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fjtorres · 07-09-2010, 10:39 AM

1 - Yes, ebook readers do show glitches and bugs. And yes, firmware updates to fix known issues are a fact of life. And yes, some ebook readers do crash and/or hang in use. Stability can be a issue for some, file compatibility for others. As a simple rule of thumb, the more a gadget attempts to do, the more vulnerable it will be to software issues, which means the vendor has to devote more attention to software quallity control. Some vendors are *very* good at this and their products are as close to bullet-proof as a gadget can be; others... not so much. One of the (many) virtues of these Forums is that in the device-specific areas you can see which devices have which issues and how the vendor addresses them. Studying the issues in those forums can be a very productive way to spend pre-purchase research time.

2a- Some (but not all) ebook readers allow the use of arbitrary truetype fonts for ebook display. Some only allow a choice between several included fonts. Others feature just a single standard font. Among the more limited models, you might find hacks that allow by-passing these limitations. Be aware that just because the reader allows these features, doesn't mean that every ebook uses them. Commercial ebooks using Adobe DRM can come with hardwired formatting and embedded fonts that cannot be overridden. It is part of the ePub spec. Content delivered in the form of pdf files pretending to be ebooks rarely allow much if any typographical controls. Similar restrictions apply to *some* Kindle ebooks that come in the "Topaz" format instead of the more common mobipocket-derived azw format. Also, many implementations of the Adobe-DRM reader app do not allow font face selection at all. As above, due dilligence is required to avoid unpleasant surprises.

2b- Font scaling is a very common feature. Most readers offer it but be aware that true font-size selection by point size (or equivalent) is *not* common. More common is the use of zoom-factors that offer up a fixed set of text display sizes. Size selection can range from near-infinte in the best readers and apps to three or less. There are at least two reader platforms that offer (almost) full end-user typographical controls with arbitrary Truetype fonts and single-point size controls but this is not a common feature and, as above, many DRM'ed ePubs do not allow this. If this feature is important to you you may need to become familiar with the relevant DRM removal techniques so that you can use the more flexible reading apps rather than the DRM-fluent ones. There is a blog by somebody calling themselve "Apprentice Alf" that offers a good overview of the procedures involved.

Finally, it's unclear just which offers the "largest" variation because screen size is going to impact this. Some models offer up to twelve hard-wired sizes while others offer up less choices that cover a broader range of sizes. Arguably, the larger ebook readers like the Kindle DX and upcoming Pocketbook 901 will offer the largest *usable* variation simply by being able to support larger sizes.

If what you really mean is which reader platforms offer the most flexible text controls for DRM-free ebooks, then today that would be the Pocketbook line of readers or the Hanlin V3 series running the OpenInkpot alternate firmware. Other readers, however, offer up non-supported hacks that can extend the device's native flexibility so it is really going to be a matter of how much effort do you want to put into customizing the device.

In choosing an ebook reader, the very first thing you really need to decide upfront is where you are going to get the ebooks. Especially the commercial DRM'ed ebooks. If you are comfortable buying from Amazon that is going to lead you one way, if you prfer Sony or Barnes and Noble, it will lead you in other ways. If the bulk of your reading will be DRM-free ebooks, then your choices expand to encompass the entire market.

Once you decide on an ebookstore commitment (or lack there-of) then you should focus on the two areas of Firmware quality and support and end-user typographical controls, so you are on the right track.

My suggestion is to sample the various device specific forums next to get a feel for what they can each offer you.

Good luck.

07-09-2010, 10:39 AM	#3
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	1 - Yes, ebook readers do show glitches and bugs. And yes, firmware updates to fix known issues are a fact of life. And yes, some ebook readers do crash and/or hang in use. Stability can be a issue for some, file compatibility for others. As a simple rule of thumb, the more a gadget attempts to do, the more vulnerable it will be to software issues, which means the vendor has to devote more attention to software quallity control. Some vendors are very good at this and their products are as close to bullet-proof as a gadget can be; others... not so much. One of the (many) virtues of these Forums is that in the device-specific areas you can see which devices have which issues and how the vendor addresses them. Studying the issues in those forums can be a very productive way to spend pre-purchase research time. 2a- Some (but not all) ebook readers allow the use of arbitrary truetype fonts for ebook display. Some only allow a choice between several included fonts. Others feature just a single standard font. Among the more limited models, you might find hacks that allow by-passing these limitations. Be aware that just because the reader allows these features, doesn't mean that every ebook uses them. Commercial ebooks using Adobe DRM can come with hardwired formatting and embedded fonts that cannot be overridden. It is part of the ePub spec. Content delivered in the form of pdf files pretending to be ebooks rarely allow much if any typographical controls. Similar restrictions apply to some Kindle ebooks that come in the "Topaz" format instead of the more common mobipocket-derived azw format. Also, many implementations of the Adobe-DRM reader app do not allow font face selection at all. As above, due dilligence is required to avoid unpleasant surprises. 2b- Font scaling is a very common feature. Most readers offer it but be aware that true font-size selection by point size (or equivalent) is not common. More common is the use of zoom-factors that offer up a fixed set of text display sizes. Size selection can range from near-infinte in the best readers and apps to three or less. There are at least two reader platforms that offer (almost) full end-user typographical controls with arbitrary Truetype fonts and single-point size controls but this is not a common feature and, as above, many DRM'ed ePubs do not allow this. If this feature is important to you you may need to become familiar with the relevant DRM removal techniques so that you can use the more flexible reading apps rather than the DRM-fluent ones. There is a blog by somebody calling themselve "Apprentice Alf" that offers a good overview of the procedures involved. Finally, it's unclear just which offers the "largest" variation because screen size is going to impact this. Some models offer up to twelve hard-wired sizes while others offer up less choices that cover a broader range of sizes. Arguably, the larger ebook readers like the Kindle DX and upcoming Pocketbook 901 will offer the largest usable variation simply by being able to support larger sizes. If what you really mean is which reader platforms offer the most flexible text controls for DRM-free ebooks, then today that would be the Pocketbook line of readers or the Hanlin V3 series running the OpenInkpot alternate firmware. Other readers, however, offer up non-supported hacks that can extend the device's native flexibility so it is really going to be a matter of how much effort do you want to put into customizing the device. In choosing an ebook reader, the very first thing you really need to decide upfront is where you are going to get the ebooks. Especially the commercial DRM'ed ebooks. If you are comfortable buying from Amazon that is going to lead you one way, if you prfer Sony or Barnes and Noble, it will lead you in other ways. If the bulk of your reading will be DRM-free ebooks, then your choices expand to encompass the entire market. Once you decide on an ebookstore commitment (or lack there-of) then you should focus on the two areas of Firmware quality and support and end-user typographical controls, so you are on the right track. My suggestion is to sample the various device specific forums next to get a feel for what they can each offer you. Good luck. Last edited by fjtorres; 07-09-2010 at 10:44 AM.