Poll: Touchscreen or Buttons (E-ink)

[astra]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Yes, tapping the link to a footnote may be a little easier than navigating to the link with a joypad and clicking... maybe... but here's my question. If the ebook creator didn't create a link in the footnote back to the calling text (as they very commonly don't do), how would you get back to where you were reading, on a touch-screen reader with only page turn buttons? Is there a special "Back" swipe?

I'm genuinely curious. Because right now, if there's no return link in the footnote or appendix entry, pressing the "Back" button gets me right back to my place in the text. Quick as a wink.

You press option button, tap "History", tap "back" arrow.
505 had a history button, i.e., one click. I still miss it

[ApK]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

the guy from Star Wars who shot first.

Ooh. That's it, we're obviously not going to agree on anything.

Seriously, you are not paying attention to anything I'm saying. I said I voted for some touch, I said I think touch would improve some stuff, my only argument is to point out to curious potential buyers the fact that what you think is best for some of these operations is not an absolute or objective truth.

Paper is not being replaced. It's STILL good, and still something I bet even you use from time to time. The existence of other options doesn't mean all previous options are automatically obsolete or inferior.

And the old Sony touch system was NOT better than no touch at all...any touch that screws up the reading on a reader is a questionable decision at best. Though I am willing to acknowledge that SOME people seemed to prefer touch at the expense of clarity.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by astra

That is why I bowed out of the discussion with him with

D'Oh! And here I thought you were just being cognizant of reality and acknowledging that what was best for one is not always best for all.

Rats.

[astra]

Originally Posted by ApK

D'Oh! And here I thought you were just being cognizant of reality and acknowledging that what was best for one is not always best for all.

Rats.

I was aware of the misunderstanding between us

I am usually the first one to preach

what was best for one is not always best for all

it is my mentality. However, sometimes in some discussions I come to a point when I notice the the arguments of the opposite side lost the strength and they pop up always to meet any new point I bring up. That is the moment when I realise that the discussion lost its value. The other side is either being spiteful or mentoring try to prove completely another point, such as

what was best for one is not always best for all

that has nothing to do with the issue we are discussing. Then I politely leave the discussion. What is the point to waste my time?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by astra

I was aware of the misunderstanding between us

I am usually the first one to preach it is my mentality. However, sometimes in some discussions I come to a point when I notice the the arguments of the opposite side lost the strength and they pop up always to meet any new point I bring up. That is the moment when I realise that the discussion lost its value. The other side is either being spiteful or mentoring try to prove completely another point, such as that has nothing to do with the issue we are discussing. Then I politely leave the discussion. What is the point to waste my time?

Welcome back to it .
Since my actual point is being ignored or forgotten, let me remind:

Originally Posted by ApK

There are more than a few of us who bought the Kindle partially for the 3G internet features, and the keyboard is important for that. Plus I've found it better for searching, and it also provides some useful shortcut options.
I am willing to extrapolate that others have similar opinions.
I do get a little ticked at the folks who make observations of their own preferences and use them to conclude (or presumptuously state, at least) that their preferred way is objectively superior. News for you: you're wrong.

Originally Posted by ApK

And I am fully capable of making intelligent, informed decisions for myself. And I know I'm not alone in this, so I share my reasons and recommend others decide for themselves.

I'd also warn that people be careful in how they take buying advice from folks (and, btw, I don't think I talking about Astra here, as far as I can recall) who say stuff like "Swiping is obviously superior and people who say they like buttons have never tried a good touch screen."

Interesting to see the current poll results, BTW.

If what you say is true, Astra, surely you can understand why all the counterpoints of "No, touch is better and no sensible person can think otherwise" are...frustrating?
But, as you say, it's somewhat pointless to keep repeating it. If the other side (the 'other side' being "no, touch is always better and I will ignore all evidence that non-touch has value") wants to make the case by sheer repetition, I guess there is no point in playing along.

[anamardoll]

If I have to get to a footnote halfway down the page I have to press the 5-way (or press and hold it) several times...down, then across to the correct work, then click to select. You're telling me that's as elegant as simply touching the link with a fingertip? I can understand if you prefer the clicky way, but to say it's easier boggles my mind. Even if the first word on the page is the one you want to click you are using twice the actions as touching the screen would need.

I suspect this is a disconnect with precision.

I don't know if ALL Nook Colors are this way, but I've personally noticed that my NC screen is a little.... touchy. (No pun intended.) Sometimes it thinks I'm pressing a little higher or lower than *I* think I have. And anything around the edges of the screen (like, say, the BACK button after pressing a footnote) has to be pressed three or four times before it will register.

I use a touch screen phone (AT&T Captivate) ALL THE TIME without these issues, so I do think it's the Nook Color and not me.

So when APK says that key navigation can be better/easier/simpler than touch navigation, I suspect he's referring at least in part to screen quality.

A good touch screen can be a joy to navigate in the proper situations... a bad touch screen can be absolute frustration.

[Darkitow]

I prefer touchscreen if that could mean more readable surface (I like my Kindle screen but I wouldn't care having some more for when I wanna read a manga there). But I would like phisical buttons as well, at least page-turn buttons and "home" and "menu" buttons.

[OtterBooks]

Pageturns, home, menu, d-pad, touchscreen. That's probably as close a combo as you can get for pleasing most people. A device the size of the new Nook has plenty of room for the combo.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Pageturns, home, menu, d-pad, touchscreen. That's probably as close a combo as you can get for pleasing most people. A device the size of the new Nook has plenty of room for the combo.

I'd want to add the "Back" button, but yeah, that setup would suit me fine.

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'd want to add the "Back" button, but yeah, that setup would suit me fine.

whoops I forgot that one.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Pageturns, home, menu, d-pad, touchscreen. That's probably as close a combo as you can get for pleasing most people. A device the size of the new Nook has plenty of room for the combo.

Isn't that basically a Sony?

I confess I think the Sony devices are pretty, but they sure are pricey, and I'm still not sure if I can load via Calibre (instead of their reader software) and whether or not it supports folder browsing. From playing with my mom's, it seems the answer is 'no'.

[chrisanthropic]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I'm still not sure if I can load via Calibre (instead of their reader software) and whether or not it supports folder browsing. From playing with my mom's, it seems the answer is 'no'.

I use Calibre with my sony and you can use the custom firmware (found in the sony forum here) to use folder browsing. Nothing I can say about the price though, it's true.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by chrisanthropic

I use Calibre with my sony and you can use the custom firmware (found in the sony forum here) to use folder browsing. Nothing I can say about the price though, it's true.

Intriguing. How is it for PDF view? Zoom/pan/landscape available?

I should dash over to the Sony forum, perhaps.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Intriguing. How is it for PDF view? Zoom/pan/landscape available?

While not as slick as panning around like on the new Kobo, the 350 can at least reflow many text-based PDFs, making a lot of PDF stuff easier to read on the 5" Sony than on the 6" Kindle.

The PRS+ custom firmware also adds some games, like chess, which is really makes the little touchscreen PRS-350 a better value I think.

PS. Not only can you simply side load to the Sony, but Calibre has some really fancy folder/collection management features optimized for the Sony. I don;t use them, but I recall seeing on the Calibre site Kovid saying something like "If you care about collections, get a Sony."

[astra]

Originally Posted by ApK

While not as slick as panning around like on the new Kobo, the 350 can at least reflow many text-based PDFs, making a lot of PDF stuff easier to read on the 5" Sony than on the 6" Kindle.

The PRS+ custom firmware also adds some games, like chess, which is really makes the little touchscreen PRS-350 a better value I think.

PS. Not only can you simply side load to the Sony, but Calibre has some really fancy folder/collection management features optimized for the Sony. I don;t use them, but I recall seeing on the Calibre site Kovid saying something like "If you care about collections, get a Sony."

I wanted to ask you this and forgot. Do you have PRS-350?