Forum: ebooks.stackexchange.com
Tags: <ebook-readers><feature-comparison>
Title: What 's the best way to read a scientific PDF?
Question: I need to buy a device for reading. It must have all these features:   Smoothly zoom  all  pictures  Format  all  tables properly  Read PDF (or be able to convert)  Not create eye problems and be visible in the sun   Is there a category of devices that is able to meet all these demands? What is the best size?

Answers:
sents: text: Buy an iPad or iPad mini and install Goodreader (the latest version at this time is actually called GoodReader 4 , according to the previous link; it can be found here )
text: .That is the best choice.
answer_details: author: ebooks.stackexchange.com/users/1190/Jack Kuo
score: 2
sents: text: You're trying to find something out of both worlds - tablets and eReaders.
text: There are serveral devices planned to publish within the coming year.
text: But at the moment this market looks rather abandonned.
text: (planned devices by Sony and Onyx as far as I know) Until those devices are on the market you need to limit your requirements, as visibility and readability in sunlight of todays tablets is not that great.
text: While e-ink displays are nice to read in
text: nearly every light are still limited to classic ereaders which don't allow full featured pdf view.
answer_details: author: ebooks.stackexchange.com/users/1202/Daniel
score: 2
sents: text: Print it with a good printer.
text: I know this is not the answer you are looking for
text: but it's still the solution that beats current technology.
text: You can't zoom a print; I'd argue that a good print is sufficient since an scientific article should only have images that have value on A4/Letter paper.
answer_details: author: ebooks.stackexchange.com/users/500/Raphael
score: 2
sents: text: The Kindle DX, which uses e-ink (so it is readable in direct sunlight), was specifically designed to render PDF files in their native format (including multi-column material, tables and graphics) and was designed to be used in an academic environment.
text: It has a 9.7" e-ink screen, which I believe is the largest of any e-reader (the Kindle Fire HD has a 7" screen, and does not use e-ink).
text: You can also zoom in to 200% of the original text.
text: It is available through Amazon for $300 .
text: It includes a full keyboard, 3G free "whispernet" connection for downloads, runs up to three weeks on a battery charge with the wireless off, and is one of the thinnest e-readers out there (1/3 inch).
text: It also includes an accelerometer to sense when you rotate it, to allow a PDF to be read a half page at a time in landscape mode with much larger type.
answer_details: author: ebooks.stackexchange.com/users/67/tcrosley
score: 2
sents: text: If you want to be able to read anything on a device in a direct sunlight your only choice is an ereader using electronic ink.
text: Here is an example, outdoors on a sunny day with the sun blasting directly at the screen (try that with a tablet or your phone): From my own experience 9.7" screen size is the minimum you need to read technical literature.
text: I tried with 8" hi-res screen but it was just too small.
text: I made an almost complete switch from paper to the ereader
text: and I read books mainly in the PDF format from sources such as Manning , O'Reilly , Packt , Safari and books that I couldn't find anywhere and scanned myself.
text: You have quite a choice these days.
text: In 2012 I started to use bespoke Linux based Onyx Boox M92
text: and then in 2014 upgraded to Android based Onyx Boox M96 , both 9.7" electronic ink ereaders.
text: At present there are newer N96 (dual touch) and N96ML
text: (touch + frontlight) 9.7
text: " Android devices and 13.3" Onyx Boox Max .
text: There is also 13.3" Sony DPT-S1
text: but it runs custom Linux (limited software choice).
text: You don't list these as requirements but there are some things of secondary importance after the screen that still quite matter to me in the reader I have: very long battery life since the screen doesn't use it once the page is displayed ability to install Android apps (dictionary, cloud client, VPN client etc.)
text: connectivity (wifi, bluetooth) external storage (microSD cards) and finally ability to scribble/highlight/erase as I would do in a normal book.
text: One potential disadvantage of ereaders - they are not very powerful.
text: This can be an issue especially with scanned documents when turning a page can take up to 3 seconds (depending on resolution, complexity, etc.), which renders skimming through such documents impossible.
text: Below is an example screenshot from my ereader with a table and some doodles, you can zoom in the document as much as you like:
text: You can find loads of information on ereaders on MobileRead forums .
answer_details: author: ebooks.stackexchange.com/users/6663/Johnny Baloney
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
Try an iPad with Goodreader installed or a Kindle DX that has e-ink for sunlight.
The answer to this question will be subjective. Some may recommend an iPad with Goodreader installed, others may recommend a Kindle DX or other e-reader that uses electronic ink.