I have an iPad Pro 12.9, an iPad mini 4, and an iPad 9.7 retina. Specs for the iPads are not necessary for this analysis, because this is a comparison of the screen resolution/size for studying pdfs. This analysis is pertinent to people in college or involved in scientific research/academic efforts. These individuals spend a lot of time in studying pdfs.
Well, my experience says:
12.9
strengths:
- best if you study from a distance (e.g. sitting and hold the iPad in your lap or supported on a desk)
- best for note taking or drawing
- best if extensive use of split view
weaknesses:
- too heavy to hold it up and study on the bed or in a couch. It is not necessarily the weight as an absolute value, but the weight distribution (longer distance of center of weight of the iPad from your fingers, thus longer moment arms, thus much higher forces need to be developed by your fingers)
- too heavy and too bulky to carry it around (my retina 12in MacBook feels much much more portable)
- pixel density is suboptimal if you study too close, e.g. lying prone on bed or lying supine and have the iPad in a stand (best stand for this purpose is T-stand)
9.7
strengths:
- size of the iPad is the best compromise between portability and maintaining a useful screen size
weaknesses:
- pixel density is too low if you study from close distance
- it still requires some zooming
7.9
strengths:
- best portability (fits in coat pockets)
- feels weightless
weaknesses:
- it requires too much panning and zooming to make the text readable
- even if pencil support comes as a feature in the future, it is probably too small for effective note taking
The best iPad for studying pdfs is not here yet.
The rumored new bezel-less iPad is probably going to be the best iPad for studying pdf if it comes with the iPad mini pixel density.
The question that will be interesting is will a bezel-less iPad mini be better?
I tried to emulate the experience of bezel-less 9.7 and 7.9, thus I tried to emulate the approximate text size that would appear in a 10.5 and 8.8 in screen (approximate screen sizes for bezel-less 9.7 and 7.9). I used a scientific article with the text in two columns (there are some journals that have single column text, but they are the minority in my field).
Well, the bezel-less 7.9 would still require zooming, while the bezel-less 9.7 would not (if you study from a relatively close distance). If someone is ok with some zooming but wants to keep the iPad in the coat pocket, then a bezel-less 7.9 would be the way to go. I tend to prefer minimal zooming (it slows ne down when I am skimming quickly through large pdfs), so I will probably go for a bezel-less 9.7 instead of bezel-less 7.9.
Based on the above analysis, I will buy the iPad mini 10.5 when Apple decides to launch it. I hope that it would have the 12.9 resolution and thus a high pixel density.
Based on the above analysis that I did, Apple's rumored rationale for bezel-less ipad with a screen at around 10.5in, makes perfect sense.
Any ideas folks?
Well, my experience says:
12.9
strengths:
- best if you study from a distance (e.g. sitting and hold the iPad in your lap or supported on a desk)
- best for note taking or drawing
- best if extensive use of split view
weaknesses:
- too heavy to hold it up and study on the bed or in a couch. It is not necessarily the weight as an absolute value, but the weight distribution (longer distance of center of weight of the iPad from your fingers, thus longer moment arms, thus much higher forces need to be developed by your fingers)
- too heavy and too bulky to carry it around (my retina 12in MacBook feels much much more portable)
- pixel density is suboptimal if you study too close, e.g. lying prone on bed or lying supine and have the iPad in a stand (best stand for this purpose is T-stand)
9.7
strengths:
- size of the iPad is the best compromise between portability and maintaining a useful screen size
weaknesses:
- pixel density is too low if you study from close distance
- it still requires some zooming
7.9
strengths:
- best portability (fits in coat pockets)
- feels weightless
weaknesses:
- it requires too much panning and zooming to make the text readable
- even if pencil support comes as a feature in the future, it is probably too small for effective note taking
The best iPad for studying pdfs is not here yet.
The rumored new bezel-less iPad is probably going to be the best iPad for studying pdf if it comes with the iPad mini pixel density.
The question that will be interesting is will a bezel-less iPad mini be better?
I tried to emulate the experience of bezel-less 9.7 and 7.9, thus I tried to emulate the approximate text size that would appear in a 10.5 and 8.8 in screen (approximate screen sizes for bezel-less 9.7 and 7.9). I used a scientific article with the text in two columns (there are some journals that have single column text, but they are the minority in my field).
Well, the bezel-less 7.9 would still require zooming, while the bezel-less 9.7 would not (if you study from a relatively close distance). If someone is ok with some zooming but wants to keep the iPad in the coat pocket, then a bezel-less 7.9 would be the way to go. I tend to prefer minimal zooming (it slows ne down when I am skimming quickly through large pdfs), so I will probably go for a bezel-less 9.7 instead of bezel-less 7.9.
Based on the above analysis, I will buy the iPad mini 10.5 when Apple decides to launch it. I hope that it would have the 12.9 resolution and thus a high pixel density.
Based on the above analysis that I did, Apple's rumored rationale for bezel-less ipad with a screen at around 10.5in, makes perfect sense.
Any ideas folks?
