Sony eBook Library cuts prices and adds titles

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Here is my Reading List:

Where's _I Am America And So Can You_ ??

BOb

[radleyp]

Sirmaru, to you there is no difference between a backlit monitor and an e-ink reader. I'm 72 and I submit that there certainly is: gazing into a light that reflects back in your eyes is tiring (looking into a light is what I used to do in my days of taking color slides and then displaying them on a lightbox). With an eink reader I find myself reading for longer periods of time. But then I don't understand your other reading habits either: a 24" monitor is far too wide for me, since when I am speed reading I can go down the middle of a normal page. And then, of course, as pointed out to you in another thread, such a monitor makes it impossible to read in anything other than an upright sitting position (and I hate to think what could happen if you balance the monitor on your knees and it falls). IOW, reading on a 24" monitor is no longer reading a book at all: no one is going to go blind doing it, but for most of us it's an ordeal.

[jckatz]

All I know is a book I want Kindle has it for $9.99, Sony has it for $17.46, and when I walked into Barnes and Nobles (Brick and Motor) I got it for $17.96, plus tax and a Hot Tea and a delicious apple turnover..... Well worth the extra $1.00

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by radleyp

But then I don't understand your other reading habits either: a 24" monitor is far too wide for me, since when I am speed reading I can go down the middle of a normal page.

I think you're assuming the book (or whatever it is) will be displayed full screen. Not so here on my 19" monitor, where the text is displayed in a window whose width is adjusted so the measure is comfortable.

Just because you have a big screen, it doesn't mean you have to use all of it for what you are reading.
______
Dennis

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I think you're assuming the book (or whatever it is) will be displayed full screen. Not so here on my 19" monitor, where the text is displayed in a window whose width is adjusted so the measure is comfortable.

Just because you have a big screen, it doesn't mean you have to use all of it for what you are reading.
______
Dennis

I use the Small Font and the two page display on my 24" HD LCD Monitor. It appears perfect to me. On the PRS 505 I use the Large Font and display only one page in Portrait mode.

[HarryT]

I've always found it awkward to snuggle up in bed to a 24" monitor, but perhaps that's just me .

[Gravitas]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've always found it awkward to snuggle up in bed to a 24" monitor, but perhaps that's just me .

If I had a 24" monitor, I'm pretty sure I'd be snuggling with it somewhere

is it bad to have monitor envy?

[dhbailey]

Originally Posted by Gravitas

[snip]
is it bad to have monitor envy?

Only if you act on it and fondle other people's monitors in public. My advice is to stay out of Best Buy.

[radleyp]

I did not make myself clearer, sorry. I also have a 19" monitor, and it's wonderful for graphics, but for a page of text, all that illuminated background is for me very distracting and impedes my reading. Looking at two pages of text side by side (very possible on a 19" monitor) is similarly distracting. And as HarryT and others point out, such a monitor forces me into an upright reading position, which is contrary to my normal book reading experience of a lot of years, where I can shift posture easily. I remember more than once doing legal research on my desktop, looking at a very long case and finally printing it out because of how uncomfortable I got. OTOH, you do what works and if you find reading on a large monitor enjoyable, then go for it!

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I've always found it awkward to snuggle up in bed to a 24" monitor, but perhaps that's just me .

When I go to bed, I SLEEP. When I read, eat, watch TV or work, I keep my back at a ninety degree angle to my legs. I always keep good posture. Slouching causes back problems in my humble opinion.

By the way, HD LCD Monitors are quite different than the old CRT's. There is no glare from reflected light, perfect light exposure coming from the monitor, and perfectly clear fonts.

I have the Sony PRS 505 and can vouch the fonts are far clearer on the HD monitor than on the 505. I only use the 505 when waiting in offices or baby sitting with my grandkids. The 505 REQUIRES good external lighting. The HD Monitor does not.

In addition the 24" HD LCD Monitor allows multitasking which is not possible with the 505. Usually, I am always multitasking. I read my magazines there as well using www.zinio.com.
I read my Bible there as well using Libronix Digital Library System (Logos).

[Ordinaryuser]

I have a contrary view on the monitor. Bought a 22" LCD monitor because I felt that the fonts would be easier to see. But the bright backlighting on books I read (Not taking up the whole screen of course) still hurts my eyes because of the brightness. That was one reason that I finally sprung for a Sony PRS 505. I can read longer without it causing any problem with my eyesight. Actually tried using sunglasses with the large monitor to see if it would reduce the brightness but it didn't seem much help. Yes I know that the screens have brightness and contrast adjustments but have never been able to adjust it to my satisfaction. Let's see, I'm 65 so my life expectancy is short also. Maybe I'll just have to live with it.

Do love my Sony reader though and read a lot more because of the convenience.

[ProfJulie]

Interesting reading list! Well, I know that the Sony Reader does not work with this format, but how do you feel about Mobipocket? I found all but one of these books at Books on Board (and one of them was also in MS Reader).

1. The End of Faith - Didn't find this one
2. Hitler's Willing Executioners - Mobipocket $7.96
3. Witnesses of War - Mobipocket $7.96
4. Fear - Mobipocket $8.00
5. How Hitler Could Have Won WWII - Mobipocket $12.76
6. Infidels - MS Reader & Mobipocket $7.96
7. Cry Havoc - Mobipocket $13.44

http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php

[levirothschild]

Hi,
I want to see how pdf files look like natively on the Sony reader.
I live in Norway and then dont sell it here.
Is anyone willing to recieve two pdf files from me and take couple of pictures of how they look on the reader?
Levi.

[radleyp]

Sirmaru, I am puzzled why you even bought the Sony. If you find the fonts brighter and better on your multitasking monitor arrangement, then why not buy a similarly backlit portable multitasking device. The fonts are brighter on your monitor because they are lit up! You seem unable to understand that it is precisely that lighting that bothers others like me, that we don't want brightness from a light that shines back into our eyes, that we want something closely akin to the ordinary printed page, and eink for the moment is as good as it gets. I assume that on occasion you actually read ordinary printed matter, is it backlit? I find that with ordinary lighting the fonts are clearer on my Kindle than on my 19" LCD monitor, almost as clear as on a real printed page.

As for what you call good posture, any orthopedist will tell you that chairs, as made for years, are convenient but do not contribute to the best posture, since a rigid upright back creates leg discomfort (which is why people cross their legs so much of the time).

But then, we all have our preferences, I certainly have mine.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle does not have a "price point of $10 for the most expensive books"; that's the price point for "best sellers". There are many books that are more expensive than that, and need to be due to production costs and limited sales potential.

Hence the clause "I might be wrong"

But still on a book by book basis*, I still find Sony is charging significantly more than Amazon. I am still hopeful this will change.

* this is based on the books I find myself interested in, Your book by book comparison might differ.