[JasonB]

Originally Posted by HarryT

A "progress bar", such as the CyBook has, gives you that same information, and, moreover, remains valid no matter how much you change the font size, etc.

Ah! I've never seen a CyBook, and, thinking back, I may have missed a post here about that feature. That would certainly put a different spin on things. I would certainly appreciate that feedback also - in addition to page numbers. <grin>

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

I understand that font sizes will change the number of pages in a book, but can't we just recalculate the number of pages in respects to the larger font size? This is how the Sony does it and it works very well.

I've only used a Sony reader so, again, it seems I've let my experience with it colour my earlier statements. Yes, with the Sony the total number of pages (and your current page) are recalculated dynamically as the font size is changed. It displays [current] / [total] on the display.

Originally Posted by rhadin

After watching the video my enthusiasm for the design has waned considerably, although I would still consider the device. My problem is the location of the crossbar. If it were movable, that is slideable up or down the side so that it could be placed in a comfortable position, it would be fine. But when I look at how I hold my Sony and how I hold my pbooks, I realize that changing pages on the TXTR will be awkward -- I often do not hold my Sony in 2 hands and usually change pages using the bottom left buttons and sometimes the right side buttons. The TXTR is going to require, I think, 2 hands, especially as the control is centered.

I feel the exactly the same way as you. Having it centered vertically (especially when there is not also an additional set of controls along the bottom for more choice) would make it a bit of a pain for me also, given how I sometimes read. With the Sony, the right-hand controls are a bit farther down than centered, so that, with the bottom-right of the reader sitting at the base of your thumb, you can easily reach them with the tip of your thumb. If the controls were up a bit more, I'd have to keep moving my hand up and down the right-hand side of the reader - which would annoy me.

If the controls could slide up and down (and be locked into place once you've got them where you want them) that would be ideal.

Originally Posted by wallcraft

The iRex products have 16 gray levels. This does make a difference for images, but some of the same effect can be obtained by dithering. I don't know how much it helps font anti-aliasing, but this might be the most significant reason for using 16 levels.

I realized shortly after I posted, asking about the difference between 8 and 16 to contrast, that it may have been a bit of a foolish question. For pure text, you really only need black and white. Having any number of greater gray scales isn't going to improve the contrast between those two extremes. So, for reading in general, it probably isn't going to make a difference. However, for things like different font weights and illustrations, it probably would make a big difference. Although I'm also intrigued by the anti-aliasing question and how having the different levels explicitly available might affect visibility - even if just subtly.