5" or 6" screen?

[Kris777]

Many people on this forum (NOT ALL) like 6" screen and think that it is an optimal size for eBook reader. I have jetBook unit with 5" screen and I tested SONY 505 with 6" screen so I can compare both models. I like 5" screen unit more because I can keep it in my pocket when I travel, it is more handy to hold etc. I think that it is the similar situation with laptops. I have both 12" and 15" screen laptops and I like 12" HP more than 15" Toshiba that has almost the same characteristics.
It will be interesting to know your opinion about it. Let's imagine that Sony produced 5" screen unit with the same characteristics that 6" 505 model and sell it $100 cheaper than unit with 6". What will be your choice?

[JSWolf]

But, the 5" jetbook costs about the same as a 6" Sony 505. Most people would be going for e-ink, longer battery life, and the larger screen for the same money.

Also, for people who need to have a larger size on screen, the 6" is better.

Would you buy a 32" TV or a 40" TV if they were almost the same price and the quality was about the same? You'd by the 40" TV.

[Kris777]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Would you buy a 32" TV or a 40" TV if they were almost the same price and the quality was about the same? You'd by the 40" TV.

This is incorrect questions because I don't take TV with me when I travel but I have eBook reader with me all the time.

I think if blackberry produce cell phone with bigger screen - it will be less popular than units with original size.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Would you buy a 32" TV or a 40" TV if they were almost the same price and the quality was about the same? You'd by the 40" TV.

Not only wouldn't I, but I actually recently made a decision not to do that very thing. The 32" is the optimal size for my fairly small living room; all a 40" would do is to "dominate" the room unnecessarily, and increase my electricity bills pointlessly.

"More" is not always "better".

[astra]

I don't like small screens. Even 6" is not the best size for me. I would go for 8" if Sony makes one.

[JSWolf]

If I could get a reasonably priced 8" screen from Sony, I'd go for it.

I did go for a 40" LCD TV because the room it was going in was not a good fit for a 32".

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Like Harry, we recently decided against getting a new TV larger than a 32", even though the next size up wasn't enough more for cost to be a deciding factor. We live in a small, modern shoebox of a house, and anything larger than a 32" would overpower the room. (the previous one was smaller, but had about the same impact as it was a crt, and so bulkier)

As far as readers go, if Sony had produced a 5" one considerably cheaper (relative to the cost of the 505) than the 505, I might have gone for that, purely on cost grounds. I might also have gone for the iLiad, or an 8" Sony if one existed, had they been not much more than the 505. This is working on the assumption that all these devices have eInk screens, similar battery life etc.

I've stressed might in that paragraph because there are other factors at work than just the screen size. The one thing that really endeared me to the Sony was how it felt in my hands. With the case, it sits between a-format and b-format paperbacks, which for me is a very comfortable size. An 8" screen is certainly nice to read on, but the surround makes it, for me, not as nice to hold.

As far as phones go - the fact that the original Blackberry took off so well shows that size isn't everything if the functionality is right.

Laptops all depend on how you're using them. At work we have them ranging from UMPCs up to 17" - each is right for the use they are put to.

[sassanik]

I have a eb 1150, and I like the way it feels in my hands. I can't imagine having too much larger of a screen. I think my hands would get tired of holding it, maybe that would not be the case.

I like that I can stick my reader in my purse and take it with me.

I think it might be like having a hardback or a paperback option. I would rather read a paperback than a hardback, because to me they are more comfortable to hold (I have little hands).

Amy

[Kris777]

yes, the optimal size of the television depends on the distance of the viewer from the screen. The optimal size of eBook reader depends on many other factors and mostly depends on personal preferences.

[Dylrob]

I would love to have as big a screen (within some reason) as my budget could possibly allow. For now that means 6", though I'm waiting for a relatively inexpensive cheap 8-9.7" model.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I would love to have as big a screen (within some reason) as my budget could possibly allow. For now that means 6", though I'm waiting for a relatively inexpensive cheap 8-9.7" model.

One of the reasons I sold my iLiad was because I found it too large to conveniently carry around with me. If I were reading primarily at home, my choice would doubtless be different. For me personally, the 6" screen size is ideal for a portable reader.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

One of the reasons I sold my iLiad was because I found it too large to conveniently carry around with me. If I were reading primarily at home, my choice would doubtless be different. For me personally, the 6" screen size is ideal for a portable reader.

Although portability is something I've considered, for now my bigger concern is reading larger documents. I was originally going to get a 9.7" device to essentially compliment my Sony, but things didn't quite work out and I can't afford two new readers in the short term.

[Kris777]

The Hanlin V5 is the mini version of the V3 so what model will be more popular -V5 or V3?

[griffonwing]

I've been wating to get an ereader for a long time now. The only thing keeping me from it has been the price. The costs are getting lower, and for that, I am grateful.

But along with these lower prices, the technology has increased manyfold. Controllers are faster, features are richer, batteries are longer, and finally the publishing world is beginning to see the light on DRM.

At first, I wanted to get the Iliad. It had a larger screen than the Sony500. I tested a Sony in Borders a couple years and was very underwhelmed at the experience.

But with my penny-pinching ways, a few things dawned to me. Is bigger better? The iLiad did not support the files that I wanted. It's controller was just as slow as the Sony500 ( i think). I started hearing horror stories of the iliad cracking and breaking. Apparenlty it was a case of too much too soon. Jumping into the ring without your gloves on.

Now, I still plan on purchasing an 8- or 9-inch reader when they come out. But as for me, the features that I am looking for are found in a 5-inch device. Exactly how many lines of text to you lose between a 5- and 6-inch device? Probably not enough to warrant the hundred dollar difference in price.

Comparing
6-inch EZ Reader ........ 5-inch Pocket Pro
slow controller ........ FAST Epson controller
4 level grey ........ 8-level grey
up to 4GB SDcard ........ up to 16GB SDcard

These are the major 3 selling points for me. At a lower price point, smaller package, and giving up less than an inch of screen real estate.

SO, between a 5- or 6- inch, I'll take the 5. But I'm still gonna hold out for the 8- to 9-inch later.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Kris777

Many people on this forum (NOT ALL) like 6" screen and think that it is an optimal size for eBook reader. I have jetBook unit with 5" screen and I tested SONY 505 with 6" screen so I can compare both models. I like 5" screen unit more because I can keep it in my pocket when I travel, it is more handy to hold etc.

Many people on this forum--albeit definitely not all--seem to prioritize functionality that has little to do with the fundamental act of reading a book, and, in fact, cannot but have a detrimental impact thereupon.

A 6" screen is difficult to make work for content more complex than just plain old paragraph after paragraph novels, and a 5" screen is probably approaching impossible to do so. There is, of course, nothing wrong with prizing compactness and convenient portability in a device, but a 5" device will pretty much be useless for reading anything other than plainly structured novels.

The manga comics that (or, at least, some of their text bubbles) are just barely readable at 6" will be actually unreadable at 5". Books with even the simplest typographic complication will not be displayable in any reasonably correct way. Anything with a picture will be close to impossible to float text around--unless the picture is just decoration and is not really meant to be seen in any meaningful detail.

A book reader (e or p) to me ought to be usable and useful for more than Charles Dickens and John Grisham. And, truly, the 6" screen just barely meets that criteria.

The ideal screen size for actually reading books a reasonably unrestricted variety of genres (many of which, I am aware, at this time are conspicuously absent from the market) is probably between 8" to 10". Perhaps down the road there will be a device that will be foldable to half that size when not in use and will thus satisfy both you and I.