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Old 12-23-2015, 05:13 PM   #1
damicore
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E-reader for programming textbooks?
I'm looking for a good e-reader for programming textbooks which tend to have tables and in which formatting is important due to whitespace being crucial to understanding code. Bad news is at my country we don't get many options and I can't import them, I can only buy from local stores.

I'm between a 7th gen kindle touch (preferred choice due to its lowprice point), kindle paperwhite and the nook simple touch glowlight. There are a couple others but I don't know how good they are.
Pretty much these are what are available over here if anyone's curious: http://listado.mercadolibre.com.ar/ereader#D[A:ereader]

The problem is many programming textbooks (specially older ones) seem to only be available in pdf format or their epub and mobi editions tend to be somewhat sloppy (or so I've heard) and I've heard several horror stories about pdfs on Kindles.

How good is calibre with this sort of pdfs with tables and images nowadays? Can you install a better custom pdf reader on a jailbroken kindle? Can you read epubs on a jailbroken kindle?

PS: Another thing I'm mildly curious about is how does, say, multitasking Mail apps and facebook chatting with ebook reading on these devices work. I know you can supposedly install android on the nook but it doesn't look to be a full fledged android device. Do you get Mail and Facebook notifications on it?
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Old 12-23-2015, 05:16 PM   #2
Cinisajoy
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What country please?
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Old 12-23-2015, 05:32 PM   #3
damicore
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What country please?
Argentina.
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Old 12-23-2015, 05:38 PM   #4
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Forget an eInk device. Get a tablet. An iPad with Goodreader is a very good choice to read PDF.
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Old 12-23-2015, 05:42 PM   #5
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Forget an eInk device. Get a tablet. An iPad with Goodreader is a very good choice to read PDF.
The problem I have with tablets is that the backlight makes my head hart after a while. I do really need something with an e-ink display.

I'm also starting to get really interested in hacking and developping for these devices if I purchase one finally. Which one would you people say has the most active community/is better documented/is easier to hack?
Last edited by damicore; 12-23-2015 at 05:49 PM.
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Old 12-23-2015, 05:43 PM   #6
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Are you writing the textbooks or just buying them?
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Old 12-23-2015, 06:03 PM   #7
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If you can root the Nook, you can install 3rd party pdf reading apps.

Kindle software is extremely limited. I imagine it's very bad for reading pdf.

But any 6" e-reader is a pain for reading pdf. Though I do it on a rooted Nook ST sometimes with okay results.

However, there is a program called k2pdfopt that changes the size and format of pdf files to work better on a 6" screen. It will work for any e-reader.

Here it is: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=144711
Last edited by Rizla; 12-23-2015 at 06:07 PM.
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Old 12-23-2015, 07:52 PM   #8
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Programming eBooks with complex layout isn't going to be good to read on a 6" eInk screen. It just doesn't work well.
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Old 12-23-2015, 08:56 PM   #9
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I always get programming books in pdf format, and read them on my desktop computer. It just works better.
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