WSJ: Amazon to Release Tablet, Two new Kindles, in October

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

A good 5 way button is better for page turns than dedicated page turn buttons.

Possibly. I know in the devices I've owned/tried I like having page turn buttons on the side of the device better than just a 5-way at the bottom.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Possibly. I know in the devices I've owned/tried I like having page turn buttons on the side of the device better than just a 5-way at the bottom.

I should have been more clear that part of being a good 5-way button would include good placement and fully customizable. The Pocketbook 360 has its 5-way centered along a long screen edge. The Pocketbook can be held so that the button is on the right or the left for reading in portrait. For reading in landscape, the button would be on bottom or (unlikely) top. I think you would find that for landscape reading on the nicely symmetrical and balanced, keyboardless 360, the bottom location of the 5-way is just fine. For reading on the 360 in portrait or landscape, the 5-way renders dedicated page turn buttons absolutely superfluous.

A really nicely designed and well executed feature of the 360 for default and customized functions of the 5-way is that "right", "left", "up", and "down" rotate to match the text rendering. With both short and long press available, I can turn pages forward and back, follow and return from links, increase or decrease size, and several other things using only the 5-way.

Another aspect of good is none of the wobbliness or ambiguity of the Kindle 2 or DX. Don't know anything about the Kindle 3 5-way.

[Skydog]

Although I enjoy touch screens on my phone and tablet, I LOVE the page turn "buttons" on my K3 - they are perfectly positioned for one-handed use requiring no movement of thumbs! Don't mess with them, Amazon!

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I have to say this, buttons are becoming obsolete.

Indeed. The new K4s will have zippers!

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Indeed. The new K4s will have zippers!

I heard they were going to be velcro!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

So do you use a touch keyboard for your computer?

Nope. But my computer is not portable. The main unit sits under the desk. Now the iPad my wife has and the iPhone 3G we have, yes, we do use the touch keyboard and for the 650, I do use the touch keyboard.

You analogy doesn't fit in with the topic. Would you want to carry around a keyboard when you don't actually have to?

[JSWolf]

You may say you love your buttons. But have any of you buttonholics actually tried a good touch interface? I have and I can say, there's very little need for buttons.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You may say you love your buttons. But have any of you buttonholics actually tried a good touch interface? I have and I can say, there's very little need for buttons.

What's a good touch interface? I've tried the Sony 950 and it was OK for everything but page turning, if I could have set it to use a tap instead of a swipe for turning I'd likely have been KO with it.

[carld]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

A good 5 way button is better for page turns than dedicated page turn buttons.

I disagree. I like the Kindle page turn buttons just the way they are. When I hold my Kindle the button rests right under my thumb. It's very well designed. To use a five-way button I would have to move my hand away from its natural position and back with every page turn, same with a touchscreen.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by carld

I disagree. I like the Kindle page turn buttons just the way they are. When I hold my Kindle the button rests right under my thumb. It's very well designed. To use a five-way button I would have to move my hand away from its natural position and back with every page turn, same with a touchscreen.

With a good 5-way button, you do not have to move your hand at all. Did you read my clarification of what constitutes a good 5-way button? Have you seen a Pocketbook 360 or a picture of one?

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

With a good 5-way button, you do not have to move your hand at all. Did you read my clarification of what constitutes a good 5-way button? Have you seen a Pocketbook 360 or a picture of one?

It still does not equal a set of dedicated, ambidextrous pageturn buttons. Nothing has surpassed that design thus far. just imo. I can see the advantages of a nicely thought out 5-way button. Much respect to the innovative ereader companies that get some good design ideas on the road to bankruptcy.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You may say you love your buttons. But have any of you buttonholics actually tried a good touch interface?

Agreed.

I had two button-driven readers before switching to the PRS-650, and before I got the Sony I wasn't that bothered about Touch. Once I started using the device I was blown away. It's a very intuitive way to interact with the reader.

I don't have to 'move my hand a long way' to change page. The 650 reacts to a small movement of my thumb across the screen edge where I'm holding the device - without moving my hand. I can do this holding the reader in either hand.

On other occasions I will naturally swipe the screen with a finger, and of course the Sony does also have page left and page right buttons for when you're holding it down the bottom or don't want to touch the screen.

This variety is very helpful. On both my previous devices I found that always having to press the same buttons or click the same 5-way meant that that thumb got fatigued.

Graham

[carpetmojo]

".......On both my previous devices I found that always having to press the same buttons or click the same 5-way meant that that thumb got fatigued..........."

Woh, Graham - fast reader or what !

[Graham]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

".......On both my previous devices I found that always having to press the same buttons or click the same 5-way meant that that thumb got fatigued..........."

Woh, Graham - fast reader or what !

No, but the repetition really did get to me over a reading session. My two devices (Bookeen Gen 3 and Elonex 511EB) may have had slightly stiffer buttons than on a Kindle, for example, but when I moved to the Sony it was like a breath of fresh air, as I had choices.

Another great thing about the touchscreen is that you can change the page with a very light touch. This means that you can stand the reader up on a table (I have a great Tuff-Luv cover which allows this), or on your lap when reclining, and still change the pages easily. With stiffer buttons you need to have the reader leaning against something solid, or grip the back of the device at the same time you press the button.

And of course while we tend to concentrate on page-turning, the real benefit of the touchscreen comes when navigating the device, setting bookmarks, and when highlighting words to look up in the dictionary.

Graham

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Graham

And of course while we tend to concentrate on page-turning, the real benefit of the touchscreen comes when navigating the device, setting bookmarks, and when highlighting words to look up in the dictionary.

We concentrate on "page turning" because it represents, by far, the main interaction (and almost only interaction, depending on the individual reader) with the device. The majority of readers spend the overwhelming majority of their eReader time not doing those other things.

I'm a buttonholic. I've tried a myriad of different devices with touch interfaces. I don't care for them... it's that simple. Is that not allowed? It sounds like Amazon (if the reports are true) have recognized the fact that there's a not tiny user base who feel the same way I do, and have decided to respect our wishes. As well as respecting the wishes of those who have buttonphobia. Good for them.