What it says in the subject line. I detest hauling my books around, and am looking for something I can keep behind my dm screen and also reference whenever a question strikes me (on the bus/ferry or standing around on campus).
I'd like something that can hold and reference all my pdf's, but I'm wondering if I should shell out the extra cash to be able to surf the forums, srd, and bring up applications like word and rock'n'roll.
Also, USB ports.
Not really interested in an iPad. I've never had good luck with apple products.
If you've had experience with these, or if you just know your stuff, that's what I'm looking for.
Thanks, all.
-The Beast
I've had my Adam (from Notion Ink) for about two weeks now and I'm loving it. It was $375 for a WiFi only unit (if I need roaming access I'll use a MiFi device). I've loaded my entire Pathfinder library on it and so far it's been a very nice experience working with the files. There's also a handy Pathfinder Spell Compendium app out right now that keeps getting better with every update.
3 USB ports (2 standard and 1 mini) so I've been able to plug in a USB drive, a keyboard, and also connect it directly to my laptop.
It's got an HDMI port, so it's also filled my need for an in-car entertainment device for the kids (I found a 15" HD screen for $99). I loaded up a bunch of MPEG files on a MicroSD card and can plug it in as needed. My Rhapsody account synchs to the device no problem, so I've also got tons of music through my monthly subscription.
So, Pathfinder library, e-book reader, video/music player, web browser (with support for Flash), Google maps navigation support...it's whizzing along marvelously in all these roles for under $400. And all the apps I'm using are free!
Note that I was a first-round pre-order and we've been somewhat of a final test round for the stock OS and apps. Notion Ink has been taking feedback and put out two updates so far to address issues found. IF you are more adventurous, there are already several custom ROMs that make the device even more impressive (see the Notion Addicts and Notion Ink Hacks forums). They've just completed the second round of pre-orders.
I have the color nook its good for reading the PDFs but I think it would be to slow for gameplay, The non core books work great on it but right now the core books are a little slow because of all the background art
Im hoping that with the next update it will have a way better pdf reader. My buddy says it is real easy to hack and can be a full functionung Android Pad for $250
I have the color nook its good for reading the PDFs but I think it would be to slow for gameplay, The non core books work great on it but right now the core books are a little slow because of all the background art
Im hoping that with the next update it will have a way better pdf reader. My buddy says it is real easy to hack and can be a full functionung Android Pad for $250
Yep, the Adam hackers have actually used the Nook hacks as a starting point for their work (along with the Gtab). It's smaller than the Adam and other tablets (7" display), and that's the only gripe I've heard on it from the hacking folks.
I have a color nook it works great for reading Paizo PDFs. A tad slow from page to page but excellent overall.
I have two devices.
I have the original Nook. This thing is great for reading regular books and novels. It will load all of the paizo pdfs just fine. But in reality, reading them on a 7" screen is absurd. You are constantly zooming and moving stuff around. RPG pdfs on a 7" e-ink screen just doesn't work very well.
I also have a hacked 7" Android Tablet. It's also very good at reading regular novels and books. It loads all of the pdfs just fine. I like it because it can do so much more than just function as an ereader. This device suffers from all of the same problems as the original Nook. The screen size, 7", means you are CONSTANTLY zooming and scrolling rendering the reading experience of RPG pdfs unenjoyable.
My friend has an Apple iPad. It rocks for RPG pdfs. The screen size is just right.
Honestly, if your main focus is reading RPG pdfs, you should definately consider buying something with a 10" screen or higher such as the iPad, Adam, Xoom, or a few others as well.
Not really interested in an iPad. I've never had good luck with apple products.Our housemate a dyed to the wool windows user swore he'd never touch an apple product with a 10 foot pole. His wife bought him an Ipad and he now uses that to run modules instead of lugging around his laptop. (He also uses it to satisfy his Neflix habit as well :)
The screen size is the critical advantage. it's just large enough to fit an entire page and leave it readable with average vision. That's a major difference between an IPad and a device with only a 7inch screen. The battery life also means that he can be cordless for the entire session with charge to spare.
Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against apple. Their products just seem to break in my hands. 3 iPods and 1 macbook later, I won't touch the company.
And thanks for the feedback, folks. It's very helpful.
-The Beast
I have a Pandigital 7" Novel eReader, as well as a Viewsonic Gtablet. By far, hands down the tablet is superior to the eReader.
I originally got the eReader, so I could read while at dialysis without having to fight with a physical copy of a book; as I only have one arm I can move during treatment. The Novel had problems accessing and processing epub formatted ebooks, and it was impossible to get even a graphics free PDF to be anything near usable. The screen was also very unresponsive, which caused difficulties in switching pages while reading. Same with accessing the Internet, it would take on average 2 minutes to render a simple graphics light webpage. Text input was a lesson in patience.
The tablet, on the other hand, has been a completely different experience. PDFs render quickly, and can be flipped though with ease. The screen is quick to respond to input. I have started using the tablet to do simple internet searches at home, because of how well it renders, even graphics heavy, webpages.
I have recently began using the tablet as a game aid \ resource, and it has done wonderfully. Even the Paizo, full graphic PDFs render quickly, and page access with ease. With a 16 gig internal memory, and microSD expansion slot, it has the storage space to hold a sizable collection of PDFs.
The only downside to my Gtablet I have found, is with it being a 10" screen. There is some zooming needed to be able to read everything clearly. It is a minor problem for me, but I could see some people considering that a deal breaker for them. However, that is the Gtab. With the multiple brands and sizes of tablets out there, it would be easy to find one that will suit your needs perfectly.
|
Just bought a Nook Color for 200 bucks from B&N's ebay site. Gonna root it and have, what Ive read, a very decent android tablet for the price. I have the easy-read core rule book without the background images or art for quick PDF reading on the device. Gonna toss Honeycomb on there when the source code has been released and will toss MobileNoter on there once the Honeycomb client is out. LOVE me my One Note notebooks, and this software looks like it will just ROCK. If you have an iPad and use one note, take a look at the link, the product is 15 bucks, but the features look fantastic and ive heard nothing but good things about it. I wanted to get an Adam, and after seeing Erian's recommendation I might later on. For now Ill rock my Nook color. Ill report back after my session this weekend to let you know how it went, should be arriving tomorrow for me to play with.
Also, Erian, question. Love your excel character sheet, use it for my home games. Have you found anything that would play nicely on your adam with the sheet? Someway to get your sheet to be useable on the device?
Joey, I saw where you have a nook color and the regular PDFs are a bit slow, if you goto d20pfsrd.com's download page and scroll down to the Downloadable PDFs of Site Files section, you will find the graphic free versions I plan on using. Dont need the art for rules look up, I want speed!
Also, Erian, question. Love your excel character sheet, use it for my home games. Have you found anything that would play nicely on your adam with the sheet? Someway to get your sheet to be useable on the device?
Nothing has worked so far--I've only tried the free apps, but they all choke on the file size. At some point I'll have to bump up to a paid app and see if it'll work. I know the hardware can take it, so it's just about finding the right app (and of course, optimizing the sheet for Android somehow would be good as well).
Documents to Go is the best Office type program for Android, though expensive.
I purchased DtG looking to find a Excel Character sheet that works with it. They load but say parts of the sheet are unaccessible :(
I would love a character sheet (or app) that let me edit on the fly, or even do buff/effects.
I wish Android had a HeroLab app :)
Yep, a Herolab app would be sweet...
Have you tried out my sheet (linked in my profile) and if so what happened? It wasn't built with Android in mind, obviously, but any insight might help future development. Thanks!