Looking to turn my older Surface into a textbook reader

305869 · 05-27-2023, 07:04 PM

I would like to be able to open textbooks and other larger format books and to be able to draw and write on the documents with the pen and have those annotations save and load next time I open the same document. Is this possible? Does anyone have good recommendations for software?

jhagri · 05-29-2023, 09:30 PM

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a popular PDF reader that supports annotation features. You can open textbooks and other large-format books in PDF format, use the pen to write and draw on the pages, and save your annotations. Acrobat Reader also supports syncing across devices.

305869 · 06-02-2023, 04:58 AM

I don't know why, but I couldn't get drawing annotations to work on the free version of Acrobat Reader. It works on Acrobat Pro, but that has other issues such as poor touch interface. It didn't seem to be able to distinguish pen from finger touch, so I couldn't switch between writing and panning/zooming seamlessly.

In the end the best app I found was Drawboard PDF. It's super intuitive. I'm just disappointed it's under a subscription-based business model because I would gladly pay a one-time fee for an upgraded version of the software. But the free version isn't bad. I was able to save the annotated version and transfer it to my e-ink devices without restrictions.

05-27-2023, 07:04 PM	#1
305869 Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 28344 Join Date: Mar 2023 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Boox Leaf 7"	Looking to turn my older Surface into a textbook reader I would like to be able to open textbooks and other larger format books and to be able to draw and write on the documents with the pen and have those annotations save and load next time I open the same document. Is this possible? Does anyone have good recommendations for software?

05-29-2023, 09:30 PM	#2
jhagri Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2023 Device: none	Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader is a popular PDF reader that supports annotation features. You can open textbooks and other large-format books in PDF format, use the pen to write and draw on the pages, and save your annotations. Acrobat Reader also supports syncing across devices.

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06-02-2023, 04:58 AM	#3
305869 Connoisseur Posts: 87 Karma: 28344 Join Date: Mar 2023 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Boox Leaf 7"	I don't know why, but I couldn't get drawing annotations to work on the free version of Acrobat Reader. It works on Acrobat Pro, but that has other issues such as poor touch interface. It didn't seem to be able to distinguish pen from finger touch, so I couldn't switch between writing and panning/zooming seamlessly. In the end the best app I found was Drawboard PDF. It's super intuitive. I'm just disappointed it's under a subscription-based business model because I would gladly pay a one-time fee for an upgraded version of the software. But the free version isn't bad. I was able to save the annotated version and transfer it to my e-ink devices without restrictions.