Which 8" e-Reader?

[icarus' decent]

Hi Guys,

I am in the market for a new e-Reader, having just dropped my Kindle DXG. I would prefer it had wireless and ran android (the folder structure for sorting collections and being able to install reading apps being the main reason I would like android), and it must be able to read EPUB and MOBI.

I believe 8" would suit me best as I think 6" would be too small and I found the 9.7" of the kindle not big enough to comfortably enjoy PDF's. I will eventually be getting a 13" e-Reader but will probably be waiting for that scene to mature, so am looking for a stop gap (I would prefer current availability in the UK, but if things are a cut above would wait\ship).

I have looked at the;

Icarus Illumina XL (concerned about single CPU?)
ONYX BOOX i86 HDML PLUS (concerned about single CPU?)
inkBOOK (concerned about low screen res, light uniformity, walled apps)

Forgive any mistakes I may have made in the previous, I am brand new to the current e-Book scene. Any help, opinions or suggestions above these 3 would be very much appreciated

[meeera]

Originally Posted by icarus' decent

Hi Guys,

I am in the market for a new e-Reader, having just dropped my Kindle DXG. I would prefer it had wireless and ran android (the folder structure for sorting collections and being able to install reading apps being the main reason I would like android), and it must be able to read EPUB and MOBI.

I believe 8" would suit me best as I think 6" would be too small and I found the 9.7" of the kindle not big enough to comfortably enjoy PDF's.

Just a quick heads up, since you've mentioned nothing between 6 and 8 inch, that 6.8 inch is available also, in a Kobo which should currently be available in the UK. Not android; but reading apps are readily installable, mobi converts seamlessly to epub, and folder structure can be read using an alternative reader.

[icarus' decent]

Thank you for the response meeera, certainly food for thought. I personally wonder how much single vs dual core cpu's matter in this field, and am currently trying to track down information on this. In any case, barring extra input or a change of mind; I think I may just buy the inkBOOK 8 and simply return it if it does not fulfil my needs, as it's been a few days since my kindle was destroyed and I'm itching to get on (it's ~ the same value as the Kobo h2o)

[Feher]

If you just wish to read EPUB and MOBI files, then i don't think that CPU or RAM will matter that much. We have always read that in eReaders,the slow refresh rate of E-Ink screens is the bottleneck.

I have i86 (1GB Ram) as my primary device and i was able to compare it with M96 (512MB Ram version) and my conclusions were that RAM doesn't matter that much. Both devices were of equal speed.

The screen quality should be your primary concern. My primary requirement was getting A2 mode to work

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Feher

If you just wish to read EPUB and MOBI files, then i don't think that CPU or RAM will matter that much.

Agreed. Both matter (a lot) for PDF, but not ePub or Mobi.

[icarus' decent]

OK, thanks for the input guys, it's appreciated! That changes everything for me. I'v decided not to jump onto the inkBOOK 8 for it's dual core cpu, and am leaning towards the Onyx Boox i86 for it's higher resolution screen (as I will be saving PDF's for a larger device (either a 13" eReader or tablet, depending on whether I can get into graphics novels\comics))

[edit] only downside is having to wait until these are back in stock on the .de website, as I cannot find it in the UK

[jj2me]

I have none of these devices, but was impressed by the information in this (long) video evaluating scientific PDFs on a 6.8" Kobo Aura H2O (with koreader installed) and an 8" Pocketbook Inkpad. That person picked the 6.8" reader.

P.S. I also feel the same about the Kindle DX not being so great for PDFs, even when using librerator.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by jj2me

I have none of these devices, but was impressed by the information in this (long) video evaluating scientific PDFs on a 6.8" Kobo Aura H2O (with koreader installed) and an 8" Pocketbook Inkpad. That person picked the 6.8" reader.

P.S. I also feel the same about the Kindle DX not being so great for PDFs, even when using librerator.

6.8" or 8" are both too small for reading scientific pdf files. You will need at least 9.7" device to get zoom level higher than the same pdf file printed on paper. Also, Onyx Boox device have the best support for pdf files since M92.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by icarus' decent

[edit] only downside is having to wait until these are back in stock on the .de website, as I cannot find it in the UK

The netherlands store www.e-readerweb.nl has this device in stock

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by Feher

6.8" or 8" are both too small for reading scientific pdf files. You will need at least 9.7" device to get zoom level higher than the same pdf file printed on paper. Also, Onyx Boox device have the best support for pdf files since M92.

Doesn't it depend on the number of pixels displayed rather than the physical size? The i86 uses an 8" 1600x1200 screen, while the 9.7" devices use a 1200x825 screen. So, the print will be smaller, but sharper on the 8" screens. I suppose older eyes might prefer the larger screen, but young eyes are probably fine with the smaller but higher resolution screens. The smaller devices are also much easier to hold for extended periods of time.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Doesn't it depend on the number of pixels displayed rather than the physical size?

Not for me - physical size is much more important than resolution. I use a 9.7" iPad for PDFs because, for typical academic PDFs, the text is just too small on smaller devices.

[Feher]

Originally Posted by rkomar

Doesn't it depend on the number of pixels displayed rather than the physical size? The i86 uses an 8" 1600x1200 screen, while the 9.7" devices use a 1200x825 screen.

I had two devices few months back and I did a comparison of a pdf file for my friend. I used to own Onyx boox i86 and M92. When i was doing the comparison I had actually forgotten about resolution difference between these devices and i was comparing the zoom level only. I was just checking what would look good to my eyes. Also, I usually read pdf files on these devices in landscape mode. The zoom level will be much less than 100% in portrait mode.

The text in M92 was at 110% zoom when compared to the same pdf file printed on paper and i86 had approx 90% zoom. I had clicked an image at that time. It is blurry and pixelated, so it won't show resolution difference which i could see with my eyes.


My conclusions at that time was : I would be very comfortable reading on 9.7" and i won't use 8" for reading pdf. But i suppose i didn't even take resolution difference into account at that time. I made the judgement in 2-3 months without reading on both devices. A better comparison can be made if i sit and try to read the same page on both the devices separately , but my first impression was that i will prefer 9.7"


I am uploading the comparison image here :
http://imgur.com/ztgMUu4

[peaceridge]

I realize you want an ereader, but thought I'd mention my Android tablets and their sizes (especially). I have a 7" Nexus - good for epub, not for pdf. I have a 10.2" Galaxy Note - great for pdfs, but really too heavy for me to hold for long. I just got a 9" Nexus (good sales right now) - it's actually 8.9" and surprisingly it is great for both epubs and pdfs. I just turn it to landscape for the pdfs and can enlarge them if needed. Also, I use Mantano and it allows one to crop the sides of pdfs which enlarges the text quite a bit.

Just food for thought.

[icarus' decent]

Thanks peaceridge and all the other replies, it is appreciated. It's for in my house where I have a two computers and a 20" monitor / 59" plasma (so am definitely getting a real e-ink e-reader). It seems the i86 will not be in stock for 3-4 weeks, so am probably going to get a pocketbook 840, it's already been far too long without being able to read (I tried the lcd\plasma, but it did not suit me, great for graphic novels though). Hopefully in a year or two some great 8" + e-readers will be out

[xtech]

Just for what it's worth. I use 9.7 Kindle DXG for pdfs, and also 6.8 Kobo Aura HD. Well, though Kindle DXG does not do the proper magnification, that is, it does not do the magnification gradually, but only allows fit to screen or different percentage magnification, yet it is very much better than 6.8 Kobo in terms of comfortability of reading big pdfs. I am thinking of either getting new 9.7 Onyx N96ML with stylus and built-in light, or even later some 13.3 ereader. I have also been thinking of 8 inch, but I am not sure that 8 inch screen will be sufficient. So, if you buy 8 inch, it would interesting to hear about your experience.