I could kick myself but I just realized I already have two of the most useful items for gaming, my iPod touch and my AmazonKindle.

I bought an app for the iPod that allows me to read pdf files about six months ago but the thought never crossed my mind to use it for my digital game manuals. Once it finally occurred to me I realized I could do the same thing with my Kindle (which is easier to read in most instances). While the iPod works with color documents (the kindle, sadly, appears not to) the small screen makes reading a little harder (and slower) but the kindle doesn’t alter text size in pdfs (other than by rotating the screen to fit landscape mode) so if the text is too small its difficult to read.

Even with those limitations considered the ability to store so many books in such a small space is a promising idea (even together they take up barely a fraction the space of my laptop). Both methods opens to the last page read, and searching through pages is pretty quick if you use the table of contents. Add in a die rolling app for the iPod and you have the majority of your gaming materials already at hand...

Going to have to play around with the idea a bit more but so far I like it (I already tried it using the full thrust game manuals FB1, FB2, More Thrust, Remixed, and Cross Dimensions). I might even be able to edit the pdf files with either Nuance or Photoshop so that the text size would be easier to read on the kindle for those books that where a little on the small size... I may even check the kindle store again to see if any of my favorite systems are already available in the kindle format (which is even easier to navigate than a pdf since you can search within the book and adjust the font right on the kindle).

Anyone else tried this yet?

Richard

I use my computer with high quality speakers for background music which I sync narrative events to climax with the music. I use my Iphone for running separate ambient sound effects and I have several dice programs on it as well. For lighting I use a small lamp with colored gels magnetically attached for quick changing light colors. My campaign world map is always at the center of the table only to be covered by cardstock terrain boards during action sequences. During action sequences I use hand crafted miniatures and quite a few cardstock vehicles some of which I have made myself. At this point all I need is a overhead projector to display maps and to use for looping ambient environment animations, but alas projectors are still just out of my price range.

There are a bunch of 7" tablets under $200 now. Several even $100-$120. I'm really tempted to get one. Although perhaps if I wait a few months I can get a 10" one under $200.


Anyone got any experience with a variety of these things in different sizes? My phone's 3" screen is fine for reading ebooks and watching video. But too small for web browsing. Whats the smallest size that works well for web surfing?