would you miss the buttons?

elemenoP · 05-23-2011, 02:53 PM

Kobo has just announced a touch e-ink reader; the touchscreen technology is by the same company that does Sony's touchscreens. The Kobo Touch will have a home button only. Page turns are by swipe OR by touching the sides of the screen.

Personally, I use *both* the touchscreen and the page turn buttons. Depending on how I'm holding the reader, I find one or the other more convenient. I appreciate having both. (I also think it would be good to have a way to turn off the touchscreen sometimes.)

Other than that, I do think the new Kobo reader looks quite nice so far. I feel certain that B&N is announcing a touch e-ink reader tomorrow too. It will be interesting to see if it has buttons.

So what do you think? Buttons or no buttons?

eP

Pomtroll · 05-23-2011, 03:02 PM

I wouldn't miss the buttons....Unless the touch screen should fail for some reason. I don't use the buttons since I prefer the touch screen.

Bookworm_Girl · 05-23-2011, 03:04 PM

I would miss the buttons. Like you said sometimes it is easier to use the buttons depending on how you hold the reader. However, I don't miss the buttons on my NOOKcolor. Although it is a different experience - more like interacting with my iPhone - and since it's heavier I hold it differently. The NOOKcolor also allows a tapping motion on the sides which is easier than swiping and makes up for the lack of buttons. In summary I still like buttons but suppose I could adapt.

Ripplinger · 05-23-2011, 04:23 PM

The only time I use the buttons are on menu pages that require flipping, like the books, collections, and images lists that are multiple pages. So unless that reader has zero other menus to flip through, removing all buttons is a bad idea. And what if the infrared fails like others already said.

But for the most part I only use the touch screen for flipping pages while reading.

Wordeater · 05-23-2011, 04:25 PM

I bet I've used the buttons less than 25 times over the course of 10 - 15 books.
So, that's a no.

WE

barium · 05-23-2011, 04:33 PM

The touchscreen is nice, but buttons are better for certain things. E-ink screens are so non-responsive that it's hard to tell whether your touchscreen command has registered sometimes. I kind of wish there were more buttons that were user configurable.

ardeegee · 05-23-2011, 04:38 PM

I mostly use the buttons for page turns on my 350, but that is because I don't like the swipe motion. A single tap on the left or right of the screen (as on the new Kobo) is "button-like" enough for me. Also the location-sensitive tapping/double-tapping to bring up options and menus (as seen in the video here) seems a reasonable option that would be easy enough to use once you learn the system.

Graham · 05-23-2011, 04:42 PM

The buttons are very useful when you've got sticky fingers and don't want to touch the screen.

Graham

Bilbo1967 · 05-23-2011, 04:59 PM

I use my 650 in the bath with an Aquapac. The touch screen doesn't work with that so I use the buttons.

Yes, I'd miss the buttons.

AlbertaCowboy · 05-23-2011, 06:08 PM

I'd definitely miss the buttons. My big ol' meathooks aren't delicate enough to work touchscreens without the stylus, and I tend to look up dictionary words when trying to swipe the page. I like having the option to use the page turn buttons.

pidgeon92 · 05-23-2011, 06:28 PM

I never use the page buttons on my 950. They are on the left of the device, and I am right-handed.

NoHolyGrail · 05-23-2011, 06:36 PM

I would definitely miss the buttons. I never really enjoyed having the touchscreen on my PRS-600 and actually missed having the better buttons from my PRS-500.

Poppaea · 05-23-2011, 07:20 PM

Buttons? Which buttons?

There are BUTTONS???

Poppaea · 05-23-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

The only time I use the buttons are on menu pages that require flipping, like the books, collections, and images lists that are multiple pages. So unless that reader has zero other menus to flip through, removing all buttons is a bad idea. And what if the infrared fails like others already said.

But for the most part I only use the touch screen for flipping pages while reading.

Just use the A-Z left of the screen to flip through. No buttons needed.

Ripplinger · 05-23-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Just use the A-Z left of the screen to flip through. No buttons needed.

That works only if you have just a few book titles starting with each letter of the alphabet. If you have more titles starting with M for instance than fits on one page, you can't "fine tune" to your selections within the Ms. You must use the buttons to flip through the pages at that point.

05-23-2011, 02:53 PM	#1
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,445 Karma: 2822686 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Sony 650	would you miss the buttons? Kobo has just announced a touch e-ink reader; the touchscreen technology is by the same company that does Sony's touchscreens. The Kobo Touch will have a home button only. Page turns are by swipe OR by touching the sides of the screen. Personally, I use both the touchscreen and the page turn buttons. Depending on how I'm holding the reader, I find one or the other more convenient. I appreciate having both. (I also think it would be good to have a way to turn off the touchscreen sometimes.) Other than that, I do think the new Kobo reader looks quite nice so far. I feel certain that B&N is announcing a touch e-ink reader tomorrow too. It will be interesting to see if it has buttons. So what do you think? Buttons or no buttons? eP

05-23-2011, 04:25 PM	#5
Wordeater Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 48958 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Sony PRS-650	Never I bet I've used the buttons less than 25 times over the course of 10 - 15 books. So, that's a no. WE

05-23-2011, 04:59 PM	#9
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 6,342 Karma: 18574228 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Solihull, UK Device: Sony 650, Sony T2, Xoom, Nexus 7, Nook ST	I use my 650 in the bath with an Aquapac. The touch screen doesn't work with that so I use the buttons. Yes, I'd miss the buttons. __________________ The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. Mark Twain My early and invincible love of reading, . . . I would not exchange for the treasures of India. Edward Gibbon

05-23-2011, 06:08 PM	#10
AlbertaCowboy Proud New Daddy! Posts: 303 Karma: 1787322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-505, PRS-300, PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7"	I'd definitely miss the buttons. My big ol' meathooks aren't delicate enough to work touchscreens without the stylus, and I tend to look up dictionary words when trying to swipe the page. I like having the option to use the page turn buttons. __________________ Many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book. Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

05-23-2011, 06:36 PM	#12
NoHolyGrail Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 3 (previously owned PRS-500, PRS-600)	I would definitely miss the buttons. I never really enjoyed having the touchscreen on my PRS-600 and actually missed having the better buttons from my PRS-500. __________________ www.GoBiblio.com

05-23-2011, 03:02 PM	#2
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 798 Karma: 1207775 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch	I wouldn't miss the buttons....Unless the touch screen should fail for some reason. I don't use the buttons since I prefer the touch screen.

05-23-2011, 03:04 PM	#3
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 2,413 Karma: 4141890 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Sony 350, T2; KPW, Fire; iPad 4; Nooks	I would miss the buttons. Like you said sometimes it is easier to use the buttons depending on how you hold the reader. However, I don't miss the buttons on my NOOKcolor. Although it is a different experience - more like interacting with my iPhone - and since it's heavier I hold it differently. The NOOKcolor also allows a tapping motion on the sides which is easier than swiping and makes up for the lack of buttons. In summary I still like buttons but suppose I could adapt.

05-23-2011, 04:23 PM	#4
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 1,526 Karma: 1931405 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350: 4 Silver, 2 Blue!; Kobo Glo	The only time I use the buttons are on menu pages that require flipping, like the books, collections, and images lists that are multiple pages. So unless that reader has zero other menus to flip through, removing all buttons is a bad idea. And what if the infrared fails like others already said. But for the most part I only use the touch screen for flipping pages while reading.

05-23-2011, 04:33 PM	#6
barium Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 20572 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: None	The touchscreen is nice, but buttons are better for certain things. E-ink screens are so non-responsive that it's hard to tell whether your touchscreen command has registered sometimes. I kind of wish there were more buttons that were user configurable.

05-23-2011, 04:38 PM	#7
ardeegee New Musicians of Bremen Posts: 3,291 Karma: 916824 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	I mostly use the buttons for page turns on my 350, but that is because I don't like the swipe motion. A single tap on the left or right of the screen (as on the new Kobo) is "button-like" enough for me. Also the location-sensitive tapping/double-tapping to bring up options and menus (as seen in the video here) seems a reasonable option that would be easy enough to use once you learn the system.

05-23-2011, 04:42 PM	#8
Graham Wizard Posts: 1,965 Karma: 13169687 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Sony PRS-650, Galaxy S, HP Touchpad, Nexus 7.	The buttons are very useful when you've got sticky fingers and don't want to touch the screen. Graham

05-23-2011, 06:28 PM	#11
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 1,874 Karma: 3627630 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle 2, Kindle PW, Kindle DXG, Sony 950, Boox M90, Kobo Aura	I never use the page buttons on my 950. They are on the left of the device, and I am right-handed.

05-23-2011, 07:20 PM	#13
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 1,978 Karma: 15473941 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Sony PRS-350	Buttons? Which buttons? There are BUTTONS??? __________________ "Die ist also anständig?" fragte Octave interessiert. "O ja, anständig, mein Lieber! Alle guten Eigenschaften: schön, ernst, wohlerzogen, gebildet, geschmackvoll, keusch und unausstehlich!" aus Emile Zola Ein feines Haus Information about my avatar

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