eInk v. Smart Phone

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by toddos

I'm not sure if those are large phones or small tablets with voice calling capability

I arbitrarily choose to say any device < 5" is a smartphone and >= 5" is a tablet. So a Streak 5 or Galaxy Note is a tablet, but an HTC Titan (4.7" screen) or Samsung Infuse (4.5" screen) is a smartphone.

I have the Streak, and I would never consider it to be a tablet. It is much too small for that. But it is great as a phone (perfect size for me), as a media player, and for some quick reading and browsing.

[sufue]

Each of my devices has its purpose, but all other things being equal, I prefer to read on my Android phone. I know that makes me the odd one out, but I love the backlit display to read in bed, love its ultra-portability and easy fit-in-the-hand size, love being able to use the volume buttons to page forward and back, like being able to take (some ) calls. The screen doesn't bother me at all - in fact I prefer it.

But, I also like my Sony Reader (bright sunlight, long trips), rooted Nook Color (big enough to read The Economist and acts as a tablet too), old iPaq PDA (reading device, with Freda, for the gym - don't care if it dies of sweat one day), and Kindle keyboard (bright sunlight, long trips). The only two that sort of duplicate each other are the Kindle and the Sony - when the PDA dies, the Kindle will probably push the Sony into being the new gym reader.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by sufue

love being able to use the volume buttons to page forward and back

+1. This is one feature I really like on Android readers that I've never seen on iOS. Alas, I've yet to find an Android smartphone that I can dim down as much as the iPhone/iPod Touch.

[stonetools]

One big advantage of smartphones, tablets, and iOS Devices- you can read with many different ereader apps ( some of which are better than the "store" reader apps) and you can buy from any store you want without worrying about DRM issues ( for those who worry about those kind of things).

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by stonetools

One big advantage of smartphones, tablets, and iOS Devices- you can read with many different ereader apps ( some of which are better than the "store" reader apps) and you can buy from any store you want without worrying about DRM issues ( for those who worry about those kind of things).

That is a good point and one reason I like my apps. I should have added that to my "pro" column for the phone.

[mersfire]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I read on my phone a lot, that is why I bought a phone with a five inch screen.



I use reading apps that allow page turns using the volume buttons, that way I can avoid touchscreen hassles and read one handed.

Is that a Dell Streak I spy? And I thought I was the only one using this beast. Rooted and with a new ROM, this has got to be one of the best phones ever. I'm also waiting for the Samsung Galaxy Note to be launched in the US. That display looks fantastic!

I pretty much agree with what most people have said here, but I think the simplicity of an eReader is the big attraction, just flip the switch and continue reading. But of course the best device for reading is the one you have on you at the time!

[leebase]

Originally Posted by stonetools

One big advantage of smartphones, tablets, and iOS Devices- you can read with many different ereader apps ( some of which are better than the "store" reader apps) and you can buy from any store you want without worrying about DRM issues ( for those who worry about those kind of things).

+1 With my iPhone/iPad, I am not committed to buying from Amazon (which I do mostly), or Barnes and Noble (never use them) or Kobo (never use them). I can even buy from the Apple iBookstore (don't recommend until somebody cracks their DRM).

Great selection of magazines with apps as well....or through Zinio, pdf's of most any magazine you can think of.

Flipboard and Zite have turned my RRS/news reading into a magazine experience as well.

And iBooks app finally has night mode Highlighting the advantage of apps for their ability to get better quicker than is typical for hardware solutions.

Lee

[JxK]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

+1. This is one feature I really like on Android readers that I've never seen on iOS. Alas, I've yet to find an Android smartphone that I can dim down as much as the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Get the app "screen filter". It allows you to dim the screen far beyond what the stock settings allow. And it's free. If you read regularly on your android device in dim light, the app is invaluable.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by leebase

Flipboard and Zite have turned my RRS/news reading into a magazine experience as well.

Magazines are overpriced; but thanks to Pulse and Google Currents, I get a magazine experience for free. The selection they offer more than satisfies my magazine needs.

[The Hooded Claw]

Dedicated eInk ereaders aren't as portable as the smart phone, but that advantage is fading now that the K4 (new $79 Kindle) is much smaller. I believe B&N has a similar small device now.

I do some reading on my smart phone, usually "moments of opportunity" at lunch or otherwise on the go. One of the reasons I chose the particular phone I did (EVO 3D on Sprint) was because the larger screen made it easier to read ebooks and webpages. The 4.3 inch screen has about half the area of a standard six inch eInk screen, so it is usable, but still not as desirable.

One adaptation that I've made to the demands of reading on-the-go is to focus on having something short available to read on the phone. I do most of my magazine reading at home on my iPad using the Zinio app, but I subscribe to one magazine (Science News for me, but each reader would choose one appropriate for their interests) through Kindle just for reading on my phone. Books that contain short pieces are also good, I've read and re-read the version of Aesop's Fables that comes with the Kindle app, and Mark Twain's essays are good for a quick read over lunch.

I can also use the Nook app to still get easy access to the handful of B&N ebooks I bought during my experiment with the Nook Color.

[toddos]

Originally Posted by The Hooded Claw

Dedicated eInk ereaders aren't as portable as the smart phone, but that advantage is fading now that the K4 (new $79 Kindle) is much smaller. I believe B&N has a similar small device now.

The K4 is about the same size as the Nook STR and Kobo Touch (and the Kindle Touch is larger than all of them). And all of those are larger than older 5" devices like the Sony PRS-300/350.

At least for me, size is only part of the story (if it can't fit in my pocket, it's not going with me everywhere). You also have to consider the utility of carrying yet another device with you everywhere. I will not go back to the bad old days of carrying multiple individual devices (pager, cell phone, PDA).

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

I don't exchange my real personal computer for nothing.

Thanks to so much propaganda in these forums favoring eInk devices, I've been tempted on and off to get at least a Kindle. But I don't really see any major benefit. Seems like a superficial gadget to invest, featuring as the only real benefit the battery life.




We've done that jig already, right? Distractions are a part of everyday life, either SMS, videogames, TV, kids running amok while you're under your stereotypical kindle tree, birds singing etc.

It's up to you to ignore all of that if you wanna read. At least with a smartphone, it's as easy as uninstalling the damned Angry Birds and putting the network down with the touch of the Plane Mode button.

how things change

turns out I can't go back into reading on my smartphone. eInk screen is far superior, the lack of any features but those reading-oriented is pure bliss

best of all: I don't spend precious battery with internet browsing on my smartphone anymore - too busy reading

[SleepyBob]

LOL! /