Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenophon
Misfires are actually less of an issue than supporting convenient rotation of the device to have any of its four sides as the top. Add to that button placement that allows convenient (and symmetric!) right- or left-handed use.
With the REB-1100, for example, if you held the device with your hand on the long edge at the balance point, the "next page" button fell directly beneath the thumb of the hand that was holding it. And this was true whether you held it right-handed or left-handed... in spite of the 180-degree rotation! You know this, of course, because you tried one out! It's an important feature because it allows users to hold the reader with either hand with equivalent ergonomics. It's also the kind of thing I meant by "get this right..." Rotational symmetry turns out to be a big deal!
By the way, it's not just an issue for lefties! It also matters for those of us who read for hours at a time (can you say "core target market"?). It's great to be able to switch hands to reduce RSI problems.
Xenophon
|
Dear Xenophon:
Yes, I am one of those people who reads with the right hand while using the left to advance pages. So, I agree with you. It is just better to have a choice of how you want to hold the eBook Reader and advance pages. It is one of those reasons why I do like the EZ Reader as I thought they gotthis particularly right.
Realize, please, that the Hanlin devices we call EZ Reader, in total numbers sold, is a pittance compared to the rest of the world. Russia, for example, buys 10,000 of the Hanlin every month. While Jinke, Hanlin manufacturer, listens to us and considers our suggestions... Astak is a small voice right now in what is designed. Overall design is largely a Jinke item. We can suggest and they do listen... but until our numbers increase in sales... we will remain that one voice of North Americans stressing what we want to see and not demanding.We are not 1% of their monthly sales volume.
To be sure, Jinke does a good job with design and runs both an Apha test and a Beta to review comments. When our numbers become sizable we can have special North American models made. Right now we cannot yet.
Robert B