Am I asking too much?

[DuckieTigger]

This lets you scroll down in your pdf with next page button. Also if you rotate 90 degrees pdf wil start out in landscape mode w/o you needing to rotate your screen. Zoom options include fit page, width, height -it will even remembe those when you rotate the screen and show the page at different zoom level. Pinch to zoom works and some preset zoomlevels. I am very impressed by the implementation on this reader. Even notetaking and highligting works in a pdf, but it must be real text for it to work. No reflow of text though in pdf but then again page always looks as intended. Nextpost i run you through your other requirements concerning the Odyssey.

[DuckieTigger]

Odyssey feature list. Sorry for text flow, but Odyssey has mediocre text input. PDF support - very good and fast. Nospyware - check. nondrm epub/pdf sideloadeable and downloadable (wifi) - check. stable - check. Calibre support - not sur yet since I drag and drop rigt from calibre into the folder on device. Odyssey has folder support and sort by filename that is how I organize - do not like calibre folder structure. Firmware update w/o windows - check. it does not even have any software for windows. update goes over wifi. small size - depends on your pockets about 6 5/8 x 4 3/4 inches. Library lending - I think so epub with ADE. next post your nice to have ...

[DuckieTigger]

Odyssey nice to have: Note taking /highlight/bookmarks - yes in pdf and epub both. BUT notes ar a pain in butt only one line. Full text search - no search at all. Fonts in epub - excellent in 3 ways - big selection of sizes, 6+ built in fonts, ability for custom fonts (have not tested yet myself). Read while charging - yes, but only if using a usb wall charger when connected to compute you cannot read. PDF reflow - no.

[HarryT]

It's the "no search" that's the "black mark" against Bookeen for me, especially when using a reader for academic or research purposes. I do hope that they add it in a future firmware upgrade.

[semioticwafture]

Originally Posted by Rizla

The Sony T1 is probably your best bet.

I was coming to the same conclusion, but I read that it's rather unstable (lots of freezes, sometimes multiple page turns in response to a single gesture/click). Are those problems fixed now (which firmware version)?

[semioticwafture]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Ok here it comes. A very nice device would be the Odyssey. Not because I have one, but because I have one and just checked pd support out first hand. It was a non-issue for me since I don't do pdf. So I d/led 2 phd thesis - first one a 900k file with actual text and diagrams and tables. The second a 32mb god-aweful scanned in and left as image file for each page. Performance wise both did the same with instant zoom change instant page turns instant portrait to landscape rotation.The first file of course looked a lot better - so lets concentrate on the smaller file since you cant fix ugly. Crop margins works so good that you should disable the display of the status bar or it will cover part of the pdf at the edge as there is literaly no margin left. On a page that only has the page number you are greeted by a HUUUGE number across the screen. Means it does crop each page individually. You can rotate the pdf 90 degrees and flip it upside down and that is independent from your screen rotation. see next post

Interesting, this is useful info. Thanks.

Unfortunately I have heard from others that there are still USB issues (on the Debian operating system), and some reports of freezing up. What's your experience been with those sorts of problems?

I went into WH Smith in Oxford St. today to see if I could look at a PDF on a kobo touch, and they said that they didn't have a PDF and couldn't let me put a memory card in to look at my own, but the store in Westfield (near Shepherd's Bush tube station) do let you do that. On the other hand, I see there is a workaround for the spyware issue, and some good early work has been done on replacing the software with entirely open source code, so the kobo could yet (just barely) meet all my "non-negotiable" criteria.

[semioticwafture]

Originally Posted by askyn

From my personal experience only, I would suggest checking out the PocketBook line of ereaders.

Im currently using the PB360 (older version not the plus), and it would handle all of your requirements to various degrees.

I'll have to go and read up on that, thanks. I think I had a look at this model before in my searches for smaller readers, but I haven't done enough due diligence yet...

From a quick google it looks like there are still some 360s available new online, from the EU.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by semioticwafture

Interesting, this is useful info. Thanks.

Unfortunately I have heard from others that there are still USB issues (on the Debian operating system), and some reports of freezing up. What's your experience been with those sorts of problems?

Yeah, the USB does lose the connection and reconnects maybe close to 10 minutes it stays on at a time, differs a bit. That is independent of the OS you connect it to - no matter if it is Windows or Linux and probably mac too but have not heard anyone with mac.
I managed to get my Odyssey to freeze up once after I disconnected from computer and tried to use it right after the disconnect. But as far as stability goes once you start using it, and hours at a time, I never had it freeze up - and I think that what you asked for - to have it stable once you actually use it for hours a day? Still does not excuse that bad behaviour.

On the other hand, there is NONE reader out there that does not have small problems. Take the T1 for instance - with the latest update the multiple page turns for instance have been fixed. You have to be careful when you research on here and people report a problem how long ago and how many updates before the current update that issue appeared. Also don't get frustrated that "a lot" of people post here with problems to get solved - because no sane person is going to say "hey folks, my reader worked perfect all day, am I doing something wrong? Please advise.". Now does the T1 have problems that are still sub-optimal? Sure, still see complaints about losing italics after a font change. You have to set your own priorities on which flaws you can live with and which ones you can't.

I actually am looking to get myself a T1 one of these days as a second reader, but am waiting until at least the font problems are solved. Not going to get rid of my Odyssey though, it does a very nice job displaying my epubs, and anything else they improve is just a bonus to me.

[semioticwafture]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

You have to set your own priorities on which flaws you can live with and which ones you can't.

It's almost as if I need to write down a list of non-negotiable things, some stuff I'd like, and other things that are just "nice to have" sorry, couldn't resist that.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by semioticwafture

It's almost as if I need to write down a list of non-negotiable things, some stuff I'd like, and other things that are just "nice to have" sorry, couldn't resist that.

Haha, I thought that is what I did answer you - that is why I tried to answer each and every point on your list. So if it was up to me, you won't be disappointed with a Odyssey, even if it has some flaws. Support let me know today though that they are working on the USB issues. See this thread.

[jehane]

Originally Posted by semioticwafture

[*]no activation / registration / etc. required as long as you won't be reading DRMed books

desired:[*]firmware updates don't require Windows[*]supports library lending

I think you'll find these are in conflict. Library lending is generally of DRMed books, so you'll be required to register with ADE, which i *think* requires Windows/Mac. I don't think it's compatible with Linux/Unix though there may be workarounds out there.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jehane

I think you'll find these are in conflict. Library lending is generally of DRMed books, so you'll be required to register with ADE, which i *think* requires Windows/Mac. I don't think it's compatible with Linux/Unix though there may be workarounds out there.

That is correct. Library lending requires registration of the reader with ADE, and ADE only runs under Windows or Mac.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That is correct. Library lending requires registration of the reader with ADE, and ADE only runs under Windows or Mac.

I know it is pulling hair, but would that registration only need to be done once? You should be able to find somebodys computer, install ADE and use it to register your device, remove ADE again and you are ready to go e.g. in a home where there is NONE computer or internet. You could go to McDonalds (in the US) which most now have free wifi and get your book from there w/o needing that single use borrowed computer ever again to keep reader updated and able to use its browser to get library books.

Or please enlighten me, if you borrow a book from the library, does it have to be put on the computer and the ADE installed there has to convert it for use on your reader? And IF you can d/l the book on your reader, can you transfer it to your computer afterwards and read the library book in computer or transfer to a different device ??

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I know it is pulling hair, but would that registration only need to be done once? You should be able to find somebodys computer, install ADE and use it to register your device, remove ADE again and you are ready to go e.g. in a home where there is NONE computer or internet. You could go to McDonalds (in the US) which most now have free wifi and get your book from there w/o needing that single use borrowed computer ever again to keep reader updated and able to use its browser to get library books.

Or please enlighten me, if you borrow a book from the library, does it have to be put on the computer and the ADE installed there has to convert it for use on your reader? And IF you can d/l the book on your reader, can you transfer it to your computer afterwards and read the library book in computer or transfer to a different device ??

I don't know how library lending works specifically, but when you BUY an ePub book, it has to be transferred to the reader via ADE. You receive a "key" file with a ".acsm" extension. You load this into ADE on Windows or Mac, it then triggers the download of the book, and you then transfer it to the reader. I'd guess that library lending works the same way, but I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't know how library lending works specifically, but when you BUY an ePub book, it has to be transferred to the reader via ADE. You receive a "key" file with a ".acsm" extension. You load this into ADE on Windows or Mac, it then triggers the download of the book, and you then transfer it to the reader. I'd guess that library lending works the same way, but I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

This is indeed how Overdrive library borrowing works. You download the .acsm file, and Adobe Digital Editions then takes that file and downloads the book.

However, the Sony T1 can download library books directly. From the Sony website:

Get the world’s first eReader to offer Wi-Fi® public library access and downloads from the device. Borrow free eBooks from your local public library2 using the dedicated public library icon.