How You Hold A Book When Reading - Page 2

ReD · 11-02-2009, 10:54 PM

I too primarily hold books at the bottom left so the transition to my Sony PRS 700 was super easy since there are page turn buttons right by the spot where your left thumb rests. It's also simple enough to move your hand up a little bit and use your thumb to swipe the touchscreen. The newer 600 model looks like it would work similarly. IMO the touchscreen makes page turning a non-issue since you can hold the reader in almost any position and still be able to turn pages with very little effort.

neilmarr · 11-03-2009, 05:47 AM

There are purists here who will hate me for this ...

A couple of posts back, I asked if anyone had tried sticking little studs onto the convex page turning buttoms on a PRS-505 (both on the wheel at bottom left and on the side mounted buttons on the right) to make page turning even easier. Being a mechanical genius, I used my great big brain and experimented with tiny bits of chewing gum (you've got to chew it until it's no longer very sticky [that's a mechanic's trick of the trade, so don't tell just anybody]). Disgusting, eh? A disgrace and an insult to a noble reading device... but darn me if it doesn't work a treat. I'll now try something more permanent and report back.

Hoots. Neil

JSWolf · 11-03-2009, 08:58 AM

I fold back the cover of my 505 and hold it in my right hand and my thumb is used for page turns.

columbus · 11-03-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I fold back the cover of my 505 and hold it in my right hand and my thumb is used for page turns.

I do the same with my 505, putting my index finger inside the folded back cover. The reader is then held securely and comfortably in the hand by the pressure of the thumb & other fingers trapping the index finger.

I also find I can hold the reader in my left hand with my thumb positioned over the LH page turn button, again very secure & comfortable.

For me Sony got the button positions on the 505 exactly right.

sony_fox · 11-03-2009, 09:38 AM

Very dependant on your particular hand shape, finger proportions - and don't forget the weight issues on hand and arm strength.

the 505 is one of the heavier ereaders around (robust though) and I probably wouldn't want to hold it in the air for an hour - but then I don't read like that. I usually rest it on something and just tap the RHS page turn button as required.

The lefthand spine hold does put the thumb in the correct position for page turns. but somehow doesn't feel natural to me.

Strongly suggest seeing devices in the flesh and playing with them!

AgentBEATS · 11-03-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sony_fox

Strongly suggest seeing devices in the flesh and playing with them!

I wish I could, but being in Canada my choice of devices in store is rather limited. Mainly to Sony readers, which I don't mind, just that it doesn't really give me much variety.

poshm · 11-05-2009, 06:59 AM

I usually hold my sony reader prs-600 in my left hand and it is easy for me to press the page turn buttons as they are located just where my left thumb rests - that way I can read one-handed. So sounds like this reader would be a good bet for you on this basis anyhow.

Sometimes I switch to right-handed reading (if I'm on the phone which I hold to my left ear) and very easy to swipe the pages using my right thumb.

The page turns work pretty well I think but I still think I'd prefer a scroll wheel like you get in the middle of a mouse if this could be successfully implemented into the hardware.

JSWolf · 11-05-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sony_fox

Very dependant on your particular hand shape, finger proportions - and don't forget the weight issues on hand and arm strength.

the 505 is one of the heavier ereaders around (robust though) and I probably wouldn't want to hold it in the air for an hour - but then I don't read like that. I usually rest it on something and just tap the RHS page turn button as required.

The lefthand spine hold does put the thumb in the correct position for page turns. but somehow doesn't feel natural to me.

Strongly suggest seeing devices in the flesh and playing with them!

I find I don't notice the weight of the 505 when I am reading. Holding it in one hand is very easy. I did recently get to hold a Bookeen Gen3 and it is very light. It felt too light. Like a cheap toy.

dadan · 11-05-2009, 10:36 PM

I use one hand normally and just change hands at will.
at first i used right hand

_____________________
overnightprints discount

jj2me · 11-07-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

A couple of posts back, I asked if anyone had tried sticking little studs onto the convex page turning buttoms on a PRS-505 (both on the wheel at bottom left and on the side mounted buttons on the right)

Yes, I put a piece from a package of clear vinyl "Self Adhesive Gripping Pads" (I would have called these "bump protectors") on the right concave button, which I always felt was too hard to press easily, making it feel like yet another thing putting unnecessary pressure on the thumb. I say "a piece" because it only needs a little, so I used the surrounding material, and not any of the gripping pads. The left button is perfect for me just as it is.

To answer the original handedness question for my 505:
- Original cover: left hand
- New lighted cover made for 600: both hands; mostly right with left holding the left cover in position.

wayrad · 11-07-2009, 06:50 PM

One of the reasons I'm still using my Zodiac for reading is that no matter how I hold it, there are always paging buttons in easy reach of either hand. Consequently there is never any problem finding a comfortable position for reading in bed.

I'm most likely to page forward and back with my left thumb on the joystick if holding the device in my left hand, with my right thumb on the right shoulder trigger (to page forward) and hard buttons (to page back) if holding it in my right hand, or with left and right forefingers on the shoulder triggers if using both hands.

abrizz · 11-08-2009, 03:36 PM

This is one of the things that I just do not understand about the manufacturers, why they just don't think about how one actually uses their products. Any designer worth a damn should surely put more weight in this than is being done by most companies.
It is getting better though with ereaders like the Cybook Opus and PocketBook 360 where the buttons are well placed and the device can be flipped in any direction due to screen rotation.
Now they only have to get the buttons working nicely too...

Dulin's Books · 11-08-2009, 04:47 PM

Thats exactly why I wanted the the PocketBook 360- button placement. It makes it very easy and comfortable to use with either hand. the top button is page forward the lower page back in either left or rigth hand and in landscape the right is page forward and the left is page back.

You can also use the D pad pushing left or right etc. But the best part is the Key mapping feature. If you don't like the default set up you simply switch it to the way you like it. So for left handers holding the bottom like the OP you can switch the page forward to the lower button etc

Dulin's Books · 11-08-2009, 04:48 PM

hmm sorry about the bad focus. I thought i had done a better job than that.

pilotbob · 11-08-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

Thats exactly why I wanted the the PocketBook 360- button placement. It makes it very easy and comfortable to use with either hand. the top button is page forward the lower page back in either left or rigth hand and in landscape the right is page forward and the left is page back.

Can you switch that? I would have expected the bottom button to be page forward.

BOb

11-08-2009, 04:47 PM	#28
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Thats exactly why I wanted the the PocketBook 360- button placement. It makes it very easy and comfortable to use with either hand. the top button is page forward the lower page back in either left or rigth hand and in landscape the right is page forward and the left is page back. You can also use the D pad pushing left or right etc. But the best part is the Key mapping feature. If you don't like the default set up you simply switch it to the way you like it. So for left handers holding the bottom like the OP you can switch the page forward to the lower button etc Attached Thumbnails

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11-02-2009, 10:54 PM	#16
ReD Enthusiast Posts: 44 Karma: 5752 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: BC, Canada Device: Sony PRS-700, PRS-300, PRS-T1, Kobo Arc	I too primarily hold books at the bottom left so the transition to my Sony PRS 700 was super easy since there are page turn buttons right by the spot where your left thumb rests. It's also simple enough to move your hand up a little bit and use your thumb to swipe the touchscreen. The newer 600 model looks like it would work similarly. IMO the touchscreen makes page turning a non-issue since you can hold the reader in almost any position and still be able to turn pages with very little effort.

11-03-2009, 05:47 AM	#17
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	There are purists here who will hate me for this ... A couple of posts back, I asked if anyone had tried sticking little studs onto the convex page turning buttoms on a PRS-505 (both on the wheel at bottom left and on the side mounted buttons on the right) to make page turning even easier. Being a mechanical genius, I used my great big brain and experimented with tiny bits of chewing gum (you've got to chew it until it's no longer very sticky [that's a mechanic's trick of the trade, so don't tell just anybody]). Disgusting, eh? A disgrace and an insult to a noble reading device... but darn me if it doesn't work a treat. I'll now try something more permanent and report back. Hoots. Neil

11-03-2009, 08:58 AM	#18
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,090 Karma: 129333562 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I fold back the cover of my 505 and hold it in my right hand and my thumb is used for page turns.

11-03-2009, 09:38 AM	#20
sony_fox Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 84 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester Device: Kobo Auroa H2O	Very dependant on your particular hand shape, finger proportions - and don't forget the weight issues on hand and arm strength. the 505 is one of the heavier ereaders around (robust though) and I probably wouldn't want to hold it in the air for an hour - but then I don't read like that. I usually rest it on something and just tap the RHS page turn button as required. The lefthand spine hold does put the thumb in the correct position for page turns. but somehow doesn't feel natural to me. Strongly suggest seeing devices in the flesh and playing with them!

11-05-2009, 06:59 AM	#22
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	I usually hold my sony reader prs-600 in my left hand and it is easy for me to press the page turn buttons as they are located just where my left thumb rests - that way I can read one-handed. So sounds like this reader would be a good bet for you on this basis anyhow. Sometimes I switch to right-handed reading (if I'm on the phone which I hold to my left ear) and very easy to swipe the pages using my right thumb. The page turns work pretty well I think but I still think I'd prefer a scroll wheel like you get in the middle of a mouse if this could be successfully implemented into the hardware.

11-05-2009, 10:36 PM	#24
dadan Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 16 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: none	I use one hand normally and just change hands at will. at first i used right hand _____________________ overnightprints discount

11-07-2009, 06:50 PM	#26
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	One of the reasons I'm still using my Zodiac for reading is that no matter how I hold it, there are always paging buttons in easy reach of either hand. Consequently there is never any problem finding a comfortable position for reading in bed. I'm most likely to page forward and back with my left thumb on the joystick if holding the device in my left hand, with my right thumb on the right shoulder trigger (to page forward) and hard buttons (to page back) if holding it in my right hand, or with left and right forefingers on the shoulder triggers if using both hands.

11-08-2009, 03:36 PM	#27
abrizz Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	This is one of the things that I just do not understand about the manufacturers, why they just don't think about how one actually uses their products. Any designer worth a damn should surely put more weight in this than is being done by most companies. It is getting better though with ereaders like the Cybook Opus and PocketBook 360 where the buttons are well placed and the device can be flipped in any direction due to screen rotation. Now they only have to get the buttons working nicely too...

11-08-2009, 04:48 PM	#29
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	hmm sorry about the bad focus. I thought i had done a better job than that.

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