Field guides on color e-readers? (1 Viewer)

[Snapdragyn]

With the new generation of color e-readers upgrading to the new Kaleido 3 technology, has anyone had a chance to see how an ebook or pdf field guide looks on them? I'm considering purchasing a color e-reader IF it would allow me to convert my field guide collection to digital & still get the ID assistance value from the guides (for those that have digital versions, anyway).

 

[jurek]

Maybe try what I do and check if you really need an e-reader. I photograph page after page of every bird guide with my smartphone and look at smartphone photos in the field. Speed and convenience tops some bent image. Lets face it: in a field guide, you will read only very short text at any one time, and field guides themselves don't render subtle shades of plumage ideally.

 

[Ribbon]

With the new generation of color e-readers upgrading to the new Kaleido 3 technology, has anyone had a chance to see how an ebook or pdf field guide looks on them? I'm considering purchasing a color e-reader IF it would allow me to convert my field guide collection to digital & still get the ID assistance value from the guides (for those that have digital versions, anyway).

Great question. Being able to check multiple guides in the field without having the hassle to carry along kilograms of books would be far more practical.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Great question. Being able to check multiple guides in the field without having the hassle to carry along kilograms of books would be far more practical.

Until you find yourself in a place where you can't charge it.

 

[THE_FERN]

Until you find yourself in a place where you can't charge it.

There are ways around that and it's less of a problem than in yester-year. I use 2 large battery phones, and take an external battery (which I actually rarely use). I've never had problems

(Side note: I mourn the demise of removal battery phones. It was easy to put half a dozen batteries in your pocket)

Even crude scans or photos are fine. You generally don't notice the difference (look closely at printed books and you'll probably find the reproduction isn't as good as you thought)

 

[Ribbon]

Until you find yourself in a place where you can't charge it.

In my case that would be a very rare occasion, and like The_Fern said; there are lot's of ways around it.

In that almost hypothetical situation all other 'batttery dependant' stuff like camera's and phone's would be left at home and birding becomes a rather primitive endeavour, especially when also carrying books. No thanks.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Excuse my ignorance, but what are the advantages over a tablet, which is also useful for other things such as backing up photos?

 

[THE_FERN]

Excuse my ignorance, but what are the advantages over a tablet, which is also useful for other things such as backing up photos?

You mean phones?

Smaller, can be operated +/- one-handed. By same virtue, you can take several.

There is nothing to stop you using phone to back up pictures... ...Save them on its micro SD card...

Have you ever tried making a phone call with a big tablet?

Phones are (slightly) less likely to get damaged compared with "standard" tablet, may be more weather proof cf kindle etc

These days, suspect there are relatively few use cases for tablets. Obviously drawing is one so they're better if you want to do that. Also better if you're a super keen photographer who needs to pixel peep in the field. (Suspect there are relatively few in this category.)

 

[Steve Babbs]

Thanks but I meant e-readers.. My phone can't be used for back up as, being a Pixel, it doesn't have a micro SD card.