Entourage eDGe - Great Reader for Scientists - Page 2

davidspitzer · 03-04-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetareticuli

For some reason, I see the eDGe's sharper. Could be my eyes, though. My main issue is that I am stuck with whatever I see on the DX. With the eDGe, I can zoom in. I really would love to use the DX but the poor PDF support is a big issue for me. 99% of the documents I read are in PDF.

you can read in landscape which zooms in and crops the white space - I am sure amazon will be expanding the pdf features in the near future also - I am sorta wary of being orphaned by the company that makes edge if they do not do well - Amazon is not going anywhere soon

zetareticuli · 03-04-2010, 09:43 PM

It's a much higher probability with Entourage Systems than with Amazon, I agree.

In my opinion, the PDF functionality of the DX is just not good enough for what I need. Hopefully, they will improve the functionality with software updates.

cacapee · 03-05-2010, 12:30 AM

Any comments on the 8 shades of gray that the edge's eink screen has versus the 16 shades of gray that the kindle dx has? I just noticed this discrepancy and wanted to see if it was a deal breaker...

Thanks

Batman Jr. · 03-05-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacapee

Any comments on the 8 shades of gray that the edge's eink screen has versus the 16 shades of gray that the kindle dx has? I just noticed this discrepancy and wanted to see if it was a deal breaker...

Thanks

cacapee,

I have compared my Kindle 2's screen with the eDGe's and have not seen any discernible difference. In fairness, I will say that I didn't perceive the low contrast that many Kindle owners reported on Amazon's forums last spring, so maybe I'm just not able to distinguish differences subtly enough. I do, though, notice some increase in sharpness since the latest Kindle firmware update. So for me it's at worst a wash, and if more shades are "better" maybe the eDGe provides more bang for the buck in that regard.

Purge · 03-06-2010, 02:06 PM

What's the contrast like on the e-ink screen?

I've got a PRS 600 and the contrast annoys the hell out of me. So much so I'm looking at getting a new reader.

Batman Jr. · 03-07-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purge

What's the contrast like on the e-ink screen?

I've got a PRS 600 and the contrast annoys the hell out of me. So much so I'm looking at getting a new reader.

Purge,

Seems fine to me, no problems with clarity of type, ghosting, etc.

fgruber · 03-07-2010, 11:55 AM

Hi

What is you experience with the annotations and journal app? Are they responsive enough for writing math/engineering derivations?

Fred

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetareticuli

Guys, here are some pictures of the Entourage eDGe displaying the Kepler Extrasolar Planet Finder Instrument Handbook. This is the perfect example of a technical PDF. The same type of PDF that engineers and scientists read. The eDGe does a wonderful job displaying technical PDFs. It really looks no different than reading it on computer using a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader.

The overexposure in the pictures is the result of the light sources around. It actually looks excellent and very sharp.

sarah11918 · 03-07-2010, 05:43 PM

Sorry, bad internet connection. Duplicate post. See next post.

sarah11918 · 03-07-2010, 05:44 PM

The journal app is almost on par with the Journal experience on a Tablet PC. As a journal-warrior on Tablet PCs (tutored math, so a lot of equations and solutions), I'm pretty impressed.

The speed is definitely quick enough to keep up, and even when it lags behind, the lag is only in the display. It does catch everything you write. As mentioned in the laptop magazine review, it's slower if you put the "smooth my handwriting out" tool on while you write. Best bet is to write for a bit, then hit the smooth button. Also, there are different page backgrounds: blank, graph, lined etc. I find that with a blank background, there's next to no lag and the writing is sharp, even before smoothing. With any other kind of visible background, it's marginally less good, but still absolutely fine.

Less than a tablet PC in that it can't do colours (only shades of gray) and no handwriting recognition, but quite comparable in most other aspects. The journal was one of the main reasons I bought the eDGe, and I'm very pleased.

fgruber · 03-07-2010, 06:19 PM

thanks. That sounds good.

It would be fantastic if they decide to add handwriting recognition and voice/annotation sync like in onenote...

paulckennedy · 03-08-2010, 08:57 AM

As far as contrast is concerned, I must say that I am VERY pleased with the eDGe.

I currently have the eDGe about 2 feet to my right opened up flat. The lcd is off and I have a copy of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead on the eInk side. Now it may be me but I have often found myself in shock at how "Paper" like the eDGe displays the eInk. I have the font at a Medium setting and it is quite comfortable to just glance to my right and simply read.

Now I am at work so normally I would have a programming related PDF open for reference but I must say that even with this epub open, I never had this kind of visual experience with any of the Kindles that I have owned.

sarah11918 · 03-08-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulckennedy

I currently have the eDGe about 2 feet to my right opened up flat. The lcd is off and I have a copy of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead on the eInk side. Now it may be me but I have often found myself in shock at how "Paper" like the eDGe displays the eInk. I have the font at a Medium setting and it is quite comfortable to just glance to my right and simply read.

Hubby had the same reaction. The viewing angles are amazing. The LCD side, not so much, but the eInk side, yes.

kevindorsey · 03-08-2010, 12:55 PM

I got to see this, as my gf could probably use a viewer like this. She is a PHD student and has shown an interest in readers.

zetareticuli · 03-09-2010, 11:04 AM

The more I use it, the more impressed I become. The eDGe is definitely the best e-reader I have used so far. The eInk display is excellent, viewing angles are great, very sharp and readable. All my scientific and technical papers are displayed great by the eDGe. The only thing that bothers me about it is that it feels heavy after holding it for a while. I have to put it down on a table or support it on something, very much like a thick text book.

X. Trapnel · 03-09-2010, 12:06 PM

Tiny question: when you zoom (eg to crop away whitespace/margins), does it know to preserve that zoom for the rest of the PDF's pages? Does it save the zoom for the next time you open the file?
Thanks to everyone for posting this stuff!

03-07-2010, 05:43 PM	#23
sarah11918 Tablet Enthusiast Posts: 335 Karma: 30400 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura One (formerly: Asus Eee Note, enTourage eDGe EE, Nokia N810)	Sorry, bad internet connection. Duplicate post. See next post. Last edited by sarah11918; 03-07-2010 at 05:46 PM.

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03-04-2010, 09:43 PM	#17
zetareticuli Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 228 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aztak Mentor	It's a much higher probability with Entourage Systems than with Amazon, I agree. In my opinion, the PDF functionality of the DX is just not good enough for what I need. Hopefully, they will improve the functionality with software updates.

03-05-2010, 12:30 AM	#18
cacapee Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 1393 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Santa Monica Device: prs-500	Any comments on the 8 shades of gray that the edge's eink screen has versus the 16 shades of gray that the kindle dx has? I just noticed this discrepancy and wanted to see if it was a deal breaker... Thanks

03-06-2010, 02:06 PM	#20
Purge Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: None	What's the contrast like on the e-ink screen? I've got a PRS 600 and the contrast annoys the hell out of me. So much so I'm looking at getting a new reader.

03-07-2010, 05:44 PM	#24
sarah11918 Tablet Enthusiast Posts: 335 Karma: 30400 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura One (formerly: Asus Eee Note, enTourage eDGe EE, Nokia N810)	The journal app is almost on par with the Journal experience on a Tablet PC. As a journal-warrior on Tablet PCs (tutored math, so a lot of equations and solutions), I'm pretty impressed. The speed is definitely quick enough to keep up, and even when it lags behind, the lag is only in the display. It does catch everything you write. As mentioned in the laptop magazine review, it's slower if you put the "smooth my handwriting out" tool on while you write. Best bet is to write for a bit, then hit the smooth button. Also, there are different page backgrounds: blank, graph, lined etc. I find that with a blank background, there's next to no lag and the writing is sharp, even before smoothing. With any other kind of visible background, it's marginally less good, but still absolutely fine. Less than a tablet PC in that it can't do colours (only shades of gray) and no handwriting recognition, but quite comparable in most other aspects. The journal was one of the main reasons I bought the eDGe, and I'm very pleased.

03-07-2010, 06:19 PM	#25
fgruber Academic Posts: 103 Karma: 540716 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Onyx Boox Note Plus	thanks. That sounds good. It would be fantastic if they decide to add handwriting recognition and voice/annotation sync like in onenote...

03-08-2010, 08:57 AM	#26
paulckennedy Addict Posts: 205 Karma: 824 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Carthage, Texas Device: Apple iPad	As far as contrast is concerned, I must say that I am VERY pleased with the eDGe. I currently have the eDGe about 2 feet to my right opened up flat. The lcd is off and I have a copy of Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead on the eInk side. Now it may be me but I have often found myself in shock at how "Paper" like the eDGe displays the eInk. I have the font at a Medium setting and it is quite comfortable to just glance to my right and simply read. Now I am at work so normally I would have a programming related PDF open for reference but I must say that even with this epub open, I never had this kind of visual experience with any of the Kindles that I have owned.

03-08-2010, 12:55 PM	#28
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	I got to see this, as my gf could probably use a viewer like this. She is a PHD student and has shown an interest in readers.

03-09-2010, 11:04 AM	#29
zetareticuli Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 228 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aztak Mentor	The more I use it, the more impressed I become. The eDGe is definitely the best e-reader I have used so far. The eInk display is excellent, viewing angles are great, very sharp and readable. All my scientific and technical papers are displayed great by the eDGe. The only thing that bothers me about it is that it feels heavy after holding it for a while. I have to put it down on a table or support it on something, very much like a thick text book.

03-09-2010, 12:06 PM	#30
X. Trapnel Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Device: iLiad (broken screen! cry), x61t tablet	Tiny question: when you zoom (eg to crop away whitespace/margins), does it know to preserve that zoom for the rest of the PDF's pages? Does it save the zoom for the next time you open the file? Thanks to everyone for posting this stuff!