Poll: What Is Most Important In A Reader

palo · 04-02-2013, 05:49 PM

Think about how you use your reader and rate its most valuable feature.

EDIT:/ Editing this to try to answer some of the issues raised by members

- more choices would not have highlighted which of these choices was most important - 60 choices might have only received 1 vote each from 60 members, obviously uninformative.

- why these choices and not others? - everyone has their favourite features that are non-negotiable, these were my criteria.

- multiple choice would have diluted the responses

I apologize for not including everyone's "most important" attribute of an reader but the poll is what it is. At least we have some good conversations/dialog going on in the comments.

p

HarryT · 04-02-2013, 05:57 PM

You haven't included what I'd rate as an extremely important feature: stability. No point in having wonderful features if it crashes every half hour (as some devices I've owned have).

JSWolf · 04-02-2013, 05:58 PM

The poll should have been multiple choice as it's not just one feature that we want.

jersysman · 04-02-2013, 06:32 PM

My #1 feature is not on here. It would be reliability (which is similar to Harry's stability). Reliability is the thing that I value most on all the products I buy from houses, cars, and even ereaders. When I want to use it for the reason it was bought, I need to know that it will work.

Using the criteria you have here Design Features would be it, but it is a very distant second.

BWinmill · 04-02-2013, 06:45 PM

I need an ereader with a well balanced feature set, so I'm not going to say that feature X is my #1 feature. For example: an ereader may be perfect in every respect, but I'm not going to buy it if it costs $500. Likewise, I won't touch a $20 ereader if the battery lasts 4 hours. On top of that, there are factors like reliability and durability that aren't listed in the options.

fjtorres · 04-02-2013, 08:08 PM

For a lot of people it is none of the above: the ebookstore.
We hobbyist/techie types obsess about specsheets and fancy features, but the vast majority of buyers just want stability, readability, and access to the ebookstore(s) of their choice.

Me, techie that I am, I start with the screen and then look at the software, starting with stability. Everything else I can trade off but those two are non-negotiable after my BeBook experiences.

Synamon · 04-02-2013, 08:19 PM

I can't vote. Readability in bright sunshine was the primary feature necessary to get me to consider an eReader and I bought a Kindle for the Amazon ecosystem.

theducks · 04-02-2013, 08:23 PM

Versatility (not being locked to a book vendor).
flexibility (Lots of user settings)
And the Big one Reliability/Longevity/Maintainability (Sending to the factory for a new battery is unacceptable. Must use a commonly available battery)

SteveEisenberg · 04-02-2013, 08:29 PM

I said flexibility, but I agree with multiple choices.

Price was overwhelmingly important until eInk reader prices came down into a range I felt was affordable.

Reliability would be big except that most models seem similar there. If gorilla glass lived up to its name, that would be something.

Then there's ability to obtain reading matter otherwise unavailable. This, and not a mild superiority over paper, is, for me, the reason to have an eReader.

Unlike most here, I consider being able to access text-based internet news sites seamlessly, most places in the world, to be a feature so stupendous as to trump ability to read books, much as that is appreciated. I can get lots of books in a convenient paper format at the local public library -- and almost any book if I wait for inter-library loan. But I can't get the Times of India there. Let alone an up to the minute Times of India. Cell-phone based free internet puts the Kindle 1, if you live in the US, and the Kindle 2/3 in most of the world, in a higher class than reader models before or after.

There also are significant differences between eReaders in availability of pay-for periodicals. I consider the Kindle-only New York Times Latest News Blog a killer app, although I think you can only buy it if you live in the US. The Nook and Kindle have much bigger periodical selections than Kobo.

Freeshadow · 04-02-2013, 09:56 PM

Configurability and independence missing.

Turtle91 · 04-02-2013, 11:44 PM

How about ability to display the book (ePub of course) the way it was designed? Nothing more irritating than seeing your hard work displayed incorrectly because the reader doesn't follow the specs - well I guess not being able to see anything at all because of stability/reliability/battery issues would trump that....

CyGuy · 04-03-2013, 08:57 AM

It must have removable media, if this is missing I don't even look at any other features it may have. I prefer full size SD but micro-SD is acceptable too.

Asawi · 04-03-2013, 09:07 AM

Eeeeehhh... screen/display quality?

Katsunami · 04-03-2013, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asawi

Eeeeehhh... screen/display quality?

LOL. First thing that came to me.

Second would be the possibility to add custom fonts (even in an unofficial way, like the Kindle).

Xanthe · 04-03-2013, 10:43 AM

I can't really answer the poll, because I don't have one most valuable feature.

If I'm in the "Hmm, let's see if there are any interesting new ereaders out there" mindset, I look to see what the current prices are. But price is not the sole criteria I use. I will buy a more expensive reader if the sum total of the product seems to meet my needs.

I look at the design features. I like touch screens, but I also want buttons to turn the pages - but the absence of either is not a deal-breaker. I like having the SD card slot, but in reality I have yet to fill up the main memory on my ereaders, much less my SD cards. I don't need dedicated access to an ebook store, because I side-load everything.

I try to get the widest array of font sizes and fonts - but I can always change the font sizes on most ebooks via Calibre, so while important this factor is not critical.

I like to get the ereader with the most native capability for a variety of format types - but I can convert anything quickly with Calibre so I usually just tend to use .epub anyway.

I like the inclusion of an MP3 player, but in actuality I don't use it that often. I like having the option of wireless browsing, but find the e-ink browsing experience rather cumbersome and annoying with all the black flashing, so it's not really essential.

I've got ereaders ranging in size from the eBookman 911 to the Pandigital novel, and while screen size is important, the readability of the type on the screen is more important.

My reader is usually carried around in my pocketbook, so weight really isn't much of an issue. As long as I can hold it in one hand without getting tired, that seems to be my main criteria regarding weight.

Battery life is the least important, since most of them last for at least a week and since I can charge my devices anytime.

View Poll Results: What Is Most Important To You In A Reader?
Price?	7	6.42%
Design Features	58	53.21%
Flexibility	12	11.01%
Size/Weight	20	18.35%
Battery Life	12	11.01%
Voters: 109. You may not vote on this poll

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04-02-2013, 05:49 PM	#1
palo Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony T2	Poll: What Is Most Important In A Reader Think about how you use your reader and rate its most valuable feature. EDIT:/ Editing this to try to answer some of the issues raised by members - more choices would not have highlighted which of these choices was most important - 60 choices might have only received 1 vote each from 60 members, obviously uninformative. - why these choices and not others? - everyone has their favourite features that are non-negotiable, these were my criteria. - multiple choice would have diluted the responses I apologize for not including everyone's "most important" attribute of an reader but the poll is what it is. At least we have some good conversations/dialog going on in the comments. p Last edited by palo; 04-04-2013 at 08:39 AM. Reason: clarification

04-02-2013, 05:57 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You haven't included what I'd rate as an extremely important feature: stability. No point in having wonderful features if it crashes every half hour (as some devices I've owned have).

04-02-2013, 05:58 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The poll should have been multiple choice as it's not just one feature that we want.

04-02-2013, 06:32 PM	#4
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	My #1 feature is not on here. It would be reliability (which is similar to Harry's stability). Reliability is the thing that I value most on all the products I buy from houses, cars, and even ereaders. When I want to use it for the reason it was bought, I need to know that it will work. Using the criteria you have here Design Features would be it, but it is a very distant second.

04-02-2013, 06:45 PM	#5
BWinmill Nameless Being	I need an ereader with a well balanced feature set, so I'm not going to say that feature X is my #1 feature. For example: an ereader may be perfect in every respect, but I'm not going to buy it if it costs $500. Likewise, I won't touch a $20 ereader if the battery lasts 4 hours. On top of that, there are factors like reliability and durability that aren't listed in the options.

04-02-2013, 08:08 PM	#6
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	For a lot of people it is none of the above: the ebookstore. We hobbyist/techie types obsess about specsheets and fancy features, but the vast majority of buyers just want stability, readability, and access to the ebookstore(s) of their choice. Me, techie that I am, I start with the screen and then look at the software, starting with stability. Everything else I can trade off but those two are non-negotiable after my BeBook experiences.

04-02-2013, 08:19 PM	#7
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I can't vote. Readability in bright sunshine was the primary feature necessary to get me to consider an eReader and I bought a Kindle for the Amazon ecosystem.

04-02-2013, 08:23 PM	#8
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,802 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Versatility (not being locked to a book vendor). flexibility (Lots of user settings) And the Big one Reliability/Longevity/Maintainability (Sending to the factory for a new battery is unacceptable. Must use a commonly available battery)

04-02-2013, 08:29 PM	#9
SteveEisenberg Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,034 Karma: 39379388 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: near Philadelphia USA Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)	I said flexibility, but I agree with multiple choices. Price was overwhelmingly important until eInk reader prices came down into a range I felt was affordable. Reliability would be big except that most models seem similar there. If gorilla glass lived up to its name, that would be something. Then there's ability to obtain reading matter otherwise unavailable. This, and not a mild superiority over paper, is, for me, the reason to have an eReader. Unlike most here, I consider being able to access text-based internet news sites seamlessly, most places in the world, to be a feature so stupendous as to trump ability to read books, much as that is appreciated. I can get lots of books in a convenient paper format at the local public library -- and almost any book if I wait for inter-library loan. But I can't get the Times of India there. Let alone an up to the minute Times of India. Cell-phone based free internet puts the Kindle 1, if you live in the US, and the Kindle 2/3 in most of the world, in a higher class than reader models before or after. There also are significant differences between eReaders in availability of pay-for periodicals. I consider the Kindle-only New York Times Latest News Blog a killer app, although I think you can only buy it if you live in the US. The Nook and Kindle have much bigger periodical selections than Kobo.

04-02-2013, 09:56 PM	#10
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,792 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Configurability and independence missing.

04-02-2013, 11:44 PM	#11
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,095 Karma: 18727053 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	How about ability to display the book (ePub of course) the way it was designed? Nothing more irritating than seeing your hard work displayed incorrectly because the reader doesn't follow the specs - well I guess not being able to see anything at all because of stability/reliability/battery issues would trump that....

04-03-2013, 08:57 AM	#12
CyGuy Avid Reader Posts: 769 Karma: 7777778 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PocketBook 902, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, ASUS TF700, and Cybook Gen III	It must have removable media, if this is missing I don't even look at any other features it may have. I prefer full size SD but micro-SD is acceptable too.

04-03-2013, 09:07 AM	#13
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,462 Karma: 2731820 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	Eeeeehhh... screen/display quality?

04-03-2013, 10:43 AM	#15
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	I can't really answer the poll, because I don't have one most valuable feature. If I'm in the "Hmm, let's see if there are any interesting new ereaders out there" mindset, I look to see what the current prices are. But price is not the sole criteria I use. I will buy a more expensive reader if the sum total of the product seems to meet my needs. I look at the design features. I like touch screens, but I also want buttons to turn the pages - but the absence of either is not a deal-breaker. I like having the SD card slot, but in reality I have yet to fill up the main memory on my ereaders, much less my SD cards. I don't need dedicated access to an ebook store, because I side-load everything. I try to get the widest array of font sizes and fonts - but I can always change the font sizes on most ebooks via Calibre, so while important this factor is not critical. I like to get the ereader with the most native capability for a variety of format types - but I can convert anything quickly with Calibre so I usually just tend to use .epub anyway. I like the inclusion of an MP3 player, but in actuality I don't use it that often. I like having the option of wireless browsing, but find the e-ink browsing experience rather cumbersome and annoying with all the black flashing, so it's not really essential. I've got ereaders ranging in size from the eBookman 911 to the Pandigital novel, and while screen size is important, the readability of the type on the screen is more important. My reader is usually carried around in my pocketbook, so weight really isn't much of an issue. As long as I can hold it in one hand without getting tired, that seems to be my main criteria regarding weight. Battery life is the least important, since most of them last for at least a week and since I can charge my devices anytime.