Recommend me some eBook Readers ... for .lit, .txt, .pdf etc for visually impairement

jpe20

Hi folks,

I recently purchased myself a new laptop with the intention of something easy and portable to browse the internet, read ebooks and maybe play the odd game!

The internet is sorted and game playing is as sorted as it can be which just leaves me with my ebook stuff.

As I can no longer read normal print and struggle to read some "large print" books I have decided to try and get something for my 15.4" WS laptop up and going. So far I have sorted the following .....

Generally use MS magnifier tool where possible but is awkward to use to read alot of text.

(1) PDF sorted with FoxIt Reader .... not bad
(2) Problem with other formats especially .lit

MS Reader 2.0 for .lit files is useless for me on my laptop as it can enlarge text (only 3 settings and largest is not good enough really!). The problem is it does not "spread/zoom" the book contents to fit the width of my screen.

Only alternative I have found so far is ICE ebook reader which has to import/convert .lit files though it looks good to use and I may consider buying it (20 dollars i fink).

So any1 know of a good general purpose ebook reader for say .txt , .lit, .cbr , .chm , .rtf etc that has good configurable zoom/screen/font settings. I do not mind shelling out a small amount of cash.

Just want to make sure that I am not missing some killer product that might be better or cheaper!!!

Thanks in advance

Jools

wkdblue

Hi there,

I'll try my best to help... There are screen readers available such as JAWS (which cost an absolute fortune). Now I'm talking more on general terms here for reading everything on your computer not just ebooks!

There is Readplease (which have very good voices) http://www.readplease.com/
- as far as I know you can download a free version.

There is also screenreader.net which is another free software program. If you would like magnification rather than speech here are a few links.

http://www.aisquared.com/Products/index.cfm - BIGSHOT

http://www.optelec.co.uk/?id=11 - DOLPHIN LUNAR Magnfication

I really hope the above helps - I do have lots more info but it's late and I have an early start. If I think of anything else tomorrow I will post it.

P.S you can use Adobe Acrobat to read ebooks and it has its own zoom button for print or you can use any of the software above.

wkdblue

colin79666

I just tested this and it works.

You can open .txt files in the free Opera web browser. Then you can magnify them with the + key as much as you like.
If you press CTRL+F11 it will make them fit to width which saves scrolling!

jpe20

Thanks for the "quick" suggestions so far ....

(1) opening the .txt files with opera or firefox is perhaps not a bad idea for the odd occassion, though I cannot permanently change the association as I need .txt files to open in notepad. I may take a look at notepad 2 to see if that has any viewing configs.

(2) wkdblue I tend to use FoxIt reader over the Adobe one as it seems faster etx. The links u provide certainly look interesting though I have heard of JAWS type screenreaders b4 and do not feel I am yet at that stage though maybe I will at some stage as I do have a deteriorating condition. Heard of things like Dolphin, Supernova and LiquidSerf/View software which is probably along the lines of what may be useful.
I have thought of picking up some programming manuals and having a go at producing a DirectX (GFX card version) version of the MS magnifier at it seems very CPU intensive and stalls/gets stuck alot!! Looking for the same type of magnifier but smooth and reliable for general windows use.

I have just found a text - speech component to the MS Reader which maybe a possibility as an extra little toy.

Also that ICE ereader program I was on about also has a "telepromter" setting which also might prove handy. Anyhow off to watch a little more TV until the next ad break.

Lots of tips are welcome ...

Jools

(2)

jpe20

Any other suggestions .....

ICE eReader looks good but it is 50quid!!

Jools

Moneymaker

An Apple Mac has a built-in audible text reader which works in many of the Mac software packages (such as the text reader and the PDF reader). It also has a screen magnifier which you operate by holding the ctrl key and moving the scroll wheel. Once the screen is in zoom mode, moving the mouse will move the page around the screen so you can see any part of it. (It's easier to use than to describe!)

If you get the opportunity, visit an Apple Store or a John Lewis store and try out a Mac. You might be pleasantly surprised! (Second-hand Macs can be affordable - you just need one that runs "Tiger" operating system).

jpe20

Thanks moneymaker ....

Something I may try out sometime, though I have already purchased a PC laptop!! I will pass this on to other visually impaired Mac users!

Jules

PS I am still impressed with the ICE ebook reader software ....
PPS I would still like a decent screen magnifier that does not stall like the MS magnifier ..... Something based on DirectX would work fine I expect. Though shelling out 900quid or so for the Dolphin software is a bit OTT for me!!!