11:48 PM	#2
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Yes, it is.

09-23-2014, 11:59 PM	#3
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Depending on your budget (if you're willing to pay $$ for what you want), it may be worth doing some research on the Sony Digital Paper DPT-S1. Large PDF e-ink reader. Not cheap, but may be worth it depending on your usage. Barring that, yes a tablet is next best bet and Ipad aspect ratio may be best for you.

09-24-2014, 08:10 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I read a lot of PDF journal articles and academic papers (I'm doing a part-time degree in Egyptology) and find the combination of iPad and GoodReader app to be extremely good for it.

09-24-2014, 09:09 AM	#6
mgbino Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 3039394 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Nook Glowlight	When I was in grad school, I used a 3rd gen iPad to read PDFs all the time. It was great, and saved me a ton of money on printing. It was also super, stupidly, ridiculously helpful when I working on my dissertation to have all of my research in one place without having to shuffle through a billion pages of printed paper.

09-27-2014, 10:17 PM	#9
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I have tried tons of options and I currently read and annotate almost everything on an ipad (tenure-track assistant professor in Finance at a research university). I said almost, because I also use a MS Surface Pro. It's too heavy to hold, but, when you use it while sitting at a desk, it's a much better annotating experience than any iPad. Regarding software - I like GoodReader, but I am not up to par with the most recent updates. When I originally compared them, I preferred iAnnotate - and I stuck with it. I looked at GoodReader once or twice since - and both packages had added features. Yet, I couldn't see a reason to switch. I wonder if anyone has compared the two recently, I would love to hear a detailed comparison.

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