Galaxy Tab 10.1 for Reading & Browing - Galaxy Tab 10.1 General

So I was looking for a tablet for me to use as a PDF reader for book and for browsing the web.
The first one that came to mind was the iPad 2 which I know is great at it.
Then I thought of this one, but I remembered reading that because it's shape is a little more rectangular than it feels a bit heavier to hold in portrait mode.
Please comment on this statement
So my actual question is:
How good is this as a browsing / reading device? (how is the amazon kindle app on it?)
Is it worth getting over an iPad 2 as a reading / browsing device?
Thank you

matanc1 said:
So I was looking for a tablet for me to use as a PDF reader for book and for browsing the web.
The first one that came to mind was the iPad 2 which I know is great at it.
Then I thought of this one, but I remembered reading that because it's shape is a little more rectangular than it feels a bit heavier to hold in portrait mode.
Please comment on this statement
So my actual question is:
How good is this as a browsing / reading device? (how is the amazon kindle app on it?)
Is it worth getting over an iPad 2 as a reading / browsing device?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How good is it? That's kind of a personal opinion. I'm enjoying it a lot for browsing and reading. Still searching out the best browser, they all have plus/minuses, but the experience itself is fine. Aldiko reader is good, very readable in both orientations. I find portrait has too much text per screen, doesn't quite give you the 'book' feel, but that's a personal quibble.
I'll always say anything is worth getting over an ipad But I definitely think this is worth it. The form factor just seems to make more sense on the tab, plus I can actually hold it with one hand, which I can't with the ipad (for more than a couple minutes anyway).
If you're really just looking for basic reading/surfing, you could consider something like the nook color, just as a though. But I'm really enjoying my tab, and looking forward to seeing what the dev's here can get out of it!
edit: clicked thanks by accident...

I have a kindle for reading, and nothing comes close to it for every day reading, especially sunlight and ease of viewing, battery life, etc. If you want an eReader, get a kindle, lol. If you want a multimedia device that does apps, videos, music, and videos... then a Galaxy tab is the way to go.
iPad is designed for 5 year old or a 95 year old to pick up and figure out. That's great, but the downside is with that comes a dumbed down OS in line with that. People like android because if they want to change the way the icons are laid out on the screen they can.
Check out Google Books and Kindle for Android Tablet, both are great options for someone wanting to use the tablet as a book. However, nothing is going to compare to the pure reading experience of a Kindle....
... but a Galaxy tab is waaaay more fun.
And PS - iPad sux... u can't even view flash, lol... how you going to browse the web without flash? Might as well go back to dialup internet and a VCR. hah

bella92108 said:
I have a kindle for reading, and nothing comes close to it for every day reading, especially sunlight and ease of viewing, battery life, etc. If you want an eReader, get a kindle, lol. If you want a multimedia device that does apps, videos, music, and videos... then a Galaxy tab is the way to go.
iPad is designed for 5 year old or a 95 year old to pick up and figure out. That's great, but the downside is with that comes a dumbed down OS in line with that. People like android because if they want to change the way the icons are laid out on the screen they can.
Check out Google Books and Kindle for Android Tablet, both are great options for someone wanting to use the tablet as a book. However, nothing is going to compare to the pure reading experience of a Kindle....
... but a Galaxy tab is waaaay more fun.
And PS - iPad sux... u can't even view flash, lol... how you going to browse the web without flash? Might as well go back to dialup internet and a VCR. hah
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Click to collapse
The flash is the main reason why I'm asking.
But again, I'm looking mainly for PDF files which I want to read(which I've found from using eReaders that they have a problem displaying PDFs with pictures) and for browing (which I think both the android and the iPad will do fine except that the iPad doesn't have flash).
But once again, no one really answered my question about reading on it:
I want to know if it'll be uncomfortable reading on it (if my hand will start hurting after 10 min of holding it).
Another thing, does it get warm?

matanc1 said:
The flash is the main reason why I'm asking.
But again, I'm looking mainly for PDF files which I want to read(which I've found from using eReaders that they have a problem displaying PDFs with pictures) and for browing (which I think both the android and the iPad will do fine except that the iPad doesn't have flash).
But once again, no one really answered my question about reading on it:
I want to know if it'll be uncomfortable reading on it (if my hand will start hurting after 10 min of holding it).
Another thing, does it get warm?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding PDF, you can install native Adobe Acrobat Reader on Android, so you can actually read (and edit even) as indented... so not sure what the remaining concern is. Seems like you're trying to come up with excuses not to get it. Yeah eReaders have issues with PDF, but eReaders don't have Adobe's Acrobat PDF Reader installed, hehe.
Regarding comfort, that's not really a question someone can answer. Many people say getting tattoos aren't uncomfortable, but many would disagree. I think if it hurts to hold a 1 pound object, then you'll have to stick to books under about 300 pages anyhow, so it's somewhat a moot point, hehe.
You can always try, and if you don't like, return or sell online. It's not really something someone can answer for you, since it's a personal issue that varries from person to person. My Kindle weighs about 1.8th of a pound and it is still uncomfortable to hold for extended periods... so I just hold it on the desk or airline tray table, or whatever... it's not a big deal.... with any device.
No it does not get warm.

I reviewed a bunch of reader apps on the GT10.1. I looked at FBReader, Moon+ reader, Nook, Kindle, Google Books, Alkido and a couple of others.
My favorite is Nook. I base that on:
1) integrated shopping experience. Some of the other readers, like FBReader, and I think Moon+ required to you download a book somehow, then put it on your SD card, etc. Or the shopping experience sucked. Kindle/google/nook all had a good in-app shopping experience
2) The page turn. This might not be your highest priority, but I found the page turn experience to be very important to me. Google books and Nook both have a 3d page turn that I liked. nooks is slightly better because it reacts in a more realistic way.
3) Notes/highlighting/bookmarks. Nook wins out over google books.

bella92108 said:
Regarding PDF, you can install native Adobe Acrobat Reader on Android, so you can actually read (and edit even) as indented... so not sure what the remaining concern is. Seems like you're trying to come up with excuses not to get it. Yeah eReaders have issues with PDF, but eReaders don't have Adobe's Acrobat PDF Reader installed, hehe.
Regarding comfort, that's not really a question someone can answer. Many people say getting tattoos aren't uncomfortable, but many would disagree. I think if it hurts to hold a 1 pound object, then you'll have to stick to books under about 300 pages anyhow, so it's somewhat a moot point, hehe.
You can always try, and if you don't like, return or sell online. It's not really something someone can answer for you, since it's a personal issue that varries from person to person. My Kindle weighs about 1.8th of a pound and it is still uncomfortable to hold for extended periods... so I just hold it on the desk or airline tray table, or whatever... it's not a big deal.... with any device.
No it does not get warm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thing is, I don't live in the U.S. I can't buy it and return it.
So I can either go with the iPad 2 or the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
The software isn't an issue (there are tons of PDF reading / editing apps on the market). I'm just asking for someone to compare it to the iPad 2 from the design point of view (mostly putting the focus on holding it for an extended period of time).
In other words:
Does it do a better job of reading / browsing than the iPad 2 (in the non software sense)

matanc1 said:
Does it do a better job of reading / browsing than the iPad 2 (in the non software sense)
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Click to collapse
Browsing I think will be a little better on the 10.1 based on the Flash issue. I haven't used an ipad for internet browsing but I would imagine that would get a little annoying.
Reading is six in one hand half dozen in the other. I think the aspect ratio of the ipad was designed with reading in portrait orientation in mind. That being said, you should be able to read text larger on the screen (in portrait orientation) before having to scroll left and right to see the beginning and end of the lines respectively. That's not to say that this is a major issue on the 10.1, but if your eyes require larger text it may be a problem.
Both the iPad2 and 10.1 are incredibly thin, light devices. I don't really think holding one over the other will cause significant arm strain. you could go into a store and try holding each for 10 minutes. Considering you're willing to drop $500 on something, you should definitely be sure.

Tab is lighter, and IMHO, more comfortable to hold than the iPad2 (a few of my co-workers have iPad's)
The screen resolution is higher on the Tab, it is easier on my eyes (your eyes might react differently), and my co-workers agree for the most part.

lqaddict said:
Tab is lighter, and IMHO, more comfortable to hold than the iPad2 (a few of my co-workers have iPad's)
The screen resolution is higher on the Tab, it is easier on my eyes (your eyes might react differently), and my co-workers agree for the most part.
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Click to collapse
So the galaxy screen's width being smaller would be a problem if I wanted to read on it in book like font sizes without having to scroll to the sides all the time?
One more thing: Is it hard reading in landscape mode then?
Do the kindle / nook readers have that option?

matanc1 said:
So the galaxy screen's width being smaller would be a problem if I wanted to read on it in book like font sizes without having to scroll to the sides all the time?
One more thing: Is it hard reading in landscape mode then?
Do the kindle / nook readers have that option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just looking at one of the default books that comes on it, it looked fine portrait orientation. The text displayed larger than typically print text without having to scroll left and right. Like I said though, its worth a hands on test for yourself.
I'm sure kindle and nook have landscape options, especially on a tablet. I've been reading a technical text book (with exercises to follow along with) in landscape mode for the most part, however, I'm using whatever is the default pdf reader.

nook works in landscape mode, as does aldiko. I've been reading on it the past couple nights in both orientations and it's fine.
The resolution definitely makes a difference reading - on the ipad, text at my preferred size always looked slightly blurry, just enough to be annoying.

matanc1 said:
So the galaxy screen's width being smaller would be a problem if I wanted to read on it in book like font sizes without having to scroll to the sides all the time?
One more thing: Is it hard reading in landscape mode then?
Do the kindle / nook readers have that option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope you don't need to scroll left/right in portrait mode, it scales the text to fit the screen width.
No issues using Google Books or Kindle app in landscape or portrait - I do prefer portrait for reading, but landscape for browsing.

matanc1 said:
Thing is, I don't live in the U.S. I can't buy it and return it.
So I can either go with the iPad 2 or the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
The software isn't an issue (there are tons of PDF reading / editing apps on the market). I'm just asking for someone to compare it to the iPad 2 from the design point of view (mostly putting the focus on holding it for an extended period of time).
In other words:
Does it do a better job of reading / browsing than the iPad 2 (in the non software sense)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always been down the middle. I suppose I can give honest feedback as I owned iPad 1, and got rid of it because it was too heavy and cumbersome to hold, then I got iPad 2 because in order for iPad 1 to be useful I had to jailbreak it, then on iPad 2 there's no jailbreak available (yet). even so, the screen quality on iPad 2 is so bad... so grainy, you can see every pixel. Then I got the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and it's neat being able to customize, widgets, flash etc. Where it falls short is media.... it's a pain in the ass a) finding a media file that will actually play without having to convert 10x, and b) managing a sync between device and computer... so for me that's where iPad wins... their sync management is just great.
But at the end of the day, Galaxy tab wins by a decent margin because it's open... I can put my icons where I want, customize the hell out of it, and don't have to live within the confines of "take it or leave it" when it comes to the way I use it. It's just so nice to be able to go away for the weekend and just take a tablet knowing it'll handle any website I can throw at it. Ipad I couldn't even use some travel websites because of the flash issue.... that and their multitasking was a joke.

I use tthe GT10.1 and the nook app, I have not tried the ipad but reading on the tab is great in either orientation. With the nook app you can adjust font size easily so should be fine for any age of eyes in any orientation.
Good luck

Related

[Q] Experience of reading books on transformer

Hi
I am confused...
I just spent a day with the iPad2 and a Galaxy Tab (the first edition) have to say I was very impressed with reading PDF books from the iPad but not so much from the Galaxy which is running 2.2
I am Android through and through and want to stick with an Android but want the experience I had with the iPad2 when it comes to reading ebooks from it.
I have been looking around and the Asus Transformer looks impressive with a decent price.... I also know it has Honeycomb as I understand its more tailored for tablets than the previous versions and the experience is far better. Much better than what I have used with 2.2. One thing from my research that lets Android down is there are not many apps which are tablet ready but slowly this will come.... That's not too much of an issue for me as my primary use will be ebook reading and internet use.
I dont see the point in buying just an ebook reader, for a few extra hundred I can get something which will offer a lot more and features that I would make use off.
If anyone uses the transformer as a book reader. What are you thoughts?? Is the experience good. I held one the other day in a shop and it felt initially quite bulky but I suppose I could get used to that....
Thanks
I bought the transformer to use it as an ebook reader, and i can tell you its really good.
there are some very nice ebook reading programs like the stock mylibrary which is basically like iBooks, and there is aldiko which i highly reccomand, because you can set text size, color and marging and page color etc. to make the reading comfortable.
i read a few books from it and with the right brightness/color setting it wont hurt your eyes too much or something like this. the text is crisp and nice and reading is in general a pleasant experience from the transformer screen.
I've been using the kindle reader. Great for reading 4 books so far. And quick to get new books. Have it on my desire HD too so I can put the eee pad down go out and read a few pages while out and about.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
I agree im currently writing an ebook and tested out various formats on various apps on the TF overall quite a good experience when reading
I settled on Moon+ reader, so far I have had no issues.
If you want to read e-books, then do not buy this product. IPS panel is not intended for reading but the comic is a nice read. If you want to read, then buy an electronic book reader.
Try for example, to read for several hours on a computer screen. It is not easy (eyes will to hurt).
It's definitely nice as a book reader. I finished the entire Storm of Swords book on this one,so I can vouch for its useability
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Truthfully it is not a great ereader. The form factor is good for magazine and PDF but not for books. Also very reflective in bright light and not dim enough in darkness.
What was wrong with original galaxy tab?
My nook color is my default reader over my transformer as its screen while same tech has higher contrast less glare and can get it darker for night reading.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Count me in the group confirming that it's great for eBooks. I use Google's own Books app, and am currently reading my fourth entire novel on the Transformer. The screen dims enough to be comfortable for me even with white pages in a completely dark room, but is bright enough to read basically anywhere I'd be comfortable trying to read in the first place. No, it's not *quite* as easy on the eye as a dedicated reader, but it also does a whole hell of a lot more, and frankly the page-turning motion in Google's app makes it feel more like a book than the dedicated readers do to me.
Just so you know I've got enough experience to know what I'm talking about, here's what I've read on the Transformer, in order. They're all paperback versions, based on the ISBN numbers. All of these were read for the first time, so I didn't skim them, I read them properly:
* Terry Jones: Douglas Adams' Starship Titanic (257 pages, I'm an old-school Douglas Adams fan who finally decided I should give the novelization of his game a try.)
* Tom Clancy: The Hunt for Red October (499 pages, been meaning to read Clancy for years and never got around to it. Was happy with my first eBook experience, so gave it a try.)
* Tom Clancy: Red Storm Rising (637 pages, liked my first Clancy experience, so stuck with it.)
* Tom Clancy: Patriot Games (518 pages, I'm currently about 200 pages in, accounting for the differences in page numbering because the books reflow to fit the screen orientation / selected font size and spacing.)
So in total, I've read almost 1,600 paperback pages on the Transformer since May 4th -- and all of the Clancy was within the last month (I was on an overseas vacation for the Jones book, so read it much more slowly.) That means I average about 50 paperback pages per day on the Transformer since returning from my trip, which I couldn't do if it wasn't comfortable.
I thought it may help what my usage will be for reading books on a Transformer.
I am an IT professional and do a lot of self training reading IT reference books (majority in PDF form) and I use a my PC to actually do the tasks mentioned in the book.
if you can imagine I will have the transformer on stand of some sort and will referring back and forth to the transformer for reading the book or notes....
Does that make sense??
I don't intend to be reading novels but mainly for research and training guides..and this won't be on a daily basis either..
Thanks
PatrikSelin said:
If you want to read e-books, then do not buy this product. IPS panel is not intended for reading but the comic is a nice read. If you want to read, then buy an electronic book reader.
Try for example, to read for several hours on a computer screen. It is not easy (eyes will to hurt).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is a bit misleading. ANY device with any kind of LCD panel won't be as comfortable for longer reading sessions as an e-Ink reader. It also won't be as good in direct sunlight. That's not an indictment of the TF itself, which is excellent as an ebook reader compared with other tablets of similar size (and the few ounces difference of, say, the iPad 2 or GT 10.1 won't stop one from wanting to prop it on something after awhile).
I have a Nook 3G reader, and I do prefer to read on it for longer sessions and when I have sufficient light (because of course it has no backlighting). I also use the Nook for reading late at night, because theory says it's best to avoid emissive screens like tablets, notebooks, TVs, etc. right before going to sleep.
Another good use for the TF is if you're reading books that you need to annotate. Works great in the Nook app (and Kindle, for that matter), and notes and highlights sync to other devices.
So, in short, the TF's as good as any other 10.1" or so tablet, and better than a few because the IPS screen allows for more flexible viewing angles.
ranjb said:
if you can imagine I will have the transformer on stand of some sort and will referring back and forth to the transformer for reading the book or notes....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah! Pretty much the perfect way to use the TF as an ereader. I wanted to point out what size of books you would be holding with different devices, but if the plan isn't to actually hold the TF.... well, awesome
Still, I took a picture:
http://i54.tinypic.com/210f4hu.jpg
Those are a 2nd generation Kindle, a 7" Galaxy Tab, and obviously a Transformer. The books behind have (roughly) the same weight as the device in front of them. There is an audio cd to compare size. The Kindle is 294 grams, the Galaxy Tab 382 and the Asus 695.
That said, the Kindle sucks for anything that isn't an ebook, especially PDFs
For novels eink readers are your best bet. For graphic novels or textbook you can't go wrong with a tablet. It should be worth noting eink readers of 5in and bigger can be used to read black and white comic by using epubbuilder and importing each image as a standalone chapter in epub format.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
frosty5689 said:
It should be worth noting eink readers of 5in and bigger can be used to read black and white comic by using epubbuilder and importing each image as a standalone chapter in epub format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know that. However, this is what i know http://foosoft.net/mangle/ the Kindle can read images and that software is made for the exact purpose of optimizing them so to read manga/comics very easily.
Still, the Kindle is a trainwreck with PDFs that aren't just an image or just text, so it dosen't really help the OP.
I spent about six hours yesterday reading a book using the kindle app and I was pretty pleased with it.
Canadoc said:
not dim enough in darkness.
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I use Screen Filter to make my screen dimmer when reading in darkness.
ranjb said:
I am an IT professional and do a lot of self training reading IT reference books (majority in PDF form) and I use a my PC to actually do the tasks mentioned in the book.
if you can imagine I will have the transformer on stand of some sort and will referring back and forth to the transformer for reading the book or notes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say it'd be great for that. Adobe's PDF viewer is free and fast / stable for me, if you're working on a PC LCD then having a similar tech on the tablet would be a positive advantage (set similar brightness and your eyes don't need to adjust looking back and forth, unlike an eReader screen). Only potential issue is reflections from bright office lights, depending on the environment where you're planning to use it, although if you have a good adjustable stand you can affix the tab to, that's easily solved (and if I can use the tab outdoors in bright ambient light, which I can, I'm sure anything indoors is workable.)
It's great for reading books, Kindle app is the same as on iPad. Brightness can be dim enough to not affect wife sleeping next to me, especially on Sepia background.
All ebook readers on the iPad are available for Andriod, just pick one you like. Due to competing formats, you may end up with three ore more, depending where you buy books or download epubs/pdfs.
The only thing I would ever replace this with is a Kindle DX, but who wants to pay that much for a tech toy that does only one thing? For the same price, I have a full blown tablet running Andriod OS.
It of course will not be as easy on the eyes as e-ink technology, nor look good in bright sunlight. Then again, who reads in bright sun? That's why we have trees!

Iconia as an eReader

Anyone here use the Iconia as an eReader (among other things)? I was thinking of getting the Nook Color since I need a reader, but since with the Target deal this is only 50 dollars more expensive, the Iconia suddenly became tempting. I'm worried about the size and weight though. Is it easy to read for 1-2 hours straight? I tried one at BB and after 15-20 minutes it was still OK, but I wonder if it isn't too heavy/awkward to read on.
Please post your experiences about using eReaders on the Iconia
I've read a couple of books on mine, they were purchased through google market and read with google books. I enjoyed using it this way and will do so in the future. As far as weight goes, the tab isn't any heavier than a good sized hard back book. I use the acer cover which has a built in stand so that helps with the weight as well.
The big question is how your eyes hold up to the lcd screen. The eink displays cause much less eye strain and are fully viewable in sunlight, the tabs screen will definitely give some eye strain if used for hours on end, and will be less visible in sun light.
Edit: the nook color is an lcd screen as well.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
harveydent said:
Anyone here use the Iconia as an eReader (among other things)? I was thinking of getting the Nook Color since I need a reader, but since with the Target deal this is only 50 dollars more expensive, the Iconia suddenly became tempting. I'm worried about the size and weight though. Is it easy to read for 1-2 hours straight? I tried one at BB and after 15-20 minutes it was still OK, but I wonder if it isn't too heavy/awkward to read on.
Please post your experiences about using eReaders on the Iconia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's WHOLLY dependant on personal taste. I do not find it too heavy even for 4-5 hour reading session, I often have such streaks when I'm reading stuff, but I also know many other people who would find to bit too heavy.
One thing that would make it better as primarily an eReader though would be non-slippery back, like for example gluing a really thin sheet of porous gum on it. It might not look as fancy, but it would be much easier to hold even with one hand.
Dusto79 said:
and will be less visible in sun light.
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Click to collapse
From my experience it's wholly unusable in sun light.
Thanks for the replies!
The sunlight glare isn't a concern since ALL LCD tablets have that problem, to varying degrees.
How does it handle pdfs? And any good ereader apps aside from the Amazon/Nook/Google apps?
harveydent said:
How does it handle pdfs? And any good ereader apps aside from the Amazon/Nook/Google apps?
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Click to collapse
There's plenty of software for reading PDFs, just try them all and choose the one you like the best
Can't help you with ereader apps though, I don't use those. I am 100% PDF.
It really depends on what you are planing on reading. If it's mostly text based stuff (novels, etc.), an eInk display is the hands down winner. Once you start tossing PDFs and CBRs into the mix then a color LCD tablet becomes a better option.
I have both so I'll chime in.
If you're purchasing a LED Ebook reader then go for Iconia.
But if you're looking for an eInk display then go for it. The battery on Iconia is awsome but even a great battery can't compare to an eInk display.
The other thing is reading in sunlight and eye strain. I love both my ebook and Iconia but I mostly read books on ebook.
Edit: I forgot to mention. If you're into comics or anything that has lots of pictures than stick to a tablet.
I sold my Nook color after I got the a500. I find reading on either to be about the same - however web browsing is much better on the Acer. At first I didn't know if I would like the side by side view while holding the Acer in landscape but it quickly grew on me. I agree if you are considering LCD get the Acer - if you like eink don't consider the Acer.
I have an Iconia and a Kindle3.
While I can read on my tab, the kindle provides a much better reading experience for me. I do get eye strain from my tab in about an hours time- I read on the eink display without any strain at all for hours. The difference is all about the lcd vs. eink. I personally, never considered the weight of either an issue. I must be the only one that rests their book/tab/reader on something while they read our use it. If I read in bed I stand the reader upon my chest. If I'm surfing the internet I rest the tab up on my lap while on the sofa or on the table while sitting. Weight is not an issue for me either way. Ultimately I use the tab for recreational purposes (email, internet, games) and the reader to read. I wouldn't want to give either up.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I've been using mine to read books on Nook and also Moon+ Reader. It works pretty well, just a tad on the heavy side for me.
Google jetbook lite if you want something portable and 100% readable under full sunlight. I've been using this for years. Works great. The best part of this is it reads just about every ebook format under the sun. Even the highly priced kindle can't do this.
Eye Strain
I can tolerate reading on my Iconia, but I do not like the glare from room lights when I read at night. Weight is not an issue. E books are great. I may eventually buy a Nook or kindle with e ink. However, tablets can do so much more than e readers. I have no regrets about my Iconia purchase.
I have used this, a nook color and a sony reader (eink). I prefer this to the other two. I do a lot for my reading in low light situations, so the eink is kind of a pain in this situation since it needs an external light. The nook color is nice for reading, but I don't like it as much for web and tablet functions. The only reason I still keep the nc around is android can't support nook kids books yet.
I usually use the nook app to read books and get them from barnes and noble. Bn gives away a free book every Friday. And I've been reading a lot of them.
The weight has not been a big issue for me.
Hope this helped
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
harveydent said:
Thanks for the replies!
And any good ereader apps aside from the Amazon/Nook/Google apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FBReader is my personal fav + Calibre on the PC to do conversions to epub.
I have an original nook (eink, preiously had a sony ebook) and an iconia. I find the eink displays superior to the iconia for reading ebook formatted files made to reflow, and makes for easier reading in general. The tablet is superior for most pdfs, largely owing t the screen size (as most pdfs as formatted for 8.5"x11").
I had question regarding this actually. I'm trying to collate all the ebooks ive downloaded from various sources into one app I can use for reading (i was thinking lumiread). I was wondering if there is a way to do this for books downloaded from the borders australia android app. specifically, in which directory would the books be located so I can read them in lumiread
holdup said:
I had question regarding this actually. I'm trying to collate all the ebooks ive downloaded from various sources into one app I can use for reading (i was thinking lumiread). I was wondering if there is a way to do this for books downloaded from the borders australia android app. specifically, in which directory would the books be located so I can read them in lumiread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe lumiread is one of the readers that lets you go into settings and choose what folders to scan for ebooks, AND you can exclude folders, which is really nice.
In terms of features and how they perform, Lumiread is one of my favorite readers.
Nook would be #2 and Kindle #3.
They all are similar. Lumiread has the eye candy presentation of your "books" on shelves like the ipad, but that's all personal taste of course.
To answer the ops question, its a great ereader. Eink is still better for strictly reading ebooks at long sessions, but the iconia is a great option if you are looking for an LCD device. I find the trade off between weight a very viable option because of everything else it can do.
Acer is coming out with a 7" tablet soon, so if weight is a HUGE factor for you, you could go for that. If you go with a Kindle, you are stuck with Amazon books only tho, you can't sideload books yourself.
There are also some great news reader apps on Android and they make magazines and newspapers unbelievably AWESOME if you are looking for other things to read.
Hope all this helps. I have about 200 books on mine.
It sounds like a plan, but if you are a hard core reader its not a good one
Yes of course there are some fantastic apps out there for reading via the iconia, and they look (and sound) fantastic, but at the end of the day the iconia or any other tablet is NOT an ereader.
As for the nook, again it is abit in-between, with that colour screen etc.
In short, I have a kindle. It looks rubbish, is grey scale and can do nothin but show text!
But thers's the trick. Read inside or outside, it is light, you can put your own downloaded books on to it, there is a hack to put your own cover/screen/personalise it. It is very light, can play mp3 externally or via headphones while you read and off-course last but not least - 30 days of CONTINUOUS READING without recharge!!! Now that is an ereader right there.
A kindle and a samsung galacy 10.1 (or an iconia wearing galaxy brains rom) and you are good to go.
Now you can show your missus this post and you will have a good excuse to let her know that you actually need both
Enjoy
MJ-12
MJ-12 said:
and can do nothin but show text!
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Click to collapse
That's something why I could never use one of those devices: I read a lot of technical books that require the ability to show images. Oh, and yes, I do read comics and manga too

Nexus 7 size right for reading pdf's or should I wait for 10" alternative?

Hello guys, I am very excited about this tablet and didn't believed it was possible to actually offer such great specs at this price point, I take my hat off to google. I am currently looking to buy an android tablet basically for college book reading since most of the books (Science) are sent to us through pdf and reading them with the laptop is very impractical... These books are the typical 7.4" x 9.1" physical book size and my main concern is that the pages will not fit properly on the 7" screen or maybe wont be legible having to use zoom the pages in which is basically what I want to avoid.
So basically do you guys think this tablet could suit me for reading pdf books naturally without having to zoom the pages? or should I wait for the rumored nexus 10 to suit my needs?
Oscar
PDFs are a print format; they look great at 8.5x11.
Every smaller device I have seen has been a compromise; the smaller they get the worse it is.
Pick a commonly available textbook and see how it looks in the Apple store on a 10" IPad. Then drop by Barnes and Nobel and see how it looks on the Nook Tablet at 7". It will look very much the same on the Nexus 7 as on the Nook Tablet.
I won't do PDFs on my readers for that reason; my entire library is EPubs, with changeable font sizes and good text reflow.
It obviously depends on the font size used in the PDFs you intend to view. In general, if you're looking for a reading device, the consensus is that the 7" format is perfect.
I have a number of mags that I use in PDF format. It completely depends on how much text the book/mag printer is trying to squeeze on the page. Some look great, others require a little pinch.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Send us the pdfs (once we get the tablet, of course) and we can try it out for you.
>do you guys think this tablet could suit me for reading pdf books naturally without having to zoom the pages?
This is my main concern as well. Reading PDFs on a Nook is doable, but not optimal. The problem isn't the 7" size so much as the insufficient width of the Nook's 1.7 aspect. I find that if I manually crop the margins (done once per book), then I can read most texts OK in portrait. But it's not comfortable for extended reading. BTW, when reading long-form, the last thing you want to do is zooming in/out per page.
I can of course read in landscape, but again the "widescreen" aspect is suboptimal, necessitating excessive scrolling.
N7 is slightly better with its 1.6 aspect + higher res. Its actual screen is physically about 5mm wider than the Nook's. The higher-res display should improve readability, although I'm not sure how much.
An optimal device for reading PDFs for me would be in 4:3 format. For one-handed use, a 7'ish size is best. The rumored 7.85" mini iPad would be perfect.
If reading PDF textbooks is your main use, the best device is the iPad. It has the optimal 4:3 aspect, and its display is the best hands down. When you're reading books for long periods, the extra space of a 10" is much more important than the portability from a 7". For extended reading, 10" is best used in a stand, though.
>should I wait for the rumored nexus 10
It's futile to chase after gadget rumors. Although I will say that the iPad mini is on my list, if it becomes true.
Edit: I'm looking at the Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 which just hit the retail shelves. Basically a value tab, but it has a 4:3 IPS and good sized battery, important for a reader. SoC is last-gen OMAP4430, same as KF, so not the fastest. But that's good, because it means it'll hit the discount bins sooner than later. Hopefully it'll come up in a BF sale.
http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2109-budget-ics-tablet-hands-on-20120702/
There's no doubt that a 10" device is better for viewing most PDFs, but you can get by with a 7", especially if you're able to crop the PDF down before sending it to your device. For a free utility to crop PDFs just search for Briss.
But frankly if you're looking for something to use with textbook PDFs you'll spare yourself a lot of grief if you wait and save up for an iPad2.
Well, after having both 7" (Nexus 7 16GB) and 10" (Ainol Hero 1) - I ended up using almost exclusively the larger one. Its not that neat/cute nor easy to carry every day, but I finally started reading PDF books and PC manuals Ive intended to read for ages ... Debian Handbook for example - great at 10 inches, sucks at 7 inches. Also other stuff like Flipboard is great when using the tablet in vertical position.
I don't know about everyone else but I get a pretty much perfect conversion when I use Adobe Reader, especially in Landscape Mode. The stock reader and a couple of other ones I tried didn't really do it for me
IntelligentAj said:
I don't know about everyone else but I get a pretty much perfect conversion when I use Adobe Reader, especially in Landscape Mode. The stock reader and a couple of other ones I tried didn't really do it for me
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Well, myself, I hate scrolling page when reading. Thats why I love to read it on 10inch tablet in vertical way. I read one page, click right side of the screen, read another page ... etc. ... Using Mantano reader btw.
Nexus 7 is very cool phablet for reading docs...
But you need to zoom a bit on any 7` tablet...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
michalurban said:
Well, myself, I hate scrolling page when reading. Thats why I love to read it on 10inch tablet in vertical way. I read one page, click right side of the screen, read another page ... etc. ... Using Mantano reader btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually don't mind the scrolling too much which is funny since I came over from a Kindle Touch. I'll try that app though. Do you have to zoom or does it do a good job of re-sizing the PDF?
IntelligentAj said:
I actually don't mind the scrolling too much which is funny since I came over from a Kindle Touch. I'll try that app though. Do you have to zoom or does it do a good job of re-sizing the PDF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. Dont know what it depends on. But on the 10-inch I dont zoom at all ...
michalurban said:
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. Dont know what it depends on. But on the 10-inch I dont zoom at all ...
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Click to collapse
Alright I'll give it a try on my Nexus 7. I just don't want to deal with the hassle of converting my PDF files. My ebooks I use the kindle app and it works great
IntelligentAj said:
Alright I'll give it a try on my Nexus 7. I just don't want to deal with the hassle of converting my PDF files. My ebooks I use the kindle app and it works great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, me too. I managed to buy some books for Google Books even in my unsupported country, but now they really shut the access down for us so I moved to Amazon Kindle and its great.

How easy is it to read .pdf and ebook files on this device?

I was thinking of getting an ipad 3 but while at bestbuy and playing with one I realized its still ios and left the store, screen is pretty though. Is this device better? Do you guys find yourself reading more, ebooks etc on this device or not great for that purpose?
SysAdmNj said:
I was thinking of getting an ipad 3 but while at bestbuy and playing with one I realized its still ios and left the store, screen is pretty though. Is this device better? Do you guys find yourself reading more, ebooks etc on this device or not great for that purpose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read about 2-3 books on the Nexus 7 thus far and it is very easy to read and follow along. The iPad is wonderful for reading. Don't get me wrong I love the iPad. But, it's form factor just isn't for me. It's hard to imagine it as if it were a real book because it's so big. I don't exactly enjoy typing or playing games on it either because of its form factor. The Nexus 7 is a perfect device for those of us with the not-so-big hands that don't like stretching our fingers to type. It's also even better for reading because its size/weight is about the same as todays paperbacks.
I read my studying guide text book on my nexus 7 and I love it. The 7in size is perfect for hand held, weight and size wise and the screen size is still big enough too.
My primary use for the N7 is reading. Tried several other tablets and this one is by far the best. PDFs are not great though; unless the text is condensed in the middle of the page (and your reader autozooms) it's not fun to read either tiny print or scrolling a lot in landscape. But resizable text can't be beat. Get mantano reader.
SysAdmNj said:
I was thinking of getting an ipad 3 but while at bestbuy and playing with one I realized its still ios and left the store, screen is pretty though. Is this device better? Do you guys find yourself reading more, ebooks etc on this device or not great for that purpose?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I greatly enjoy reading books on the N7. Since I got mine at the end of July, I've re-read almost all the Sherlock Holmes mysteries on it. One thing that helps me with reading books on the N7 (especially at night) is changing the text in whatever app I'm reading in to white text on a black background.
I've played around with quite a few of my friends iPads and from what I've seen, the N7 is better suited for reading, while the iPad is better for watching videos.
Hope that helps.
Sent from my Paranoid Nexus 7
I have ES File Explorer installed and was chuffed to find out that it supported PDF when I downloaded the user manual for my new camera. It works really well.
As for ebooks I haven't used any other han the N7 guidebook but the missus is glued to 50 shades of try on hers, so I guess it must work well enough.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
I'm not completely happy with any PDF reader on android. For example, I like to zoom in as much as possible without having to scroll left and right. I often zoom in so that the margins are off screen and text is almost edge-to-edge, but invariably I end up scrolling left or right a bit while trying to scroll vertically. How about an option to lock the horizontal position? I'm much happier reading a native mobi format book in the Kindle reader. Maybe I'm just weird.
The part about the pdf files worry me as I know I have some material I need to read that are in pdf format. Is it really that bad?
I agree with Opcow. Reading PDF's can be a challenge because it doesn't reposition text when you zoom in like an eBook does. So, if you need larger fonts you will have to scroll left and right as well as up and down.
For ebooks though, its awesome. I like it better than the Kindle Fire which I owned for a while. Yet, for long reading sessions, I still use my Kindle Touch...but, I digress...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
It hasn't replaced my kindle, but it is a very suitable size/weight for reading. I'm just not a fan of reading on a backlit display.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Your mileage will vary with pdf files I think. I tried to read a magazine pdf (lots of graphics as you'd imagine) and it would stutter/freeze for as long as 10 seconds when trying to scroll. I think this was in Aldiko book reader.
And then in Adobe Reader, I read a PDF file that was light on graphics, but Adobe would take a while to render the text clearly after going to next page. It's annoying.
opcow said:
I'm not completely happy with any PDF reader on android. For example, I like to zoom in as much as possible without having to scroll left and right. I often zoom in so that the margins are off screen and text is almost edge-to-edge, but invariably I end up scrolling left or right a bit while trying to scroll vertically. How about an option to lock the horizontal position? I'm much happier reading a native mobi format book in the Kindle reader. Maybe I'm just weird.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For pdf's Mantano lets you set for each book the R & L margins and the headers & footers. I use calibre on a PC to store, index etc. ebooks It also does some pretty powerful format conversions.
Here's my opinion. If you are going to be reading a lot of PDFs then go for the iPad 3. That screen is awesome. However, I like the 7 inch screen much better for eBooks.
Would you guys think it would be smart to wait for the ipad mini announcement?
If I was to go for the ipad 3, I dont know why I would feel locked down.
Yes, I already have some pdf's I would start with.
SysAdmNj said:
Would you guys think it would be smart to wait for the ipad mini announcement?
If I was to go for the ipad 3, I dont know why I would feel locked down.
Yes, I already have some pdf's I would start with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol becuase iOS is terrible when it comes to customization. Its a 4x4 grid of block icons.. its not hard to screw up :S. Honestly i wouldnt ever suggest any apple product. This screen is subpar to the ipad's retina its not as good but its definetly up there. Our screen density is like 226 and the ipad is like ~260 but that thing is a honker.. if all your doing is reading PDF's i would go with the Nexus 7 its much lighter and text is clear as day.
Also.. this might persuade you.. if you ever drop your tablet.. look what 600$ gets you compared to 250$
Definitely not all I'm doing, would like to think of it as entertaining as well whether viewing movies or games here and there. Another thing that made me think about the ipad was that there is this cable app from my provider that is especially made for the ipad/iphone and you can view your subscribed cable channels right on your device where it doesnt work on android like that. There is even a pc app that you can do the same thing, and I tried to use my sgn to remote connect to my pc to view the channels but it was pretty messy as you could imagine. Not sure why they cater to ipad/iphone so much and leave out android. I'm sure this app looks pretty good on the ipad/iphone. Not sure if anyone has been able to use the optimum cable app on their nexus 7 yet. It would be pretty cool to be away somewhere with wifi and view some NFL games. Also, can you tether undetected with the nexus 7 and the samsung galaxy nexus?
more questions, how to I check if its the c80 model by just looking at the box? I'm thinking of going to gamestop after work.
Also, is it easy to tether to you samsung galaxy nexus?
SysAdmNj said:
more questions, how to I check if its the c80 model by just looking at the box? I'm thinking of going to gamestop after work.
Also, is it easy to tether to you samsung galaxy nexus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes should be under SSN:
And yes its easy to tether with
ÜBER™ said:
Yes should be under SSN:
And yes its easy to tether with
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So i should avoid c70 at all costs?
SysAdmNj said:
So i should avoid c70 at all costs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really but i would think the newer the better. I just returned my C80k and got a c60k with the same exact issue.. nothing different just a small little lift which is an adhesive issue.. and i have found a fix for it. Im done looking for a perfect model and just going to deal with the one i got now and fix it. I should have kept the one i had but its whatever.

HELP! What do you use your tablet for?

Besides the obvious uses for the note tablet, what do you use yours for? I'm a freelance illustrator and the wacom digitizer and s-pen are what initially attracted me to the note phone, and now the note tablet, both allowing me to sketch on the go and minimizing the amount of time sitting in front of my desktop. Honestly even though I'm a huge tech person and love gadgets such as phones, i was never really into the tablet craze, especially after having a phone with a huge screen, i used a buddies iPad a few years back and didn't understand the buzz (with any apple product actually) but i started eyeballing the old note tablet as a new toy and tool for drawing and days later watched the IFA live on the computer and was sold on the Note 2014 edition, aesthetically it's great looking and has nice specs where I wouldn't have to worry about bogging it down. I love to game, avid xBoxer (when time allows) so the tablet would also serve as a good way to game while watching TV or laying in the couch without burning my phone battery up, and the drawing is awesome, but being drawing, gaming and browsing the internet, I don't know what else to use this thing for ... After dropping $600 + $60 for a 64GB sdcard and another $30+ in cases and accessories, I'm wondering if I just bought another really over priced laptop lol like I'm missing why people really enjoy the tablet, don't get me wrong I love it and refuse to give it up, I'm just looking for tips or advice on how to unlock the true potential of a tablet, like I said this is my first tablet, so any good apps? Games? Tricks? Tips? What role does your tablet serve in your life? Anything I guess that I might be missing, I've been rooting my phones for years and def plan to root this thing, and fully understand what a root can do to a device as far as unlocking extra potential, but beyond that just looking to see if I'm overlooking something awesome about tablets I could start using this for and really getting my moneys worth. Any advice is really appreciated! please excuse any typos lol I'm typing this using Swype on my note phone, and the auto correct has a mind of it's own.
Thanks.
Personally I use my pad as a more mobile laptop. I read on it, code on it, write on it... mostly read though. And games of course, can't forget about the games. Well, i guess i actually do everything on my pad, starting to get all itchy now since i broke the tf700t and am eagerly awaiting the new note. But hey, i guess you could produce some music on them as well... nothing a-grade but some snippets and loops here and there while waiting for whatever.
Mainly for communications, the rest for testing applications and gamea
Sent from my ME371MG using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
When home i use it as most probably do, Web browsing, forum reading through tapatalk, some games, social media etc. Basically a laptop replacement.
Its main purpose though is for use for college.
I use Lecture Notes extensively for note taking as well as all audios of lectures.
I found Class Buddy Pro to be great for scheduling all my classes when papers are do, when exams are etc (great app which syncs with any of your calendars) you can even attach files to the class itself (like a syllabus) and papers for assignments can be attached to the event you create for the assignment so you don't lose them (I use the paper the professors pop up on our internal web site so they are always available with me in an easy to find spot)
I use ezPDF Reader Pro for simple PDF annotations.
Mantano Reader Premium is by far the best PDF ePub textbook reading app out there. I need something which supports Adobe DRM and having tried every single app on the Play Store, I was blown away when I finally got to this one. While the interface is not as flashy as some of them, the nuts and bolts (reading, highlighting, annotating, bookmarking etc) cannot be beat.
This is my 5th tablet. I love my original Note 10.1 so much I bought this one the day a 32GB black one became available (I wanted / needed the higher resolution for anatomy books, really anything with pictures in them). Incredible piece of technology.
Since you like Wacom Digitizers, Google using the Note series as a Wacom Digitizer for a PC.
Porno and drawing porno.
if i had one of these and internet while i was going through puberty...
when i was a young chap we had to look at porn or video cassettes, uphill, both ways!
madsquabbles said:
if i had one of these and internet while i was going through puberty...
when i was a young chap we had to look at porn or video cassettes, uphill, both ways!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I had one going through puberty I would have been locked in my room for ages never once looking outside.
That reminds me, is Reagan still President?
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 via Tapatalk.
I use the 2014 Note 10.1 mainly for movie watching at the moment. Also owning an iPad 4 I use that for most anything else. Email reading and email management I do mostly on my Note 3, with its indicator light and easy deletion options (the iPad wants you to Archive in stead of delete).
I'm actively looking at other uses for the 2014 Note 10.1 though. Areas of interest include: drawing, decent internet browsing, HD games, reading, and music/audio playback. This could be a great device given the right software. It already is top of the heap in some areas.
Usage of my 2014 Note 10.1 is currently hindered somewhat by the lack of a proper (slim, light weight) smartcover. Right now I'm using an iPad 1 or 2 Belkin "woolen" type sleeve (great fit), but I'm hoping for something more like my beautiful/handy Decoded iPad smartcover.
Op, its really up to what kind of illustrating you are up to do.
As of now, painting and drawing loose is more easier to do, and the results will come out quite clean. However that's the extent of Sketchbook that comes with the note10.1 itself. Generally you'd want to go beyond that for reproduction pipeline, as well as refining for details in cases of print work. HOWEVER. I consider that actual painting beyond the tablet's ability.
Note 10.1 is GREAT for sketching. I feel like it gets the idea down fast, and the first 2 or 3 stages of an illustration is completed just using the tablet - such as the grey value drawing, the base color palette, and general composition. I've yet to find an app that goes to 4K resolution and comes with a decent set of tools. Someone at XDA might point me out on this, but for my own use, I bounce back to my usual pipeline on the PC after my sketch is completed.
Things the Note is also good at, is the beautiful display. Max your colors out and brightness, and you get a 2nd monitor. There are plenty of apps that turns your PC / Laptop into a 2nd screen. Generally for viewing purposes and color / value checking. More things you can do: Use the screen as color reference, use the note as photo ref when drawing, use it as a scanner! 8MP is decent if you snap a pencil drawing and then paint on top of it, as an artist my self, I find this thing similar to be a Swiss army knife, it use it for literally everything.
On another note! Pun not intended, the note is not yet capable of doing any adobe illustrator. It's a horrible set back if you're a vector artist - or a graphic designer that intend to pump out quick samples. I feel that the apps available right now are inadequate. It's quite a shame. my current work around is using splash top and connect it to my home computer.
Previously i was a Tab 7.7 user.
Main use was surfing, and reading books and scanned manga's. I got tons of those digitally and in paper form, same with European comic books. Now the later are usually printed in a A4 format, so it all got a bit to small on the screen. And next to that PDF manuals, big fast high resolution tablets make them better to watch :victory:
So when i went looking for a new tablet, one of the things, i wanted was a bigger screen, a higher resolution, and some decent processor power. I had been eying the Nexus 10, and the LG G Pad 8.3 that was coming. Nexus 10 like all nexus lacking and SD slot, and from what i later heard also did not work with a OTG + USB drive right out the box, was not an option. The G Pad 8.3 looked nice, but i felt it might still be to small a screen for the bigger books to displace well, and readable. So when the Note 10.1 2014 came and i read the specs, and saw the price tag, i though, it might be a bit pricy but it can do everything i want it to do and more. I must say im not disappointed by it yet
So the note safes me from having the lug kilo's of paper books around, they can stay in on my shelves now
OP, since you are looking at sketching etc, check out this article. It's in French but Google translate should help, and even if it doesn't the sketches speak for themselves.
http://goo.gl/Rm7jhO
The drawings were made with Sketchbook Pro which is included on the new Notes.
My original Transformer Prime became a laptop replacement for anything that didn't involve heavy lifting (development work, etc). Once I find a decent bluetooth keyboard I expect I'll be doing the same thing with this.
My primary reason for upgrading to this particular tablet is the screen as I will be using it for photography. I pull the pics off the camera via wi-fi and then I can preview/edit them on the tablet.
I just use my table for viewing movies while traveling.

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