Good PDF Reader Device With Internet Browsing? 167
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?"
I tried to solve this last fall. (Score:2, Interesting)
Netbook with polarizer (Score:2, Interesting)
Get a netbook, add a polarizer so its readable in sunlight, buy an expanded battery.
Touch Book from Always Innovating (Score:5, Interesting)
I have pre-ordered a Touch Book from Always Innovating for just this kind of thing.
http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/ [alwaysinnovating.com]
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:Not yet, but in a few months...Pixel Qi screens (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:iRex iLiad (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.
Re:iRex iLiad (Score:5, 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 [youtube.com]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oawX3wenxNc [youtube.com]
Re:iRex iLiad (Score:3, Interesting)
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/ [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. :-)
OLPC XO-1 (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Touch Book from Always Innovating (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I tried to solve this last fall. (Score:3, Interesting)
I googled "tablet netbook". Notable results:
- http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/store/home.php [alwaysinnovating.com] 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/ [journaldugeek.com] 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.
PDF as movie (Score:3, Interesting)
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?
I'm holding out for the T91 (Score:1, Interesting)
ASUS are about to release a tablet netbook, the Eee PC T91 [asus.com]. I have an ordinary tablet PC and have read dozens of books on it but it is far too heavy to satisfy the hammock requirement.
Re:Your are not the only one looking... (Score:2, Interesting)
My X1 came with PDF support
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/products/mobilephones/overview/x1?lc=en&cc=us [sonyericsson.com]
It's a great device really.
Re:iRex iLiad (Score:3, Interesting)
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:Your are not the only one looking... (Score:3, Interesting)