Looking for recommendations

jtsongas · 12-01-2006, 09:36 AM

All:

I am looking at all the different devices and would like some help understanding which if any devices can do the things I need. I guess I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the information and need to help of those more educated on e-books.

I have a number of large 300+ page PDFs I need to reference very often in my job and would like to do this using an e-book. The one important feature I need is the ability to search the PDFs for specific text. For example, one document is a list of specifications and I need to be able to search for the specific specification number to pull up the information on demand.

Is there a device out there that can give me?:
1. Ability to view PDFs.
2. Ability to search the text of the PDF.

I am less concerned about price as they all seem to be within an acceptable range. Color is definitely not a necessity and I would happily take monochrome with decent resolution.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions/comments anyone may be able to provide.

Thanks,
Jason Tsongas

NatCh · 12-01-2006, 12:28 PM

Right now, the iLiad is your only real option for that if you want e-ink. Its 8" screen is still a bit small for A4/letter sized PDFs, and I don't actually know if it'll search them (I have the Sony Reader).

There are some alleged 10" models coming from HanLin, you may want to look at those. But they haven't done a very good job of getting products to market so far.

If you don't care about e-ink, then a tablet PC might be a better option. They're heavy and don't have very good battery life yet, but they'll do what you want.

jtsongas · 12-01-2006, 12:52 PM

NatCh:

Thanks for the reply. I really am looking for something e-ink based because of the negatives you mention with a tablet PC. Its too bad there is not a device which can search the documents you have on them. I don't think it is too much to ask for a simple search capability.

Thanks,
Jason

Liviu_5 · 12-01-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtsongas

All:

I have a number of large 300+ page PDFs I need to reference very often in my job and would like to do this using an e-book. The one important feature I need is the ability to search the PDFs for specific text. For example, one document is a list of specifications and I need to be able to search for the specific specification number to pull up the information on demand.

Is there a device out there that can give me?:
1. Ability to view PDFs.
2. Ability to search the text of the PDF.

These requirements are roughly why tablet pc's were introduced for what was called the "vertical market". As mentioned, they have lots of drawbacks, but there are some that are under 2 lbs and you always can carry a spare battery. Expensive though...

Unfortunately, though we all would love an ereader with those capabilities, personally I think that the computing power and the sharpness and resolution of the screen required makes it very unlikely we will get something like that soon, for the simple reason that at minimal extra cost you could make it a tablet and sell it as such.

Liviu

tribble · 12-01-2006, 01:52 PM

A serach feature for PDFs is planned for the iLiad, but noone knows when that feature will make it to the users (probably not even people at Irex know

)

I am too waiting for such a feature.

NatCh · 12-01-2006, 03:03 PM

Ah, perhaps that's why I couldn't remember.

Maybe one of 'Independent Developers' here at MR will whip something up. Scotty1024 has already done a lot of work on the PDF viewer....

iprofs · 12-05-2006, 09:08 AM

I, too, am overwhelemed with all of the information! I am not technical, but am an avid reader. I purchased the Sony Reader, but have not opened it and am about to return it. What I really wanted was a lightweight, portable reader that I could use to read in the car or in bed without using a clip-on book light. I didn't know that the Sony Reader has no backlight. Therefore it would be no different than having a paperback and using the clip-on light!

Is there a reader designed to be lightweight, portable, with a light that you can purchase well known novels for? Also, do any come with color? I've heard about ebookwise, but I'm so confused, I don't know which to turn to!

RWood · 12-05-2006, 09:39 AM

There was an ad last weekend for a Toshebia tablet in the $800 range after rebate. It was not identified as as one of the must buy by noon or only 5 per store. Perhaps the price is dropping because of poor sales or a new model coming out.

12-01-2006, 09:36 AM	#1
jtsongas Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Looking for recommendations All: I am looking at all the different devices and would like some help understanding which if any devices can do the things I need. I guess I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the information and need to help of those more educated on e-books. I have a number of large 300+ page PDFs I need to reference very often in my job and would like to do this using an e-book. The one important feature I need is the ability to search the PDFs for specific text. For example, one document is a list of specifications and I need to be able to search for the specific specification number to pull up the information on demand. Is there a device out there that can give me?: 1. Ability to view PDFs. 2. Ability to search the text of the PDF. I am less concerned about price as they all seem to be within an acceptable range. Color is definitely not a necessity and I would happily take monochrome with decent resolution. Thank you in advance for any suggestions/comments anyone may be able to provide. Thanks, Jason Tsongas

12-05-2006, 09:08 AM	#7
iprofs Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	Feeling Lost I, too, am overwhelemed with all of the information! I am not technical, but am an avid reader. I purchased the Sony Reader, but have not opened it and am about to return it. What I really wanted was a lightweight, portable reader that I could use to read in the car or in bed without using a clip-on book light. I didn't know that the Sony Reader has no backlight. Therefore it would be no different than having a paperback and using the clip-on light! Is there a reader designed to be lightweight, portable, with a light that you can purchase well known novels for? Also, do any come with color? I've heard about ebookwise, but I'm so confused, I don't know which to turn to!

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12-01-2006, 12:28 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Right now, the iLiad is your only real option for that if you want e-ink. Its 8" screen is still a bit small for A4/letter sized PDFs, and I don't actually know if it'll search them (I have the Sony Reader). There are some alleged 10" models coming from HanLin, you may want to look at those. But they haven't done a very good job of getting products to market so far. If you don't care about e-ink, then a tablet PC might be a better option. They're heavy and don't have very good battery life yet, but they'll do what you want.

12-01-2006, 12:52 PM	#3
jtsongas Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2006	NatCh: Thanks for the reply. I really am looking for something e-ink based because of the negatives you mention with a tablet PC. Its too bad there is not a device which can search the documents you have on them. I don't think it is too much to ask for a simple search capability. Thanks, Jason

12-01-2006, 01:52 PM	#5
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	A serach feature for PDFs is planned for the iLiad, but noone knows when that feature will make it to the users (probably not even people at Irex know ) I am too waiting for such a feature.

12-01-2006, 03:03 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Ah, perhaps that's why I couldn't remember. Maybe one of 'Independent Developers' here at MR will whip something up. Scotty1024 has already done a lot of work on the PDF viewer....

12-05-2006, 09:39 AM	#8
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	There was an ad last weekend for a Toshebia tablet in the $800 range after rebate. It was not identified as as one of the must buy by noon or only 5 per store. Perhaps the price is dropping because of poor sales or a new model coming out.

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