Nook or Sony 950 for scientific journal articles pdf

caribbean_spur · 11-28-2010, 09:29 PM

Hi guys,

I have a quick question. I have never own a ereader and after some research I have narrowed it down to the nook and the sony 950. I went to the best buy to see them and I would favor the sony. But there is one feature I was not able to test is the rendering for pdf articles from scientific journals (latex, multicolums, plenty of figures...) and I was wondering which one of the two did a better job on these types of document?

I did found a review of pdf for the sony but not for the nook so I can't really compare. Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

sun surfer · 11-28-2010, 10:42 PM

Hi caribbean_spur and welcome! By the way, I love the Caribbean!

I have a nook and plan on getting a 950. They are both great devices. As to your situation, I don't have much experience with pdfs but I would recommend the 950 from what I've read around here.

I've read that the 950 is better with pdfs, and the screen is bigger, but perhaps someone with more pdf knowledge of the two can chime in.

caribbean_spur · 11-28-2010, 11:38 PM

hi sun surfer ! Thanks for the reply. You are right both device seem fine. I actually decided for the sony because I like the dictionary/translation option (not being a English speaker and all...) and I like the navigation better. Also, it is soooooo light. Anyway, I am waiting for the pdf comments and will make my decision.

ypocaramel · 11-28-2010, 11:40 PM

Is reading PDF your primary purpose?

simulacrum · 11-29-2010, 08:18 AM

I'm researching a reader to use with pdfs too. It seems like the 950 is the best option. You'll also probably find the multi-column option very useful.

caribbean_spur · 11-29-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ypocaramel

Is reading PDF your primary purpose?

It is not my primary purpose since I will probably use it more for leisure reading. But I will certainly use it quite a bit for scientific articles too though.

ypocaramel · 11-29-2010, 09:10 AM

It really depends on the nature of your documents. If most of them are A4 by default and are complex format-wise, I would personally go with LCD tablet or 10" e-ink displays. Trying read to read A4 documents on a 7" diagonal screen is really not ideal. The low refresh rate is usually a killer when you scroll. But I haven't owned a 950, so I can't say if there's been significant improvement since the devices I've used / heard about.

SkyDream · 11-29-2010, 11:18 AM

PDF on 650 is great although it depends on the PDF itself.
PDF reflow works very good and i'm able to read pdfs which consists mainly of texts very well. Pictures and tables are also fine but it depends whether you are using zoom or simple increase the font size. Sometimes tables are moved to a position later in the text when font size is increased.

Baldrake · 11-29-2010, 02:10 PM

IMHO, none of these will work well with two-column academic papers. I don't know what discipline you're in, but in mine, papers have small type (often 9 point) and very small margins. Reader displays are smaller than paper, making the text too small to read. So there will be a lot of panning and zooming, which is painful on an e-ink device. An iPad is probably your best bet today. Personally, I use my Kindle for novels, and either print my PDFs or read them on my laptop.

I should say that I don't personally have experience with PDF reflows on the 950, but I am very dubious whether it will work well enough for papers with lots of figures and math. Definitely find a way to try before you buy - perhaps someone here who owns one would be kind enough to try it out for you if you sent them a paper.

RedNara · 11-29-2010, 04:21 PM

baldrake have you seen pdf through a 650?

because from what i've seen the 650 splits the pdf into 2 sections. which is pretty much A4 like. Not only that the kindle and the 650 can both darken the pdf which I would say helps a little.

caribbean_spur · 11-29-2010, 06:44 PM

My problem is I have a very hard time reading from computer screen. My eyes get quickly tired. Hence my interest in the E-ink devices. I usually print all my papers so it would be nice to get a resear that give me the flexibility to read my papers on screen.

If someone has tried the pdf for these types of documents, I have 2 questions:
- On the review I saw online it seemed like the zoom worked well, but the various zoom bars were covering the text. Is there a way to keep the document zoomed in but have the zoom bars disappear?

-Also, if the text is too small , will the landscape view make it bigger?

Thanks again for the help!

Dulin's Books · 11-29-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldrake

IMHO, none of these will work well with two-column academic papers..

PocketBook devices allow you to read multi-column pdfs one column at a time. Once you have the PDF open you can go to the zoom/reflow selections and choose the multi-column option and select how many columns the pdf has.

The text is then zoomed to fit page width and using the paging buttons the first column is scrolled thru then the second etc until it turns to the new page and starts at the first column again.

Baldrake · 11-30-2010, 04:17 PM

Sounds very interesting. Definitely worth learning more about.

Latinandgreek · 11-30-2010, 04:40 PM

I hope these help:

for the 950:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sYTLtYPh90

for the nook:
http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/barn...oble-nook.html

Latinandgreek · 11-30-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

PocketBook devices allow you to read multi-column pdfs one column at a time. Once you have the PDF open you can go to the zoom/reflow selections and choose the multi-column option and select how many columns the pdf has.

The text is then zoomed to fit page width and using the paging buttons the first column is scrolled thru then the second etc until it turns to the new page and starts at the first column again.

Can't you do that with the new Sony devices and the Kindle 3 as well? I'm pretty sure I've seen that in their video reviews.

11-28-2010, 09:29 PM	#1
caribbean_spur Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 7586 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony daily edition 950	Nook or Sony 950 for scientific journal articles pdf Hi guys, I have a quick question. I have never own a ereader and after some research I have narrowed it down to the nook and the sony 950. I went to the best buy to see them and I would favor the sony. But there is one feature I was not able to test is the rendering for pdf articles from scientific journals (latex, multicolums, plenty of figures...) and I was wondering which one of the two did a better job on these types of document? I did found a review of pdf for the sony but not for the nook so I can't really compare. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks!

11-29-2010, 09:10 AM	#7
ypocaramel Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hong Kong Device: Sony Reader PRS-700, Barnes and Noble NOOKcolor)	It really depends on the nature of your documents. If most of them are A4 by default and are complex format-wise, I would personally go with LCD tablet or 10" e-ink displays. Trying read to read A4 documents on a 7" diagonal screen is really not ideal. The low refresh rate is usually a killer when you scroll. But I haven't owned a 950, so I can't say if there's been significant improvement since the devices I've used / heard about. Last edited by ypocaramel; 11-29-2010 at 09:13 AM.

11-29-2010, 02:10 PM	#9
Baldrake Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 1792 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 3, HTC Mozart	IMHO, none of these will work well with two-column academic papers. I don't know what discipline you're in, but in mine, papers have small type (often 9 point) and very small margins. Reader displays are smaller than paper, making the text too small to read. So there will be a lot of panning and zooming, which is painful on an e-ink device. An iPad is probably your best bet today. Personally, I use my Kindle for novels, and either print my PDFs or read them on my laptop. I should say that I don't personally have experience with PDF reflows on the 950, but I am very dubious whether it will work well enough for papers with lots of figures and math. Definitely find a way to try before you buy - perhaps someone here who owns one would be kind enough to try it out for you if you sent them a paper. Last edited by Baldrake; 11-29-2010 at 02:16 PM. Reason: Added about reflow...

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11-28-2010, 10:42 PM	#2
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Hi caribbean_spur and welcome! By the way, I love the Caribbean! I have a nook and plan on getting a 950. They are both great devices. As to your situation, I don't have much experience with pdfs but I would recommend the 950 from what I've read around here. I've read that the 950 is better with pdfs, and the screen is bigger, but perhaps someone with more pdf knowledge of the two can chime in.

11-28-2010, 11:38 PM	#3
caribbean_spur Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 7586 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony daily edition 950	hi sun surfer ! Thanks for the reply. You are right both device seem fine. I actually decided for the sony because I like the dictionary/translation option (not being a English speaker and all...) and I like the navigation better. Also, it is soooooo light. Anyway, I am waiting for the pdf comments and will make my decision.

11-28-2010, 11:40 PM	#4
ypocaramel Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hong Kong Device: Sony Reader PRS-700, Barnes and Noble NOOKcolor)	Is reading PDF your primary purpose?

11-29-2010, 08:18 AM	#5
simulacrum Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 29688 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The desert of the real Device: PRS-950	I'm researching a reader to use with pdfs too. It seems like the 950 is the best option. You'll also probably find the multi-column option very useful.

11-29-2010, 11:18 AM	#8
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	PDF on 650 is great although it depends on the PDF itself. PDF reflow works very good and i'm able to read pdfs which consists mainly of texts very well. Pictures and tables are also fine but it depends whether you are using zoom or simple increase the font size. Sometimes tables are moved to a position later in the text when font size is increased.

11-29-2010, 04:21 PM	#10
RedNara Member Posts: 23 Karma: 32 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: none	baldrake have you seen pdf through a 650? because from what i've seen the 650 splits the pdf into 2 sections. which is pretty much A4 like. Not only that the kindle and the 650 can both darken the pdf which I would say helps a little.

11-29-2010, 06:44 PM	#11
caribbean_spur Connoisseur Posts: 61 Karma: 7586 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony daily edition 950	My problem is I have a very hard time reading from computer screen. My eyes get quickly tired. Hence my interest in the E-ink devices. I usually print all my papers so it would be nice to get a resear that give me the flexibility to read my papers on screen. If someone has tried the pdf for these types of documents, I have 2 questions: - On the review I saw online it seemed like the zoom worked well, but the various zoom bars were covering the text. Is there a way to keep the document zoomed in but have the zoom bars disappear? -Also, if the text is too small , will the landscape view make it bigger? Thanks again for the help!

11-30-2010, 04:17 PM	#13
Baldrake Connoisseur Posts: 90 Karma: 1792 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 3, HTC Mozart	Sounds very interesting. Definitely worth learning more about.

11-30-2010, 04:40 PM	#14
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I hope these help: for the 950: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sYTLtYPh90 for the nook: http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/barn...oble-nook.html