PDFs only. N96 or wait?

jago25_98 · 09-21-2019, 12:32 PM

This 10" Boox N96 is down to $190USD where I am now:
https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...o-walkthrough/

But I'm not sure it's really comfortable enough for PDFs. I need it to be able to handle scanned, badly done A4 size pdfs.

I only want to be able to read PDFs but I want to read them easily. More easily than an 8" ipad mini that I'm using now.

For the N96 I'd need to find alternative apps for the old android system but I think with a bit of effort I should be able to get the basics working, such as a Dropbox alternative for syncing.

There's also the Wisky EeWrite, jezetek P97A
(more here: https://the-digital-reader.com/2019/...up-march-2018/ https://ereader.store/en/boyue-likeb...otective_cover )

...or I can wait for 13" screens to come down in price and have some peace of mind about not needing scrolling and reflow.

I think many pdfs I'd like to read are badly processed. For example, badly scanned pdfs.

JSWolf · 09-27-2019, 10:13 AM

Your best solution is a tablet.

jago25_98 · 10-04-2019, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Your best solution is a tablet.

I think you're right. I'm gonna stay with the 8" ipad until ereaders get better

Being patient

Quoth · 10-06-2019, 09:50 AM

I think eink is likely as good as it's getting. The screen is a high cost so I don't know if the 10" to 14" will get cheaper.
I'd like to be able to afford multiple sizes, or have a device that pulls out from A5 to A4 or longer. Technically possible.
Only some radically different tech can add colour or video (Mirasol seems to be over hyped, too high royalty and too expensive). LCD and OLED take too much power and lose the biggest advantage of eink, working with ambient light. I hate the front lights and only use them if there is a power cut or I'm stuck waiting for someone in the car after dark.

A 10" tablet seems to be minimum for a wide range of PDFs. Except battery life is poor on mine because it's x86-64 Intel Atom with 32 bit Win 10. I did try Debian on it which allowed 64 bit Linux, except you need a custom script or touch screen is wrong when you rotate

I might try again if I need a lot of portable PDF reading.

jago25_98 · 10-11-2019, 03:02 AM

Well I actually have an old x86 12" tablet with a better screen but I just don't use it. Why? Hard to say... It's just inconvenient compared to the ipad1mini. I have to charge it every day and the screen doesn't come on fast enough. So I tend to use the ipad1mini and even that I don't really enjoy reading on due to the LCD.
Also, you mentioned linux. Well, that's been a shame with the x86 tablet. I was hoping I could use that to revitalise the tablet into something more usable but proprietary power management killed that one and the screen won't rotate either. So I just use Win8 and the 2gb just makes it so laggy. A sad story of perfectly good enough tech killed by closed source b.s.

I should look into better sync for the ipad iOS9 that's light enough to be fast. I'm currently using Zoho Notebook and sometimes Google Drive but Google Drive is laggier.

Will Mirasol happen? Will screens get cheaper? I think so because there's a lot of use for them. The question might be whether another tech could get there before A4 sized eink is roughly as convenient to use as paper but with added tech benefit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrustratedReader

I think eink is likely as good as it's getting. The screen is a high cost so I don't know if the 10" to 14" will get cheaper.
I'd like to be able to afford multiple sizes, or have a device that pulls out from A5 to A4 or longer. Technically possible.
Only some radically different tech can add colour or video (Mirasol seems to be over hyped, too high royalty and too expensive). LCD and OLED take too much power and lose the biggest advantage of eink, working with ambient light. I hate the front lights and only use them if there is a power cut or I'm stuck waiting for someone in the car after dark.

A 10" tablet seems to be minimum for a wide range of PDFs. Except battery life is poor on mine because it's x86-64 Intel Atom with 32 bit Win 10. I did try Debian on it which allowed 64 bit Linux, except you need a custom script or touch screen is wrong when you rotate

I might try again if I need a lot of portable PDF reading.

Marinolino · 10-11-2019, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jago25_98

...

Will Mirasol happen? Will screens get cheaper? I think so because there's a lot of use for them. The question might be whether another tech could get there before A4 sized eink is roughly as convenient to use as paper but with added tech benefit.

Mirasol won't happen, but a relatively cheap & fast 10" color e-paper with frontlight could, the very next summer.

CLEARink

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...294531&page=13

09-21-2019, 12:32 PM	#1
jago25_98 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 3200000 Join Date: Dec 2005 Device: n35 p800 n30	PDFs only. N96 or wait? This 10" Boox N96 is down to $190USD where I am now: https://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/20...o-walkthrough/ But I'm not sure it's really comfortable enough for PDFs. I need it to be able to handle scanned, badly done A4 size pdfs. I only want to be able to read PDFs but I want to read them easily. More easily than an 8" ipad mini that I'm using now. For the N96 I'd need to find alternative apps for the old android system but I think with a bit of effort I should be able to get the basics working, such as a Dropbox alternative for syncing. There's also the Wisky EeWrite, jezetek P97A (more here: https://the-digital-reader.com/2019/...up-march-2018/ https://ereader.store/en/boyue-likeb...otective_cover ) ...or I can wait for 13" screens to come down in price and have some peace of mind about not needing scrolling and reflow. I think many pdfs I'd like to read are badly processed. For example, badly scanned pdfs. Last edited by jago25_98; 09-21-2019 at 12:36 PM.

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09-27-2019, 10:13 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Your best solution is a tablet.

10-06-2019, 09:50 AM	#4
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,092 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	I think eink is likely as good as it's getting. The screen is a high cost so I don't know if the 10" to 14" will get cheaper. I'd like to be able to afford multiple sizes, or have a device that pulls out from A5 to A4 or longer. Technically possible. Only some radically different tech can add colour or video (Mirasol seems to be over hyped, too high royalty and too expensive). LCD and OLED take too much power and lose the biggest advantage of eink, working with ambient light. I hate the front lights and only use them if there is a power cut or I'm stuck waiting for someone in the car after dark. A 10" tablet seems to be minimum for a wide range of PDFs. Except battery life is poor on mine because it's x86-64 Intel Atom with 32 bit Win 10. I did try Debian on it which allowed 64 bit Linux, except you need a custom script or touch screen is wrong when you rotate I might try again if I need a lot of portable PDF reading.