Cheap E-reader for scanned pdfs

mobkhan95 · 03-31-2012, 12:24 PM

I would like some opinions or ideas on what type of e-reader(with e-ink) to buy if I want to read scanned pdfs. The pdfs contain images of text and some pictures throughout. They are mainly like textbooks or review books for school. I also want a cheap one around 100 dollars. Thanks a lot for the help!

ignacio ferrer · 03-31-2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobkhan95

I would like some opinions or ideas on what type of e-reader(with e-ink) to buy if I want to read scanned pdfs. The pdfs contain images of text and some pictures throughout. They are mainly like textbooks or review books for school. I also want a cheap one around 100 dollars. Thanks a lot for the help!

That is wishful thinking: PB912, Onyx M92, Ectaco Jetbook - all around 400 ...

mobkhan95 · 03-31-2012, 02:26 PM

so the nook/kindle/kobo e-ink devices aren't good at all for reading scanned pdfs?
i just need to be able to read them and look through them
i heard that the sony readers can view pdfs pretty well and so could the kindle/nook

ab7vf · 03-31-2012, 02:49 PM

Kinda depends ..

What is the 'printed' area of the bomaoks, ie space actually occupied by text/pictures?

If it measures 6" diagonal, than you could potentially get a "one-to-one" correspondence on a 6" reader .. After cropping excess white-space, margins etc
If the text/illustrations are greater than 6" diagonal than expect a reduction in print size at the very least .. I don't know how good any of the nook/etc are at removing margins or excess white-space.

A couple of programs to play with : Briss to 'crop' and k2pdfopt for crop/format

Jim

mobkhan95 · 03-31-2012, 05:16 PM

won't i just be able to pan around though?
and there are white spaces since it's just a regular book or textbook
it's mainly black and white i guess too

robko · 03-31-2012, 06:11 PM

Yes you can in theory pan around. If your primary use for the e-book is to do this with pdf's I think you'll be disappointed. If it's something you want to do occasionally then it's workable. Speed of refresh etc just make it a pain do on an e-ink e-reader vs a touch tablet even if the screen size isn't much different.

JSWolf · 03-31-2012, 06:42 PM

Get a cheap tablet. It will work better for your PDF then a 6" eink reader.

sabredog · 03-31-2012, 10:52 PM

Have to agree with JSWolf with this.

ereaders are not designed to read PDF documents effectively. A tablet with appropriate PDF software installed is a better bet for the task and makes for a far less frustrating reading experience.

charmian · 04-01-2012, 03:23 AM

Try a cheap 9-10" Android tablet. I hear the Le Pan is ok, but not great. They may have crap battery life, though, and the screen is not going to be as nice as the more expensive ones.

lorenzoens · 04-01-2012, 10:32 PM

A properly made Pdf is nicely seen on 9,7" readers, and the cheaper is the Pocketbook 902 (nothing bad with it, with pdf is better than Kindle DXG).

Scanned pdf (if you mean made with images, no text) are the worst kind of file you can read with an ereader. With those you'll need 9,7" with custom zoom, but navigating it may be slow and unsatisfactory.

If you read only this kind of files, you can use an OCR to convert those files, or buy a tablet. If so, hope you don't have to read for long sessions.

hel · 04-03-2012, 09:30 PM

Try Nook Simple Touch with cropping pages, it would be small but readable in landscape mode. But if you have scanned A4 or bigger, it will be too small. Tablet will be definitely better.

03-31-2012, 12:24 PM	#1
mobkhan95 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: none	Cheap E-reader for scanned pdfs I would like some opinions or ideas on what type of e-reader(with e-ink) to buy if I want to read scanned pdfs. The pdfs contain images of text and some pictures throughout. They are mainly like textbooks or review books for school. I also want a cheap one around 100 dollars. Thanks a lot for the help!

03-31-2012, 02:26 PM	#3
mobkhan95 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: none	thanks for the response so the nook/kindle/kobo e-ink devices aren't good at all for reading scanned pdfs? i just need to be able to read them and look through them i heard that the sony readers can view pdfs pretty well and so could the kindle/nook Last edited by mobkhan95; 03-31-2012 at 02:47 PM.

03-31-2012, 05:16 PM	#5
mobkhan95 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: none	:O won't i just be able to pan around though? and there are white spaces since it's just a regular book or textbook it's mainly black and white i guess too

04-03-2012, 09:30 PM	#11
hel Sorceress Posts: 167 Karma: 19604 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Montreal Device: Onyx Air2&Nova 3C,Kindle oasis1,Kobo Forma,iPad pro 12.9&9.7,and more.	Try Nook Simple Touch with cropping pages, it would be small but readable in landscape mode. But if you have scanned A4 or bigger, it will be too small. Tablet will be definitely better. Last edited by hel; 04-03-2012 at 09:35 PM.

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03-31-2012, 02:49 PM	#4
ab7vf Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 296 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Pacific Northwest Device: dxg and newfound Icarus 8	Kinda depends .. What is the 'printed' area of the bomaoks, ie space actually occupied by text/pictures? If it measures 6" diagonal, than you could potentially get a "one-to-one" correspondence on a 6" reader .. After cropping excess white-space, margins etc If the text/illustrations are greater than 6" diagonal than expect a reduction in print size at the very least .. I don't know how good any of the nook/etc are at removing margins or excess white-space. A couple of programs to play with : Briss to 'crop' and k2pdfopt for crop/format Jim

03-31-2012, 06:11 PM	#6
robko Wizard Posts: 2,454 Karma: 5469320 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kobo	Yes you can in theory pan around. If your primary use for the e-book is to do this with pdf's I think you'll be disappointed. If it's something you want to do occasionally then it's workable. Speed of refresh etc just make it a pain do on an e-ink e-reader vs a touch tablet even if the screen size isn't much different.

03-31-2012, 06:42 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,974 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Get a cheap tablet. It will work better for your PDF then a 6" eink reader.

03-31-2012, 10:52 PM	#8
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Have to agree with JSWolf with this. ereaders are not designed to read PDF documents effectively. A tablet with appropriate PDF software installed is a better bet for the task and makes for a far less frustrating reading experience.

04-01-2012, 03:23 AM	#9
charmian Addict Posts: 386 Karma: 1814548 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle PW2	Try a cheap 9-10" Android tablet. I hear the Le Pan is ok, but not great. They may have crap battery life, though, and the screen is not going to be as nice as the more expensive ones.

04-01-2012, 10:32 PM	#10
lorenzoens ex se ens Posts: 348 Karma: 1020253 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Italy Device: enTourage edge & Pocket, Sony T1, Galaxy Note I, ex many others	A properly made Pdf is nicely seen on 9,7" readers, and the cheaper is the Pocketbook 902 (nothing bad with it, with pdf is better than Kindle DXG). Scanned pdf (if you mean made with images, no text) are the worst kind of file you can read with an ereader. With those you'll need 9,7" with custom zoom, but navigating it may be slow and unsatisfactory. If you read only this kind of files, you can use an OCR to convert those files, or buy a tablet. If so, hope you don't have to read for long sessions.