Hello. I'm a first year medical student and I'm in need of a PDF reading app in order to read medical e-books in PDF format.

I specifically want/need these functions:

• View text, pictures, graphs
• Zoom function
• Works offline (pdfs are not streamed, are stored in the ipad)
• Can open large pdf files

It will be better if it's free.

Any help will be appreciated.

I like GoodReader as it allows me to make notes on the pdf's......may be useful if you are studying?

The Archangel

Originally Posted by Gabriel1

I like GoodReader as it allows me to make notes on the pdf's......may be useful if you are studying?

The Archangel

Does it have a zoom function? Offline file storage? Can it view images?

Thanks for the quick reply btw.

Originally Posted by kevincousland

Does it have a zoom function? Offline file storage? Can it view images?

Thanks for the quick reply btw.

Yes, I can zoom in by speeding my fingers on the page and yes, I can view off line.......at least I think I can (I'm almost never offline), yes just went into airplane mode and all my pdf's were still openable and yes, I can view the images in a PDF report I have in it currently.

The Archangel

Ah. Thanks. I'll check it out.

Any other apps?

I second good reader - works well, and can grab PDFs directly from the web.
GoodReader for iPad for iPad on the iTunes App Store

IAnnotate was recommended to me but I already had good reader, plus it is $10 vs $5 for good reader.
iAnnotate PDF for iPad on the iTunes App Store

Actually, iBooks will do everything you've mentioned, and it is free.

The benefits of the other apps mentioned is that they will allow you to annotate, and export files as well.

Originally Posted by twerppoet

Actually, iBooks will do everything you've mentioned, and it is free.

The benefits of the other apps mentioned is that they will allow you to annotate, and export files as well.

However, I read at other forums that it selectively opens .pdf files, and sometimes it doesn't open books not bought from itunes store.

It will open most pdf files, provided they are not DRM (protected). There have been a few exceptions, and they were textbooks. Since you mentioned textbooks, I suppose that would be important. However this can be worked around. If the textbook is opened on a computer and then Saved As a separate file, it usually looses the ultra-compression algorithm that caused the problem. If you run into this problem you'll probably have to do this no matter what PDF reader you choose. Almost all (if not all) PDF readers on the iPad use Apple's built in code.

Other than PDF files iBooks reads ePub format. I've never heard of it failing to read an ePub as long as it is DRM free. I import ePub to iBooks all the time and haven't had any problems reading them, yet.

The other PDF readers are probably a better choice for your needs. I only mentioned iBooks because it's free, and you'd asked for a free option. Stanza is another free option, but it won't handle PDF files any better (or worse) than iBooks.

Originally Posted by twerppoet

It will open most pdf files, provided they are not DRM (protected). There have been a few exceptions, and they were textbooks. Since you mentioned textbooks, I suppose that would be important. However this can be worked around. If the textbook is opened on a computer and then Saved As a separate file, it usually looses the ultra-compression algorithm that caused the problem. If you run into this problem you'll probably have to do this no matter what PDF reader you choose. Almost all (if not all) PDF readers on the iPad use Apple's built in code.

Other than PDF files iBooks reads ePub format. I've never heard of it failing to read an ePub as long as it is DRM free. I import ePub to iBooks all the time and haven't had any problems reading them, yet.

The other PDF readers are probably a better choice for your needs. I only mentioned iBooks because it's free, and you'd asked for a free option. Stanza is another free option, but it won't handle PDF files any better (or worse) than iBooks.

Thanks. Your post has been very helpful.