Best device for reading and annotating PDF files?

Jlangston · 03-11-2017, 06:08 PM

I am in the middle of a PhD and I am over run by articles; I print them out as I can't read them off a computer screen or tablet. I love my first generation kindle for reading but I can't read pdf files on it as they are the wrong size. So I started to look at ereaders, in particular the Sony digital paper series but that isn't going anymore and wasn't in the uk.

I use a mac, iPad, iPhone (can't read off them, it gives me a head ache).
I'm in the uk.
I don't want it to do anything but pdf files, I don't want a tablet, email, apps etc.
It can't have the glare and shine of a tablet or screen, the paper white of the kindle is perfect.
I want to be able to annotate pdfs, generally I highlight and make margin notes.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

ottdmk · 03-12-2017, 03:18 PM

For reading PDF, I would recommend a larger screen. As you're in the UK, that expands your horizons a bit. I understand the Onyx e-ink readers are easily available there.

For more mainstream, I'd recommend the Kobo Aura One or Aura H2O.

Not sure about annotations. Haven't tried annotating PDFs. However, both the Onyx and Kobo readers are somewhat flexible; it's possible one of the alternative PDF readers out there like Koreader would do the job.

Jlangston · 03-12-2017, 05:48 PM

Thank you!

I've been looking at the Kobo but the youtube videos show it to be hard to read pdfs when they are two columns.

Will have a look at the Onyx e-ink too. Thank you.

If only the remarkable tablet was out...

allochi · 03-23-2017, 06:32 PM

I use Sony DPS-1, it's perfect, Onyx Max seems to be nice, I didn't try it, but I did order remarkable tablet for the following reason:

- Higher DPI = Sharper Darker Text
- 10" seems to be easier to carry and handle + I always end up with margins on the 13"
- The software seems to be well taken care of, I don't want a buggy version of android
- For me using DPS-1 means I can't use EBUP, but with remarkable I will be able
- the company is in Norway, so it's in Europe

The software, the software, the software, you can have something packed with hardware, but the software can't run it and then it end up useless, my I had some other models before and they had some version of android, which sounds nice on paper, but then it turned out to be unstable experience.

I would recommend getting the remarkable since they have 40% discount including all the accessories, Sony seems to be silent on a follow up model for DPS-1, although they did update the software like a month or two ago.

Jmirko · 03-24-2017, 01:55 AM

In my opinion the ReMarkable is a huge gamble until you see how good the software actually is.

nhedgehog · 03-24-2017, 02:55 AM

Since this question comes up a lot and in my opinion all 6" readers are not really equipped to show pdf's well, I was astonished how good my Pocketbook reader is doing this.

Here is a link to a videotest of Pocketbook TL3 performance on pdf's.

Bookchin · 04-13-2017, 06:50 PM

What is the best minimum screen size for reading pdf's?

Amiieey · 04-13-2017, 07:28 PM

I saw the Jing Page X someone mentioned on this site before, 9.7" screen and you can use a pen to annotate. There's also a version without the pen functionality which is cheaper. I really don't know how good it is though because nobody here has one but just thought it was worth a shot

HarryT · 04-14-2017, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookchin

What is the best minimum screen size for reading pdf's?

If they are page-scanned PDFs, I'd say 9.7" as a minimum, and ideally 13". I bought the 12.9" iPad Pro specifically for reading PDFs and it's far better at it than my older 9.7" iPad Air 2. The larger screen means I can read any PDF at its original page size with no zooming or scrolling.

Pajamaman · 04-14-2017, 06:49 AM

If you go with a large screen, Onyx is definitely the most tested device. It runs Android so you can install PDF reader apps, and it comes with its own software. I suggest you read about it in the Onyx sub-forum.

The only other reliable alternative is the big Sony PDF reader, but that will be hard to find at the moment, and they are releasing a new one soon.

Using a smaller device is possible, but difficult. If you try to use a small device, I suggest you look at kpdfopt

http://www.willus.com/k2pdfopt/
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=144711

This will reformat a PDF to fit a 6" screen.

HarryT · 04-14-2017, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

If you go with a large screen, Onyx is definitely the most tested device. It runs Android so you can install PDF reader apps, and it comes with its own software. I suggest you read about it in the Onyx sub-forum.

The only other reliable alternative is the big Sony PDF reader, but that will be hard to find at the moment, and they are releasing a new one soon.

Onyx are also releasing a new version of the Max, but it's always advisable to treat announced release dates as "hopes" until the device actually appears. I agree that Onyx are the best option for large-screen eInk devices at present.

Pajamaman · 04-14-2017, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Onyx are also releasing a new version of the Max, but it's always advisable to treat announced release dates as "hopes" until the device actually appears. I agree that Onyx are the best option for large-screen eInk devices at present.

The new Onyx Max is supposed to be released on April 20th, I believe.

On another note, the 9.7" is half the price of the 13". If you have the money for the Max, then it is the ideal solution. But the 9.7" version should be adequate to read PDFs on. But again, use the Onyx sub-forum to make sure.

HarryT · 04-14-2017, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajamaman

The new Onyx Max is supposed to be released on April 20th, I believe.

On another note, the 9.7" is half the price of the 13". If you have the money for the Max, then it is the ideal solution. But the 9.7" version should be adequate to read PDFs on. But again, use the Onyx sub-forum to make sure.

Agreed, and good advice

.

Bookchin · 04-14-2017, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If they are page-scanned PDFs, I'd say 9.7" as a minimum, and ideally 13". I bought the 12.9" iPad Pro specifically for reading PDFs and it's far better at it than my older 9.7" iPad Air 2. The larger screen means I can read any PDF at its original page size with no zooming or scrolling.

Thanks. Are there types of PDFs which are not page scanned?

HarryT · 04-14-2017, 07:03 PM

Certainly, yes.

03-11-2017, 06:08 PM	#1
Jlangston Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: Kindle	Best device for reading and annotating PDF files? I am in the middle of a PhD and I am over run by articles; I print them out as I can't read them off a computer screen or tablet. I love my first generation kindle for reading but I can't read pdf files on it as they are the wrong size. So I started to look at ereaders, in particular the Sony digital paper series but that isn't going anymore and wasn't in the uk. I use a mac, iPad, iPhone (can't read off them, it gives me a head ache). I'm in the uk. I don't want it to do anything but pdf files, I don't want a tablet, email, apps etc. It can't have the glare and shine of a tablet or screen, the paper white of the kindle is perfect. I want to be able to annotate pdfs, generally I highlight and make margin notes. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

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03-12-2017, 03:18 PM	#2
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	For reading PDF, I would recommend a larger screen. As you're in the UK, that expands your horizons a bit. I understand the Onyx e-ink readers are easily available there. For more mainstream, I'd recommend the Kobo Aura One or Aura H2O. Not sure about annotations. Haven't tried annotating PDFs. However, both the Onyx and Kobo readers are somewhat flexible; it's possible one of the alternative PDF readers out there like Koreader would do the job.

03-12-2017, 05:48 PM	#3
Jlangston Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2017 Device: Kindle	Thank you! I've been looking at the Kobo but the youtube videos show it to be hard to read pdfs when they are two columns. Will have a look at the Onyx e-ink too. Thank you. If only the remarkable tablet was out...

03-23-2017, 06:32 PM	#4
allochi Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 6770 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: Kobo Aura	I use Sony DPS-1, it's perfect, Onyx Max seems to be nice, I didn't try it, but I did order remarkable tablet for the following reason: - Higher DPI = Sharper Darker Text - 10" seems to be easier to carry and handle + I always end up with margins on the 13" - The software seems to be well taken care of, I don't want a buggy version of android - For me using DPS-1 means I can't use EBUP, but with remarkable I will be able - the company is in Norway, so it's in Europe The software, the software, the software, you can have something packed with hardware, but the software can't run it and then it end up useless, my I had some other models before and they had some version of android, which sounds nice on paper, but then it turned out to be unstable experience. I would recommend getting the remarkable since they have 40% discount including all the accessories, Sony seems to be silent on a follow up model for DPS-1, although they did update the software like a month or two ago.

03-24-2017, 01:55 AM	#5
Jmirko Recovered collector Posts: 398 Karma: 1555507 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: see signature	In my opinion the ReMarkable is a huge gamble until you see how good the software actually is.

03-24-2017, 02:55 AM	#6
nhedgehog Guru Posts: 746 Karma: 619508 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: EnergySistemEreaderPro, Nook STG, Pocketbook 622, Bookeen Cybooks ...	Since this question comes up a lot and in my opinion all 6" readers are not really equipped to show pdf's well, I was astonished how good my Pocketbook reader is doing this. Here is a link to a videotest of Pocketbook TL3 performance on pdf's.

04-13-2017, 06:50 PM	#7
Bookchin Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 2076068 Join Date: Apr 2017 Device: none	What is the best minimum screen size for reading pdf's?

04-13-2017, 07:28 PM	#8
Amiieey Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 2032204 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Likebook Mars, Kindle Fire HD 8	I saw the Jing Page X someone mentioned on this site before, 9.7" screen and you can use a pen to annotate. There's also a version without the pen functionality which is cheaper. I really don't know how good it is though because nobody here has one but just thought it was worth a shot

04-14-2017, 06:49 AM	#10
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	If you go with a large screen, Onyx is definitely the most tested device. It runs Android so you can install PDF reader apps, and it comes with its own software. I suggest you read about it in the Onyx sub-forum. The only other reliable alternative is the big Sony PDF reader, but that will be hard to find at the moment, and they are releasing a new one soon. Using a smaller device is possible, but difficult. If you try to use a small device, I suggest you look at kpdfopt http://www.willus.com/k2pdfopt/ https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=144711 This will reformat a PDF to fit a 6" screen.

04-14-2017, 07:03 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Certainly, yes.

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