Reader for study purposes

Order · 01-29-2008, 01:15 PM

Hey everybody, I am quite new to the world of ebook readers and until now I have been quite happy using my laptop for reading purposes. However, I will have to travel extensively and laptops are not necessarily very easy to handle inside buses and trains. My first thought: How difficult can it possibly be to find the right one. After doing some research I am pretty confused now. I would be happy if someone could offer some recommendations.
What I need:
- I am not going to read "real" ebooks bought somewhere. I need to read PDF journal articles, ranging from properly formatted to badly scanned, longer HTML documents, TXTs, and DOCs
- Should support underlining stuff etc.
- Should have a dictionary
- Should not be destroyed by the first bump in the road
- MP3 could be nice (I don't want to invest in an iPod)
- Other gimmicks are not really necessary

I hope you can help me.

NatCh · 01-29-2008, 01:28 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, Order!

The only presently available e-ink device that comes close to your list of requirements is the iRex iLiad. I don't, however, believe that it can handle dictionary lookup for PDF or HTML files. Anything you can get into Mobipocket format, it should do lookups for you. It does have annotation capabilities for PDFs.

Even the iLiad is going to be a bit cramped for reading PDF files that are formatted to A4/letter sized pages, but it's the only one available that can make any real claim to handling them.

A note on MP3 players -- just buy another brand of player.

There are a multitude of name-brand players out there that aren't iPod, aren't expensive, and work just as well. I have a Sansa Express 1GB player (with a micro SD expansion slot) that I got for playing audiobooks. I've been quite happy with it, and it only cost me $40. It also has a 16 hour battery life, which is very nice.

Generally speaking, a Reader that plays audio isn't going to be all that great a quality on sound (fine for the non-audiophile, but nothing special), will take up a lot of you memory with audio files, and speed your battery draining. A dedicated MP3 player may well be a better solution for what you need, but only you can really decide that.

Order · 01-31-2008, 02:30 AM

Thank you very much for your answer. If I could do without annotation capabilities, MP3 and dictionary, what would you consider recommendable.

HarryT · 01-31-2008, 05:11 AM

The only eInk device which is remotely good at reading large page-size PDFs is the iRex iLiad. It's hopeless to even try on any device with a 6" screen (ie Sony, Gen3, Kindle, etc).

Order · 01-31-2008, 10:12 AM

Large Page Size means DIN A4? So there is really no way to read a simple scan of that size properly?

HarryT · 01-31-2008, 12:11 PM

The problem is that the screen of a 6" reader has an area which is approx 1/6th that of A4. PDF pages cannot, generally speaking "re-flow". It's just a physical impossibility to sensibly view an A4 page on a 12x9cm screen. The problem lies with the PDF format (which was never intended to be an eBook format), not with the device.

The iLiad has an 8" screen rather than 6". This is large enough such that, by cropping the margins, most A4 PDFs can be read reasonably well, half a page at a time, in landscape mode. The iLiad has the most sophisticated facilities for handling PDFs of any of the eInk readers.

Order · 02-01-2008, 05:29 AM

If I had non-scanned PDFs in DIN A4 format, could those be easily converted to fit the screens of other readers? The iLiad is somewhat expensive...

DaleDe · 02-01-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Order

If I had non-scanned PDFs in DIN A4 format, could those be easily converted to fit the screens of other readers? The iLiad is somewhat expensive...

It very much depends on the Reader. So far none of the dedicated eBook Readers except the iLiad have taken the PDF reading seriously. They only support it for a checkmark in the list of features. Hopefully Sony will be releasing a reader that can reflow PDF files which might solve your problem. They showed one at CES but it did not show images while reflowing which is a poor solution.

The best current products that can reflow PDF files are all PDA's. Palm and Pocket PC devices will reflow the text and show the images. Depending on the software they can also switch to showing the full page which can be zoomed and panned when you want to see the relationship to the page format.

For Palm check for PalmPDF or Adobe Palm (Adobe requires conversion on a PC), For Pocket PC (Windows Mobile) check for Adobe Pocket PC edition (note this is a large install of 8 Megs so it is best on a memory expansion card).

Of course you can also convert your PDF to a form more acceptable to eBook Readers. There are lots of conversion tools available.

For more information check PDF on the wiki.

Dale

Order · 02-02-2008, 12:05 AM

Thank you for your answer. Conversion seems to be the best option under these circumstances. So I guess what I need is just a normal reader with standard features.

DDHarriman · 02-07-2008, 07:05 PM

Hi Order

To your needs I would look into a UMPC - less then 1 kilo weight, 7” screen, full windows computer inside (no speed demon, but gets you any normal work done) and can ready any eBook/digital format you want.

Not cheap, but can replace your laptop on the road and at the office or home if you want.
Lots of information about them (and also tabletpc’s):
http://www.gottabemobile.com

Bets regards,

01-29-2008, 01:15 PM	#1
Order Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: none	Reader for study purposes Hey everybody, I am quite new to the world of ebook readers and until now I have been quite happy using my laptop for reading purposes. However, I will have to travel extensively and laptops are not necessarily very easy to handle inside buses and trains. My first thought: How difficult can it possibly be to find the right one. After doing some research I am pretty confused now. I would be happy if someone could offer some recommendations. What I need: - I am not going to read "real" ebooks bought somewhere. I need to read PDF journal articles, ranging from properly formatted to badly scanned, longer HTML documents, TXTs, and DOCs - Should support underlining stuff etc. - Should have a dictionary - Should not be destroyed by the first bump in the road - MP3 could be nice (I don't want to invest in an iPod) - Other gimmicks are not really necessary I hope you can help me.

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01-29-2008, 01:28 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Welcome to MobileRead, Order! The only presently available e-ink device that comes close to your list of requirements is the iRex iLiad. I don't, however, believe that it can handle dictionary lookup for PDF or HTML files. Anything you can get into Mobipocket format, it should do lookups for you. It does have annotation capabilities for PDFs. Even the iLiad is going to be a bit cramped for reading PDF files that are formatted to A4/letter sized pages, but it's the only one available that can make any real claim to handling them. A note on MP3 players -- just buy another brand of player. There are a multitude of name-brand players out there that aren't iPod, aren't expensive, and work just as well. I have a Sansa Express 1GB player (with a micro SD expansion slot) that I got for playing audiobooks. I've been quite happy with it, and it only cost me $40. It also has a 16 hour battery life, which is very nice. Generally speaking, a Reader that plays audio isn't going to be all that great a quality on sound (fine for the non-audiophile, but nothing special), will take up a lot of you memory with audio files, and speed your battery draining. A dedicated MP3 player may well be a better solution for what you need, but only you can really decide that.

01-31-2008, 02:30 AM	#3
Order Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: none	Thank you very much for your answer. If I could do without annotation capabilities, MP3 and dictionary, what would you consider recommendable.

01-31-2008, 05:11 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The only eInk device which is remotely good at reading large page-size PDFs is the iRex iLiad. It's hopeless to even try on any device with a 6" screen (ie Sony, Gen3, Kindle, etc).

01-31-2008, 10:12 AM	#5
Order Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: none	Large Page Size means DIN A4? So there is really no way to read a simple scan of that size properly?

01-31-2008, 12:11 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The problem is that the screen of a 6" reader has an area which is approx 1/6th that of A4. PDF pages cannot, generally speaking "re-flow". It's just a physical impossibility to sensibly view an A4 page on a 12x9cm screen. The problem lies with the PDF format (which was never intended to be an eBook format), not with the device. The iLiad has an 8" screen rather than 6". This is large enough such that, by cropping the margins, most A4 PDFs can be read reasonably well, half a page at a time, in landscape mode. The iLiad has the most sophisticated facilities for handling PDFs of any of the eInk readers.

02-01-2008, 05:29 AM	#7
Order Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: none	If I had non-scanned PDFs in DIN A4 format, could those be easily converted to fit the screens of other readers? The iLiad is somewhat expensive...

02-02-2008, 12:05 AM	#9
Order Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: none	Thank you for your answer. Conversion seems to be the best option under these circumstances. So I guess what I need is just a normal reader with standard features.

02-07-2008, 07:05 PM	#10
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Order To your needs I would look into a UMPC - less then 1 kilo weight, 7” screen, full windows computer inside (no speed demon, but gets you any normal work done) and can ready any eBook/digital format you want. Not cheap, but can replace your laptop on the road and at the office or home if you want. Lots of information about them (and also tabletpc’s): http://www.gottabemobile.com Bets regards,

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