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I'd rather a smaller tablet, such as the Google Nexus 7, to keep it portable. Has anyone tried looking at the PDFs regularly on such a device? How big of a difference is it making to dwld the lite versions versus the full sized versions? Or should I just bite the bullet and lug the big (10") tablet? Better reading size, obviously, but substantially more bulky, especially with a solid cover. What am I looking for in a tablet to make it a good PDF reader?
Thoughts?
Works great on an iPad and probably same as good on a smaller screen as well - even though it might be neccessary to scroll some sometimes. But why do you think it wouldnt work? Are you buying that device only because you want a PF-PDF-reader?
The lite version of the pdfs work ok on my 7inch kindle, but to be honest I just use the prd from it.
For smaller pdfs like adventures or a companion line book it works perfectly well.
In my humble opinion anything smaller than 8.5 x 11" is too small to actively run a module off of. "Quick" lookups in rules-based PDFs might work on smaller..
I've got a Galaxy Note (5.1" phone) and I occasionally will review a PDF I'm running (Tsar, Runelords) for specific details when I'm out and about, but I'd never, ever consider running them off the phone. Same thing goes for a couple rulebooks I have. Same also goes for the Playbook I've got... not big enough to USE except in desperation.
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Works great on an iPad and probably same as good on a smaller screen as well - even though it might be neccessary to scroll some sometimes. But why do you think it wouldnt work? Are you buying that device only because you want a PF-PDF-reader?
No. I am in the market for a device for casual browsing, keeping up with email, hauling to Court (attorney) to kill time waiting, and ALSO use as PDF reader for PF.
The small size would be nice, but I don't want to go through the cost of getting a device and not meet each of those needs reasonably well.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
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I have an iPad mini and a full sized one.
The mini is solid for browsing most PDFs and great for using Paizo's online PRD (which if you haven't noticed has been adding tons of nice for-mobile features). It's less good for modules which have stat-blocks that might span 2 columns or even 2 pages. The text is a bit small and you wind up scrolling a lot. Really looking forward to HeroLab releasing at the end of the month, then my mini will replace the laptop at the gaming table as my digital character sheet.
If you plan on running a modules/ PFS scenarios off of your tablet, I'd highly recommend getting a full sized tablet. Text on the new iPads (and I assume on the Galaxy 10 and any other high res tablet) is really easy to read. The better quality PDF readers like Good Reader let you set the cropping for the whole document so you gain an extra inch or so of viewing area. That's really helpful for full page viewing.
I usually queue up some images I can show the players, Paizo modules usually has great illustrations which can go a long ways to explaining what the players are seeing.
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I have an iPad mini and a full sized one.
The mini is solid for browsing most PDFs and great for using Paizo's online PRD (which if you haven't noticed has been adding tons of nice for-mobile features). It's less good for modules which have stat-blocks that might span 2 columns or even 2 pages. The text is a bit small and you wind up scrolling a lot. Really looking forward to HeroLab releasing at the end of the month, then my mini will replace the laptop at the gaming table as my digital character sheet.
If you plan on running a modules/ PFS scenarios off of your tablet, I'd highly recommend getting a full sized tablet. Text on the new iPads (and I assume on the Galaxy 10 and any other high res tablet) is really easy to read. The better quality PDF readers like Good Reader let you set the cropping for the whole document so you gain an extra inch or so of viewing area. That's really helpful for full page viewing.
I usually queue up some images I can show the players, Paizo modules usually has great illustrations which can go a long ways to explaining what the players are seeing.
Thanks! I think I would usually do hard copy for highlighting, etc if I was actually GMing. Re:Pathfinder, the device would be mostly for perusal of PDFs in down time, rules references at table, and as a character sheet at table.
The input is helpful. Thanks folks.
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My GM has been running scenarios off his iPad, but it is the full size, not the mini. He's been quite happy with it and has almost switched to it exclusively. Looking at the mini, I wouldn't want to run off that size and I'm in the market for a full size tablet, though I'll likely wait until next year to see how prices are settling (also, a lot of expenditures this year taking up my free money).
Drogos, anyone, can you use Adobe Acrobat (or some other pdf reader) to highlight APs, PFS scenarios, etc in various colors, similar to a handful of markers in a hard copy book?
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I have a Nexus 7 I use for GMing and player reference. Though I haven't tried running a game directly from it (I prefer a highlighted printed copy)
Its great for quick rules lookups using the free Masterwork Tools app.
I also use it to carry and show scene setting images.
I read novels and PDFs from it, though I zoom in on a column at a time if it is two column layout or turn it landscape mode for a half page view if it single column layout. The chapter bookmarks in Paizo PDFs allow you to navigate PDFs quickly. I have only tried the lite versions of the books.
The high screen resolution makes it easy on the eye and you can read it full screen if you really want to. The text is then small but crisp.
During a game use two different free PDF readers to have multiple PDFs open.
7" is fine, although the larger screens are better for reading. Just have to weigh readability vs portability.
I personally prefer the larger screen. Heck of a lot smaller than lugging around the CRB and other books.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
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Drogos, anyone, can you use Adobe Acrobat (or some other pdf reader) to highlight APs, PFS scenarios, etc in various colors, similar to a handful of markers in a hard copy book?Yes. Though not in the free apps to my knowledge.
Free is over-rated.
Good reader is $3-4 for the iPad (and presumably for Android) and easily worth the expense for the time saved.
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Drogos, anyone, can you use Adobe Acrobat (or some other pdf reader) to highlight APs, PFS scenarios, etc in various colors, similar to a handful of markers in a hard copy book?Yes. Though not in the free apps to my knowledge.
FYI, I just Googled a little and found out you can start the yellow highlighter in Adobe Reader, right click, and "taste the rainbow" so to speak.
Lots of highlighting colors to choose from.
I use a Nexus 7 for exactly that. I probably wouldn't use it for running scenarios, though I've had several GMs that love their full sized tablets for that.
As a player I use it for looking up spells, items and stuff on the prd, I prefer a hardcopy character sheet for playing though. It works incredibly well for that and has saved me hauling around a 15" laptop everywhere.
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I have a modded Nook Color, and use the EZ PDF app ($2ish) and am very pleased. I don't know the size, but it is a smaller screen, designed for novels. I don't really have any issues other than I don't like to look at a screen for long periods. It fits in my cargo pocket perfectly, so I basically have it on me all day at work and it survive a deployment just fine. I've never been a fan of apple products, personally, as I like to tweek my stuff a littl more than they tend to allow (not hack). I haven't really tied the newer Nook, which I undertand has a lot of the options I put on mine automatically, and is faster. I use a combination of the Lite PDF's, the regular, and an assortment of other gaming books often, as well.