Navigation in e-readers

Originally Posted by HarryHutton

Hi Colerson

No criticism of the features intended, simply the higgledy piggledy way they have been laid out, compared to the rather simple way the navigation features of a pbook are "laid out"

I believe the next generation of ereaders should be better than printed books in terms of features AND usability.

If you had to dig through menus to turn pages, I'd agree. But for me, an ebook already wins in terms of usability: it's thin, no matter how many "pages" the book is; I don't have to worry about small margins making it hard to read near the spine; I barely have to move a hand to turn the page, and when I do, I can do it one handed; I can hold the book one handed, no matter how thick; I can read at night without a separate light (which would cast uneven shadows).

As far as I'm concerned, my reader does just about everything better than a book. As I mentioned, quick flipping is still superior in printed books, but I almost never need to do that. Other than that, I find the usability great. Lesser-used features are out of the way, but accessible, and the thing I do most (turning the page) is superior to a printed book, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm all for usability improvements, but I'm not convinced a book is somehow more usable than a Kindle.

[dickloraine]

Originally Posted by HarryHutton

Hi Colerson

No criticism of the features intended, simply the higgledy piggledy way they have been laid out, compared to the rather simple way the navigation features of a pbook are "laid out"

I believe the next generation of ereaders should be better than printed books in terms of features AND usability.

I don't understand why you think navigation is difficult on an ereader. I really can't think of a way to make it even more easy. You tip on the toc icon and then on the chapter. Why is this complicated? I don't get it. By the way, using a physical book is learned too. Since kids seem to be able to learn using both at ages they can't even read, I think both ways are pretty easy. Most of what you say just sounds biased and not objective. Instead of really explaining the "difficulty" you just state it using some adjectives.

[theducks]

I tend to run my K4 in inverted layout so that the Forward buttons are on the (Now) bottom.
This keeps my big hand from accidentally hitting the Back button when reaching for the Forward button.

Tapping to turn is FRUSTRATING: Ignored, Menus Appear, Dictionary appears. Seems like everything but just the Page turning by ONE PAGE

[RobertDDL]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Yes, that is why electronic devices have a search function. Flipping through is a terribly inelegant and inefficient way of searching for stuff.

Others have already mentioned charts and illustrations, but it also happens that I search for something in the text of which I have only a vague idea, not enough even for a regular expression to be useful, but, as dickloraine has said, I sometimes have a visual memory of where on a page this had been, what this page had looked like, where in the book it had been... can be frustrating enough with a pbook, but still easier, I think, than in an ebook. Of course, if you know what you are searching for, that's a different matter

(This still leaves serendipity, though -- opening an ebook on a random page just isn't the same...)

I hope that ebooks will improve -- getting much faster will help, I think. And, as you know, I'm all for large screens and PDF

[eschwartz]

Seems like a number of people agree that flipping through a pbook is superior to searching in two cases -- images and in order to stumble across something.

I won't argue the first. I don't usully find myself bored enough to do the second.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by HarryHutton

Try timing yourself as you search for something. It takes quite a while to bring up the menu, hit search, carefully type in the word(s) without typos, and select the right page from the results. Often, the users sense of context and physical location in a paper book allows them to quickly flip to the correct page in seconds. The key is to replicate this in an ereader.

My experience is that searching is quite fast, maybe I am just good at it?
Anyway, I wouldn't say flipping through the pbook takes significantly longer, but it certainly isn't advantageous... then too, I usually find myself searching for the kind of things that aren't anywhere in particular.

[RobertDDL]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I don't usully find myself bored enough to do the second.

Ah, but boredom is the mother of invention, isn't it?

Though I sometimes have other reasons, too, for trying to stumble across something particular...

[hannah]

I like both "navigations", on the pbooks and on my ereader.

I configured my H2O so I have to lefttap or swipe somewhere on the left 2/3 of the screen to go forward and on the right 1/3 to go back. It suits me that way and I can do it onehanded. My bebook mini has buttons but I have no real preference for them or for the toughscreen to turn pages. Both are less work than turning a pbook page, but that's only an advantage when having only one hand or no place to turn a page.

I never studied with an ereader so I have no opinion on going back and forward a lot and using lots of bookmarks. Out of habit I think I would prefer paper but not to have carry a lot of books around would probably change my mind.

For the charts and illustrations, should books (paper or ebooks) having lots of them not have an image index ?

This said, I prefer books with lots of images/charts to be paperbooks, but my reasons have nothing to do with navigation and all about how they are displayed on my ereader.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by RobertDDL

Ah, but boredom is the mother of invention, isn't it?

Nope, necessity is the mother of invention.

Boredom is the father of the impulse purchase.

[murg]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Nope, necessity is the mother of invention.

I thought Frank Zappa was the mother of invention...

[LadyKate]

As I read on a tablet I usually configure the two or three reader apps I use the same if possible.

I prefer to have tap left side to go forward, tap right side to go back, center touch to bring up more extensive functions.

This allows for comfortable one hand reading as using page back is less likely than paging forward.

It would irritate me greatly to not be able to configure how to navigate my ebook in the application I'm using.

[HarryHutton]

Originally Posted by LadyKate

As I read on a tablet I usually configure the two or three reader apps I use the same if possible.

I prefer to have tap left side to go forward, tap right side to go back, center touch to bring up more extensive functions.

This allows for comfortable one hand reading as using page back is less likely than paging forward.

It would irritate me greatly to not be able to configure how to navigate my ebook in the application I'm using.

What apps do you use?

[shalym]

Originally Posted by LadyKate

As I read on a tablet I usually configure the two or three reader apps I use the same if possible.

I prefer to have tap left side to go forward, tap right side to go back, center touch to bring up more extensive functions.

This allows for comfortable one hand reading as using page back is less likely than paging forward.

It would irritate me greatly to not be able to configure how to navigate my ebook in the application I'm using.

What do you do when you switch hands? Or do you just ALWAYS read with your left hand?

Shari

[LadyKate]

Originally Posted by shalym

What do you do when you switch hands? Or do you just ALWAYS read with your left hand?

Shari

Actually it is easy to switch the keys BUT I always read with the reader in my left hand. Rather like when I read dead wood books...

[DuncanWatson]

The kindle is pretty intuitive. I like how you can tap in 3/4 of the screen to move forward, since that is the most common and tip in a sliver on the left to move backward. The menu is the hardest part to get used to but that isn't when I am reading.

As far as for studying or comprehensive reading I prefer and eink reader to paper. Heck in my Mother-in-law's book club they rely on the "Kindle Girls" to look things up during discussion. And this is the >60 crowd.