How easy is it to read .pdf and ebook files on this device? - Nexus 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

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?
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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
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So i should avoid c70 at all costs?

SysAdmNj said:
So i should avoid c70 at all costs?
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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.

Related

Galaxy Tab 10.1 for Reading & Browing

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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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.
Click to expand...
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?
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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

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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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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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?
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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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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.
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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?
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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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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
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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.

Can anyone recommend the Nexus 7 for comics?

Planning on either getting the N7 or the ipad3 real soon but I'm really hesitant because of the better screen of the ipad. I'm getting a tablet mainly for light sufring, music, media and comic book reading.
Does anyone use their N7 for comics? What app do you use for CBR files? How's the screen and hows the usability and feel of reading from a much smaller screen? I'm guessing it can get annoying to read from such a small device because you'd constantly have to flick around just to read.
I'm all for the N7 but the only thing that's holding me back is that beautiful screen and itunes mp3 integration which is the best! Although I hate having to convert videos just to view them on my device.
I use ComicRack on my Nexus 7.
I am able to read comics in portrait mode without having to zoom in. The 1280x800 resolution is high enough for text to be displayed clearly. I don't need to zoom in and out.
The new iPad is still better for comics though. Reading comics on the Nexus 7 isn't bad, but sometimes you want a bigger screen (since comic text can be pretty small).
I'm pretty much using the N7 for email, texting and reading books and comics. I find that it works fine as a comic reader. After trying different comic apps, I've settled on two.
Comics by Comixology
This is great for buying and viewing comics. The guided view is superb. Try it out. They offer free comics so you'll be able to see how it works. I do still buy comics to offset all the ones that I download for free.
Perfect Viewer
This is the one I use for my cbr/cbz files. It works great and has a nice bookshelf feature to easily keep track of your comics and what's been read. There's plenty of customization available but not so much that it's overkill. I prefer reading in landscape with comic scaled to width. Tap the right side to scroll down a configurable amount. If you're at the bottom of the page it goes to the next page.
i love my nexus 7 for reading manga. it's great. i've always used jj comic viewer. 7 inch screen is way more convenient than 10. i can fit it in every single pair of pants pockets. i usually read them in landscape mode so you have to navigate your finger up and down to see the whole page, but it really isn't that bad. you just start from the top of the page and work your way down. it's what you would do anyways. potrait mode works too, but it gets kinda small. i think its perfect.
It's actually very good for comics.
http://www.techhive.com/article/2000315/what-s-the-best-way-to-read-comics-on-your-nexus-7.html
I found the screen way too small for comic reading, but that is just personal preference. I couldn't condone the price of the Ipad3 for what I use tablets for so I got the Asus TF300. It is great, a lot of great development going on, and great screen for comics.
I personally use manga watcher app for my manga needs. I think the n7 is a perfect size for manga. The reason being, the n7's screen size is pretty close to your average takobon volume, whereas American comics tend to be printed on bigger paper size.
I don't really read American comics that much, so I can't really comment much about it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Makaijin said:
I personally use manga watcher app for my manga needs. I think the n7 is a perfect size for manga. The reason being, the n7's screen size is pretty close to your average takobon volume, whereas American comics tend to be printed on bigger paper size.
I don't really read American comics that much, so I can't really comment much about it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
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Thanks guys! You have a new convert! I'm getting my unit tonight and hopefully it doesnt come with issues!
My mate is on the stand-up circuit and he loves his.
I don't read comics on mine but I do subscribe to Wired! Magazine and read that. It's a little small when showing the full page on screen so you have to zoom in to read, then zoom out to turn the page. I'm used to reading it on an iPad so it took a little getting used to but it's not a huge problem.
I tried Perfect Viewer, but the user interface is too ... ugly. And it's quite annoying to have to click every time to go to next page.
Did you try "Challenger comics viewer" ?
It's a FREE comics viewer available on Android Market (no ads).
You don't have to click to go to next page, all pages are automatically loaded.
Try it in landscape mode, it's really awesome !
It support local files (cbr/cbz/pdf/jpg/png) and network files (Samba/CIFS/Webdav/Ftp/SFtp).
I also tried Comicrack, it's quite OK but you still have to click to go to next page.
Use "Challenger comics viewer" and you will be addict ! Really !
Here is a short video of "Challenger comics viewer" :
I bought my one just for reading comics and web/gaming,
Comicrack is a must have,
Comic reader mobi is also alright and work well

[Q] General Questions and about a Stylus Pen

Okay I finally decided I'm going to buy a tablet and I think the Nexus 7 is the one to get.
Couple quick questions...
It's primary usage is going to be as a PDF reader so I can read my books on it and highlight the PDF documents. With that said, is the 7" a decent size for this or should I go with a larger 10" model? In addition, I'm going to want to use a stylus pen to highlight with rather than my hand. With that said, what's the best option to buy as an aftermarket pen? I'm likely going to purchase the ezPDF program for this function. Good app or is there a better one out there?
Thirdly, I'll use it for multimedia playback as well. Does it have a limitation on file size (e.g. 4GB limit) or can I drop a 12GB MKV file on it and have at it (or does it need to be split up?). Thanks.
If the Nexus 7 doesn't fit the bill for these things do you guys have any other recommendations on a tablet? I'm not looking to break the wallet on this one so the 32GB seems to be where I'm aiming at the moment.
Sorry for all the questions but I figured I'd put them all in one thread rather than posting several.
You should definitley go with the 10 inch tablet.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda premium
I have the 7in and the reason I was even looking at the Nexus 7 to begin with is due to it's PERFECT size as a reader. IMO, a 10 is way too big to carry around with you everywhere and hold in your hands to read. The 7in is about the same width and height of the average book and slips right into my bag to be used anywhere. As a student, I predominantly use mine for PDFs and books too, and it is PERFECT. Between the native reader and the office suite app, I have no problems loading or viewing PDFs, docs, or even power points. I've viewed 50page+ power points on this tablet with ease.
But, this is just my opinion of course. The best thing for you to do is hold both the 7 and 10 inch for yourself to see which best suits your needs.
I also watch plenty of tv show episodes I've torrented. My files have all played flawlessly. When turned in landscape, it's a really great size to watch movies and shows on. I have the portenzo bookcase which can turn into a stand and it makes for sick Sons of Anarchy viewing in crisp HD. :d
[Sent from my Nexie7. Pardon errors.]
Firstly: the 7 is great for me, reading and also annotating. Ezpdf is good but I now prefer mantano pro.
Secondly don't worry too much about expensive pens for highlighting, I grab styluses from the pound shop here in the UK as my kids keep losing them and they work absolutely fine.
Thirdly I believe that the partition is formatted with the Linux ext filesystem (some one will correct me if I am wrong) so you shouldn't have any worries there.
Cheers danny
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I actually tried to download 5-6GB torrent, single file, and it didn't work, seems like 4gb is the limit.. Didn't try to look for solution, just continued download on pc
And for reading, I find it very nice, I'm also a student, and I open a lot of PDFs. Screen is really sharp, and the 7" fits perfectly.. 10" is a bit too much for me to carry around, that's the reason I've got nexus instead of my old 10.1" netbook..
okay purchased two Nexus 7's. One for me (32GB) and one for the girlfriend (16GB). Hope it ships now it says "delivered in 3 - 5 days" and I'm out of town in 8 days...don't let me down Google!!! :silly:
BTW I was surprised to see Google charges taxes...
head0 said:
I actually tried to download 5-6GB torrent, single file, and it didn't work, seems like 4gb is the limit.. Didn't try to look for solution, just continued download on pc
And for reading, I find it very nice, I'm also a student, and I open a lot of PDFs. Screen is really sharp, and the 7" fits perfectly.. 10" is a bit too much for me to carry around, that's the reason I've got nexus instead of my old 10.1" netbook..
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Click to collapse
I just download them on my PC then transfer them over. gotta love AirDroid.
[Sent from my Nexie7. Pardon errors.]
Your Last Question..
I have tried many stylus.. Get a JOT PRO... it works better then anything else out there. Thou its not perfect its in my opinion the only real choice there is .
Hope you enjoy your new Tablet....
After reading this thread and some searching on XDA I went with the 8 stylus pens for $8.99 thing. This way I have a girl color one to give with the 16GB tablet.
Any quick pointers to threads I should glance at and things I should do with this device? Any good tablet specific apps or things I should be looking at?
I recently bought a hand stylus. It's a rubber tip pen but the tip is only 4mm thick. It's a bit steep at 30$, but I like the quality of it. And the tips are replaceable which is nice.
It can be hard to justify a $30 stylus when you can get 15 cheap ones for half the price on amazon, but I do love mine. Handstylus.com
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I bought this N7 bundle for $16. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ZHB6QC/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00
I just really wanted the case (which ended up being my favorite out of the many I've gotten) but it came with a stylus. Now I'm a stylus user. The one it came with works great and the case has a pen loop for it which is even better. As for 7" or 10", I prefer 7. I've had many tablets including the iPad and the 10 is just too big. It starts to become a pain in the ass to carry it around after a while. There hasn't been a moment with the 7 where I wished I had a bigger screen.
I have had a couple of stylus but many of them have thick ends, ok to select stuff when on the net and stuff but to draw with or write they are also. I have been looking for one with a slim top more like a pen to write with but havn't settled on one yet.

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