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Jack Tingle · 11-14-2009, 06:02 PM

Interesting topic. I have a slightly different slant on it.

* primary reading devices

All my ebook reading devices:
- 2.8" screen smartphone - good for casual reading only[1]; very versatile, can read all formats except Kindle; also replaces/consolidates agenda, PMP, MID, dumb phone, email terminal, pager, pocket calculator, notepad, etc. 5 mo. old granddaughter and I groove to Warren Zevon on it.
*- 3.5" screen obsolete PDAs (2) - good for all kinds of reading except direct sunlight; very versatile, can read all formats except Kindle
*- 5" screen Ectaco jetBook - good for many kinds of reading, especially in direct sunlight; versatile formats, but limited in presentation; no DRM formats but the next device can cover up a multitude of sins

- 17" laptop - very versatile, but a bit heavy; can use in a variety of settings except direct sunlight; has a million other uses
- desktop PC - very versatile, but completely immobile; not mine, employers; also runs UG & ANSYS Workbench (even numbered versions only)

For me, the combination of a 3.5" PDA and a jetBook together makes a good "reader". I simply keep my books on an SD card and swap it back and forth. I wish I had a PDA with a 5" reflective LCD screen, but no one makes that. I suspect a small netbook would split the difference, but with one key failing, sunlight readability. In that respect, the jetBook is clearly superior to any other device, including eInk slates.

Regards,
Jack Tingle

[1] 2.8" is just a bit too small for comfortable reading. 3.2-3.5" is fine for reading, IMO.

11-14-2009, 06:02 PM	#27
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	Interesting topic. I have a slightly different slant on it. * primary reading devices All my ebook reading devices: - 2.8" screen smartphone - good for casual reading only[1]; very versatile, can read all formats except Kindle; also replaces/consolidates agenda, PMP, MID, dumb phone, email terminal, pager, pocket calculator, notepad, etc. 5 mo. old granddaughter and I groove to Warren Zevon on it. - 3.5" screen obsolete PDAs (2) - good for all kinds of reading except direct sunlight; very versatile, can read all formats except Kindle - 5" screen Ectaco jetBook - good for many kinds of reading, especially in direct sunlight; versatile formats, but limited in presentation; no DRM formats but the next device can cover up a multitude of sins - 17" laptop - very versatile, but a bit heavy; can use in a variety of settings except direct sunlight; has a million other uses - desktop PC - very versatile, but completely immobile; not mine, employers; also runs UG & ANSYS Workbench (even numbered versions only) For me, the combination of a 3.5" PDA and a jetBook together makes a good "reader". I simply keep my books on an SD card and swap it back and forth. I wish I had a PDA with a 5" reflective LCD screen, but no one makes that. I suspect a small netbook would split the difference, but with one key failing, sunlight readability. In that respect, the jetBook is clearly superior to any other device, including eInk slates. Regards, Jack Tingle [1] 2.8" is just a bit too small for comfortable reading. 3.2-3.5" is fine for reading, IMO.