Hi-di-ho

synoptic · 08-29-2008, 04:17 PM

Hello

I am currently considering purchasing an eReader, possibly the Iliad, but still scoping out people's experience of this technology. I have noticed an increase in the attention eReaders have been getting lately (probably due to the Sony device being marketed in Waterstones) and decided the time might be right to take the plunge.

I'm not 100% certain on this as I haven't actually seen an eInk display and have some concerns regarding the display sizes currently on offer. I read lots of scientific journal articles and was hoping to use an eReader as an alternative to printing the things out (piles of them everywhere!). I have read a lot of the posts that deal with this issue and I am reasonably confident the Iliad is up to the job but would appreciate any input from users who use it for this kind of reading. I am also strongly swayed by the Iliads touchscreen capability as annotating and note-taking would be highly desirable. Is it worth the price premium though?

The amount of development activity being undertaken by the users themselves is also impressive, a sure sign that the technology, in general, is in the ascendency.

The main concern for me is in buying a device now that will be superseded in the next 12 months by something with a larger display... I don't want to wait too long as I am already one year into a three year course and the main reason for getting an eReader is to streamline my study workflow. Again, any advice regarding this issue would be appreciated (although I have browsed the posts that offer info/hunches/rumours on product release schedules!).

Anyway, hello again and I hope I will be able to pick your brains over the coming weeks!

Cheers.

DixieGal · 08-29-2008, 04:56 PM

Are you sure your textbooks will be available in ebook format? Seems like in a case of something with a curriculum and book list, the driving factor behind purchasing would be availability of content. The univ where I work is offering texts to the kids in PDF format this year. I imagine that is working great for them, seeing as they usually tote around large, unweildy laptop bags AND large unweildy book bags.

synoptic · 08-29-2008, 05:12 PM

Hi DixieGal,

I read PDF's downloaded from journals via ScienceDirect, Elsevier, HighWire. etc. As far as I know they are DRM free because I can view them on any PC using a PDF reader, although my ignorance in these issues may be my undoing!

Cheers.

DixieGal · 08-29-2008, 05:25 PM

Me too. I'm constantly downloading PDF articles via those distributors. To my PC. You should really concentrate on a reader that handles PDF well, so that you don't spend half of your reading time converting articles.

You need what I have on my wish list: A single flat screen that is both a PC and has an onscreen keyboard. Unfortunately, we have to wait for that to be marketed.

What I did for our Residents and Fellows was to get all of their 1000+ pages of assigned articles in PDF, then put them onto the department server. So that way, they get told where to find the info and are sent to happily open PDF files and read. And read. And read.

Seriously, I think you may need to think about a big screen notebook PC because of all of the PDFs, illustrations, and tables in journal articles. Good Luck!

synoptic · 08-29-2008, 06:01 PM

To be honest, if an eReader isn't up to the task I will just continue printing out A4 copies of the articles via the laser printer (bargain at £40 and <1 pence per sheet!). I can annotate, highlight and file manage with ease using this method! Is reading journal articles so bad using these devices? I saw a thread (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16116) that seemed to demonstrate good reproduction, but obviously it is difficult to tell without observing it in person.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate learning how these devices perform in real-world tasks.

synoptic · 08-29-2008, 06:20 PM

Oooops! Sorry this post should really have been placed on the 'Which one should I buy?' forum. I started off with the intention of explaining how I came to be interested in eReaders and ended up asking for advice. Sorry

Feel free to move thread if necessary.

Cheers.

MickeyC · 08-30-2008, 07:51 AM

Meanwhile, welcome to the Forum synoptic

synoptic · 08-30-2008, 09:32 AM

Heh! Yes, thank you, good to be here

08-29-2008, 04:17 PM	#1
synoptic Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: N/A	Hi-di-ho Hello I am currently considering purchasing an eReader, possibly the Iliad, but still scoping out people's experience of this technology. I have noticed an increase in the attention eReaders have been getting lately (probably due to the Sony device being marketed in Waterstones) and decided the time might be right to take the plunge. I'm not 100% certain on this as I haven't actually seen an eInk display and have some concerns regarding the display sizes currently on offer. I read lots of scientific journal articles and was hoping to use an eReader as an alternative to printing the things out (piles of them everywhere!). I have read a lot of the posts that deal with this issue and I am reasonably confident the Iliad is up to the job but would appreciate any input from users who use it for this kind of reading. I am also strongly swayed by the Iliads touchscreen capability as annotating and note-taking would be highly desirable. Is it worth the price premium though? The amount of development activity being undertaken by the users themselves is also impressive, a sure sign that the technology, in general, is in the ascendency. The main concern for me is in buying a device now that will be superseded in the next 12 months by something with a larger display... I don't want to wait too long as I am already one year into a three year course and the main reason for getting an eReader is to streamline my study workflow. Again, any advice regarding this issue would be appreciated (although I have browsed the posts that offer info/hunches/rumours on product release schedules!). Anyway, hello again and I hope I will be able to pick your brains over the coming weeks! Cheers.

08-29-2008, 04:56 PM	#2
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Are you sure your textbooks will be available in ebook format? Seems like in a case of something with a curriculum and book list, the driving factor behind purchasing would be availability of content. The univ where I work is offering texts to the kids in PDF format this year. I imagine that is working great for them, seeing as they usually tote around large, unweildy laptop bags AND large unweildy book bags.

08-29-2008, 05:12 PM	#3
synoptic Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: N/A	Hi DixieGal, I read PDF's downloaded from journals via ScienceDirect, Elsevier, HighWire. etc. As far as I know they are DRM free because I can view them on any PC using a PDF reader, although my ignorance in these issues may be my undoing! Cheers.

08-29-2008, 05:25 PM	#4
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Me too. I'm constantly downloading PDF articles via those distributors. To my PC. You should really concentrate on a reader that handles PDF well, so that you don't spend half of your reading time converting articles. You need what I have on my wish list: A single flat screen that is both a PC and has an onscreen keyboard. Unfortunately, we have to wait for that to be marketed. What I did for our Residents and Fellows was to get all of their 1000+ pages of assigned articles in PDF, then put them onto the department server. So that way, they get told where to find the info and are sent to happily open PDF files and read. And read. And read. Seriously, I think you may need to think about a big screen notebook PC because of all of the PDFs, illustrations, and tables in journal articles. Good Luck!

08-29-2008, 06:01 PM	#5
synoptic Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: N/A	To be honest, if an eReader isn't up to the task I will just continue printing out A4 copies of the articles via the laser printer (bargain at £40 and <1 pence per sheet!). I can annotate, highlight and file manage with ease using this method! Is reading journal articles so bad using these devices? I saw a thread (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16116) that seemed to demonstrate good reproduction, but obviously it is difficult to tell without observing it in person. Thanks for your input, I appreciate learning how these devices perform in real-world tasks.

08-29-2008, 06:20 PM	#6
synoptic Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: N/A	Oooops! Sorry this post should really have been placed on the 'Which one should I buy?' forum. I started off with the intention of explaining how I came to be interested in eReaders and ended up asking for advice. Sorry Feel free to move thread if necessary. Cheers.

08-30-2008, 07:51 AM	#7
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Meanwhile, welcome to the Forum synoptic

08-30-2008, 09:32 AM	#8
synoptic Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: N/A	Heh! Yes, thank you, good to be here

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