Recommend me a reader

adc89 · 11-25-2007, 06:29 PM

Well I've spent the last 6 hours agonizing over which one to buy and I've just about had it. Please recommend one for me. Here are some details:

- I live in Canada
- I am a Mac user but I have access to windows and linux via Parallels
- I have a large collection of pdf books, many are formatted for letter sized paper, fiction and non-fiction for recreational purposes, many are uncommon and/or out of print
- I would like a built in dictionary with a lookup function
- Money is not an issue but, obviously I would like to spend as little as possible

JSWolf · 11-25-2007, 06:44 PM

Given that you have a large PDF collection (as long as it's not DRM laden) the iLiad would be your best bet because the iLiad has a larger screen and a higher resolution.

adc89 · 11-25-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Given that you have a large PDF collection (as long as it's not DRM laden) the iLiad would be your best bet because the iLiad has a larger screen and a higher resolution.

That's what I'm leaning towards but I'm having trouble justifying the price.

Anyone have much experience reading on the iPhone/iPod touch. It would be nice to have everything on one, pocket sized, device. I know it's a backlit LCD but I'm thinking the density might make it legible.

DaleDe · 11-25-2007, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc89

That's what I'm leaning towards but I'm having trouble justifying the price.

Anyone have much experience reading on the iPhone/iPod touch. It would be nice to have everything on one, pocket sized, device. I know it's a backlit LCD but I'm thinking the density might make it legible.

A legible 8.5" x 11" PDF on a 3.5" screen?

Dale

adc89 · 11-25-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

A legible 8.5" x 11" PDF on a 3.5" screen?

Dale

With a little scrolling...

DaleDe · 11-25-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc89

With a little scrolling...

You mean a lot of scrolling I presume. Or a lot of zooming in and out. Neither is much fun while reading a book.

Dale

JSWolf · 11-25-2007, 10:17 PM

If you get a 505, you can use pdflrf to clean up the PDF so it's a lot more readable. It works very well. But as far as native PDF reading goes, the iLiad is the best so far. pdflrf makes the 505 the second best.

HarryT · 11-26-2007, 03:02 AM

You can equally well use PDFLRF on other platforms, so let's not get tied down to the Sony too quickly.

You should also consider the Bookeen CyBook, since it has excellent dictionary lookup facilities - something which the Sony lacks, and you mention as being important to you.

Jon will doubtless chime in here and start his usual moan about how the CyBook is useless for displaying pictures. He's exagerating - most pictures are perfectly acceptable

.

IceHand · 11-26-2007, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Jon will doubtless chime in here and start his usual moan about how the CyBook is useless for displaying pictures. He's exagerating - most pictures are perfectly acceptable

.

You mean pictures in Mobipocket books. As far as I know the Cybook has a better algorithm for resizing and dithering pictures per se (don't remember who made that observation, Hadrien maybe?).

NatCh · 11-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You should also consider the Bookeen CyBook, since it has excellent dictionary lookup facilities ....

But isn't the dictionary lookup only functional in Mobi books? I didn't think it would be available in PDF files, especially if they've been through the pdflrf slice-n-dice ....

'Course that that restriction is going to be universal to e-readers.

tompe · 11-26-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

But isn't the dictionary lookup only functional in Mobi books? I didn't think it would be available in PDF files, especially if they've been through the pdflrf slice-n-dice ....

'Course that that restriction is going to be universal to e-readers.

It is available in anything except pdf files and images. Lookup works for text files and for html files also.

HarryT · 11-26-2007, 12:45 PM

Thank you for clarifying that; I only ever read Mobi books and have a bad habit of forgetting that the Gen3 supports other formats too

.

NatCh · 11-26-2007, 12:49 PM

Yes, thank you

-- one of the things I like about MobileRead is I'm always learning new stuff!

JSWolf · 11-26-2007, 12:51 PM

Regardless of what we think of the Gen3 and the 505, the iLiad is the best one for PDF at present.

HarryT · 11-26-2007, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Regardless of what we think of the Gen3 and the 505, the iLiad is the best one for PDF at present.

I entirely agree. If reading A4/Letter PDFs is your main priority, there's no doubt that the iLiad is the clear winner.

For reading fiction, however, the Sony or Gen3 are, I think, better. Which one you go for depends on your priorities. I will admit that the Sony does display pictures better, but on the other hand the Gen3 has a wonderful dictionary lookup facility which the Sony lacks.

11-25-2007, 06:29 PM	#1
adc89 Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: None	Recommend me a reader Well I've spent the last 6 hours agonizing over which one to buy and I've just about had it. Please recommend one for me. Here are some details: - I live in Canada - I am a Mac user but I have access to windows and linux via Parallels - I have a large collection of pdf books, many are formatted for letter sized paper, fiction and non-fiction for recreational purposes, many are uncommon and/or out of print - I would like a built in dictionary with a lookup function - Money is not an issue but, obviously I would like to spend as little as possible Last edited by adc89; 11-25-2007 at 06:39 PM.

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11-25-2007, 06:44 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Given that you have a large PDF collection (as long as it's not DRM laden) the iLiad would be your best bet because the iLiad has a larger screen and a higher resolution.

11-25-2007, 10:17 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If you get a 505, you can use pdflrf to clean up the PDF so it's a lot more readable. It works very well. But as far as native PDF reading goes, the iLiad is the best so far. pdflrf makes the 505 the second best.

11-26-2007, 03:02 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You can equally well use PDFLRF on other platforms, so let's not get tied down to the Sony too quickly. You should also consider the Bookeen CyBook, since it has excellent dictionary lookup facilities - something which the Sony lacks, and you mention as being important to you. Jon will doubtless chime in here and start his usual moan about how the CyBook is useless for displaying pictures. He's exagerating - most pictures are perfectly acceptable .

11-26-2007, 12:45 PM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thank you for clarifying that; I only ever read Mobi books and have a bad habit of forgetting that the Gen3 supports other formats too .

11-26-2007, 12:49 PM	#13
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Yes, thank you -- one of the things I like about MobileRead is I'm always learning new stuff!

11-26-2007, 12:51 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,887 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Regardless of what we think of the Gen3 and the 505, the iLiad is the best one for PDF at present.

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