Good PDF Reader Device With Internet Browsing?

ranjix writes "I need a handheld device which would allow me to read ebooks and/or browse the internet while actively and intensely laying in the hammock (and Yes, I do have a hammock in my mom's basement). I'll try to sum up the basic requirements: (good) PDF reader (and ebooks of whatever sort), WiFi connectivity and Internet browser, screen minimum 4.5", readable in sunlight, etc, fairly responsive, at least 4-5 hours battery. Obviously I looked at the usual suspects: Kindle/Amazon tries to grab one into the proprietary formats and their own network (while other ebook readers don't really browse the internet), laptops/netbooks are pretty hard to hold, and the UMPC arena seems a hodge-podge of 'to be released' (Viliv S5? Aigo whatever?) with 'seriously expensive' (Sony, OQO) or plain 'we recommend you don't buy' (Samsung Q1Ex). Is there anything else I could use in the given circumstances?"

Comments

iRex iLiad

[Anonymous Coward]

It does everything you want. Nothing with an e-ink screen is going to browse the internet "properly", but nothing without really fits the bill either.

Get an iLiad, and keep updating the browser as new versions become available. It runs Linux, and isn't locked-down DRM-addled crap like the Kindle or those shoddy Sony efforts.

Re:iRex iLiad

[Anonymous Coward]

the price of the iliad is a complete joke. $700? May as well buy a tablet pc at that price.

Re:iRex iLiad

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, DRM sucks, but seriously, the Kindle DX doesn't force you to use it. It is "DRM-addled crap" in the same way the iPod is. It displays normal PDFs *and* the DRM-shit that Amazon peddles. You decide what you want with your credit card and USB cable.

Re:iRex iLiad

[gazita123]

I second this. I've got one and use it all the time. It is really excellent for taking your library with you, and it doubles as a notebook (a book to take notes in, not a notebook computer). The wifi works OK, but can be finicky. This is one of the only e-ink devices with a Wacom digitizer for taking notes and annotating documents. The software has been opened up and there is some community development Open Iliad, but you will find most of the active discussions and news on the forums.

It is hackable to extend the battery life to several days, and it supports CF flash, SD, and USB memory. The USB port can also be used for running a USB light or hooking up an external keyboard. For updating, it is possible to use SSH to connect to it, and then just rsync or whatever you want.

Since I've gotten this, I've started being able to read many books that are available for free as a CC licensed digital download. Cory Doctorow is a good example.

The cost is higher than similar readers due to the digitizer and wifi and *most importantly* the fact that it is a full A5 sized screen (8" diagonal). I've compared this to the smaller Sony reader, and the additional screen space is particularly valuable for reading PDFs since they do not re-flow the text to fit the screen.

Re:iRex iLiad

[Anonymous Coward]

I too have an iLiad and would recommend AGAINST getting one. The hardware for the iLiad is great, the software from iRex is horrible. Just for example, the hardware has (stereo) sound capabilities. That's good. The software doesn't. That's stupid.

Re:iRex iLiad

[rm999]

"It runs Linux, and isn't locked-down DRM-addled crap like the Kindle or those shoddy Sony efforts."

You don't understand the Kindle at all. First, it runs Linux. You are probably repeating complaints that the software isn't open source, but Linux is not a synonym for open source. Second, its DRM does not prevent you from viewing non-DRM material. The Kindle has a very capable PDF converter, and the resulting files have no DRM in them. The Kindle is a superset of a theoretically identical device without any DRM. I have a Kindle and have never used its DRM.

The Kindle is an impressive piece of hardware, but I agree its software licensing leaves something to be desired.

Re:iRex iLiad

[SpinyNorman]

Nothing with an e-ink screen is going to browse the internet "properly", but nothing without really fits the bill either.

Maybe not yet, but check out this dual-mode reflective/transmissive LCD screen from Pixel Qi.

It has the best of both worlds - in reflective mode it's like an e-ink display, readable in full sunlight, and in transmisssive mode it's a fast color display suitable for watching movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm8WoItVRn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oawX3wenxNc

Re:iRex iLiad

[stephanruby]

Get yourself a computer projector (if you do your research, you can get a very good one for a decent price). Experiment with projecting on the wall (or on the ceiling of your basement). If your basement doesn't have a good spot for projecting on to. Build yourself your own custom projection screen (see the instructables web site to see how it's done right). Hang it from the ceiling, and use some ropes and a couple of mini-pulleys to tilt it to the angle you prefer (assuming you do want it tilted, also if nothing else, this pulley system could be used to fold the screen toward the ceiling if the screen gets in the way when not in use). Also, I suppose you could use some nylon strings and some metal hooks if you don't like the idea of ropes and pulleys.

Now a projector and a projection screen may not be the perfect set up for reading text, especially reading pdfs, but I think it's getting better (although admittedly, I would never read an entire ebook with it). And perhaps, the other slashdoters could suggest ways to optimize such a set up to facilitate reading (I'm hoping).

Now putting that question of readability aside for someone else: once your budget allows, you can start adding accessories to help with the navigation. Wireless mouse. Wireless keyboard. Wireless tablet. The clapper, clap on -- clap off, when you're in bed (currently sold at Walgreens for not too much I think, thought I have no idea how it would affect the projector cutting its power off, and turning it back on, like that). An additional LCD screen. Two or three cheap laser pointers (preferably of different colors), to be used when your friends are coming over (and yes, you may get some friends coming over more frequently because of this), and since only one person is usually in control of the mouse when everybody is looking at the screen (on occasion, it helps to give your friends laser pointers). iPod Touch, a remote control, or an existing smartphone to be used as a wireless remote control (the thing is, a good remote control device doesn't have to be too elaborate to be useful -- since you will be doing most of your reading/browsing on the screen anyway, and using your own cell phone gives you the added benefit to pause the sound/pause the movie whenever you receive an important call, and also possibly get additional caller-id on-the-fly from http://whocalled.us/ ).

And on the topic of the FoxIt PDF reader, that's an awesome piece of software, but it's been getting bloated and buggier in the past few months (or in the past year?). I'd suggest that if you have an old copy of Foxit, that you hold on to it, back it up, and/or burn it to a disk or something. And lacking an old copy, I'd suggest you try PDF xChange Viewer, that's a good alternative in my opinion.

Now I know that some people have their pdf ebooks read to them by their computers (with different computer voices and at different speeds depending on the ebook) but I've never liked that option and I don't think that option would work for most people (even with the better voice reading technology). May be you should try to have your mom (or your girlfriend -- whichever applies in your case) come down to the basement and read to you what's on the projection screen while you're lying in the Hammock with your eyes closed. That last option sounds kind of nice actually. :-)

Re:iRex iLiad

[shutdown -p now]

In case you want to try out alternative (and open source) software, iLiad is supported by OpenInkpot

Re:iRex iLiad

[vivian]

This is thinking along the right lines. For years I thought it would be cool to have some sort of tablet PC so I could surf the net on my couch.
After getting a 42" plasma screen a couple of weeks ago, I now realise the solution I always needed was to have an old PC hooked up to a huge screen and just have a remote keyboard & mouse. Works great - you can watch tv, movies etc and also surf the net at a lovely 1920x1280 resolution. Total cost: About $AU 1700 for a 42" plasma, + $100 bucks for a logitech wireless keyboard & mouse with 10M range (about 30 ft) + one old PC I already had lying around. Well worth it, and way better than any hand held solution. It's just not feasible to surf today's web content on a pocket PC.

Re:iRex iLiad

[rm999]

You can just download this software, which Amazon owns: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/HomePage/default.asp?Language=EN
Their free e-mail service just runs this on their servers, for people who don't want to deal with software.

Also, the Kindle DX allows you to put PDFs directly onto the device.

iPhone.

[icebike]

Ok, someone has to say it. iPhone/iPod Touch.

Choice of several readers. Choice of formats,
and at least 3 different on line stores if you want to buy something to read.

May not be cost effective for the single purpose of PDF reader, but throw in everything else it does and it makes sense.

Re:iPhone.

[Degro]

The iPhone is not very good if you're talking larger book pdfs (jailbroken may be a different story). The best I've found so far is Air Sharing from the app store, which lets you map your phone via WebDAV. Once the files are on your phone it seems to use the built in display for that file type, the same pdf viewer you get from the mail app in this case. The viewing is good enough for me. I've read several smaller books with it already. The problem lies with trying to open large files. Anything over 10-15mb will likely lock up your phone. Anything over 25mb, forget about it. Sometimes I can't even kill the app when this happens and have to reboot the phone...

Re:iPhone.

[Anonymous Coward]

Try PDF+ which is in the App Store. I carry several large IEEE standards in it (largest is 19mb) that work fine. It also adds search and index support which makes it reasonable to use with large documents.

Even with all of that it is a pain compared to reading the same document on a laptop. The screen is small and the controls are limited. But it fits in my pocket which was the goal.

Re:iPhone.

[wizzat]

Sounds to me like you're using the wrong app to read with. I've read many many (many) books on my iphone and really it comes down to the interface on the app you're reading with. I rather highly recommend reading with Bookshelf - and as a double bonus win, it is setup by default to access the Webscription (Baen/Tor) free library.

HP TC1100

[Anonymous Coward]

You'll have to get it used but you won't find anything better.

Re:Solution:

[Anonymous Coward]

Fascinating. I want to mod the first part of your post informative, the second offtopic, and the third flamebait.

A 9 inch netbook

[grege1]

An 8.9" netbook is very close in external dimensions to a 7" inch model. All have WiFi. Get a solid state device like the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 running Ubuntu or get an ASUS EeePC 701 for the absolute cheapest. Use any PDF reader and screen rotation, hold netbook sideways. With a big USB Thumb drive (or SD card) and headphones it can also be used as a movie player, or a music player and you can surf the net. This is the sort of use netbooks are good for, better than trying to make them mini notebooks.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[Antidamage]

The cheapest option could be a Nokia N770. They're not quite as daylight readable as e-ink surfaces, but still not bad. The bonus is you're getting a mini-linux environment in your hand. I run RDP on mine and connect to a Windows 7 box when I'm around home.

I tried to solve this last fall.

[CoffeePlease]

I had to attend a workshop which required we have 100 or more white papers on tap and easy to read. I looked at all sorts of devices and settled on an Acer Aspire 1 netbook. None of the ebook readers at the time were good at PDF's. The Acer wasn't even close to perfect, but it did the job for that workshop. It has a fairly wide screen but I would prefer something larger, vanishingly thin, flexible and foldable. Oh, and it should run the application "Papers" by Mekentosj.com

Re:I tried to solve this last fall.

[obarthelemy]

I googled "tablet netbook". Notable results:

- http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/store/home.php ARM+ Linux, 1024x600 9" LCD, Screen-only tablet $300, $100 keyboard turns it into an almost regular netbook. Just coming out, so no reviews/experience.

- http://www.journaldugeek.com/2009/01/22/video-du-asus-eee-pc-t101h/ Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, NEC and others seem on the verge of introducing touchscreen 9-10" netbooks.

I'm still using a Palm TX for reading fiction. But these toys, or maybe the next generation, may replace it.

I'd love a "tablet netbook" with an e-ink display.

Netbook with polarizer

[Anonymous Coward]

Get a netbook, add a polarizer so its readable in sunlight, buy an expanded battery.

Haven't we already had one CrunchPad story today?

[ActusReus]

I haven't heard that the CrunchPad prototypes support PDF... but if not, I imagine it's sure to be the first new feature added.

Kindle is only mostly proprietary

[magarity]

The new version Kindle in the large size does PDF - they don't force all the content in their proprietary format (although of course they make that the easiest to get). I think that would be your best bet. Note the smaller size Kindle does not do PDF.

Re:Kindle is only mostly proprietary

[Abcd1234]

The hardware is great but I don't want to be tied to Amazon.

Uhh... you aren't. The DX will read PDFs, and every other Kindle can read TXT, PRC, and MOBI, all of which you can produce on your desktop for free.

N810

[mzechner]

a linux based internet tablet with tons of 3rd party apps, everything open source, superb pdf reader, very big screen 800x480, wifi, bluetooth, keyboard, camera, microfon etc. really it's the perfect device for the purposes you mentioned. i couldn't live without mine. forget about the iphone/ipod touch, they are nothing compared to this little beast.

Re:N810

[Anonymous Coward]

The screen size is only 4.1", but I agree with the Nokia recommendation. PDF sucks for e-book reading unless you have a large screen though. I suggest EPub or Mobipocket formats and FBreader. They allow reflowing of the text to fit the screen, instead of trying to preserve the exact page layout. Fortunately there are a couple of good PDF readers if that is the way you want to read E-books.

Re:N810

[Anonymous Coward]

The third, and cheaper Nokia option is the n800. If you don't need a keyboard or GPS (hey, you're in your HAMMOCK) it's also decent.

Re:N810

[cbhacking]

Agreed, although I used a N800 (same as the n810 but no hardware keyboard - more expandable storage capacity though). The screen is big enough to read books on, the latest version of the OS (Maemo, a modified Debian) has a very nice PDF reader built in, the browser is Gecko-based and even has things like AdBlock Plus available (since it supports Flash, this is a real benefit). Everything is open source, no jailbreaking required (there's a built-in way to get full control over the device, including a root terminal) and you can install whatever you want on it - other PDF, web, or email software, Skype, the freaking GNU build toolchain even. WiFi and Bluetooth are its primary communication methods.

The fit VERY comfortably in one hand, and if you're just reading books the battery will last 7 hours or so. Fantastic little device.

Re:N810

[delorean]

Yes, the 810 is an excellent unit. Does lots of things well, lots of things so-so.

PDF and eBook is so-so. Don't get me wrong it is very usable-- that is what I mainly use one for now, that and email.

But I am coveting the Kindle I bought my wife for her birthday. It much much much easier to read a book on the Kindle than the n810. There is more screen and the screen so much easier on the eyes. I love that eInk stuff. Just keep it out of the direct sunlight or you have little evil kindles running all over the place. But the little evil kindles are much better than the Vashta Nerada that come in with our hard copy books.

The Viliv S5 is already available.

[bluemonq]

For sale at Dynamism.com, and has been for the past month; I don't know how you got the silly idea that it was "To Be Released". It satisfies all of your criteria, which is pretty awesome considering that it weighs less than a pound. Yes, I own one. A 7" screen version goes on sale this week, weighs a bit more than a pound. Both are priced at $599.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[Holmwood]

The parent is correct in pointing out the fascinating Nokia device. However, the Nokia 770 hasn't been manufactured for at least a year; it was replaced by the Nokia N800. The N810 is an N800 with slideout keyboard, GPS, etc. The N800 is probably the best choice for a very small reading device that also browses the web superbly.

That said, the screen is a slight bit smaller than the OP's requirements; it's ~4.1". But at 800x480, it yields 275 dpi which is very, very nice for an LCD-based device to read text from.

The N800/N810, despite coming from Nokia are not phones. They are essentially powerful desktop computers from the late 1990's reduced to palm size (~8 ounces). 400 MHz ARM processor, 256 MB RAM, up to 64 GB of storage (2 SDHC slots), 4.1" 800x480x16bit screen, runs a loosely Debian-based Linux distribution called Maemo.

It plays Youtube videos, and can play back DVD-quality DivX/Xvid (MPEG 4 pt 2 ASP) video without transcoding. It has a built-in PDF reader, and FBReader is an excellent free reader available for a wide variety of other formats.

Battery life is on the order of 4-5 hours, and unlike Apple devices the batteries are user swappable. I have a spare that gives my N800 close to 10 hours of powered-on life. (In sleep mode, the device sips power; I've had mine sleeping for days without running out of power.)

I find it generally excellent for daytime use, though I agree with the parent that e-ink devices are a little better for text in daylight, but all I've tried (Kindle, Sony) are inferior for PDF's and web browsing.

The Smart Devices Q7 is a good solution

[__aaltii7299]

There are excellent reviews of the device at UMPC Portal here http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/05/smart-devices-q7-7-pad-for-189, and at Mobileread forums here http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48934. You can find one online for under $200. It comes with a version of Ubuntu Linux, FBReader and Evince are in the standard install. The Mer Project over at Maemo.org is currently porting Maemo to the device, they have a thread here http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=27433, discussing ports for the Smart Q5 and Q7.

Touch Book from Always Innovating

[RicRoc]

I have pre-ordered a Touch Book from Always Innovating for just this kind of thing.

http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/

Runs Linux on:
Texas Instruments OMAP3530 with Micron 256MB (RAM) + 256MB (NAND) Memory
8.9 inches 1024x600 A+ ressure sensitive touch screen
Main storage: 8GB SD card (replaceable!)
USB: internal and external

Should be shipping this month!

Re:Touch Book from Always Innovating

[carlzum]

Great features and a competitive price, $300 for touch-screen and $400 with keyboard. My only question is, what is an A+ screen? I can't find much information about the display, other than the resolution. The images appear to have a glossy display, that would be a disadvantage in sunlight and for black and white text.

Re:Not yet, but in a few months...Pixel Qi screens

[Anonymous Coward]

Pixel Qi will have screens ready for manufacturers in a few months. It then takes a few months for the manufacturers to test/implement them. Don't expect to see anything with a Pixel Qi screen until sometime next year (despite what the marketers at Pixel Qi keep saying--remember that they only have a few samples themselves). Chances are a few netbooks/tablets will be announced at CES next January, with ship dates around March or April. Still a little ways off, but if they pull it off it should be what people are looking for.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[Antidamage]

When I checked a year ago, the N770 was still around for $170 new, so the 810 would definitely be a tempting prospect. It's a big upgrade.

As a hammock owner Id like to say...

[xSauronx]

that the only thing you should have in your hand is a beer or a mixed drink.

Re:As a hammock owner Id like to say...

[dontmakemethink]

Agreed. Throw that sentiment in with the fact that a war's going on, the economy is circling the bowl, we're destroying the planet with our excesses, but a laptop is too cumbersome for your precious hammock, so stop the press.

I sympathize with your plight, but please go to a store where they're paid to be insensitive. Pardon my optimism, but this marvel of intercommunication has more potential than an enhanced shopping channel.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[denttford]

Doesnt't it feel like there have been three of the same stories in different form but identical in comments?

Anyway, The N810 is also an N800 with a transflective screen, making it very readable where the N800 is not, and thus fits the requirements better. Yes, I own both (and owned a 770, for good measure).

I would caution against any of the eink devices if you insist on webbrowsing on the same device. The refresh rate and limited web media and browser functions make for a frustrating experience. I carry my Sony 505 with me all the time, but it's for fiction, not random access (i.e. textbook, techincal, or webpage reading) as page flipping is still painful.

Your best bet, if the N810 is too small, is to find a tablet PC with a transflective screen. Motion Computing and Itronix slates can be had fairly cheaply on ebay; Fujitsu P1610/20 and U810/820 convertibles also are options if you can do without a transflective screen. I have a U820 and love it (and its high ppi and long battery life), but if I were you, I suspect the greater utility would be found in a P16x0 series.

PDF as movie

[buchner.johannes]

You know how newer mp3-players and phones can play movies?
Wouldn't it be possible to convert a PDF into a movie (scrolling the pages) and read it with pause-play?

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[Hal_Porter]

My X1 came with PDF support

http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/x1?lc=en&cc=us

It's a great device really.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[mdwh2]

But nobody's whining. As always, it's people whining about any possible criticism against Apple - even before it actually happens.

Personally I think it's nice for a Slashdot article to, for once, acknowledge the existence of the vast range of popular and mainstream handheld devices, rather than pretending the Iphone is the only device in existence.

TOUCH PRO FAIL

[drinkypoo]

I have an AT&T Fuze right here. It is a touch pro with an alternate keyboard. The device is a pathetic joke. Here's some reasons why:

1. Comes with Windows Mobile 6.1 while everyone else is shipping Windows Mobile 6.5.
2. There are replacement ROM images with WinMo 6.5; they are ALL problematic to some degree.
3. The cable for the sliding keyboard WILL FAIL. Some people have had their unit replaced three times for the same defect. Reportedly you can stop it happening with a little square of electrical tape, but you have to void your warranty in order to install it. Why HTC hasn't figured out how to apply a piece of tape when they make the refurb (where they plug the cable back in) is a mystery to all.
4. TouchFlo 3D is a pathetically slow piece of shit. TF3D2 is faster, but you only get it on hacked ROMs, See #2. You can get more or less the same thing by buying SPB mobile shell and putting it on any WinMo device.
5. FM radio requires the headset.
6. Using standard headphones requires an adapter, and the one they give you is ridiculously bulky for what it does.
7. In my experience, WiFi reception is total shit, where I would have failures sitting right next to someone on a laptop with 100% signal. 3G reception is even worse; I had to wait for minutes to get 3G in some cases where other phones switched right away.
8. No IR. I want IR remote functionality!
9. The SMB client on the device is extremely picky, I don't know if that's WinMo's fault or not, but it would transiently fail to connect both to Samba and Windows hosts (and no, it's not a network problem.)
10. GPS acquisition is very very slow, even with the "quickgps" data that is supposed to help you acquire fast.
11. Using the device as a phone is an exercise in frustration. The phone is supposed to detect when you have the phone up to your head and disable the light sensor (works) then disable it when you take it away from your head so you can see (doesn't) and BTW the default view in a call is not a keypad, so you call your voicemail, then you have to hit the power button to see the display, then you have to hit a softkey for the keypad. Raphael is a TERRIBLE phone.
12. Sprint and AT&T are both completely incompetent and will sell you a phone with caching settings so low that EVERYTHING on the device will choke CONTINUALLY.

The HTC Raphael/Touch Pro/Fuze is a sad joke. Avoid it at all costs. The hardware and software are both garbage.

Kindle DX is a very good PDF reader

[admiral201]

I have been very impressed with the PDF quality on this device, and it does have (free) Internet access in the USA (coverage by Sprint).

Moreover, the form factor is just fantastic. It feels good in the hand (or in bed, or on the subway, etc.) and looks good too.

Search for the recent Ask Slashdot thread on the Kindle DX for more, or see my profile for my comments on the Kindle DX.

Re:Your are not the only one looking...

[good soldier svejk]

I just got one for free with the annual Apple edu rebate. I run Stanza on it and think it is an excellent book reader.