[Robertb]

Originally Posted by catsittingstill

Well, most romance readers are women, but I know some men who read them also. Just sayin'



Thanks for addressing this. I am relieved to see that you understand.




Actually pressing big buttons with small fingers is easy. Seriously. So no, don't bother with making the buttons smaller. One issue that does pop to mind is that the buttons must be easy to press, so that someone whose hands aren't very strong can turn pages for hours without having her thumbs cramp. Also if you want your reader to appeal to women, make sure that the ergonomics work for small hands as well as big ones. I have long fingers, but someone with short fingers probably also needs to be able to turn the pages with the hand holding the book.

Personally, I like being able to switch hands. My reader isn't heavy or anything--it's about like a paperback book--but even so I need to switch hands every so often. So I really like that it has a page turn button on each side. I don't know if that's a "woman" thing or not--though people who are less strong might want to switch hands more often.

Seriously, these are the only "woman useability issues" I can think of.

But you know what really appeals to me? That "man reader" someone was talking about downthread, ruggedized and waterproof, with a lexan cover for the screen. I like to canoe, see. And I've been telling myself that no, I mustn't take my e-book reader canoe-camping with me, even though the combination of dozens of books in something the size and weight of one is just *perfect* for a situation in which everything has to fit in one pack and be carried over portages. Because, of course, if the e-book reader fell in the water, it would be toast. An ex-e-book reader. Pining for the fjords. But a waterproof one, now--that would be just the ticket. And the lexan cover would keep it safe if I thoughtlessly packed it next to the pans. Okay, olive green is not my favorite color, but for a ruggedized waterproof reader...I could live with olive green.

Just not camo, please, for goodness sake. I want to be able to find it again.

Dear Cat:

Thank you!! I was approached at CES by a company that can make eBook Readers waterproof. It can be done. I have not had a chance to look further into this but will now. Waterproof would, of course, be of value to both men and women but that is fine! This all came up via U.S. Navy Seals. They also need a ruggedized and waterproof eBook Reader for certain classified ops.

So... this is a good idea if it does not cost too much. I will find out.

Thank you!