- I've been trying to read the posts that I can find about PDF's on the PB.
I am a developer and builder. In addition to having paper blueprints, we also have them as PDF files. One thing that makes the PB attractive to me is that I could potentially store the PDF's for several floor plans on it. I need to be able to read details like measurements and door sizes, a 24x36 blueprint shrunk down to a 8.5x11 PDF already shrinks things quite a bit. How are the PDF apps for the PB with regard to being able to zoom in and maintain clarity? Is there an app that works the best?
If I want to switch from viewing a PDF to something like a note pad app, and go back and forth, is that pretty easily accomplished?
Thanks in advance for any advice or thoughts.07-14-11 08:05 AMLike 0 - I think the zoom function works but you need to scroll. BUT unfortunately, there is only ONE PDF app for the pb. It is the one from Adobe and it is fairly limited in many respects. For diagrams it may not be an issue but you canNOT bookmark pages for getting back to a particular spot. There is also not FIND/Search function for finding a word or string of text. Obviously, any zoom on details will depend on your original. Oh, some folks have been having problems opening/reading self-created pdf files. Rim is investigating the issue.
Multitasking is terrific. You swipe up from the bezel into the app and it shrinks the current app (which can continuing (videos), and the there is a middle "band" of apps and you can swipe left/right to find the one you want and tap and open it full screen. I have two "notepad" type apps - they are okay for free. I have no investigated pay-apps.
Purchase a PB from a place you can return and give it a try.07-14-11 09:12 AMLike 0 - It has a pre-installed PDF Reader, no bookmarks just plain old reader with page navigation, zooming works as you would expect with pinches. I haven't tried reading a floor plan as am not an architect . if you have access to a demo unit anywhere you can email yourself one, and download it using the browser and view it and judge for yourself.
Maybe best solution to use large images and load them over wifi file sharing, put each plan in a separate folder and it will show up in a separate album on the picture app, but that has a down side of making a mess in other places.
since the PDF quality will really depend on the conversion method rather than the app, I suppose if you convert to PDF using high PPI it should be fine when you zoom in.
Switching between apps is uber easy and addicting. Just a simple swipe from one of the sides will take you to the next app, although I hate the fact that we can't organize the order of the apps, they are ordered as you open them.07-14-11 09:19 AMLike 0 - OP, All who posted so far have pretty much hit on the topic well. I have PDFs that I need to be able to view with a high level of detail, even though I can zoom in and out. I'm able to do that very well. The documents are amazingly clear, but that's a function of the print/press quality, not the reader itself.
The built-in reader allows simple viewing but I would still like to see the same functionality found in Acrobat (not the reader) to be included in the PB's version.07-14-11 09:31 AMLike 0 - One thing I will add... I read business review documents all the time on my PB. There is also a size limitation. If the pdf is too large, most of the document will be blank. Most BRD's have graphics, etc., so they can be large.
WILDLY frustrating. I have also noticed this limitation with eBooks as well. Calibre converts .mobi to pdf beautifully, but none show up on the PB... Ugh.
To be fair, when it works, it works BEAUTIFULLY. My monthly subscription to Playboy is terrific on the PB! (also pdf's!)07-14-11 10:56 AMLike 0 - Thank you most sincerely for all of the information everyone, I really appreciate it.
It sounds like giving one a try would make a lot of sense. I will have to find someplace that will allow that, or that has a demo unit that I can send an email to and see how it works.
Part of the attraction for me is that Verizon isn't charging for an extra data plan if you already have a Blackberry phone with them. That is way cool, and I hope it isn't something that they change.07-14-11 12:34 PMLike 0 - I am a facilities engineer and I often have to review blueprints too - domestic, sanitary and stormwater piping drawings, electrical, etc. What I have been doing (since I dont have the ability to scan a normal size print into a pdf) is snap a shot of roughly 1/4 of the print with your PB camera. You can actually zoom into that pic with great clarity once the pic is taken.07-14-11 12:47 PMLike 0
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