New Nexus 7 Excellent ereader

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by Graham

Given that you accept that at least a minority of people wouldn't find this low pixel density acceptable, why do you find it annoying when they say so?

Graham

I find it annoying when people try to make out that "this low pixel density" is generally unreadable. Which is what my first post says, though in different words. Also, what trompe said.

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by graycyn

What sort of experiment is needful? I looked at a variety of tablets two years ago when I first started wanting a tablet. I couldn't read for long on ANY of them, regardless of brand.

So what? This is purely anecdotal evidence, pertaining only to yourself and wholly unsuitable as a basis for a general statement regarding the suitability of "low-res" tablets as e-readers.

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

I would bet that this is the main problem with people and eye strain, and the fact that some probably need glasses and refuse to acknowledge that fact. If something is low resolution, and you are trying to read in poorly lit conditions, and you need glasses, it stands to reason that you are going to have eye strain.

Yup, I think that's pretty much it, along with the fact that an amazing number of people appear to assume, as a rule, that anything true of themselves must be true of everyone else as well.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Istvan diVega

Yup, I think that's pretty much it, along with the fact that an amazing number of people appear to assume, as a rule, that anything true of themselves must be true of everyone else as well.

True enough --- but aren't you guilty of the same thing?

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

True enough --- but aren't you guilty of the same thing?

Good one!

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

True enough --- but aren't you guilty of the same thing?

I don't think so. I'm extrapolating from experience (i.e. lots of friends who read on tablets) that most people would find 149ppi perfectly fine to read on. If the screen is otherwise good and if their eyesight is ok in the first place (corrected or uncorrected). As far as I can see that's not the same as saying "I can read fine on 149ppi and therefore everyone else can too".

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Istvan diVega

I don't think so. I'm extrapolating from experience (i.e. lots of friends who read on tablets) that most people would find 149ppi perfectly fine to read on. If the screen is otherwise good and if their eyesight is ok in the first place (corrected or uncorrected). As far as I can see that's not the same as saying "I can read fine on 149ppi and therefore everyone else can too".

So you are generalizing from your experience and that of a few friends. Not exactly a broad sample. And what is the average age of that group? The question is not CAN someone read on a 149ppi screen but is it comfortable for THAT PERSON? Why put up with inferior experience, why not spend a little money and get a device with a better screen? And a lot of it depends on how close someone holds the device up to his or her face. And in all comments made on such a subject I always take it as implicit that that person is talking about their specific situation, not generalizing.

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

So you are generalizing from your experience and that of a few friends. Not exactly a broad sample. And what is the average age of that group?

A reasonable sample I'd say, consisting of perhaps some three dozen people with an average age around 40-45. The youngest would be 32, the oldest 73, hence likely having a worse than average aggregated eyesight.

And in all comments made on such a subject I always take it as implicit that that person is talking about their specific situation, not generalizing.

While my specific point was that I find claims that lower-res screen are unusable in general annoying. Obviously I have no beef with people's personal experiences; that would be pure idiocy.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Istvan diVega

While my specific point was that I find claims that lower-res screen are unusable in general annoying. Obviously I have no beef with people's personal experiences; that would be pure idiocy.

I think you are just misinterpreting people's real intentions. When somebody states "you can't read on low resolution devices" what they reall mean is "I can't read on low resolution devices". Just as your original statements came across as "I can read on a 149ppi device so those who say they can't are wrong". Political correctness taken too far, it should be obvious that we are all expressing our personal opinions.

Besides, it is my opinion that we shouldn't let companies get away with offering less for more. New devices are not trying to make substantive improvements anymore (better screen, more memory, longer battery life, new functions) but they try to sell us on gimmicks and companies try to explain to us why we don't need any real improvements. So it makes sense not to accept anything with a low resolution unless it has a really rock-bottom price.

[Istvan diVega]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

I think you are just misinterpreting people's real intentions. When somebody states "you can't read on low resolution devices" what they reall mean is "I can't read on low resolution devices".

I'm sure some people really mean the latter, but I'm equally sure other people mean exactly what they write.

Just as your original statements came across as "I can read on a 149ppi device so those who say they can't are wrong".

Sorry, but no. There's just no way my first post could possibly come across like that unless one absolutely, positively wants it to.

Besides, it is my opinion that we shouldn't let companies get away with offering less for more. New devices are not trying to make substantive improvements anymore (better screen, more memory, longer battery life, new functions) but they try to sell us on gimmicks and companies try to explain to us why we don't need any real improvements. So it makes sense not to accept anything with a low resolution unless it has a really rock-bottom price.

Agreed.

[Prestidigitweeze]

My grillfiend is currently fondling my Galaxy S4 and I've been thinking the Nexus 7.2 would give her a lot of the S4 experience for less money and with a bigger screen.

The hard sell is recommending/gifting an Asus device to a person who has had her and her sister's Asus laptops fail in the past year.

The other issue is the storage wall she'll hit without a microSD. She tends to be disinterested in cloud storage except for backup and transfers. I can't even get her interested in a NAS drive for streaming, let alone using cloud-stored media libraries with home wifi that could trigger a data cap.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by afv011

The screen is really good. You can see it here compared to the 1st gen N7 and the iPad mini. . . . In order: ipad mini, 2012 N7, 2013 N7.

I realize your comparison has as much to do with screen size as resolution, but the more interesting lineup for me would have been the original N7, an iPad with Retina™ and the N7.2 -- especially since the N7.2 is said to have better resolution than any other HD tablet currently in production.

We know the Mini is going look bad in that company. The question is how ordinary the best-resolution iPad might look, especially considering the cost differential.

Given the price, you'd have to really love iOS (or have a considerable SW investment in it) to choose an iPad now.

If only Samsung would release a 7" tablet with a comparable screen or better, the latest Android iteration and a mSD slot.

I also want to see how external DACs function with the N7.2. I'm guessing the FiiO E17 will recognize it instantly, as it does my Galaxy S4. Neutron on a Nexus tablet with later-iteration Android = fun.

[Teknikal]

Originally Posted by Istvan diVega

I find it annoying when people try to make out that "this low pixel density" is generally unreadable. Which is what my first post says, though in different words. Also, what trompe said.

I tend to agree with you, most e-ink readers are using 160ppi pearl screens I think the new kindle is just over 200ppi yet no people are claiming unreadability there.

As far as I'm concerned more ppi is a bonus but anything over about 200 is easily good enough for me I think you would need a magnifying glass to claim to see the pixels if you were using the device normally, I tend to think what's more likely the cause of complaints are blocky fonts or lack of anti aliasing in whatever reading app is being used.

I think my original Nexus 7 is pretty amazing with the clarity of text I can only imagine the new one is better again I'm not honestly sure if I'd notice much difference though.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

If only Samsung would release a 7" tablet with a comparable screen or better, the latest Android iteration and a mSD slot.

Isn't there a 7" device in the new Tab 3 series?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Isn't there a 7" device in the new Tab 3 series?

There is, but screen resolution is still 169 ppi. That resolution is several generations old and it's utter nonsense that Samsung is still using it.