Amazon Fire HD tablet as a .PDF/Datasheet/Documentation reader?

[dentaku]

I like the concept of E-Readers but they seem pretty useless for PDF's like datasheets and things like technical documents with detailed illustrations mostly because of the limited resolution, lack of colour and the obvious super slow nature of e-paper.

QUESTION: I'm thinking of buying an inexpensive 8" or bigger tablet. It doesn't need to be anything fancy and I see that the Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablets are very affordable BUT they don't use the Google Play store, just the Amazon store. People have been hacking them to work with Google Play so that would be an option I wouldn't mind trying considering these things are only around $90.

Would people consider this a good option for a datasheet, technical document, PDF tutorial/instruction and course material reader to replace printing out stuff on paper?
I almost never use paper anymore and I would like to sometimes be able to have documents on a separate portable device.

[NiHaoMike]

Check if it's easy to root/unlock the bootloader, I read that some of the newer ones make that difficult. Preferably get something that runs LineageOS.

[george.b]

I just bought an old Nexus 7 (2012) for about the same purpose - checking documentation on the bench without a laptop taking up space, or having to deal with a small cell phone screen - as well as for using it as a portable second monitor for my laptop (via spacedesk). So far so good. I replaced the stock firmware for an alternative Android 6 build (AOSP-based). It's no speed demon, but it works.

[dentaku]

There are lots of instructions online on how to install the Google services and there's even a tool that can do it all for you from your computer if you set the tablet into developer mode.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/windows-tool-fire-toolbox-v11-0.3889604/

[edpalmer42]

I've used an Asus T100T Transformer tablet for years for reading pdfs.  It runs Win 10 Home without any trouble although, TBH, it's been a long time since I upgraded it.  This makes it trivial to move programs and documents between my tablet and PC.

Don't skimp on the screen size - get 10" at least.  Ideally - but difficult to find - would be a 4:3 ratio screen which is almost identical to an 8.5 x 11 page.  On a 10" screen, you can easily read a full page without scrolling.

[retiredcaps]

I have some suggestions for you to consider.

1) Not running google play is a good thing.  The tablet requires less resources in terms of disk space and ram.
2) According to Amazon's webpage, both the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 8 Plus are 189 ppi.  This may not be tolerable for you while reading PDFs?
3) I buy all my stuff mainly used nowadays including tablets.  You can probably get 10 inch used tablets in that $100 price range.  Look for ones that can be upgraded to run LineageOS.  Samsung is very popular choice in the used market.
4) If you must use apps from the google play store, use Aurora store.  It can retrieve the exact same apps.  It's what I use and way less resource intensive.
5) Look at https://f-droid.org/ for open source and light weight apps. There are several pdf readers there.
6) For watching youtube, look at newpipe.  It's open source and what I use. https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe/releases

[retiredcaps]

Don't skimp on the screen size - get 10" at least.  Ideally - but difficult to find - would be a 4:3 ratio screen which is almost identical to an 8.5 x 11 page.  On a 10" screen, you can easily read a full page without scrolling.

The Samsung S2 9.7, an older tablet, is 4:3 aspect ratio and might be in the $100 CAD ballpark.  It was Samsung's flagship tablet a while back.  I have one of these that I bought used for $100 CAD.  It's super amoled with 264 ppi and LineageOS will run on it.

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s2_9_7-7438.php

[retiredcaps]

The other obvious choice wrt to 4:3 is any Apple Ipad 9.7.

[DiTBho]

Would people consider this a good option for a datasheet, technical document, PDF tutorial/instruction and course material reader to replace printing out stuff on paper?

if you have some money to invest and want to fully replace printing out stuff on paper, there is nothing better than the reMarkable2, which allows you to organize your thoughts with the only tablet that feels like paper 

I am using an hacked old Japanese PDA at the moment and it looks a cyberpunk thing, but I tried the new reMarkable2 for a couple of weeks and experienced the differences with so much pleasure that I am really planning to buy one.

[dentaku]

Would people consider this a good option for a datasheet, technical document, PDF tutorial/instruction and course material reader to replace printing out stuff on paper?

if you have some money to invest and want to fully replace printing out stuff on paper, there is nothing better than the reMarkable2, which allows you to organize your thoughts with the only tablet that feels like paper 

I am using an hacked old Japanese PDA at the moment and it looks a cyberpunk thing, but I tried the new reMarkable2 for a couple of weeks and experienced the differences with so much pleasure that I am really planning to buy one.

I think Allan Wolke W2AEW on youtube uses something similar. He used to draw everything on paper then scan them and link to the images in the show notes.
Unfortunately, the device I want would also need to able to play videos because most educational/instructional material IS on Youtube so I can't just use an e-reader.

[DiTBho]

So buy an iPad Air.

[dentaku]

I've used an Asus T100T Transformer tablet for years for reading pdfs.  It runs Win 10 Home without any trouble although, TBH, it's been a long time since I upgraded it.  This makes it trivial to move programs and documents between my tablet and PC.

Don't skimp on the screen size - get 10" at least.  Ideally - but difficult to find - would be a 4:3 ratio screen which is almost identical to an 8.5 x 11 page.  On a 10" screen, you can easily read a full page without scrolling.

Yup, good point. If I can't find an inexpensive 10" Android device around here I wouldn't mind having a Windows device of the same size.
I have a feeling those are getting rarer all the time but that might make it easier to find used because people who owned them are wanting to upgrade now.

[fourfathom]

I've got a "Fire HD 8" and have no problem reading pdf documents with the built-in Amazon tools.  The "Silk" browser is a bit slow when compared to my Android phone Chrome browser, but not so slow as to be an issue.

[dentaku]

I've got a "Fire HD 8" and have no problem reading pdf documents with the built-in Amazon tools.  The "Silk" browser is a bit slow when compared to my Android phone Chrome browser, but not so slow as to be an issue.

I'm assuming to view Youtube videos you would need to just use a browser and use the desktop site instead of using an app because I've been reading there's no YouTube app for their OS unless you go through the process of modifying/hack it to use the Play Store.

The 10" version of the Fire would be nice too. I agree with what others have said that for reading datasheets and technical stuff with diagrams it's better to have screen larger than 8".

[edavid]

I'm assuming to view Youtube videos you would need to just use a browser and use the desktop site instead of using an app because I've been reading there's no YouTube app for their OS unless you go through the process of modifying/hack it to use the Play Store.

Not true, the Amazon Appstore has the YouTube app now.

However, installing the Play Store is so easy it doesn't count as a hack.

The 10" version of the Fire would be nice too. I agree with what others have said that for reading datasheets and technical stuff with diagrams it's better to have screen larger than 8".

I find my Fire HD 8 OK for most datasheets, but too small for schematics/service manuals.  I'm not sure a 10" tablet would be that much better.

[dentaku]

I'm assuming to view Youtube videos you would need to just use a browser and use the desktop site instead of using an app because I've been reading there's no YouTube app for their OS unless you go through the process of modifying/hack it to use the Play Store.

Not true, the Amazon Appstore has the YouTube app now.

However, installing the Play Store is so easy it doesn't count as a hack.

The 10" version of the Fire would be nice too. I agree with what others have said that for reading datasheets and technical stuff with diagrams it's better to have screen larger than 8".

I find my Fire HD 8 OK for most datasheets, but too small for schematics/service manuals.  I'm not sure a 10" tablet would be that much better.

That's good to know. I guess all I was seeing was old complaints about the limits of the Amazon app store but here it is.
https://www.amazon.ca/Google-LLC-YouTube/dp/B07T771SPH/ref=sr_1_6?crid=P9H2W1BNV7BX&dchild=1&keywords=youtube&qid=1612963263&s=mobile-apps&sprefix=youtube%2Cmobile-apps%2C180&sr=1-6

As for the screen size, I guess a 10" screen that is a coarse resolution wouldn't be as good as one that's higher resolution so I will have to make sure I find something with a good  number of PPI.
I'll keep checking Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji if I can find something locally but since I don't live anywhere near a highly populated area it takes a while to find stuff.

[edavid]

I'll keep checking Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji if I can find something locally but since I don't live anywhere near a highly populated area it takes a while to find stuff.

I would hesitate to buy a non-Amazon used Android tablet, since the vendors are so stingy with Android updates.

Really, an Amazon tablet at sale price (USD 40 for 8", 80 for 10") is the best deal you are going to find.

[Bassman59]

So buy an iPad Air.

Correct answer!

FWIW I have the first-generation Apple iPad Pro 12.9". I use it every day and it's not sluggish or anything one might expect from a five-year-old tablet.

It's quite handy to have over the workbench while debugging and bringing up a new design. Schematics and data sheets are easily read, and with the Apple Pencil I can mark them up!

It certainly wasn't as cheap as an Android but the fact that it is still quite usable and runs the latest iPadOS after all of this time says everything about the product.

[edavid]

FWIW I have the first-generation Apple iPad Pro 12.9". I use it every day and it's not sluggish or anything one might expect from a five-year-old tablet.

It's quite handy to have over the workbench while debugging and bringing up a new design. Schematics and data sheets are easily read, and with the Apple Pencil I can mark them up!

It certainly wasn't as cheap as an Android but the fact that it is still quite usable and runs the latest iPadOS after all of this time says everything about the product.

The hardware is nice, but I find the crazy iOS file management (and the way it changes with every release) drives me nuts.  With Android I can just access the filesystem in the normal way.

[NiHaoMike]

I would hesitate to buy a non-Amazon used Android tablet, since the vendors are so stingy with Android updates.

Get one that supports LineageOS and that's no longer a problem.

[GodIsRealUnless DefinedInt]

I like the concept of E-Readers but they seem pretty useless for PDF's like datasheets and things like technical documents with detailed illustrations mostly because of the limited resolution, lack of colour and the obvious super slow nature of e-paper.

QUESTION: I'm thinking of buying an inexpensive 8" or bigger tablet. It doesn't need to be anything fancy and I see that the Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablets are very affordable BUT they don't use the Google Play store, just the Amazon store. People have been hacking them to work with Google Play so that would be an option I wouldn't mind trying considering these things are only around $90.

Would people consider this a good option for a datasheet, technical document, PDF tutorial/instruction and course material reader to replace printing out stuff on paper?
I almost never use paper anymore and I would like to sometimes be able to have documents on a separate portable device.

I use both Kindle Paperwhite and Amazon FireHD 10" Tablet (latest version). For color, PDF or where exact formatting is required I use the Amazon FireHD 10" Tablet as my go to reader using MoonReader Pro (paid version -- I bought most of the ereaders on Android but I tend to use that one out of all I bought the most often). For Novel format (e-ink readers are just really simple web browsers at heart and just write text to the screen with image support and some rudimentary formatting options.

There is no real hacking on Amazon tablets, the latest ones you just use the Android Debug Bridge, ADB like you do with all android devices and you just write/update a setting on the tablet and boom now you have modified its behavior such as toggle on or off ads or other features like turn off automatic software updates. There is a full text gui menu system front end called FireControl that will automate all this stuff for you, it couldn't be easier. It can even install Google Play and Support files for you so you can have both access to the Amazon app store and access to the Google Play store at the same time.

When reading PDFs the display on the tablet of course is much brighter than the low brightness I can set the Kindle e-ink display to. So if you want to read in bed its so much more comfortable on your eyes to do it on an e-ink display. But if you are reading in the daytime the Tablet screen is less annoyingly bright.

I've got both my devices fully modded and tuned up. And for the desktop PC I recommend Calibre as the super store of all you books and swiss army knife to convert between formats on the fly, deal with encryption, etc. etc.