Digital eBook reader devices...

furrystarcat · 03-17-2009, 05:56 PM

I'm not really sure how deeply electronic book readers like the Kindle and the Sony Reader have penetrated the gamer market...

Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried loading one of the e23 PDFs onto one and seeing how it reads? I know Sony recently added a "reflowing" feature for text-based PDF documents so you don't have to read microscopic text. I haven't tried putting one of my GURPs rulebooks on mine...

~~Peter Knutsen~~ · 03-17-2009, 07:24 PM

I just want to say that even though this may look off-topic, I think that discussions about e-book-reading devices are very pertinent to this forum, and I hope the moderators will continue to let such threads live and thrive.

Personally, I have not yet heard of any device that I believe able to satisfactorily display a whole-page A4- or Letter-sized document.

I'd like to get myself an ebook-reader some day, and also a laptop or other portable computer (I hear vague rumours about this thing called fresh air, and I kinda want to see what it is like, eventually), and so I've pretty much made up my mind to go for an expensive middle-ground solution of a netbook PC, a sort of miniature laptop computer.

Not ideal, though, so even after I've bought such a thing, I'll remain very interested in a lightweight device that can display table-heavy RPG documents in a readable fashion without needing to zoom in.

mook · 03-18-2009, 03:34 AM

The PlasticLogic reader looks promising:

http://www.plasticlogic.com/

mlangsdorf · 03-18-2009, 06:22 AM

Except they delayed it a year, until 2010. On the plus side, that makes it much more likely to be affordable, and it will probably have some great features that aren't available now. On the downside, unless you can time travel, it isn't available until at least 2010.

The Fox · 03-18-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

I just want to say that even though this may look off-topic, I think that discussions about e-book-reading devices are very pertinent to this forum, and I hope the moderators will continue to let such threads live and thrive.

We've never shut one down before. I don't see any reason to start.

Jürgen Hubert · 03-18-2009, 08:28 AM

It's possible to convert e23 ebooks for the Kindle format (with freely downloadable software), but it's not optimal.

The main issue is that the conversion process hopelessly mangles tables - so I wouldn't recommend using it for books which have a lot of them (for example, GURPS High-Tech and anything else with lots of equipment tables). On the other hand, setting-only books work reasonably well.

The Sony Reader can display PDFs, but its screen is so small that you will have to do a lot of zooming and scrolling. The iLiad should work, but it's still outrageously expensive. Waiting for the Plastic Logic device seems like your best bet - I will probably buy it as well, despite owning a Kindle.

Buzzardo · 03-18-2009, 08:43 AM

I'm also waiting for the PlasticLogic reader - it's the only thing on the horizon that'll do justice to 6.5 inch wide table (as in from a GURPS book).

Gaming_Bird · 03-18-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzardo

I'm also waiting for the PlasticLogic reader - it's the only thing on the horizon that'll do justice to 6.5 inch wide table (as in from a GURPS book).

I'm hoping for someone to come up with a color e-reader using flexible-film technology to make a reader with an 11"x17" display that can roll up into a 'scroll tube.'

That way I can have my books in front of me full-size when running a game and not have all the space by the GM screen taken up by my library.

Kuroshima · 03-03-2011, 03:11 AM

Personally, after seeing the specs on the iPad2, I'm even more encouraged to get a Xoom. The iPad2 is more like a minor update to the iPad than a new model.

Delcar · 03-16-2011, 05:16 PM

I've had my kindle for a couple days now, and have been playing around with it; to stay topical, I'll merely say I love the e-ink and the way the kindle handles.

I have two of the big hardback books that I only own on PDF - Martial arts, and Low Tech. (I have numerous DF, Pyramids etc. otherwise) so I'm playing around to see if this is going to be viable.

PDF (specifically my GURPS library)

native pdfs have been bearable, and look pretty good full screen, but I can't read that small of text without eyestrain for long.
Mobipocket's free converter on the other hand, does a great job of converting the text, and putting the graphics more-or-less where they were. Tables, not so fun - they're pretty much just converted (badly) into run-on sentences.

I'll probably end up with both on the kindle - the converted version for reading, and the native pdf for ease of using the tables.

The technology is definitely getting there. I would -love- to see game companies embrace the format. While I doubt you'll ever truly replace bound paper books, especially in gaming, but wouldn't it be nice to carry all your books on your reader of choice 'just in case' and just have to lug your Characters and maybe Campaigns book around in your bag?

03-17-2009, 05:56 PM	#1
furrystarcat Join Date: Mar 2009	Digital eBook reader devices... I'm not really sure how deeply electronic book readers like the Kindle and the Sony Reader have penetrated the gamer market... Out of curiosity, has anyone here tried loading one of the e23 PDFs onto one and seeing how it reads? I know Sony recently added a "reflowing" feature for text-based PDF documents so you don't have to read microscopic text. I haven't tried putting one of my GURPs rulebooks on mine...

03-17-2009, 07:24 PM	#2
~~Peter Knutsen~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Europe	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... I just want to say that even though this may look off-topic, I think that discussions about e-book-reading devices are very pertinent to this forum, and I hope the moderators will continue to let such threads live and thrive. Personally, I have not yet heard of any device that I believe able to satisfactorily display a whole-page A4- or Letter-sized document. I'd like to get myself an ebook-reader some day, and also a laptop or other portable computer (I hear vague rumours about this thing called fresh air, and I kinda want to see what it is like, eventually), and so I've pretty much made up my mind to go for an expensive middle-ground solution of a netbook PC, a sort of miniature laptop computer. Not ideal, though, so even after I've bought such a thing, I'll remain very interested in a lightweight device that can display table-heavy RPG documents in a readable fashion without needing to zoom in.

03-18-2009, 03:34 AM	#3
mook Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... The PlasticLogic reader looks promising: http://www.plasticlogic.com/ __________________ How to Be a GURPS GM, author Game Geekery, Blog (GURPS combat examples, fillable PDF sheets, rules summaries, campaigns and one-shots, beginners' intro) GURPS Discord, unofficial hangout and real-time chat

03-18-2009, 06:22 AM	#4
mlangsdorf Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, TX	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... Except they delayed it a year, until 2010. On the plus side, that makes it much more likely to be affordable, and it will probably have some great features that aren't available now. On the downside, unless you can time travel, it isn't available until at least 2010.

03-18-2009, 08:28 AM	#6
Jürgen Hubert Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oldenburg, Germany	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... It's possible to convert e23 ebooks for the Kindle format (with freely downloadable software), but it's not optimal. The main issue is that the conversion process hopelessly mangles tables - so I wouldn't recommend using it for books which have a lot of them (for example, GURPS High-Tech and anything else with lots of equipment tables). On the other hand, setting-only books work reasonably well. The Sony Reader can display PDFs, but its screen is so small that you will have to do a lot of zooming and scrolling. The iLiad should work, but it's still outrageously expensive. Waiting for the Plastic Logic device seems like your best bet - I will probably buy it as well, despite owning a Kindle. __________________ GURPS Repository • Sunken Castles, Evil Poodles - translating German folk tales into English!

03-18-2009, 08:43 AM	#7
Buzzardo Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, TX	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... I'm also waiting for the PlasticLogic reader - it's the only thing on the horizon that'll do justice to 6.5 inch wide table (as in from a GURPS book).

03-03-2011, 03:11 AM	#9
Kuroshima MIB Pyramid Contributor Mad Spaniard Rules Lawyer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The ASS of the world, mainly Valencia, Spain (Europe)	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... Personally, after seeing the specs on the iPad2, I'm even more encouraged to get a Xoom. The iPad2 is more like a minor update to the iPad than a new model. __________________ Antoni Ten MIB3119 My GURPs character sheet My stuff on e23

03-16-2011, 05:16 PM	#10
Delcar MIB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Florida	Re: Digital eBook reader devices... I've had my kindle for a couple days now, and have been playing around with it; to stay topical, I'll merely say I love the e-ink and the way the kindle handles. I have two of the big hardback books that I only own on PDF - Martial arts, and Low Tech. (I have numerous DF, Pyramids etc. otherwise) so I'm playing around to see if this is going to be viable. PDF (specifically my GURPS library) native pdfs have been bearable, and look pretty good full screen, but I can't read that small of text without eyestrain for long. Mobipocket's free converter on the other hand, does a great job of converting the text, and putting the graphics more-or-less where they were. Tables, not so fun - they're pretty much just converted (badly) into run-on sentences. I'll probably end up with both on the kindle - the converted version for reading, and the native pdf for ease of using the tables. The technology is definitely getting there. I would -love- to see game companies embrace the format. While I doubt you'll ever truly replace bound paper books, especially in gaming, but wouldn't it be nice to carry all your books on your reader of choice 'just in case' and just have to lug your Characters and maybe Campaigns book around in your bag?