MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

brecklundin · 05-15-2008, 12:16 AM

AnnCook:

I have rheumatoid arthritis which affects my hands 24/7. So I suspect I understand where you are coming from in terms of ergonomics.

Two things I discovered when using my first reader, Sony Clie nx73v, are hands free reading and a touch screen. Both are MUST have features.

As far as I know none of the current crop of eink reading devices have built-in stands to enable hands free reading. I am at a loss as to why this is the case. You can of course get a cheap folding vinyl coated wire frame plate holder to prop up your device but it's a PITA to tote around with your reader. But if you have to ya have too...

I also found the Sony readers to be too thin. I have problems squeezing things to hold them so this is a case where the Sony's sexy size might be an issue to consider.

I found the touch screen the idea work around for buttons. My PERFECT feature is the one handed operation my Clie offers with it's thumb wheel (some call it a "jog wheel") on the side. It allows me to change pages if I am holding the device in my left hand.

Not much consideration seems to have been given to those who might have problems holding things in our hands. Even down to the point of the lack of a post to attach a wrist lanyard to help protect against drops. BTW, the Sony has this feature. My Nokia N800, however does not.

My N800 is nice in that it has a built in "kickstand" that not only allows me to read hands free in landscape orientation but it also can act as sort of a way to hold the device securely and with almost no strain. You simply open the stand and slip your hand between the back of the device and bottom of the stand. This gives you the ability to read in portrait orientation and use the tap screen to change pages.

I LOVE the N800 as a reader. Battery life is so-so (I get about 5-6hrs reading time from a fully charged battery that still holds about 97% of capacity)...also, if you do not have the ability to de-drm your protected content then you might never be able to read protected content as almost all the software for the device is open source and free. So there is nobody to pay license fees for the "right" to read protected content.

Right now the only reading software for the N8x0 series of tablets is FBReader. I have come to really like this software but like everything it has some frustrations. Still I like it better than the reader from Mobipocket running on the Clie.

I have also posted before that I was able to spend some time with the Sony 505 side by side with my N800. I found, for me personally, there is not sufficient contrast on the eink Visplex screens. Of course that changes outside where the Visplex eink displays really ROCK.

Some will swear by the eink display being "easier" on their eyes. I find this not true due to the contrast. All I need do is adjust the background color as well as brightness on the N800 or Clie display's and reading is fine and without strain. Just dunna try it outside where, even with a transreflective display, LCD's are, well, not good at all.

If I were you I would go visit either a Borders or even a Costco if you have one nearby and try out the Sony. Hold it for a while, I mean a good 15-20 mins. See how it feels in your hands. I will say it's still easier than a PB because one can hold it sorta flat in your palm if need be. The Sony 505 really is an elegant device. It's simple to navigate and decent enough to read on for most folks. I just had probs because it was pretty much too thin and also lacks a way to read hands free without dragging an easel-like thingy around with you. And if you ever have problems dropping things due to your arthritis, look into adding a stick-on wrist lanyard like you can buy at camera stores. It might save whatever reader you decide on buying.

Oh, here is an example of a folding plate holder you can use with a reader.

http://www.finehomedisplays.com/prod...prod=52%2D0050

It should work great for readers w/o a built-in stand.

I did add a Boxweave Papertouch screen protector to each device. It pretty much eliminates the glare/reflection factor plus protects the display.

BTW, I also use a FAT Avery Triple Click pen/pencil/stylus over the pointers provided with either the Clie or the N800. Without this pen I would not be able to easily use either device well or for more then brief periods of time.

05-15-2008, 12:16 AM	#9
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	AnnCook: I have rheumatoid arthritis which affects my hands 24/7. So I suspect I understand where you are coming from in terms of ergonomics. Two things I discovered when using my first reader, Sony Clie nx73v, are hands free reading and a touch screen. Both are MUST have features. As far as I know none of the current crop of eink reading devices have built-in stands to enable hands free reading. I am at a loss as to why this is the case. You can of course get a cheap folding vinyl coated wire frame plate holder to prop up your device but it's a PITA to tote around with your reader. But if you have to ya have too... I also found the Sony readers to be too thin. I have problems squeezing things to hold them so this is a case where the Sony's sexy size might be an issue to consider. I found the touch screen the idea work around for buttons. My PERFECT feature is the one handed operation my Clie offers with it's thumb wheel (some call it a "jog wheel") on the side. It allows me to change pages if I am holding the device in my left hand. Not much consideration seems to have been given to those who might have problems holding things in our hands. Even down to the point of the lack of a post to attach a wrist lanyard to help protect against drops. BTW, the Sony has this feature. My Nokia N800, however does not. My N800 is nice in that it has a built in "kickstand" that not only allows me to read hands free in landscape orientation but it also can act as sort of a way to hold the device securely and with almost no strain. You simply open the stand and slip your hand between the back of the device and bottom of the stand. This gives you the ability to read in portrait orientation and use the tap screen to change pages. I LOVE the N800 as a reader. Battery life is so-so (I get about 5-6hrs reading time from a fully charged battery that still holds about 97% of capacity)...also, if you do not have the ability to de-drm your protected content then you might never be able to read protected content as almost all the software for the device is open source and free. So there is nobody to pay license fees for the "right" to read protected content. Right now the only reading software for the N8x0 series of tablets is FBReader. I have come to really like this software but like everything it has some frustrations. Still I like it better than the reader from Mobipocket running on the Clie. I have also posted before that I was able to spend some time with the Sony 505 side by side with my N800. I found, for me personally, there is not sufficient contrast on the eink Visplex screens. Of course that changes outside where the Visplex eink displays really ROCK. Some will swear by the eink display being "easier" on their eyes. I find this not true due to the contrast. All I need do is adjust the background color as well as brightness on the N800 or Clie display's and reading is fine and without strain. Just dunna try it outside where, even with a transreflective display, LCD's are, well, not good at all. If I were you I would go visit either a Borders or even a Costco if you have one nearby and try out the Sony. Hold it for a while, I mean a good 15-20 mins. See how it feels in your hands. I will say it's still easier than a PB because one can hold it sorta flat in your palm if need be. The Sony 505 really is an elegant device. It's simple to navigate and decent enough to read on for most folks. I just had probs because it was pretty much too thin and also lacks a way to read hands free without dragging an easel-like thingy around with you. And if you ever have problems dropping things due to your arthritis, look into adding a stick-on wrist lanyard like you can buy at camera stores. It might save whatever reader you decide on buying. Oh, here is an example of a folding plate holder you can use with a reader. http://www.finehomedisplays.com/prod...prod=52%2D0050 It should work great for readers w/o a built-in stand. I did add a Boxweave Papertouch screen protector to each device. It pretty much eliminates the glare/reflection factor plus protects the display. BTW, I also use a FAT Avery Triple Click pen/pencil/stylus over the pointers provided with either the Clie or the N800. Without this pen I would not be able to easily use either device well or for more then brief periods of time. Last edited by brecklundin; 05-15-2008 at 04:05 PM.