Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
I dislike the idea of trying to map paper artifacts to electronic books when electronic books can accomplish the same functions in a different, and better, way.
Rather than having to use page numbers from some edition I'm not reading, I'd far rather see the edition I'm reading have more meaningful and usable position references and/or links.
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For referencing purposes you need to have some kind of positioning system that someone else can follow to reach the same point in the book, so that rules out screen-count-based numbering, since that depends on your personal choice of font size, and the screen size of the device you happen to be reading it on.
Once you rule that out, and you're into a regime of numbering which is not based on the number of page turns, why not use the page numbers of a paper edition? It's as good a choice as any, and means that the person who wants to look up your reference isn't restricted to your choice of reading device or app.
It's an obvious thing to say, of course, but (unlike a paper book) an ebook isn't restricted to a single method of showing your position. There's no reason at all that an ebook can't show paper-edition page numbers for referencing purposes, while at the same time having alternatives available for use in gauging your progress through the book. Eg, a Kindle can show page numbers, percentage read, "location" (a character-based count), and time to the end of the current chapter or the end of the book. You don't have to stick to a single progress method!