Favorite eBook and doc Readers ??

[RD100]

I have tried several eBook and doc Readers, but have found that some of the documents I have downloaded, don't appear in any of them in their list of books.

The readers I tried are Aportis, PalmReader, WordSmith, TomeRaider, and Mobipocket.

Does anyone know of any Freeware readers which can display all or most PDA eBook and Doc formats ?

Also ... what are considered the best Freeware readers ?
Opinions ... anybody ???

[*YellowRose*]

PalmReader is great, in my opinion.

They have a free version and a 'pro' (pay) version.

Not a lot of differences between the two except for font support and color themes.

[chazzz]

I'm a PalmReader Pro fan... One of my favorite things about it (might be in the free version too) is the screen rotation feature. But I have iSilo, MobiReader and Plucker (HiRes) installed for various things...

[Wizardb]

I've tried isolo, mobipocket and palmreader(the free version). I like Palmreader the best for a plain and simple doc format reader.

[Lee]

PalmReader free gets my vote - VFS support - read docs off the Memory Stick to save space on the pda internal memory.

[pharmnatr]

Palmreader Pro. I like the choice of fonts that you dont get with the free version of palmreader. The different fonts really made a difference in readability (is that a word?). I think the extra font pack available for ~$10 is a waste of $.

[chinchorrero]

PalmReader Pro.iSilo
My Fav: Underground ( Suelette Dreydus-Julian Assange)
Saludos

[gpsorell]

PalmReader Pro, iSilo, and TealDoc.

PalmReader Pro: The ability to change the fonts, colors and rotate the screen are very nice.

iSilo: I use primarily for converting web pages.

TealDoc: A good doc reader that will read files from any directory on the memory stick

[RNclie]

I use PalmreaderPro (popular choice) for reading ebooks and Isilo for medical docs.

[rhart00]

I have tried just about every ebook/doc reader available for the palm OS and I can't narrow it down to one favorite "killer" app. These are ones I use regularly:

Handstory (daily news)
iSilo (ebook, doc, magazines, etc)
PalmReader Pro (ebooks)
Mobile DB (mobile db databases and such. wish it was hires+)

Plucker looks very nice but I think I already got all my bases covered with these apps.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by chinchorrero
My Fav: Underground ( Suelette Dreydus-Julian Assange)
Saludos I've never heard of this. Could you post a link to the developer page?

Thanks!:)

I'm always on the lookout for my NEXT favorite app . . . ;)

[legion]

Yeah I like palmreader and palmreader pro but I wish it could see html docs

[Flash-57]

> I have tried several eBook and doc Readers,
> but have found that some of the documents
> I have downloaded, don't appear in any of
> them in their list of books.

Keep in mind that some E-Books aren't really E-Books yet. Some of the ones I've downloaded in the past are just text files and need to be converted to be recognized by a reader.

Other E-Books can be read by only one specific reader (check the site from which you downloaded the E-Book to see what they recommend for reading that book). They usually do that so that they can add copy protection so that you can't give copies of the book to other folks.

I use iSilo for all my reading needs.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Flash-57
Keep in mind that some E-Books aren't really E-Books yet. Some of the ones I've downloaded in the past are just text files and need to be converted to be recognized by a reader.That's true about the text files. Project Gutenberg (http://promo.net/pg/) is one place you find text files. I HIGHLY recommend DocInOut (http://www.palmblvd.com/software/pc/DocInOut-1999-05-22-palm-pc.html) for txt to pdb conversion. It is freeware and has an easy to use drag and drop interface. I've been using it for a couple years not and NEVER had an issue. (It's had over 12,000 downloads at the site I've linked to above...)

[ksjenkins]

PalmReader is the best. I've purchased HandStory for the Web Clipping function, it has a Doc reader which is pretty basic. PalmReaders smooth scroll is the major reason I use it, especially when reading for long stretches of time.:D

[PvV]

Tealdoc is great (and not pricey, as the updates are free) and will read from a memory stick. But my favorite for readability has to be DeepReader (cheap, and will read from memory stick) which has the most legible fonts I've seen

[buckethead]

palm reader pro and wordsmith for my ebooks.

[nikita]

for free stuff, plucker is the best. supports zlib compression too. not quite an ebook reader, but... you have to by ebooks to read them, and since you're asking for a free one, i assume you don't want to spend much on that either.
plucker + www.promo.net/pg + (your favourite online library) = the best ever :D

[lthwc]

Originally posted by nikita
for free stuff, plucker is the best. supports zlib compression too. not quite an ebook reader, but... you have to by ebooks to read them, and since you're asking for a free one, i assume you don't want to spend much on that either.
plucker + www.promo.net/pg + (your favourite online library) = the best ever :D
I like the whole Plucker concept, but I was never able to configure it correctly to make it do what I wanted it to do. It was just too difficult.

[LanMan]

I really like the autoscroll feature in ReadThemAll. I only wish that it supported VFS.

[ami7878]

You should all try ReadThemAll.

Its a freeware and although it currently does not support hires+ it is still the easiest to use and reading is fluent and intuitive unlike other readers.

[madkins007]

Free? Palmreader, hands down. It isn't perfect, but it is better than most of the other freeware products out there. Second vote- iSilo free reader.

Pay for? YiShow's built-in reader is incredibly convenient, although it lacks autoscroll. DeepReader is slick, attractive, and pleasant to use.

[Jag]

I do not think you can beat iSilo and I read a lot of books. Try all the trial downloads before you decide.

[fjl307]

iSilo all the way!!

www.isilo.com (http://www.isilo.com)

[MerlinW]

First choice for me....Isilo, a must have.
Number 2..... TealDoc.

[lthwc]

Okay, I'll add my vote to the iSilo column. I like the way it displays document content and web content, both.

[*YellowRose*]

But wasn't RD100 asking about FREE readers? Isn't Isilo $17?

[jimod]

Palm Reader and iSilo are both great. Anf if you have a HiRes+ clie, YiShow's reader is pretty good and essentialy free. NOBODY pays for YiShow for the doc reader capabilities, you pay for the launcher and the customization, so the doc reader is essentially free

[parmesian]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
I've never heard of this. Could you post a link to the developer page?

Thanks!:)

I'm always on the lookout for my NEXT favorite app . . . ;) this isn't an app. it is a book. check out underground (http://www.underground-book.com/).

[unknown bob]

I really like palm reader. The free version is fine for most things, but PalmReader Pro has the ability to link to a dictionary by simply tapping on the word. The fonts are nice too.

Handstory is great for web clipping, but the doc reader is really only adequate for things like memos.

[Rick 098]

Wordsmith for pay,
mobipocket standard(free vesion like palmreader)for free

[poisonberry]

Another vote for iSolo - but would agree that DeepReader is definitely worth a look for simpler docs. Nice interface and very easy to read. Classy, too.

[archangel]

I've paid for Palm Reader Pro, Handstory, and Mobipocket Pro.

I use Palm Reader Pro almost exclusively though. Its a great reader with the best selection of books.

[LanMan]

Does PalmReader Pro limit you to using their proprietary dictionary, or can you use the dictionary of your choice with it? e.g. BDicty, MiD, etc.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by LanMan
Does PalmReader Pro limit you to using their proprietary dictionary, or can you use the dictionary of your choice with it? e.g. BDicty, MiD, etc. You have to use one of theirs . . . .::sigh::.

[legion]

I find palm read has the best autoscrolling and quickest bookmark feature as I tend to read alot in while standing in line, waiting for computers to boot things like that so I can click the upper right hand corner and delete the current book mark read a few pages and click it again to bookmark anew.l

[RD100]

If you haven't tried CSpotRun yet .. you need try it !!! :D :D :D

It is the smallest sized doc reader I've used (only 34kb), and it's features are terrific !!!!

It does auto-scrolling, multiple fonts, variable line spacing, uses bookmarks, and has lots of other features.

But ... it's most incredible feature ... is you can rotate your document 360 degrees, so it can be viewed upside down ... or sideways !

I have yet to see any other reader do that !

[Kaitou]

I find iSilo to really be the best one. Not only has it replaced AvantGo as my newsreader(gets the latest news automaticaly via iSiloX each day), but it's html conversion, and rich featureset is perfect for ebook reading. It remembers exactly where you were in every doc opened. I can go through two reference books, a novel, and the latest news, and it always opens to exactly where I left off in all of them. Due to this, I have never had the need to use actual bookmarks, for the most part.
Setting the font on smallest (I have an NR70V) allows tables and formatting to stay as they should be. It has image support as well, invaluable for informational html pages that I converted into iSilo (did I mention that it's own doc format has even greater compression? a 1 meg txt becomes under 500k in most cases)
I registered iSilo back in my Palm IIIx days, and it stayed with me through all my devices, definetly worth the price.
Have to say that I greatly reccomend it.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by RD100
If you haven't tried CSpotRun yet .. you need try it !!! :D :D :D

It is the smallest sized doc reader I've used (only 34kb), and it's features are terrific !!!!

It does auto-scrolling, multiple fonts, variable line spacing, uses bookmarks, and has lots of other features.

But ... it's most incredible feature ... is you can rotate your document 360 degrees, so it can be viewed upside down ... or sideways !

I have yet to see any other reader do that ! Yes, BUT (and this is a BIG but) last time I checked, it wasn't hi-res and it's not VFS aware. What you read has to be on the PDA's ram. ICK.

[dsilver]

Overall, which doc reader has the MOST varied selections of ebooks etc ready for reading with it? So far, I've only looked at isilo and found its ability to do hires and VFS support to be impressive enough to make me want to register almost immediately (but I'm a pretty easy mark). Are there any other large repositories of docs beside memoware.com?

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by dsilver
Overall, which doc reader has the MOST varied selections of ebooks etc ready for reading with it? If you don't mind paying for books, I'd say PalmReader (has a free and PRO version)

Originally posted by dsilver
So far, I've only looked at isilo and found its ability to do hires and VFS support to be impressive enough to make me want to register almost immediately (but I'm a pretty easy mark). Are there any other large repositories of docs beside memoware.com? Free ones already formatted? No. Memoware is your best bet.

There are LOTS of options available if you can stand to convert a txt file, though. Lots of places to find books.

[Sideway]

I use CrsMeDoc. Free, HiRes, VFS aware, JogDial support. Does everything I need.

[fjl307]

Originally posted by Rick 098
Wordsmith for pay,
mobipocket standard(free vesion like palmreader)for free

 

Wordsmith too!!! :)

[Sideway]

I just found Tiny Book Reader by inDev. Freeware, VFS support, HiRes, small footprint (only 48k!), supports various font sizes, customizable title bar and tool bar, and more.

Website here (http://www.indevsoftware.com/products/tibr/).

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by Sideway
I just found Tiny Book Reader by inDev. Freeware, VFS support, HiRes, small footprint (only 48k!), supports various font sizes, customizable title bar and tool bar, and more.

Website here (http://www.indevsoftware.com/products/tibr/). WOW! All I can say is GREAT FIND! It's an excellent reader! I just loaded it up to look at . . . full screen on my NX!! It doesn't support fonts like PalmReader PRO, but it does see all the docs I've converted myself.

Very cool! Thanks for the heads up! ;)

[k123]

help.
I've got mobipocket with my sj33, its up and running and has a good link to nytimes as well as a converter for txt (project G.) to pdb.

What benefit in switching to Palmreader or similar?

I'm trying not to further complicate my otherwise complex life.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by k123
help.
I've got mobipocket with my sj33, its up and running and has a good link to nytimes as well as a converter for txt (project G.) to pdb.

What benefit in switching to Palmreader or similar?

I'm trying not to further complicate my otherwise complex life. Well, if MobiPocket works well for you, there's really no reason to change.

The only problem I can imagine you having was if you ever wanted to purchase encrypted books from PalmDigitalMedia. At that point you'll HAVE to use PalmReader.

[k123]

so no benefit...I'll stay with what works.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[*YellowRose*]

Originally posted by k123
If it ain't broke don't fix it. ;)

[Univil]

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
But wasn't RD100 asking about FREE readers? Isn't Isilo $17?
Like PalmReader, there is a paid version and a free version. The free version doesn't support images, hyperlinks, and a few other features.

[celticchrys]

ReadThemAll is freeware, and it works very well. I've read novels with it. Nice, simple, free.

[pruss]

I've got about 100mb (compressed!) in Plucker format etexts on my NX70V. But then I'm biased, and on the Plucker team. :-) While it doesn't read DOC format files, there are plenty of ebooks on the web in html format, and a whole bunch at http://www.pluckerbooks.com pre-converted. (For full disclosure, I also a couple of e-texts in iSilo format. For instance Plucker doesn't do as well as iSilo for websites that are 200mb in size.)

In the current alpha test version (available as a snapshot at www.plkr.org) you get support for anti-aliased (or not) fonts generated from TTF and Type 1 fonts (via utility at palmfontconv.sf.net), display rotation (sorry, no 180-degree rotation--only plus and minus 90 degrees: there is too little need for that for me to add the extra bloat to the code), support for Sony 320x480 and 480x320 (on UX, NX, NZ and NR series), blazing fast search (much better than iSilo's last time I tried iSilo's), better compression than either DOC or iSilo, keyboard customizability (it's really nice to be able to assign "L" to go to the library, "B" to set the brightness, etc.) and of course all the standard stuff like smooth-scrolling (a little imperfect in pacing, I admit, in rotated or anti-aliased font mode), basic formatting, etc. And if you don't like something, you can change the code yourself. :-)

[Shrink]

I just replaced TealDoc with TiBRPro. Its a much smaller footprint and seems to be able to do everything I need and maybe even more than TealDoc. For $4.95 its a bargin. I also am registered for iSilo but didn't seem to need it and its become very cumbersome.
I may go back to TealDoc (I always seem to) but for now...
alan:p

[Unregistered]

I really love Deepreader. It does require .rtf format, with a simple little conversion tool- but has wonderful fonts and smooth scrolling, bookmarking,e tc. Great and easy to use

[ebook junky]

Is there a reader that works well with more than one format?

[alsa]

I am IN LOVE with TiBR pro! I have been using Doc readers for 5 years now and have tried them all and this one is my favorite so far and has a TRUCKLOAD of options. I only use PalmReader pro now for books I bought on peanutpress (palmdigitalmedia.com)

[dwig]

You can't just have one. DRM (Digital Rights Management) is, at this point in the technology developement, reader specific. Also, some eBooks are distributed in reader specific formats to take advantage of that reader's special attributes. My personal list of readers is:
MobiPocket (v4.7.410)
full screen display, illustrated books possible in the Mobi specific format.
TiBR
small, fast, full screen, good for generic PalmDOC formatted books
PalmReader (v1.2.8 - the freebie that came with the UX50)
dorky but works with PalmReader specific books as well as generic.

I rarely buy books so I haven't bought PalmReader Pro (better display and functionality than the freebie). I have a few free books that are PalmReader specific so I keep PalmReader loaded. I use MobiPocket for 99% of my reading.

Most of my books come from Project Gutenburg (converted in MSWord using Work2Doc) and MemoWare. I also clip stories from some online eZines like Planet Magazine (www.planetmagazine.com) and Peridot Books (www.peridotbooks.com) and run them through Word+Word2Doc. I have a few long HTML docs (from Project Gutenburg) but I haven't sat down and read them with NetFront (web browser on my UX50) to decide if its a reasonable way to read.

[adali]

mobipocket, isilo, plucker.
The most important thing for me is converting my own files. But i coludn't done yet

[Rick 098]

Originally posted by RD100
If you haven't tried CSpotRun yet .. you need try it !!! :D :D :D

It is the smallest sized doc reader I've used (only 34kb), and it's features are terrific !!!!

It does auto-scrolling, multiple fonts, variable line spacing, uses bookmarks, and has lots of other features.

But ... it's most incredible feature ... is you can rotate your document 360 degrees, so it can be viewed upside down ... or sideways !

I have yet to see any other reader do that !

Pay for mobipocket, it is HR+, VFS, and can rotate. (in the "pro" version.)

[ebook junky]

The problem I have with mobipocket is some of the files I have converted to read using mobipublish are the typeface is smaller than I like to read even on the largest setting. The same converted file is so much easier for me to see in palm reader.

[caroln]

A question about PalmReader Pro:
Can anyone tell me if it is ok to install the dictionary to the MS?

[Ebookslist]

What ebooks do you like read?

For Dummies
Premier Press
Muska Lipman
Microsoft Press
McGraw Hill
John Wiley and Sons
Idea Group
Apress
Sybex
Image Comics
Corporate Publishing International
Lawrence Erlbaum
OReilly


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