16:9 vs. 4:3

[mgmueller]

On eBook readers I've always preferred "long" readers such as Sony 900.
I do so even more on tablets.
For one, 16:9 to me makes more sense for books. And I simply find 16:9 units way easier to hold in one hand.
What do you prefer?

[AJ Starr]

I don't know whether mine is 16:9 or 4:3, but I use portrait mode for reading ebooks.

I might turn it landscape if I'm looking at a map or pdf files.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

I don't know whether mine is 16:9 or 4:3...

4:3 = for example iPad. Almost square, as the ratio indicates.
16:9 = for example Xoom and the other Honeycomb tablets.

The calculation is quite simple:

If your reader/tablet for example has a resolution of 800 x 600, that's 4 : 3.
1024 x 768 the same (1024 / 4 x 3 = 768).

Xoom on the other hand has 1280 x 800, that's 16:10.

[OtterBooks]

So basically do you prefer the Sony 900, or pretty much all the others. Also for most ereaders it is 3:4 =)

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

So basically do you prefer the Sony 900, or pretty much all the others.

Sony 900 had been one of my favorites for quite some time.
I've accepted the display quality and loved the form factor.
But for about 9 months now I'm into tablets. For now, Kindle DX Graphite is the only sole reader I'm still using. On a trip, usually I take iPad2, Xoom, PlayBook, TouchPad and DX Graphite with me.
I still prefer the contrast, weight and battery duration of ePaper devices over tablets. But just not enough to take these additional gadgets with me (I'm taking at least 1 tablet with me all the time for web and eMail).

[kennyc]

I voted 16 x 9 in Landscape mode which I use for browsing and email, but you are right the portrait mode is great for just plain ebook reading!

[theducks]

Technically it is 9:16 and 3:4 (portrait)

Measure the text aspect on a full page in a paperback. 9:16
I keep looking for a local dealer to look, touch and maybe buy
Price is a factor US$300 absolute tops and it better be e-Ink

[Dylrob]

For a large reading device I prefer 4:3 landscape. Specifically because I like a two column layout, and 16:9 landscape is too wide for that IMO.

Also I accidentally voted for the wrong thing.

[dwig]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

...And I simply find 16:9 units way easier to hold in one hand...

I chose 3:4 (aka 4:3 portrait) in the poll, but now think I may have misread your poorly worded poll question. I took it to refer to the display, but on rereading it feel that you are refering to the body of the device or are confused and are thinking the two are the same.

I much prefer classical page layout. In an ereader, the display translates to the text block and the body of the device translates to the page. Hence, I prefer devices with a larger space on the body below the display than what is at the top and sides. This leads me to prefer 3:4 for the display and something around 6:9 for the body. 9:16 is a bit long and narrow unless it is a smaller than average device. I find my K3 very nice with its 3:4 display and slightly taller than 6:9 body.

I suggest reading The Form of the Book by Jan Tschichold for an excellent discussion of classic forms. True, much of what he discusses in the collection of essays can't be applied to ereaders, at least with today's technology. Still, there is a lot to learn from Tschichold.

[pidgeon92]

I don't care either way. My 950 was my favorite reading device, as the screen was simply larger than my Kindle, and thus more words per page. Then I got my Boox M90, which is a 9" 4:3, and it has wayyyyy more words per page than the 950. Now I prefer to read on that.

Size matters!

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by dwig

...feel that you are refering to the body of the device or are confused and are thinking the two are the same...

I have to admit, I mainly had tablets in mind, as personally (although I'm in a reader oriented forum) I don't care for sole readers that much anymore. And for tablets, ratio for the body and the display typically will be about the same.
For readers, for example because of Kindle's keyboard, it can be quite different, I agree...
So, from a tablet perspective, my question is twofold:
a.) Do you prefer units with a wide X-axis or narrower ones? To me, the about 1.5" less width on Xoom than on iPad makes a huge difference. iPad simply gets heavy after some time because of the bigger lever.
b.) I had been surprised, that most users seems tho use Xoom in landscape format, not in portrait (like I do 90% of the time with the exception of the Android market). So I added the question portrait/landscape...

[Sweetpea]

It depends.

On 6" and smaller, I prefer 4:3 (in portrait). On larger device, if used for reading, I prefer 16:9 (again in portrait).

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

So basically do you prefer the Sony 900, or pretty much all the others. Also for most ereaders it is 3:4 =)

Kindle DX and other 9.7" are 11:16

[RainingLemur]

Don't really care one way or the other.