First Impressions of the M218A Ebook Reader - Page 2

radleyp · 03-13-2008, 04:40 PM

I thought that's what you might mean, and for me at any rate that is not any kind of a margin, as it has nothing to do with the display or the text.

tsgreer · 03-13-2008, 04:54 PM

How much did this cost counting shipping? Do you think it's an good as e-ink?

Nate the great · 03-13-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsgreer

How much did this cost counting shipping? Do you think it's an good as e-ink?

My total cost was $290. But a good part of that is Ebay, Paypal, and currency conversion fees. If someone imported this device as a reseller, it would probably go for around $250 including shipping.

I think this LCD screen is as good as Eink.

balok · 03-14-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

It's also something I don't like about e-books purchased from the Sony Bookstore. Large margins giving away a lot of screen estate. ;(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Many of us feel that a margin of more than 2 or 3 pixels is a waste of the screen becuase it means fewer words can be on it at once.

Not just the margins... what about that status bar I never actually look at. I'd love to be able to get rid of it, or only see it when I hit a "status" button. Precious screen real estate wasted.

mrdini · 03-14-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I think this LCD screen is as good as Eink.

Are you implying that the screen is reflective, a la E-ink? I don't see any backlighting in any of the M218 photographs...

SpiderMatt · 03-15-2008, 11:23 PM

What kind of battery life are you noticing? I know the specs say "up to 25 hours," but what does this translate into for an avid reader?

Nate the great · 03-15-2008, 11:52 PM

Usually this would be a little early to report on the battery life, but in this case it doesn't matter. I keep getting a low battery warning. It starts just a few minutes after I unplug the reader. Also, the battery gauge usually shows 2/3 charge. As a result, I don't have a valid way to judge the battery life.

JSWolf · 03-16-2008, 12:08 AM

I've decided that when I format an eBook, I use 0 margins on every side. I prefer to have mor eon screen at one time. Also, I purchase eBooks that I can convert to the way I want it to look.

DaleDe · 03-16-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've decided that when I format an eBook, I use 0 margins on every side. I prefer to have mor eon screen at one time. Also, I purchase eBooks that I can convert to the way I want it to look.

Me too, with one exception. I find that some fonts and some characters tend to get chopped by a pixel or so with 0 margins. The way kerning is done can leave a slight overflow at the edge of the screen. For this reason I usually prefer at least 1 pixel and maybe 2 pixels for the margin. It doesn't give up much and provides a better visual experience. It is especially noticeable with text is fully justified.

Dale

balok · 03-17-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've decided that when I format an eBook, I use 0 margins on every side. I prefer to have mor eon screen at one time.

Makes sense when you realize that margins in paper books only exist so you can hold the book without covering the text, and to protect the text if the edges of the pages get worn. No need for that with an ebook reader.

JSWolf · 03-17-2008, 10:01 AM

Not with the 505 for sure. I don't have a problem with the text at the edges of the screen.

radleyp · 03-17-2008, 05:53 PM

Balok, where on earth did you get that explanation for the existence of margins? Margins are there for visual purposes and also to allow for annotations. If you think about it for even a moment, you quickly realize that there are ways to hold a book which have absolutely nothing to do with the existence of margins. Frankly, I don't understand this whole discussion: the amount of text in question is small. Personally I find text without margins harder to read.

Madam Broshkina · 03-17-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radleyp

Balok, where on earth did you get that explanation for the existence of margins? Margins are there for visual purposes and also to allow for annotations. If you think about it for even a moment, you quickly realize that there are ways to hold a book which have absolutely nothing to do with the existence of margins. Frankly, I don't understand this whole discussion: the amount of text in question is small. Personally I find text without margins harder to read.

Actually Balok's post has some merit. I thought about it and I quickly realized that for me that there are not that many ways to hold a book comfortably without my fingers or thumbs being somewhere on the page. If there were no margins the text would be covered by my aforementioned fingers or thumbs. There is no real need for margins in a Electronic Reader since they are already built in by the case. I find the margins in books from the Sony eBook store to be excessive. The less words on the page means more page turns and consequently more battery usage.

balok · 03-18-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radleyp

Margins are there for visual purposes and also to allow for annotations.

Ok, visual purposes, but that's a question of personal preference. As for annotations, I don't see how margins could be of use on an ebook reader that doesn't let you make annotations.

Quote:

there are ways to hold a book which have absolutely nothing to do with the existence of margins.

Maybe if you have the right book, like a bible that stays open on a pupit. Most paperbacks require you to hold it open, otherwise it will close itself. You can't just hold the book cover. Your fingers must grasp the margins.

tompe · 03-18-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balok

Ok, visual purposes, but that's a question of personal preference.

Maybe it is not? A small margin ought to make it harder to find the next line. Especially if you have a black Cybook.

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03-13-2008, 04:40 PM	#16
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	I thought that's what you might mean, and for me at any rate that is not any kind of a margin, as it has nothing to do with the display or the text.

03-13-2008, 04:54 PM	#17
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	How much did this cost counting shipping? Do you think it's an good as e-ink?

03-15-2008, 11:23 PM	#21
SpiderMatt Grand Arbiter Posts: 447 Karma: 1574837 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Device: iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, Motorola Droid	What kind of battery life are you noticing? I know the specs say "up to 25 hours," but what does this translate into for an avid reader?

03-15-2008, 11:52 PM	#22
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Usually this would be a little early to report on the battery life, but in this case it doesn't matter. I keep getting a low battery warning. It starts just a few minutes after I unplug the reader. Also, the battery gauge usually shows 2/3 charge. As a result, I don't have a valid way to judge the battery life.

03-16-2008, 12:08 AM	#23
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I've decided that when I format an eBook, I use 0 margins on every side. I prefer to have mor eon screen at one time. Also, I purchase eBooks that I can convert to the way I want it to look.

03-17-2008, 10:01 AM	#26
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Not with the 505 for sure. I don't have a problem with the text at the edges of the screen.

03-17-2008, 05:53 PM	#27
radleyp Evangelist Posts: 499 Karma: 20623 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Salem & NYC, NY Device: Kindle Global, iphone4, ipad	Balok, where on earth did you get that explanation for the existence of margins? Margins are there for visual purposes and also to allow for annotations. If you think about it for even a moment, you quickly realize that there are ways to hold a book which have absolutely nothing to do with the existence of margins. Frankly, I don't understand this whole discussion: the amount of text in question is small. Personally I find text without margins harder to read.

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