[Tfug] PDF (Book) Reader recs?

[Steve]

Hey Claude,



I happen to have both units you talked about, the Nokia 800 (the model sans keyboard), and I bought the Sony reader for my wife.  



On the Nokia I convert everything to html and read it like that.  It reads pdfs, but it is too cumbersome if the pdf isn't formatted for a small screen.  I've tried it both ways, reformatting before converting to pdf, and using the zoom feature.  Neither works well.  Html is easier to convert to, and automatically reformats the text to fit the screen, even after using the zoom feature.  I read my textbooks on it.  the drawback is the screen, which of course is hard to see in the sun.  I used to do audiobooks on an MPIO, but tried them on the Nokia and now I'll never go back.



The Sony reader has the e-ink screen, and it's really easy on the eyes.  It displays pdfs on it's ample screen ok, but again, only if they are formatted correctly, and the zoom feature isn't all that.  If it could display html I would have two in the house.  (The Kindle has the same type screen, and does display html I believe, but I've never seen one in action)  The battery on the Sony lasts a long while, one of the benefits of the e-ink screen. 



The downside to both is price.  You can find the Nokia under $200 if you dig a little, but I've not seen the Sony reader below $250.  Also, both take some time reformatting files for display, but it becomes easier once you know exactly what has to be done.  Both have SD card slots, which adds to the versatility.



Hope some of this helps.



Cheers,

Steve







 --- On Fri 03/14, Bexley Hall < bexley401 at yahoo.com > wrote:

From: Bexley Hall [mailto: bexley401 at yahoo.com]

To: tfug at tfug.org

Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:57:48 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: [Tfug] PDF (Book) Reader recs?



Hi, Claude,--- Claude Rubinson <rubinson at u.arizona.edu> wrote:> On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 03:33:28PM -0700, Robert> Hunter wrote:> > I know this sounds amazingly primitive, but what> about printing?  Some> > folks may not deem this as environmentally> friendly, but if you have> > the ability to print doubled-sided, two-up, it> really cuts back on> > waste, and IMO is probably easier, although> perhaps not as cool, as> > the alternative.> > A good point and frequently my preference.  AlsoIf I have to *read* something (as opposed to*reference* that same thing), then I much prefera printed copy that I can take *away* from mycomputer and read at my leisure (I strongly dislike"reading" off a screen!)> little chance of> accidentally deleting the article and you can take> notes right on the> paper!  Downsides: printing takes time, I'm already> awash in> printouts, and frequently it's simply impractical> (at the moment I'm> reading a 300+ page book on OSS GIS).  A good, fastExactly.  
And, each time I discard (recycle) a reamof printed paper, I ask myself, "Why the hell did Iwaste all that *paper* printing that thing??"  :<> laser printer> could take care of the first problem and is an> attractive solution> (except for the pricing)./shameless_plugWorldCare has some LJ4's (4M, 4+, etc.) and other(faster) laser printers for low dollars (e.g. < 50).I *think* my LJ4M+ does 12 ppm (?).  If you haveyoung enough eyes and can print 2- or 4-up, that'sthe equivalent of 25-50 ppm.  And, if you cancoax Joe into setting aside a duplexor for you(another few bucks?), that's 12 - 25 sheets ofpaper per 100pp of text!  :>> > That said, Costco is now selling a Sony> book-reader for about $200.> > Apparently it runs MontaVista Linux, who used to> be Tom R.'s employer,> > I don't know what he is up to these days. ;-) I> have no idea how> > hackable it is.  If anyone tested it, I would be> interested in your> > experiences.> > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Reader> > I 
seem to recall hearing something about that. > Thank, I'll take a look at it.If this is the same unit I've seen at Borders, itwas quite disappointing (performance).  YMMV, ofcourse...--don      ____________________________________________________________________________________Looking for last minute shopping deals?  Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.  http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping_______________________________________________Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.orgSubscription Options:http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org

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