Best E-Reader for Technical Books

rndinit0 · 06-10-2008, 02:19 AM

I mainly read only two types of books.

Technical Books
Sci-Fiction

Im fine with the Sony Reader as far as price / vs hardware.

But none of the readers really cater to my need to read technical books.
Subjects Im most interested in at the moment is: Ruby on Rails, VMware ESX

Where would I be able to get rails ebooks for the e-reader that I might buy.
It might be of interest to know that I mainly use a Macbook Pro Leopard.

Bottom line which reader should I get? Where do I get the technical ebooks for it. (Mainly Ruby programming and other SysAdmin/Linux ebooks)

JSWolf · 06-10-2008, 02:23 AM

Since most technical books of the type you want are PDF only, you might be well and tuly screwed as far as PDF goes. if they are PDF with DRM then no eink device will display them. if they are password protected, then the iLiad will work. The ilIad is currently the best one for PDF.

rndinit0 · 06-10-2008, 02:30 AM

Well Kindle did have some DRM titles in the area of Ruby Programming. I dont mind buying DRM books. Just cant seem to locate a reliable source. Or am I still screwed?

manchuia · 06-10-2008, 02:13 PM

unfortunately mostly screwed.

I too read technical books (Web app development) and my library to date is in PDF form. You can review some of the threads in this section about PDFs to see what a headache they are. I also have a subscription to Safari Books (for the books I just need to reference, browse though) and even the Kindle's browser can't handle the page.

The Iliad seems to be the best option to handle PDFs natively and pull up Safari (although there is a font size problem with the browser). This looks to be the best options for anyone needing to read technical books on an e-ink display.

As such, I am getting a Sony reader

... because I am the king of logic!

Actually I just didn't like the size of the Iliad (and the price) enough to move that way, so all non tech books are going to be on the reader while all tech items (and safari) will be on the UMPC (probably a shift or the like).

Forgot to mention.. most of the libraries for both sony and amazon suck for tech books. I find the prices just aren't competitive enough to not get the book, or not get something with an LCD (Nokia internet tablet) and read the PDFs from there.

pilotbob · 06-10-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchuia

You can review some of the threads in this section about PDFs to see what a headache they are. I also have a subscription to Safari Books (for the books I just need to reference, browse though) and even the Kindle's browser can't handle the page.

Frankly, when I am reading technical books, I am usually at the computer and display it on my secondary monitor. However, if and when the Astak 9.7 inch device comes out and has PDF support, I will probably get one to reclaim my second monitor space.

Although I would imagine it is hard to cut and paste code from the iLiad to your desktop.

BOb

manchuia · 06-10-2008, 03:26 PM

I spend WAY too much time in front of a computer. That's part of the reason I am looking at e-ink readers. A computerized way to store, edit, and carry my books but with a display that will let my eyes rest a bit. I have decided, though, until I can get a reader that can do PDF support brilliantly, I will keep the tech books on the computer and just try to rest my eyes with fiction, classics, and the occasional personal development book.

I can't imagine I would go for a 9.7 inch e-reader. I already have an issue with the Iliad's size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Frankly, when I am reading technical books, I am usually at the computer and display it on my secondary monitor. However, if and when the Astak 9.7 inch device comes out and has PDF support, I will probably get one to reclaim my second monitor space.

Although I would imagine it is hard to cut and paste code from the iLiad to your desktop.

BOb

mrdini · 06-10-2008, 07:07 PM

Any interest in CHM books?

If so, why not have a look at the Hanlin V2? I wrote up a brief review - https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24446 - have a look towards the end where I mention the CHM in the V2.

HTH!

06-10-2008, 02:19 AM	#1
rndinit0 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Sony Reader	Best E-Reader for Technical Books I mainly read only two types of books. Technical Books Sci-Fiction Im fine with the Sony Reader as far as price / vs hardware. But none of the readers really cater to my need to read technical books. Subjects Im most interested in at the moment is: Ruby on Rails, VMware ESX Where would I be able to get rails ebooks for the e-reader that I might buy. It might be of interest to know that I mainly use a Macbook Pro Leopard. Bottom line which reader should I get? Where do I get the technical ebooks for it. (Mainly Ruby programming and other SysAdmin/Linux ebooks)

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06-10-2008, 02:23 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,935 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Since most technical books of the type you want are PDF only, you might be well and tuly screwed as far as PDF goes. if they are PDF with DRM then no eink device will display them. if they are password protected, then the iLiad will work. The ilIad is currently the best one for PDF.

06-10-2008, 02:30 AM	#3
rndinit0 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Sony Reader	Well Kindle did have some DRM titles in the area of Ruby Programming. I dont mind buying DRM books. Just cant seem to locate a reliable source. Or am I still screwed?

06-10-2008, 02:13 PM	#4
manchuia Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 384 Join Date: May 2008 Device: In under a month I will have had both Sonys and a Kindle	unfortunately mostly screwed. I too read technical books (Web app development) and my library to date is in PDF form. You can review some of the threads in this section about PDFs to see what a headache they are. I also have a subscription to Safari Books (for the books I just need to reference, browse though) and even the Kindle's browser can't handle the page. The Iliad seems to be the best option to handle PDFs natively and pull up Safari (although there is a font size problem with the browser). This looks to be the best options for anyone needing to read technical books on an e-ink display. As such, I am getting a Sony reader ... because I am the king of logic! Actually I just didn't like the size of the Iliad (and the price) enough to move that way, so all non tech books are going to be on the reader while all tech items (and safari) will be on the UMPC (probably a shift or the like). Forgot to mention.. most of the libraries for both sony and amazon suck for tech books. I find the prices just aren't competitive enough to not get the book, or not get something with an LCD (Nokia internet tablet) and read the PDFs from there.

06-10-2008, 07:07 PM	#7
mrdini Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 177 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Hanlin V2 & V6	Any interest in CHM books? If so, why not have a look at the Hanlin V2? I wrote up a brief review - https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24446 - have a look towards the end where I mention the CHM in the V2. HTH!

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