- #1
Jimmy Snyder
- 1,137
- 21
I got a chance to play with one of these last night. In some ways, it is the closest thing to what I need in an ebook reader that I have seen. On the other hand, it has so many problems that I found it nearly useless.
Pro:
I was able to download my Srednicki Quantum Field Theory PDF file to the reader with no problems. Just plug the reader into the computer, wait for the computer to recognize the reader and display a window, click on the right button (it was not completely intuitive as to which button, but then there weren't that many buttons), then drag and drop the file icon. That's it.
I was able to add handwritten notes to the book. Just use the 'Options' button to get a menu, select notes, click on the 'pen', and start writing. That's it.
Con:
The contrast is so low that I was unable to read it except under a bright lamp. This means that I can't take it anywhere and expect to be able to read it. DOA.
The PDF default display size is far too small to be readable by me. This can be aleviated by using the orientation feature to turn the display 90 degrees. Even then, the text was so small that I was unable to read all the overbars, tildes, primes and other decorations on the math symbols. There are several display sizes, and small is the default. There is a smaller size, but that won't solve my problem. The larger display sizes reformat the page instead of simply enlarging it. The result is that lines get broken at the edge of the screen and wrap to fill a small percentage of the next line. This makes reading difficult, but I might be able to get used to it. However, the display of the equations is mangled beyond readability. DOA.
The screen responds not just to the stylus, but also to your finger. This means that it also responds to your palm, and so you cannot rest your palm comfortably while you write notes. DOA.
I have looked at a lot of ebook readers and rejected them for one reason or another. There are two more candidates that I am aware of that have not yet hit the market. The Entourage Edge, and the Irex DR800. The Irex machine is actually already out. However, it is shipping without the handwritten annotation feature, so is not yet of any interest to me.
Pro:
I was able to download my Srednicki Quantum Field Theory PDF file to the reader with no problems. Just plug the reader into the computer, wait for the computer to recognize the reader and display a window, click on the right button (it was not completely intuitive as to which button, but then there weren't that many buttons), then drag and drop the file icon. That's it.
I was able to add handwritten notes to the book. Just use the 'Options' button to get a menu, select notes, click on the 'pen', and start writing. That's it.
Con:
The contrast is so low that I was unable to read it except under a bright lamp. This means that I can't take it anywhere and expect to be able to read it. DOA.
The PDF default display size is far too small to be readable by me. This can be aleviated by using the orientation feature to turn the display 90 degrees. Even then, the text was so small that I was unable to read all the overbars, tildes, primes and other decorations on the math symbols. There are several display sizes, and small is the default. There is a smaller size, but that won't solve my problem. The larger display sizes reformat the page instead of simply enlarging it. The result is that lines get broken at the edge of the screen and wrap to fill a small percentage of the next line. This makes reading difficult, but I might be able to get used to it. However, the display of the equations is mangled beyond readability. DOA.
The screen responds not just to the stylus, but also to your finger. This means that it also responds to your palm, and so you cannot rest your palm comfortably while you write notes. DOA.
I have looked at a lot of ebook readers and rejected them for one reason or another. There are two more candidates that I am aware of that have not yet hit the market. The Entourage Edge, and the Irex DR800. The Irex machine is actually already out. However, it is shipping without the handwritten annotation feature, so is not yet of any interest to me.