Reply to: Cheap tablet for reading technical PDF books?

[Addanc]

I bought one of these, very pleased with it. Apparently similar hardware spec to earlier Apple device inc 9.7" screen; Android OS; storage expandable to 32G.

[PAH]

Well, I've now got an iPad 3 costing 400 notes.

The much improved screen resolution (2048x1536 in 9.7 inches) over the iPad2 and most other tablets was the clincher, along with how you can easily zoom in/out of PDFs so reading books/manuals is a much better experience than on the Kindle.

Also pleasantly surprised how good the batter life is. If just browsing the internet or reading books it lasts for days.

Not so keen on the restrictive way it handles files, having to use apps to access anything and each app operating in isolation so need another app to do any sharing. I can see how it helps improve security and lets Apple lock down access so you have to buy apps to get functionality, it's just a right faff loading it up with media compared to any other device that offers a normal filesystem approach.

Just a shame the capacitive touchscreen resolution hasn't been improved along with the 'retina' display. At native resolutions with it locked in portrait mode (my preferred mode of usage as I have good eyesight so like seeing more on a page than landscape allows ) some links are too small for normal fingers, and even the pointy sticks for the iPad look a bit chunky. Therefore easy to click the wrong links or need to zoom in for more accuracy.

So not perfect but a pretty good piece of kit.

[fullyautomatix]

Not really related to the OP but my mate's Sammy tablet broke (fellow contractor) so at dinnertime (12:00 - Southerner warning) we went a-wondering around Manchester City Centre looking at various tablets, and me being Apple through and through, I thought, well, iPad, but let's look around...

So I looked at all those tablets and it was a revelation, there is nothing to touch the iPad. All the others were fat, had toy town icons, slow dragging, stupid buttons everywhere, and generally looked shiit.

Get an iPad, really....

I dont normally agree the hype about Apple toys but with regards to Ipad there is no competition. Its in a class of its own. I just have to find an use for it and I will buy one.

[Spacecadet]

Let's just say that I've managed to read the entire Shon Harris's 5th Edition guide to the CISSP on my Transformer using Mantano reader, 3 times. If ever there was a book unsuitable for a tablet, that would be the one. Ipad is basically Iphone OS, scaled to fit the screen, nothing new there, Stek, are you sure you weren't looking at an AndyPad?

Not cheap but I've just got one of the new Transformer Primes. It's excellent for reading PDFs.

BolshieBastard might be interested:
http://forums.contractoruk.com/techn...mer-prime.html

[Lockhouse]

Not cheap but I've just got one of the new Transformer Primes. It's excellent for reading PDFs.

[Vanilla]

Let's just say that I've managed to read the entire Shon Harris's 5th Edition guide to the CISSP on my Transformer using Mantano reader, 3 times. If ever there was a book unsuitable for a tablet, that would be the one. Ipad is basically Iphone OS, scaled to fit the screen, nothing new there, Stek, are you sure you weren't looking at an AndyPad?

[stek]

Not really related to the OP but my mate's Sammy tablet broke (fellow contractor) so at dinnertime (12:00 - Southerner warning) we went a-wondering around Manchester City Centre looking at various tablets, and me being Apple through and through, I thought, well, iPad, but let's look around...

So I looked at all those tablets and it was a revelation, there is nothing to touch the iPad. All the others were fat, had toy town icons, slow dragging, stupid buttons everywhere, and generally looked shiit.

Get an iPad, really....

[Fishface]

Kindle Fire

I got one - very nice $199 plus tax.

Was restricted to US and no Anroid market.

Rooted and added gapps and market.

So far so good - very pleased.

[PAH]

Did you try reading a PDF though?

Not ventured down yet. As the Xoom has microSD (strangely absent from the Xoom 2) I should be able to take my own sample PDFs for playing with, assuming the unit comes with a reader out of the box.

I tried using a tablet in HMV the other week to do a price compare for the same thing on their WiFi, but for some reason, the price comparison sites and Amazon were all blocked as "ecommerce" sites.

No surprise. They don't want people pricing up the competitors using their own stock.

If you were prepared, you'd have remoted into a server somewhere and surfed from there without the restrictions.

[TheFaQQer]

Just as I thought it was safe to go shopping I see that the Motorola Xoom is on offer at Dixons (£225 delivered using a 10% off discount code), and in store at PC World for £250 for those that don't like waiting around for delivery.

Pretty tempting bit of kit considering it seems to be superior to the iPad with a better screen (more resolution), expandability (microSD) and supports the latest Android, plus half the price.

Did you try reading a PDF though?

I tried using a tablet in HMV the other week to do a price compare for the same thing on their WiFi, but for some reason, the price comparison sites and Amazon were all blocked as "ecommerce" sites.

[PAH]

Just as I thought it was safe to go shopping I see that the Motorola Xoom is on offer at Dixons (£225 delivered using a 10% off discount code), and in store at PC World for £250 for those that don't like waiting around for delivery.

Pretty tempting bit of kit considering it seems to be superior to the iPad with a better screen (more resolution), expandability (microSD) and supports the latest Android, plus half the price.

Shame my local PC World is out of stock, though maybe that means it's safe to pop down for a play around on their display model and see how it looks reading ebooks without getting clobbered with an impulse buy.

[PAH]

Oh, I suppose so.

You nearly had me going there.

It's a few inches too short. Ain't it always.

[d000hg]

Oh, I suppose so.

[Ignis Fatuus]

A 10" tablet is only 1" or so smaller than being A4, seems odd that small about of zooming would be a problem. Maybe you should get your glasses prescription checked.

Isn't the 10" = the diagonal? ISTM that according to an ancient Greek, the A4 diagonal would be 363mm or > 14".

[d000hg]

A 10" tablet is only 1" or so smaller than being A4, seems odd that small about of zooming would be a problem. Maybe you should get your glasses prescription checked.