Which is the best ereader to read PDF ?

familyhandh · 08-24-2010, 11:45 PM

_ I have a lot of PDF book, which is the best ereader to read PDF ( handling, reflow...). Thanks a lot!

alisaad619 · 08-25-2010, 12:39 PM

amazon kindle dx

hel · 08-25-2010, 03:07 PM

Kindle DX Graphite or iPAD. First is better outdoor, second - indoor.

Elfwreck · 08-25-2010, 03:33 PM

There isn't a "best reader" for PDFs, because how well PDFs read depends on how they were made much more than the reader's software.

PDFs that were designed to be printed on letter/A4 paper are not going to convert well to a tiny screen; all the reflow and zoom options are workarounds. (That said, some devices do better with them than others. There are certainly *worse* PDF readers; there just aren't any that are great.)

The DX and iPad do best with them solely because they have larger screens. Neither has great functionality for PDFs--the Kindle can't search them or annotate them; the iPad is limited to 3rd-party apps that aren't compatible with its iBooks abilities.

What kind of PDF books do you have the most of; what kind of reading do you need to do with them? Some kinds convert well with Calibre and the whole issue of "best PDF reader" can be bypassed.

kjk · 08-25-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

the iPad is limited to 3rd-party apps that aren't compatible with its iBooks abilities.

Actually iBooks (first party) does display PDFs. But not with all of iBooks abilities available to ePubs (the most vexing one for me-setting the left margin tap as page forward isn't available..grrr)

kafin8 · 08-25-2010, 11:58 PM

There is the enTourage eDGe however it's a dual screen and more notebook size than a Kindle DX. Feel your pain

want a DX myself just waiting till the PDF handling is improved. I have a lot of technical books & research report PDF's to read for work so would buy a DX with improved PDF handling in a second.

kba · 08-26-2010, 12:13 AM

Same here.. most of the PDF files I read are based on textual sources (not scanned images put together).. like a MS Word or latex file was converted to PDF (might have some images/figures), such as technical articles

It would be nice if the PDF reader could reflow the text, and zooming in is not like zooming into an image where you have to pan around to continue reading.

I would not mind converting the pdf file to epub if it would work this way in the reader.

searching and annotating would be a great plus

FlorenceArt · 08-26-2010, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kba

Same here.. most of the PDF files I read are based on textual sources (not scanned images put together).. like a MS Word or latex file was converted to PDF (might have some images/figures), such as technical articles

It would be nice if the PDF reader could reflow the text, and zooming in is not like zooming into an image where you have to pan around to continue reading.

I would not mind converting the pdf file to epub if it would work this way in the reader.

searching and annotating would be a great plus

I understand that some readers can reflow, but many PDFs are not reflowable (is that a word? well, it is now

).

Don't get me started on software publishers who not only refuse to include a paper manual in the box, but keep producing their PDF manuals as if they were going to be read in print. At least they could make PDFs decently formatted for on-screen viewing, with a table of content and links.

Anyway, I will keep an eye on the future Pocketbook 90*, when and if they become available. A Pocketbook representative said on the French forum that PBs have a functionality that helps with reading two-column text on PDFs. Has anybody tested that yet?

kba · 08-28-2010, 12:26 AM

I saw this:
http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/prs-900-pdf.html

So maybe the Sony is a good choice? The best deal I can find for this is $240.. at that price almost makes me think to get an iPad.. didnt want to have to spend that much but technical PDFs will be primarily what I read.

WebDesignEbooks · 08-28-2010, 12:37 AM

I have some old PDFs I loaded to my Sony PRS-300 that were created before and after ebook readers were available. I read read them but some definately don't render well in the reader. As Elfwreck pointed out, when they were made to be read on screen or printed the oringinal formatting messes things up.

m-reader · 08-28-2010, 07:56 AM

Sony PRS-900 does a really good job out of PDF reflow. It also supports ToC (which Kindle DX doesn't).
However, it terms of viewing quality, the new Kindle DX is the go.

SkyDream · 08-28-2010, 08:00 AM

I believe at first you need a big screen.
At least bigger than the usual 5",6" or 7" readers.
Second the PDF reader software on that reader need to be good.

Kindle DXG, PocketBook 902/903 or one of the upcomming 9-10" devices shown at IFA Berlin should do the trick.

m-reader · 08-28-2010, 08:10 AM

PRS-900 is indeed great for PDF reflow. It also supports ToC, which is great for navigation in reference materials.
However, in terms of screen quality, the new Kindle DX is better.

FlorenceArt · 08-28-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyDream

I believe at first you need a big screen.
At least bigger than the usual 5",6" or 7" readers.
Second the PDF reader software on that reader need to be good.

Kindle DXG, PocketBook 902/903 or one of the upcomming 9-10" devices shown at IFA Berlin should do the trick.

I agree about the screen size, however from what I have read here, at the moment Kindle DX doesn't support links in PDFs. No table of content, no links inside the text. That's a serious handicap IMO. Maybe the PocketBooks will be better, we'll have to wait and see.

HarryT · 08-28-2010, 08:14 AM

The best large-screen device currently available for reading PDFs is probably the Apple iPad.

08-24-2010, 11:45 PM	#1
familyhandh Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: iphone	Which is the best ereader to read PDF ? _ I have a lot of PDF book, which is the best ereader to read PDF ( handling, reflow...). Thanks a lot!

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08-25-2010, 12:39 PM	#2
alisaad619 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	amazon kindle dx

08-25-2010, 03:07 PM	#3
hel Sorceress Posts: 168 Karma: 19604 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Montreal Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Boox Air2&Nova 3C, Kindle, Sony, and more	Kindle DX Graphite or iPAD. First is better outdoor, second - indoor.

08-25-2010, 03:33 PM	#4
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	There isn't a "best reader" for PDFs, because how well PDFs read depends on how they were made much more than the reader's software. PDFs that were designed to be printed on letter/A4 paper are not going to convert well to a tiny screen; all the reflow and zoom options are workarounds. (That said, some devices do better with them than others. There are certainly worse PDF readers; there just aren't any that are great.) The DX and iPad do best with them solely because they have larger screens. Neither has great functionality for PDFs--the Kindle can't search them or annotate them; the iPad is limited to 3rd-party apps that aren't compatible with its iBooks abilities. What kind of PDF books do you have the most of; what kind of reading do you need to do with them? Some kinds convert well with Calibre and the whole issue of "best PDF reader" can be bypassed.

08-25-2010, 11:58 PM	#6
kafin8 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 2	There is the enTourage eDGe however it's a dual screen and more notebook size than a Kindle DX. Feel your pain want a DX myself just waiting till the PDF handling is improved. I have a lot of technical books & research report PDF's to read for work so would buy a DX with improved PDF handling in a second.

08-26-2010, 12:13 AM	#7
kba Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Same here.. most of the PDF files I read are based on textual sources (not scanned images put together).. like a MS Word or latex file was converted to PDF (might have some images/figures), such as technical articles It would be nice if the PDF reader could reflow the text, and zooming in is not like zooming into an image where you have to pan around to continue reading. I would not mind converting the pdf file to epub if it would work this way in the reader. searching and annotating would be a great plus

08-28-2010, 12:26 AM	#9
kba Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	I saw this: http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/prs-900-pdf.html So maybe the Sony is a good choice? The best deal I can find for this is $240.. at that price almost makes me think to get an iPad.. didnt want to have to spend that much but technical PDFs will be primarily what I read.

08-28-2010, 12:37 AM	#10
WebDesignEbooks Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada Device: Sony	I have some old PDFs I loaded to my Sony PRS-300 that were created before and after ebook readers were available. I read read them but some definately don't render well in the reader. As Elfwreck pointed out, when they were made to be read on screen or printed the oringinal formatting messes things up.

08-28-2010, 07:56 AM	#11
m-reader Guru Posts: 785 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)	Sony PRS-900 does a really good job out of PDF reflow. It also supports ToC (which Kindle DX doesn't). However, it terms of viewing quality, the new Kindle DX is the go.

08-28-2010, 08:00 AM	#12
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	I believe at first you need a big screen. At least bigger than the usual 5",6" or 7" readers. Second the PDF reader software on that reader need to be good. Kindle DXG, PocketBook 902/903 or one of the upcomming 9-10" devices shown at IFA Berlin should do the trick.

08-28-2010, 08:10 AM	#13
m-reader Guru Posts: 785 Karma: 100000 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300. PRS-650, PRS-900, iPad2, Iconia A500, Irex Iliad (sold)	PRS-900 is indeed great for PDF reflow. It also supports ToC, which is great for navigation in reference materials. However, in terms of screen quality, the new Kindle DX is better.

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08-28-2010, 08:14 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The best large-screen device currently available for reading PDFs is probably the Apple iPad.