Re: [silk] have your reading habits changed?
On Mon, 2013-12-30 at 10:39 +0530, Udhay Shankar N wrote: So I got myself a Kindle. And whether it is the novelty or the device-specific aspects (doesn't need ambient light, sufficiently booklike that one can read sprawled in bed, etc) - I have consumed 3 books in 3 days, more than in the preceding 3 months. So - have you folks noticed your reading habits change with the means of reading? Is this a special case of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis [1]? About 15 years ago when the first small digital hand held devices began appearing the early adopters were young (I was already approaching middle age). It used to amuse me that those devices seemed designed for the young, who could mostly pick up a device and read or see whatever was displayed without glasses. That generation has now grown older and there is clearly an increase in size of screen and font designed to cater to the young ones of yesteryear who are older codgers now. The Kindle, iPads and 7 or 8 inch devices are too big to fit in one's pocket and too small to serve as a laptop. For many people I know, they are a fashion statement requiring separate carriage - that is as a third device separate from phone and laptop. Among the more silly sights I see nowadays is a person taking a photo or video using an iPad - with a huge rectangle hiding his head. Sillier than that is the sight of a photoframe size Samsung wotsit being held to one's ear. These are compromises being made to gain the advantage of a biggish screen and a debatable degree of portability minus the advantages of a proper keypad for dedicated writers. It won't go in your pocket or handbag. It's not for your desk. It's a diary sized thing that replaces the diary of the pre-1980s era, and offers book functionality. Like roundworms and tapeworms, it exists simply because it can exist. One can do without it. I find the Kindle/iPad format singularly useless for me. They are neither here nor there, and the books I want are unavailable. They cannot be accommodated in my pocket, which necessarily must carry keys, wallet, glasses and pen. Incidentally I have used my last two smart phones to read about 10,000 pages in books. I am comfortable with the small screen and a good smart phone does everything I need apart from allowing me to type comfortably, for which I need only one larger device, with no need to squeeze in a third in between, neither this nor that format. shiv
Re: [silk] have your reading habits changed?
On 06-Jan-14 8:45 AM, SS wrote: I find the Kindle/iPad format singularly useless for me. They are neither here nor there, and the books I want are unavailable. They cannot be accommodated in my pocket, which necessarily must carry keys, wallet, glasses and pen. Incidentally I have used my last two smart phones to read about 10,000 pages in books. I am comfortable with the small screen and a good smart phone does everything I need apart from allowing me to type comfortably, for which I need only one larger device, with no need to squeeze in a third in between, neither this nor that format. In my case, I resisted getting this device for many years. But here are the things that finally convinced me to get one: 1. As you mentioned, font size flexibility. 2. Portability of large book collections. 3. It is, like a real book, a single-function object. The primary problem (for me) with reading things on a computer screen is that I am unable to single-task, and end up with 47 open windows and a fractured attention span that does not lend itself to immersion. To be clear: I am not, by any means, giving up on actual paper books. But this seems to be a useful additional option. Udhay -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Re: [silk] have your reading habits changed?
As a sideways punt on the topic, has anyone noticed how quickly Google Play Books has become a real contender to Kindle? Books here are almost always cheaper (often 50% or more) than on Amazon Kindle, and the Google magazine newsstand has begun to rock. Have spent more money there in the last couple of months than on Kindle. On 05-Jan-2014 11:22 pm, Udhay Shankar N ud...@pobox.com wrote: On 06-Jan-14 8:45 AM, SS wrote: I find the Kindle/iPad format singularly useless for me. They are neither here nor there, and the books I want are unavailable. They cannot be accommodated in my pocket, which necessarily must carry keys, wallet, glasses and pen. Incidentally I have used my last two smart phones to read about 10,000 pages in books. I am comfortable with the small screen and a good smart phone does everything I need apart from allowing me to type comfortably, for which I need only one larger device, with no need to squeeze in a third in between, neither this nor that format. In my case, I resisted getting this device for many years. But here are the things that finally convinced me to get one: 1. As you mentioned, font size flexibility. 2. Portability of large book collections. 3. It is, like a real book, a single-function object. The primary problem (for me) with reading things on a computer screen is that I am unable to single-task, and end up with 47 open windows and a fractured attention span that does not lend itself to immersion. To be clear: I am not, by any means, giving up on actual paper books. But this seems to be a useful additional option. Udhay -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Re: [silk] have your reading habits changed?
On Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 7:15 PM, SS cybers...@gmail.com wrote: The Kindle, iPads and 7 or 8 inch devices are too big to fit in one's pocket and too small to serve as a laptop. Well, that is at least partly wrong. I have a Nexus 7 (similar dimensions to the iPad mini Kindle devices). It fits comfortably into a wide range of pockets. The ones on the back of your pants are OK for transport but you have to remove it before sitting down. Cargo pants, jackets with internal chest pockets, or vests (waistcoats I mean, for Commonwealth-speakers) all typically have pockets that comfortably contain such a device. As for laptop use, the N 7 (and I assume the others) works fine with a Bluetooth keyboard and is thus a perfectly serviceable laptop unless of course you need Photoshop or Emacs or whatever (and Emacs is coming - it runs but not well, yet). My 58-year-old vision is unremarkable and I found the screen perfectly usable. Also, for those of either gender who carry purse-like objects, this size of device fits comfortably into most things other than a little opera clutch. As for the full 10-inch-ish original iPad format, you're entirely right, it has a real portability problem. It’s easy to believe that these devices are found unsatisfactory as dead-tree replacements by all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons. But pocketability probably isn’t a good one. -T For many people I know, they are a fashion statement requiring separate carriage - that is as a third device separate from phone and laptop. Among the more silly sights I see nowadays is a person taking a photo or video using an iPad - with a huge rectangle hiding his head. Sillier than that is the sight of a photoframe size Samsung wotsit being held to one's ear. These are compromises being made to gain the advantage of a biggish screen and a debatable degree of portability minus the advantages of a proper keypad for dedicated writers. It won't go in your pocket or handbag. It's not for your desk. It's a diary sized thing that replaces the diary of the pre-1980s era, and offers book functionality. Like roundworms and tapeworms, it exists simply because it can exist. One can do without it. I find the Kindle/iPad format singularly useless for me. They are neither here nor there, and the books I want are unavailable. They cannot be accommodated in my pocket, which necessarily must carry keys, wallet, glasses and pen. Incidentally I have used my last two smart phones to read about 10,000 pages in books. I am comfortable with the small screen and a good smart phone does everything I need apart from allowing me to type comfortably, for which I need only one larger device, with no need to squeeze in a third in between, neither this nor that format. shiv
