Which Tablet to read PDFs Only

[Mide]

So I'm looking for a tablet/e-reader device that can read PDFs well. The wife has a Kindle 3 but it's way too small and you have to do a lot of scrolling. I've seen PDFs on the iPad and they seem to fit the bill but I'm wondering if anything else is out there?

The Xoom and other Android tablets seem ok but they are expensive as well. I'm not looking for all of the multimedia functionality...just pdfs to read technical docs and the occasional book in that format.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Rooted Nook?

 

[vshah]

rooted nook color works great. nice hi res screen. color is a bonus. you can find them on craigslist for around 200

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Nook color 100%.

 

[Mide]

Interesting...I'll have to look into that. But isn't the 7in screen a bit small?

 

[Zink]

Compared to a 10" tablet, yes. The resolution is very similar so it is almost as sharp but smaller. The advantage is being able to hold the tablet in one hand instead of having to rest it on something to use it.

 

[runawayprisoner]

iPad if you don't want to spend days getting it to work right.

Nook if you don't mind spending days to get it to work right.

Both can be held in one hand just fine, but obviously not for a whole hour without rest.

 

[vshah]

Compared to a 10" tablet, yes. The resolution is very similar so it is almost as sharp but smaller. The advantage is being able to hold the tablet in one hand instead of having to rest it on something to use it.

actually sharper than the ipad/ipad2

 

[poofyhairguy]

If it takes you days to follow these directions:

http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Rooting

Then I don't know what to say.

 

[theeedude]

iPad is uncomfortable to hold in one hand without blocking screen. You have to hold it all on one side on the bezel or rest it ON your hand. It's got sharp edges with cold and slippery glass and aluminium for you to grab on to. Looks nice, but ergonomic disaster, like most Apple products, IMO. It's simple physics, you are trying to hold something from one side using only the bezel area for leverage.
Nook you can rest IN your hand in portrait mode, meaning you can hold it from both sides with one hand. And it's got rounded plastic edge and rubberized back. It's designed to compete in the e-reader space, where ability to hold something in one hand comfortably for a long time is requisite.
I think an average Anandtech reader should have no problem rooting it either.

 

[Mide]

Yeah I rooted the hell out of my Captivate so no problems there. CL here I come then. I saw that BN had some sale via Ebay for $200...too bad I missed that one.

 

[theeedude]

BTW, BN is going to release a Froyo update with app store and Flash soon, so you may not even need to root it.

 

[Arp_]

If you want just to read PDF's, you don't have to root it anyway.

 

[tatteredpotato]

BTW, BN is going to release a Froyo update with app store and Flash soon, so you may not even need to root it.

From what I read, BN is still going to lock out the official market, offering apps through their own channels. So it'll still require some hacking to get any app working.

 

[gorcorps]

If you want just to read PDF's, you don't have to root it anyway.

I was just going to say this... I think people root their Nook so quickly anymore they forget what it can do by itself :awe:

You can buy a Nook Color OP and have a good PDF and e-reader, then if you want you can also "root" it to unlock the full Android experience including access to the market (so games and such) different apps, etc... but you don't need to do this for PDFs or even use the browser.

 

[theeedude]

From what I read, BN is still going to lock out the official market, offering apps through their own channels. So it'll still require some hacking to get any app working.

I guess we'll find out, although who cares if it's this simple and reads PDFs already.
I guess you can call it "hacking" but to me it's by far simpler than upgrading a PC OS. Just download Autonooter image, burn to SD card, put it in your NC, turn it on, and it does everything for you. The guys who wrote did the hacking, you just have to apply it.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I guess we'll find out, although who cares if it's this simple and reads PDFs already.
I guess you can call it "hacking" but to me it's by far simpler than upgrading a PC OS. Just download Autonooter image, burn to SD card, put it in your NC, turn it on, and it does everything for you. The guys who wrote did the hacking, you just have to apply it.

Oh don't get me wrong, I think the Nook color is pretty awesome (I'll probably look at getting one myself), but I would call it "hacking" since it would void the warranty... that doesn't mean that it's hard to root or anything.

 

[MagickMan]

Nook Color, no doubt.

 

[Kanalua]

Another vote for the Nook color.