I'm too cheap to get something good, what can I settle for

[Incriptus]

This is my goal. I play table top RPG's with my friends. Sometimes I will be carrying around 6 to 8 full sized books with me. I would often like to bring more, but 6 to 8 are heavy enough as it is. I don't really need something for hardcore reading, or even recreational reading. I want it so I can use them as quick references. So attempting to see if there is an electronic solution to my probem.

So this is what I want.

1. I'm not spending more than 400 dollars on this.
2. The electronic versions of the books I have are all PDF's
3. It has to be big enough to read atleast a 1/2 page width on the screen at a viewable size.
4. Small and Light so it can be easily passed around. "See it says on page 114 of shadows of light that . . . "
5. Quick movement through pages. "I know there is a rule regarding that, its about 3/4 of the way throught the book"
6. [Probably doesn't exist] I would love to have it keep multiple documents open and easy to toggle between them.

Notebooks, Netbooks, and Tablet PC's tend to break rule #1, and usually #4.

I'm fairly sure I'm SOL but I figure I'd try

[EowynCarter]

e-ink screnn have a slow refersh rate. Make then not adapted to shuffling through.
For what you want to do, netbooks, or a tactile cell phone will probably be best.

[HarryT]

Definitely not in your price range, but I think the iRex DR1000S would suit you admirably. It is the only eInk device (to the best of my knowledge) which allows you to have multiple documents open and easily switch between them; it has good search facilities to allow you to find things, and so on. Unfortunately it costs a little more than US$400.

[kacir]

The existing reading devices - especially e-ink ones - are best suited for linear reading. That is reading fiction (or other text-only books) from beginning to end page after page without skipping.

For referencing several books at once or searching through a content a netbook or a cheap second-hand notebook would be just perfect.

I personally would go for an old refurbished IBM Thinkpad, corporate model with titanium cage. They are built like tanks.

[Stitchawl]

Used laptops. Or used notebooks. Both would work for your needs and your price range. Look for stripped down models. You certainly don't need a Pentium 4 quad core for reading PDF's.


Stitchawl

[Prash]

Get a used Eee pc, they are quite cheap. And pack decent battery backup too (the recent ones). One of the downsides with Laptops is the battery backup, so you better go for a netbook rather than a laptop.

[emellaich]

Well, except for the small and light ...

If you are in the US, Walmart is now carrying a full-sized (15.6 inch screen) laptop for $298. 3GB RAM included. Load up foxit software for tabbed pdf browsing and you are set.

However, they are expected to go fast starting today July, 26.

[Prash]

^^ That looks like a steal deal, damn its not here

[narbeauchamp]

I would think a netbook would seem to be the ideal-and I see plenty that are sub 400. I would also suggest an old/refurb laptop-but I think the netbooks would have better battery life than those....and lighter/easier to carry.

[slayda]

Check this out;

ASUS 10" Eee PC 160GB Notebook Computerwith Windows XP Home - Black (1000HD)
price cut
List Price: $349.99
Price: $329.99
* 10" Notebook Computer with WSVGA LCD Display and 1024x600 Pixel Resolution
* Loaded with Windows XP Home, 160GB Hard Drive Capacity, Serial ATA Hard Drive Interface and 1GB DDR2, SO DIMM Memory
* 900 MHz Intel Celeron 353 Processor
* Built-In SD High Capacity Card Slot, Secure Digital Card Slot, MultiMediaCard (MMC)
* Line-In Jack, Memory Card Slot, USB 2.0, Headphone Jack, Microphone Jack, Ethernet Port, RJ-45 Port, Audio Jack, 3 USB Ports
* 802.11b/g Wireless Connectivity , 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN Network Card
* Intel UMA Graphics Card
* Internet Browser, Built-In Microphone, Instant Messaging, E-Mail Capabilities
* Software Included: Microsoft Works 9.0, Microsoft Live, Sun StarOffice, Free-Trial Anti-Virus Software, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer
* Also Includes Power Adapter, Battery, Operating Instructions
* Features Up To 5 Hours of Battery Life
* Also Features 1.3 Mega-Pixel Webcam
* 10.47 x 7.53 x 1.12 "; 3.09 Lb.
* 6-Month Warranty on Battery, 1-yr. Warranty

You may find it cheaper somewhere else.

[Kralik]

The jetBook can display PDF's fairly well and is $170. Page turn is fast and you can just to a page by inputting the number. However, depending on the size of your PDF's, I'm not sure if it will do a page in two views.

I have an Eee PC 901 that works quite well for books. It's relatively light (2.4 lbs) and runs less than $300. 8+ hours of battery if using it for reading, and you can set a PDF viewer to rotate a PDF so that you can read it sideways (holding the screen in portrait mode). A bit funny looking, but it works. Usually a page on the PDF can display completely on the 8.9" screen.

Out of your price range ($499), but Asus just released a tablet Eee (T91) that is very similar to the 901 but 1) Weights 2 lbs and 2) Has a rotating touch screen.

[Kralik]

Originally Posted by slayda

with Windows XP Home - Black (1000HD)

* 900 MHz Intel Celeron 353 Processor

* 10.47 x 7.53 x 1.12 "; 3.09 Lb.


You may find it cheaper somewhere else.

I wouldn't recommend this model... processor is the old Celeron type, thus low battery life, and it's relatively heavy. :P

[Prash]

If you want to get an Eee PC, get this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290329471986

Asus Eee PC 1005HA-P Seashell - amazing backup, and good performance. Should serve you best. Also features the Atom processor which should give you decent performance.

[richman]

Yeah I agree with the others , I have an acer 8.9 netbook with 160 gig hard drive and can view pdf's pretty easily. The 505 is for viewing pdf's converted to epub/sony format , I can in table of contents go to chapter easy enough, but not searchable. 505 has 2-3 week battery life, netbook 2-3 hour battery life, both are cool and I like both. 200 for netbook and 150 for 505, so for 350 I can read my pdf's in way I like. I have been reading on netbooks, laptops, computers for years, but it's nice to be able to read for fun again on the 505. If you have laptop already get the 505. If you have no laptop or netbook, get a netbook. Or get both if you have 350 loose change.