SENTE PDF
SENTE MAC

If you want to sync your library with other devices that are not in reach of the same WiFi network (e.g., you want to share a library with a co-author who lives in a different town, or you have two computers at work and at home), you have found a new best friend in Sente. However, the downturn is that Papers requires a WiFi connection to sync with the iOS companion app, and syncing between different Macs / PCs is not supported at all ( though this might change). And since the iOS version of Papers is a universal app, which means that you can access your library also on your iPhone or iPod touch, Papers definitely wins the price for the larger ecosystem.

SENTE PDF

Why? Because Papers is the only PDF management system that also has an app for Windows PCs. If you are using a Windows machines, you can stop reading right now. The Sente and Papers Ecosystems: Differences in scope and syncing Heck, finding my dissertation topic seemed easy in comparison! However, there is one knock-out criteria that might make your decision very simple, and that is the scope of the ecosystem.

Sente is more difficult to get used to, but has more powerful syncing, organizing, and annotating capabilities.

Papers has the wider ecosystem (including a Windows app) and is easier to use.

However, we are all busy people, so here is the conclusion if you are in a hurry: This is a long post, and I obviously recommend reading it in full.

What is your annotation style: How do you use annotations to structure the text? Do you want to make quotes? How important is it to have all your notes at one place?.

How do you want to organize PDF articles: Are you okay with organizing PDFs through tagging, or do you prefer organizing them in a folder structure?.

What is the setup of your ecosystem: Do you share your library with other researchers (or computers) who are geographically dispersed? Do you need to integrate Windows computers into your ecosystem?.

Since it really comes down to your own needs and preferences what ecosystem is the best for you, it is helpful to keep a couple of core questions in mind while going through this article:

However, Papers and Sente differ in the scope of their ecosystem, how references are organized, and what annotations can be done. Sometimes, the differences between both ecosystems are negligible (e.g., adding references, price). My conclusion is that both are decent ecosystems, and you will fare well with both of them.

SENTE MAC

I tested both PDF management systems in depth, and you can read individual reviews of the Mac and iPad apps in these articles: But donвЂ™t fret: academiPad is here to help! In order to avoid sunk time costs in the future, it is important to consider not only current but also future needs of your read-write-cite workflow. But even more important than the money is the time you will spend in developing your library. Since both ecosystems will set you back around a hundred dollar, you might have a hard time deciding which app is the best for you. Mac / Windows links: Sente ($90) and Papers ($80). If you are on the fence between these two, you have to read this article.ДЄpp Store links: SenteВ ($20), PapersВ ($15). With Mendeley and Bookends not supporting annotations on the iPad, there are only two contenders in the race for the best PDF management system: Sente and Papers.

Serious academic readers are wise to invest some time and money into a dedicated PDF management system for their read-cite-write workflow. Do you remember the first thing that crossed your mind when you first saw an iPad? In my case, I was thinking how great it would be to read and annotate PDFs on it!