What's good for a Ebook

[medicnick83]

Hi all,

So I want to get something to view Ebooks (PDFS)

I was always looking at the Samsung Tablet but now that I'm even more keen than ever, I was wondering what you guys think.
I want to be able to read them and not strain my eyes.
I have an S4 but it's not big enough for me.

Thoughts?

 

[saor]

For extended reading...e-ink ftw. Have you consisted getting something like a kindle paperwhite?

 

[satanboy]

Kobo (from Pick n Pay)?

EDIT
Has PnP stopped selling this device?

 

[medicnick83]

Is things in colour and such with a Kindle paperwhite?

 

[satanboy]

Is things in colour and such with a Kindle paperwhite?

https://www.kobo.com/devices#ereaders

 

[saor]

Is things in colour and such with a Kindle paperwhite?

No, not yet. Amazon does have plans for a color e-ink display, but it's probably still some time away. For now it's just black ink. If you can stare at a regular screen for a long time - by all means go for it. E-ink devices have the advantage of being lighter (easy to read lying on your back holding it) and also the display - which is literally ink (so it's like reading a book) with some back-lighting (as of the paperwhite versions).

For someone wanting to read novels - the e-ink devices are the way to go imo. There's as much eye strain as there is reading a regular book. So I guess you need to decide on

a.) How much content you're going to be reading & whether you're happy to read it on a regular display for extended periods,
b.) How important is a color display

 

[ITCynic]

PDFS are not great on a Kindle

 

[saor]

PDFS are not great on a Kindle

Can you elaborate a bit pls?

 

[medicnick83]

I want to read medical pdf's - thus why I originally thought of the Samsung 10" tablet - I'd only use it for that to be honest.
Reading it on my phone I have to zoom in, slide left, slide right etc. very irritating.

 

[saor]

Oh ok. Yeah - I'm still rocking an ipad 2 and it's great. Do a lot of PDF and comic reading on it . If I saw a used one in good condition I'd happily pick it up if this one broke down.

 

[Necuno]

I want to read medical pdf's - thus why I originally thought of the Samsung 10" tablet - I'd only use it for that to be honest.
Reading it on my phone I have to zoom in, slide left, slide right etc. very irritating.

My "e-reader" note 10.1 2014 is great, pricy however. However... I was thinking getting some sort of reader for my parents to read their mags on. Not sure which one though.

 

[medicnick83]

My "e-reader" note 10.1 2014 is great, pricy however. However... I was thinking getting some sort of reader for my parents to read their mags on. Not sure which one though.

I was looking at getting it on a Vodacom contract - but looking for a good deal or contract.

 

[Necuno]

I was looking at getting it on a Vodacom contract - but looking for a good deal or contract.

I took the LTE version of the 10.1 2014... Better cpu and more ram AFAIK. However there might be other options if you just want to read PDFs.

I took the note because because I wanted to have something to draw on, take notes, study and read my ebooks.

If you have not played with a few in-store I would suggest go and try out the options before committing.

 

[medicnick83]

I took the LTE version of the 10.1 2014... Better cpu and more ram AFAIK. However there might be other options if you just want to read PDFs.

I took the note because because I wanted to have something to draw on, take notes, study and read my ebooks.

If you have not played with a few in-store I would suggest go and try out the options before committing.

When you refer to other options (just to read PDFs) what are YOU referring to... suggest stuff please.

 

[Necuno]

When you refer to other options (just to read PDFs) what are YOU referring to... suggest stuff please.

I want to know this as well. Sorry

 

[cerebus]

Any tablet will do, but the better the screen, the better the reading experience. A 3rd gen iPad (up to iPad Air/Mini2), or a Kindle Fire HDX, or a Nexus 7 2013 would be ideal.

 

[medicnick83]

I like the look of the Kindle Fire HDX

 

[Vis1/0N]

Find access from a friend or go to Incredible connection or Games or some store that allows you to play around with the tablets and send a sample file by bluetooth. The standard 1280x800 resolution is not great ( for me anyway) as it needs a bit of zooming and panning to view comfortably. The more recent Note and Pro range will be much better (and dearer) than the standard Samsung Galaxy Tabs.

I took a plunge and bought a Ramos i9 from a Chinese site (banggood.com) and loaded it with PDF magazines and books. My old 7" Samsung is now very unloved, I have hardly used it since. Spent R2500 with shipping and customs on this device... and although not perfect (features missing like GPS, Google Apps) it does a great job as a PDF viewer with SmartQ Reader app. I am not bothering customizing or rooting it, nor waiting for updates or custom roms - it's job is to be a PDF viewer. I told myself if I was to regret the purchase in 4-6 months time I could be buying a brand name tablet that could be R2000 cheaper.

The other great deal was the LG Gpad 8.3" that was going for R2700 a couple of weeks ago - although I don't find them locally right now at the usual suspects.

Those that have the courage to gamble on a Chinese tablet should check out this blog http://mikecanex.wordpress.com/ where the author is on a similar mission to find a tablet for reading PDFs.

 

[Saba'a]

Use samsung tablet 10.1 inch. Prefer aldiko as ereader app of choice. Read a lot of novels on it especially in bed and no hassle so far.

 

[medicnick83]

Use samsung tablet 10.1 inch. Prefer aldiko as ereader app of choice. Read a lot of novels on it especially in bed and no hassle so far.

You referring to this one?

https://myvodacom.secure.vodacom.co...s?baseDeviceId=383&dealId=12155&deviceId=2144 ?