Playbook as a e-reader? - Page 5

Lynx-lynx · 11-27-2012, 10:10 PM

Yep - it's wonderful to read on a backlit device, and 7 inches is a great size to read from and to cart around.

Only thing for me is that I find it a tad heavy if I've got to hold it to read for any length of time. I really need for it rest on something.

bobandjoyce · 11-30-2012, 08:09 AM

There is a keyboard available for the Playbook and it has a fold out (like a picture frame for a table top) and works great for reading.

Lynx-lynx · 11-30-2012, 05:18 PM

Good to see you're enjoying reading on it Bobandjoyce!!

ottdmk · 08-01-2014, 11:09 AM

Forgive the thread necromancy. As this was still on the front page of this forum, I figured, why make a new one?

Just picked up a used Playbook to use primarily as a PDF e-reader.

My Kobo Aura HD will still be my primary e-reader, as I'm a huge fan of its various benefits (e-ink screen, long battery life, feather-like weight) but for PDFs, the Playbook will be a welcome addition to my gaming table.

Had to shell out for a third-party PDF program though (PDF Reader, available at Appworld.) Adobe Reader was just pathetic. Wouldn't even open some of my PDFs, and wouldn't even display a Table of Contents.

PDF Reader works just great, and at $1.12 ($0.99 + tax) doesn't exactly break the bank.

I'm also looking forward to using the Playbook as a video player on trips.

Lynx-lynx · 08-04-2014, 04:27 AM

@ottdmk good to see someone else on the Forum with a Playbook.

I still use mine because the 7 inch format is just great, and of course it's in colour and PDF's render well with the app you mentioned.

My primary reader is the Glo though, because I find the Playbook a tad too heavy after a while.

I use the PB heaps, and take it with me in my pack and use it for taking videos and internet searching. I use it through my phone ISP and it's so light on the data usage to boot.

Like you I attach it to the tv and watch programs via the internet, and you'd never know that you weren't watching an original tv program or video.

I've had mine since 2011 or so from memory, so it's long in the tooth with respect to technological advancements ..... but Blackberry's were so far out there to begin with that I dare say not too much is different with many brands of tablets in today's market.

ottdmk · 08-06-2014, 02:02 PM

So I've had mine for almost a week now, and I'm really enjoying it. I've sideloaded ComiXology, as I'm a comics fan, and it's not bad. I think I'd prefer reading without the guided view, but it's ok. I need to stick my Girl Genius PDFs on there... I think they'll look fantastic.

I'm also trying out Origami Browser; it seems to be more fully featured then the stock Playbook Browser.

Sideloading the Ottawa Citizen's e-paper app is working well. I'll probably still side-load issues to my Kobo for on-the go stuff though. I see the Playbook as more of an "at-home" appliance. Still, I can read the comics on the Playbook, which is nice.

Next up: I think I might spend a few bucks on a DLNA client for the Playbook, see if I can stream some video from my main computer while I'm home. That would be nice.

mishka · 08-14-2014, 03:25 PM

I've most of the posts here on Playbook as a Reader. I may have missed something.
My problem is trying to sideload books and reading them on the PB.
It seems that Kobo is allowing only books purchased from them to be loaded for reading.
I have loaded several books and they show up in the PB directory under (Books) but Kobo will not open them,
Is it just me or is this a PB\Kobo issue?
Thank you

hpjrt · 08-15-2014, 07:27 AM

You're right, Kobo on Playbook allows only books purchased from Kobo.

There are some 3rd party readers for Playbook. My favourite is Book Reader. It's cheap and will allow you to read any epub book.

Check out Blackberry World for alternatives.

Good Luck!

ottdmk · 08-15-2014, 10:46 AM

Hmnn. I'm of absolutely no help here as I have no plans to ever read novels on my Playbook. The Aura HD is still my go-to device for that.

I will say though that my Girl Genius PDFs look fantastic in PDF Reader, and I've rapidly read through Volumes 1-8 in short order.

11-30-2012, 08:09 AM	#62
bobandjoyce Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 19402 Join Date: May 2012 Device: playbook	Playbook as reader There is a keyboard available for the Playbook and it has a fold out (like a picture frame for a table top) and works great for reading.

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11-27-2012, 10:10 PM	#61
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	Yep - it's wonderful to read on a backlit device, and 7 inches is a great size to read from and to cart around. Only thing for me is that I find it a tad heavy if I've got to hold it to read for any length of time. I really need for it rest on something.

11-30-2012, 05:18 PM	#63
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	Good to see you're enjoying reading on it Bobandjoyce!!

08-01-2014, 11:09 AM	#64
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Forgive the thread necromancy. As this was still on the front page of this forum, I figured, why make a new one? Just picked up a used Playbook to use primarily as a PDF e-reader. My Kobo Aura HD will still be my primary e-reader, as I'm a huge fan of its various benefits (e-ink screen, long battery life, feather-like weight) but for PDFs, the Playbook will be a welcome addition to my gaming table. Had to shell out for a third-party PDF program though (PDF Reader, available at Appworld.) Adobe Reader was just pathetic. Wouldn't even open some of my PDFs, and wouldn't even display a Table of Contents. PDF Reader works just great, and at $1.12 ($0.99 + tax) doesn't exactly break the bank. I'm also looking forward to using the Playbook as a video player on trips.

08-04-2014, 04:27 AM	#65
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,069 Karma: 91561091 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Blackberry Playbook, Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2	@ottdmk good to see someone else on the Forum with a Playbook. I still use mine because the 7 inch format is just great, and of course it's in colour and PDF's render well with the app you mentioned. My primary reader is the Glo though, because I find the Playbook a tad too heavy after a while. I use the PB heaps, and take it with me in my pack and use it for taking videos and internet searching. I use it through my phone ISP and it's so light on the data usage to boot. Like you I attach it to the tv and watch programs via the internet, and you'd never know that you weren't watching an original tv program or video. I've had mine since 2011 or so from memory, so it's long in the tooth with respect to technological advancements ..... but Blackberry's were so far out there to begin with that I dare say not too much is different with many brands of tablets in today's market.

08-06-2014, 02:02 PM	#66
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	So I've had mine for almost a week now, and I'm really enjoying it. I've sideloaded ComiXology, as I'm a comics fan, and it's not bad. I think I'd prefer reading without the guided view, but it's ok. I need to stick my Girl Genius PDFs on there... I think they'll look fantastic. I'm also trying out Origami Browser; it seems to be more fully featured then the stock Playbook Browser. Sideloading the Ottawa Citizen's e-paper app is working well. I'll probably still side-load issues to my Kobo for on-the go stuff though. I see the Playbook as more of an "at-home" appliance. Still, I can read the comics on the Playbook, which is nice. Next up: I think I might spend a few bucks on a DLNA client for the Playbook, see if I can stream some video from my main computer while I'm home. That would be nice.

08-14-2014, 03:25 PM	#67
mishka Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	I've most of the posts here on Playbook as a Reader. I may have missed something. My problem is trying to sideload books and reading them on the PB. It seems that Kobo is allowing only books purchased from them to be loaded for reading. I have loaded several books and they show up in the PB directory under (Books) but Kobo will not open them, Is it just me or is this a PB\Kobo issue? Thank you

08-15-2014, 07:27 AM	#68
hpjrt Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 10862 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kobo	You're right, Kobo on Playbook allows only books purchased from Kobo. There are some 3rd party readers for Playbook. My favourite is Book Reader. It's cheap and will allow you to read any epub book. Check out Blackberry World for alternatives. Good Luck!

08-15-2014, 10:46 AM	#69
ottdmk Wizard Posts: 1,196 Karma: 3765734 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Libra 2, Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus, Lenovo Tab M8 HD	Hmnn. I'm of absolutely no help here as I have no plans to ever read novels on my Playbook. The Aura HD is still my go-to device for that. I will say though that my Girl Genius PDFs look fantastic in PDF Reader, and I've rapidly read through Volumes 1-8 in short order.