3 ms·

I understand that many people like to read fiction and the like on the Kindle. How useful would the Kindle be for reading technical books?

by wsc981 12y ago

derengel 12y ago
Terrible bad, is an abomination compared to reading a PDF version on windows/osx. I don't know if is the fault of the format(mobi) or they are really bad at formatting technical books.
- allegory 12y ago
  A million times this. In fact, even as a windows user, preview on OS X is the best PDF reader there is. I'm note sure it's the format over the technology to start with as it's quite complicated to lay out technical material effectively so it requires some human intervention to a standard which doesn't make you want to poke your eyes out. PDF is just paper on a screen which takes the layout engine and automation out the back and shoots it.
- 0x38B 12y ago
  As far as reading PDFs on Windows goes: evince (default on Ubuntu, I think) works really well - it's fast, remembers my position in various PDFs, and in general works really well. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evince/Downloads https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evince/Downloads
cm127 12y ago
Depends on the book. The Kindle isn't great at pictures, graphs, or complex diagrams, and examples with code might lose formatting via smaller dimensions. However, it's still convenient to not have to lug around a giant text book to read somewhere - any of them. Having a Kindle is like having your entire library with you at all times.
ode 12y ago
For code it's ok for snippets and fairly small examples but I'd use a tablet if possible for longer examples or diagrams.
- ode 12y ago
  After watching the video I see the higher DPI on the Voyage may make it a better device for viewing longer code samples on.
xzel 12y ago
I've been reading technical books on it for a year now. Currently reading through a few Haskell and Scala books for fun (all pdfs). I wouldn't recommend picture heavy textbook, for example something on Biology, but for Comp. Sci. books it does the trick imo.

I understand that many people like to read fiction and the like on the Kindle. How useful would the Kindle be for reading technical books?

by wsc981 12y ago

I understand that many people like to read fiction and the like on the Kindle. How useful would the Kindle be for reading technical books?

derengel 12y ago

Terrible bad, is an abomination compared to reading a PDF version on windows/osx. I don't know if is the fault of the format(mobi) or they are really bad at formatting technical books.

allegory 12y ago
A million times this. In fact, even as a windows user, preview on OS X is the best PDF reader there is. I'm note sure it's the format over the technology to start with as it's quite complicated to lay out technical material effectively so it requires some human intervention to a standard which doesn't make you want to poke your eyes out. PDF is just paper on a screen which takes the layout engine and automation out the back and shoots it.
0x38B 12y ago
As far as reading PDFs on Windows goes: evince (default on Ubuntu, I think) works really well - it's fast, remembers my position in various PDFs, and in general works really well. https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evince/Downloads https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Evince/Downloads

cm127 12y ago

Depends on the book. The Kindle isn't great at pictures, graphs, or complex diagrams, and examples with code might lose formatting via smaller dimensions. However, it's still convenient to not have to lug around a giant text book to read somewhere - any of them. Having a Kindle is like having your entire library with you at all times.

ode 12y ago

For code it's ok for snippets and fairly small examples but I'd use a tablet if possible for longer examples or diagrams.

ode 12y ago
After watching the video I see the higher DPI on the Voyage may make it a better device for viewing longer code samples on.

xzel 12y ago

I've been reading technical books on it for a year now. Currently reading through a few Haskell and Scala books for fun (all pdfs). I wouldn't recommend picture heavy textbook, for example something on Biology, but for Comp. Sci. books it does the trick imo.