Native HTML

Sheikspeare · 08-02-2009, 07:28 AM

Okay, so what's the best eReader for reading HTML documents?

I like the idea of downloading a website and reading it offline, especially something like Wikipedia. So ideally you would be able to navigate between internal hyperlinks as you would in a standard web browser.

Which eReader does this best?

Ea · 08-07-2009, 08:47 AM

This is a tricky one as HTML implementation tends to be pretty basic, often are tables not supported. HTML files saved off the Internet often have somewhat messy markup and that doesn't make the problem smaller.

I've tried html on Cybook, iLiad, Hanlin V3. The Cybook didn't work at all except for *very* basic HTML, and the Hanlin wasn't better.

On the iLiad you can install third-party applications and there exist a few web browsers, which should be able to do what you need. I never got around to try them myself, as my HTML files was stories saved off the web, and it was easiest and gave the best reading experience to create custom-sized PDFs.

For my Sony, I can convert HTML files in Calibre and export them to the Reader. Depending on the quality of the original file, this sometimes work well and other times not at all. I now usually copy the text and save it as a RTF file that I convert for the Sony reader.

Another - cheaper - option is to get a (used) PDA. They have browsers that can do the same thing as 'normal' browsers. Perhaps an iPod Touch or iPhone would also be an option, though it might be a problem getting the files onto the device.

smithno · 08-07-2009, 10:01 AM

Any of the Hanline V3-based readers with Open Ink Pot or the LBook brand firmware are the best HTML options that I have tried. The normal Hanlin firmware does not do HTML nearly as well as either of these!

Sheikspeare · 08-13-2009, 04:00 AM

Hi Smithno

Can you say how that compares to any of the Iliad series?

jgray · 08-13-2009, 07:42 PM

The jetBook with the latest firmware does HTML. I haven't tried it with a downloaded web page, but it does a good job with an HTML ebook.

smithno · 08-14-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgray

The jetBook with the latest firmware does HTML. I haven't tried it with a downloaded web page, but it does a good job with an HTML ebook.

jgray is right; the jetBook HTML support works well. I have started using HTML as my default ebook format because I can use the same files on my EZ Reader and jetBook! I don't know how well either would handle a complicated technical book in HTML, but for fiction novels both work great.

Sheikspeare, I have never seen an Iliad in person, so I don't know how they compare.

08-02-2009, 07:28 AM	#1
Sheikspeare Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 290 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: PR-505 / Kindle DX	Native HTML Okay, so what's the best eReader for reading HTML documents? I like the idea of downloading a website and reading it offline, especially something like Wikipedia. So ideally you would be able to navigate between internal hyperlinks as you would in a standard web browser. Which eReader does this best?

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08-07-2009, 08:47 AM	#2
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	This is a tricky one as HTML implementation tends to be pretty basic, often are tables not supported. HTML files saved off the Internet often have somewhat messy markup and that doesn't make the problem smaller. I've tried html on Cybook, iLiad, Hanlin V3. The Cybook didn't work at all except for very basic HTML, and the Hanlin wasn't better. On the iLiad you can install third-party applications and there exist a few web browsers, which should be able to do what you need. I never got around to try them myself, as my HTML files was stories saved off the web, and it was easiest and gave the best reading experience to create custom-sized PDFs. For my Sony, I can convert HTML files in Calibre and export them to the Reader. Depending on the quality of the original file, this sometimes work well and other times not at all. I now usually copy the text and save it as a RTF file that I convert for the Sony reader. Another - cheaper - option is to get a (used) PDA. They have browsers that can do the same thing as 'normal' browsers. Perhaps an iPod Touch or iPhone would also be an option, though it might be a problem getting the files onto the device.

08-07-2009, 10:01 AM	#3
smithno Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 222484 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tenn., US Device: jetBook, jetBook Lite, Kindle 3, Galaxy Note II	Any of the Hanline V3-based readers with Open Ink Pot or the LBook brand firmware are the best HTML options that I have tried. The normal Hanlin firmware does not do HTML nearly as well as either of these!

08-13-2009, 04:00 AM	#4
Sheikspeare Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 290 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: PR-505 / Kindle DX	Hi Smithno Can you say how that compares to any of the Iliad series?

08-13-2009, 07:42 PM	#5
jgray Fanatic Posts: 554 Karma: 2928497 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Clara 2E & Sage	The jetBook with the latest firmware does HTML. I haven't tried it with a downloaded web page, but it does a good job with an HTML ebook.

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