10-04-2009, 03:09 PM | #1 |
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Device for reading scholarly journals
Greetings,
I'm having a tough time finding a device to fit my needs. My goal is to do much of research and reading on a mobile electronic device. Some specifics on what I would like:
Will add more if I can think of anything. So far, the iRex DR1000 seems like the only real fit (I'm not going to put up with any manipulation of these files to fit on a small screen), but I find the price tag difficult to justify for the narrow functionality of the device (and the fact that this technology is still rather immature). Alternatively, a decent touchscreen notebook might work, but will sacrifice readability and battery life... Anyone have actual experience with these devices in this setting? I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions! Cheers, Cheez-It Last edited by Cheez-It; 10-04-2009 at 03:12 PM. |
10-05-2009, 04:22 AM | #2 |
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At the moment, the DR 1000s (or a laptop computer) is your best choice. I use mine all the time; it has virtually replaced my laptop as my "go-to" device for any sort of writing or PDF reading.
So far, I don't have a dictionary on my DR, but I've been thinking about picking one up. |
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10-05-2009, 06:14 AM | #3 |
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The DR1000S is the only real choice, in eInk devices, at the moment. It is relatively expensive, yes, but is, for me at least, well worth the money.
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10-06-2009, 02:38 AM | #4 |
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I may be a little behind the curve, but I don't have a reader yet, and I am looking at the Sony PRS-600 (because of my budget, and other things). Can anyone tell me what happens to a journal article on this reader? It has a 6" screen, and you can change the font and "zoom" (not sure if these are the same things). But what does that mean in terms of actually reading a PDF? Do you have to page back and forth to read a full line? Will it only show a full line if the text is unacceptably small?
I really don't think I can afford the DR1000S. I am wondering what my experience with the 600 would be. |
10-06-2009, 11:05 AM | #5 |
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llreader:
A few folks report good results with reading on six inch devices. I believe they take the original pdf's and edit them to trim out the white space (margins), then they read them in landscape fashion on their Sony's. However, most folks seem to feel that you will not have an acceptable experience on anything this small. The consensus seems to be that you should go for a 9.7 inch device or to pass for now. In terms of zooming journal articles, you may have a real problem. Many (most?) journal pdf's are simply scans (pictures) of pages from past journals. This means that you can't resize them to fit your page. If you zoom out to fit a page you get really small type. If you zoom in you get bigger, fuzzier type that doesn't fit a full line on a page. If you do get one of the text-orientated pdf's then you may be able to get it to reformat to fit your page. However, the problem is in graphics, charts, etc. These will not be able to reformat to the limitations of your device. |
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10-06-2009, 11:26 AM | #6 |
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I don't think any current 6" E-Ink device is likely to meet your needs. The PRS-600 perhaps comes closest, with both reflow (changing the font size and flowing text to fit the screen) and zoom (magnifying part of the page). However, the zoom is on a page by page basis only - you can't save the zoom setting for the next page. The Cybook Gen 3 with ADE (firmware not out yet) will do zoom only, and I don't know if that will be better or not.
You really need a larger screen. The Sony Daily Edition will initially be US only, but is has a 7" diagonal (6" wide) screen and that might be just enough for landscape reading of PDFs. The iRex DR800SG, also initially US only and at the same $400 price point as the Daily Edition, has an 8" diagonal screen and the 8" iRex iLiad has been "good enough" for PDFs for many readers. I think almost anyone would consider a 9.7" or larger screen acceptable for PDFs. The DR1000S is good but very expensive. The only other current entry is the Kindle DX, which is US-only (probably soon in the UK) and "only" $489. It has an incredibly basic PDF capability, best described as pathetic, but it does illustrate than the screen size is good for PDFs and it also sets the price point for "mainstream" large screen readers. So I would not recommend the KDX, but I expect several other devices with 9.7" screens probably early in 2010 and probably at about $500. Diagonal screen sizes can be confusing, see E-book Reader Matrix for the actual screen dimensions and note that an 8" screen in landscape mode is as wide as a 10.2" screen in portrait mode. Also, don't forget that most PDFs have relatively wide margins which can be cropped on the Reader. |
10-09-2009, 05:16 PM | #7 |
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Thanks!
emellaich - I haven't seen any recent journal articles as images. They are all normal PDFs and often you can download text files. However, my program does distribute some scanned articles, which are dreadful to read. I guess I can always use the laptop for those. wallcraft: I don't think I am ready to spend a whole lot more money on my first reader. I am still having doubts about whether the 600 is worth the money (I think it is a good choice, but money is tight). |
10-10-2009, 04:22 AM | #8 |
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If Cost is an issue, I'll actually suggest getting a small Tablet PC, either new or Secondhand.
If you're not looking for the latest and greatest, there are some really great deals for brand new, but older models of Tablets on ebay. I've seen HP tablets, which are just a genration or two old going for £300-400 Pounds with even the Ultraportable HP elitebook going for £500-600 which usually sells for 3 times that price. At the current £ to EUro rate, its well worth it looking across the EU for a good deals, as most sellers will be willing to ship to spain. Another option may be the Asus Eee PC T91 or T101H which are netbooks with totating touch screens, which might provide you with a small size portable computer which is also handy for reading with the rotating screen. |
10-10-2009, 04:30 AM | #9 |
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Thanks! I'm not interested in a tablet PC at all. I don't need another computer (I have a very nice laptop) and I don't like the tablet format. It doesn't really have any advantages over an ebook reader for reading, in my opinion (battery life is limited, heavy, and PCs are twiddly things - I work with Linux, Windows and Mac computers, and I don't need something new to maintain).
I can afford an ereader, but I just quit my job to concentrate on my studies, and I need to be careful about expenses. |
10-10-2009, 05:16 AM | #10 |
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I Understand. I just wanted to throw the suggestion out if you had not considered it.
Unfortunately the 1000S is currently the only option which meets most of your requirements, unless you are willing to pick up an Illiad but which is not supported any longer. Other devices from Sony and others are supposed to come on the market soon, But probably not for another few months. I'll suggest looking in the "See a device near you" thread to see if any members in you area have one to go and have a look and play with it before making a final decision. That way you can be sure whether or not you can live with the performance before paying such a high price. |
10-10-2009, 02:15 PM | #11 |
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One of my issues with the 1000S isn't necessarily the cost... It's my perception that this technology is still in it's infancy... I feel like we're going to see some leaps soon (larger screens for less $, color screens, etc.) and that prices for devices like the 1000S and their successors will start to drop to far more reasonable prices.
Like buying a 1 gig MP3 player for a fortune soon before the much larger and similarly priced devices arrived. Or spending thousands on a 42" tv when a superb plasma can now be purchased for $800 or less. It seems like ereaders will be picking up steam like these technologies. And fairly soon... But not in time to use one for my masters research Maybe if I get job offer... |
10-10-2009, 06:10 PM | #12 |
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Cheese-It: Exactly! Of course, I have two kids, so I am pretty sure one of them will want it. But it is the main reason I am not prepared to buy one of the larger devices, because they are beyond the "sweet spot" for value/price, in my opinion.
bbookwork: Thanks! That is a very good suggestion. I have been doing some reading today, and I would have loved to go curl up somewhere away from my laptop and just read, without the distractions of mail or worrying if the battery will run out. I think I am ready to spend to money :-) So, as far as formats go, scanned images are a real non-starter on a 6" screen. How about text PDFs that don't have the reflow feature (as I understand very few current PDFs have this feature activated)? I have a couple of textbooks in PDF format, which I would love to have handy, as well as some course handouts (all as text PDFs). |
10-10-2009, 07:44 PM | #13 | |
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Quote:
I've just tested that on my Pocket Pro which had the Adobe Software for reflow, and non of the PDF's I threw at it had reflow active. The sony uses the Same software so should treat it the same way. So if your textbooks and handouts were generated as text PDF's it should not be an issue. unless your professor was rescanning the handouts instead of just printing to PDF, it should probably not really be a proble. |
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10-10-2009, 10:48 PM | #14 |
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Hmm...
So on the Digital Reader 1000... How does note taking work, in terms of organization and navigation? Could I read through a PDF, jotting notes on the side? Will the reader make note of this somehow so I can see all the places I have notes, without actually going to the page? |
10-11-2009, 05:03 AM | #15 | |
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Quote:
Man, this is going to be great! Now they just have to bring the damn PRS-600 to Spain. Or I need to bite the bullet and order from NYC. |
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