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Good PDF Reader Device With Internet Browsing?

Posted by timothy on from the all-things-to-one-guy dept.

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?"

11 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. iRex iLiad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:iRex iLiad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      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.

    2. Re:iRex iLiad by rm999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "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.

    3. Re:iRex iLiad by SpinyNorman · · Score: 4, Interesting

      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

  2. iPhone. by icebike · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    1. Re:iPhone. by Degro · · Score: 4, Informative

      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...

    2. Re:iPhone. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      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.

  3. Re:Solution: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  4. Re:Your are not the only one looking... by Holmwood · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  5. Re:Kindle is only mostly proprietary by Abcd1234 · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  6. Touch Book from Always Innovating by RicRoc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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!

    --
    Who?