reader with (scribble) annotation for pdfs

[toscadera]

Hi there,

with CES and CeBit happening I feel somewhat overwhelmed at the idea of actually making a choice with all the new devices...so I'm hoping you can clear things up for me

So, here's what I would like to do:

- read and annotate pdfs, preferably scribbling on the pdfs directly, and being able to export these notes (oh, and how about handwriting recognition...but I shouldn't be greedy...)
- most of these pdfs will be from academic journals and some will have pictures, but I'm not that interested in the pictures (I can always check them out on the pc or mac), so I assume they will be a4 or letter sized with lots of margin - is it possible to make those margins disappear or reduce them? is that an existing feature?
- I prefer a stylus over tapping on a virtual keyboard
- dictionary (tap word and look up) would be great, but isn't a necessity
- I may read the odd 'bestseller' for fun on it, but mostly it's for work, which formats should it ideally support to be easily used for casual reading?
- search function within text and ideally across the library of texts (though I could do that on the mac anyway)

The texts I read are mostly academic texts, possibly the occasional textbook, but that seems unlikely at the moment. Most important to me is the annotation function. I would like the device to be comfortable to hold and read on a train trip or lying on the couch (and yes, I still call that work ).

It seems to me that my choices are the iRex Iliad, the entourage edge (seems heavy though, but has deals with academic publishers which might come in handy in the future), the iRex 800S (if it adds annotations...), the que proreader, the bebook neo - have I forgotten something? The Iliad seems pretty much perfect from what I've read, and if I understand correctly one can print anything to it, could someone confirm this? I.e. could I 'print' a powerpoint to it? It just seems a little old and I'm worried that it will soon be superseded (I guess that the case with any gadget...), so it might be better to hold out for the 800s to add annotation and zoom functionality. The Edge is coming in a close second, especially considering it's price and added functionality, but might be too heavy for long reading session (though I guess I do that now with a notebook on my lap and surely it can't be heavier than that?).

I'll stop thinking out loud now - I appreciate any and all thoughts on this! If there are people out there who use a lot of journal articles from humanities journals I'd be particularly interested in your experiences.

cheers and thank you in advance
Katarina

[Dulin's Books]

Onyx Boox 60 is of course the same as the Bebook Neo. Dictionary support is not great(compared to say PocketBook or Sony) yet, but it does work if you get the right dictionary. Irex DR800 has no dictionary support planned so even when the annotation and zoom support comes next month you won't have that function.

Pretty much I think you have covered the bases as to what is available. Of course the Que is not delivering just yet. Hopefully soon Ill have a review unit of the DittoBook D9 which looks promising http://www.dittobook.com/d9.html#

in fact i should check in with them

[toscadera]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

Onyx Boox 60 is of course the same as the Bebook Neo. Dictionary support is not great(compared to say PocketBook or Sony) yet, but it does work if you get the right dictionary. Irex DR800 has no dictionary support planned so even when the annotation and zoom support comes next month you won't have that function.

thanks Dulin! I suppose I could live without the dictionary I might hold out for a month and see what happens with the Irex DR800 - though I am really rather tempted by the Entourage Edge. It just seems quite a bit of bother to get it to Germany...and it's still on the heavy side. But it seems that lots of people here on the forum like it a lot for working with pdf. Whereas the Iliad seems to be on the way out in terms of support, etc.

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

Pretty much I think you have covered the bases as to what is available. Of course the Que is not delivering just yet. Hopefully soon Ill have a review unit of the DittoBook D9 which looks promising http://www.dittobook.com/d9.html#

in fact i should check in with them

Well, this does look quite promising! I can't see a stylus anywhere - does it use one?

For any Edge users out there, how does the Edge export scribbles and notes on pdf? Are you happy with that function?

cheers
Katarina

[Dulin's Books]

Yes its Wacom so the touch input is stylus. Unfortunately review devices are still 4 weeks away

[toscadera]

I've been looking at the onyx boox 60/bebook neo as well after browsing around here on the forums. It seems well price and the biggest plus - it seems to be actually available at the moment. all those lovely looking larger screen ones, which do everything I want seem to be months away (dittobook, irex800s w/ annotation, samsung, copia, asus, big boox, etc.). to buy or not to buy, that is the question

and the annotation "export" as png/screenshot function, should make the notes searchable in evernote I think. I wonder if that would work - anyone care to try?
I guess apart from WANTING to try one there is no good reason to by one right now, but the next best/better thing seems to be always just around the corner...

thanks for your help in any case!

cheers
k

[toscadera]

Hi again,

I finally had the chance of playing with a Sony touch edition, and was rather impressed with it. It seemed snappy and I didn't have any trouble with the screen. Annotations worked much better than I anticipated, very little lag at all. I wander if that only works for the epubs or also my PDFs...

Searching around the forum revealed that exporting the annotations is not as straightforward as I thought - I expected this to be standard, rather than special, but please correct me if I am wrong!

So, as a result of this, it seems that I have narrowed it down to the following:

- Sony Daily (I expect it too work the same or better than the touch edition, but I like that extra bit of screen, dictionary, annotation w/ export, but possibly dull/glare-y screen)
- Onyx boox 60/BeBook Neo (no annotation exp? is there any advantage of one over the other?)
- Edge (best PDF functionality, but heavy)
- Pocketbook 302 (very helpful support, very actively developed, most open platform, i.e. users seem to add functionality via apps etc. all the time, but glare-y screen, tho this might change very soon)

I would LOVE to hear from Sony users re: notes, annotations and export to rtf - if someone could upload an example I'd be stoked! Also, I uploaded some test pdf files here, if someone could try the files on the Sony or the boox/neo that would be great (the pocketbook is already in progress)!

What do people think - did I forget something?

cheers
katharina

[citac]

Originally Posted by toscadera

I've been looking at the onyx boox 60/bebook neo as well after browsing around here on the forums. It seems well price and the biggest plus - it seems to be actually available at the moment. all those lovely looking larger screen ones, which do everything I want seem to be months away (dittobook, irex800s w/ annotation, samsung, copia, asus, big boox, etc.). to buy or not to buy, that is the question

and the annotation "export" as png/screenshot function, should make the notes searchable in evernote I think. I wonder if that would work - anyone care to try?
I guess apart from WANTING to try one there is no good reason to by one right now, but the next best/better thing seems to be always just around the corner...

thanks for your help in any case!

cheers
k

As far as I know, Copia will be available online in April, and in stores in June, I think. I am thinking about getting an ereader device for the exact same purpose you list, and I'm most inclined to buy one of their 9" devices.