How to read comfortably on a tablet - Page 2

induna · 12-23-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I will acknowledge that not everybody can read on a tablet or phone just as soon as eink advocates stop implying that for "serious" or "hardcore" readers, eink is the only logical choice. The implications that tablet/phone readers must not be as "avid" (or must not read for the same lengths of time) as dedicated eink users is just as insulting as assuming those who claim to not be able to read comfortably on backlit lcds can't operate a dimmer setting. Same same.

For my part, there's just some deply-ingrained dogma (based on pseudo-science, confirmation bias and early adoption) that heralds eInk as the only choice for the "avid/serious" ereader that I find annoying as hell. I don't see any difference between that and the book sniffers who say the same thing about pbooks vs ebooks. It's pointless. So yeah... maybe no one in this particular thread is guily of it, but there's a pervading sentiment in ereader land that those of who read on lcd must only be "dabblers", and that makes some of us kick up our heels a little. It'll pass though. Just as soon as the myth of eink's inherent (and universal) superiority dies the death it deserves.

*NOTE* I hope the myth dies, not the technology. I hope everybody's favorite reading technology is around for a long time to come.

And why should these opinions, no matter how unjustified they appear, possibly matter so much to you? Seriously, I could give rat's behind what anyone thinks about any of my gadgets, or about me as person because of them (of course the latter is really laughable). I like e-ink readers, and have used one since the PRS-500. So what? You like reading on a tablet ¡Buenísimo!

I certainly hope that some type of very low power, non-backlight screen technology survives that allows for devices with exceptionally long battery life. I, personally, also like to read on a single purpose device. I find it less distracting and more immersive. JMO

DiapDealer · 12-23-2015, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by induna

And why should these opinions, no matter how unjustified they appear, possibly matter so much to you?

Ah... the old "why do you care about these opinions so much (said the person who cared so much about my opinion that they couldn't resist responding to it)" paradox!

Quote:

Originally Posted by induna

I like e-ink readers, and have used one since the PRS-500. So what? You like reading on a tablet ¡Buenísimo!

Exactly! We agree. The rest is nonsense (which I'll address as such whenever I encounter it).

cvkemp · 12-23-2015, 05:28 PM

Who really knows what the companies will dream up and try to push, mostly down the throats of people that could careless about how good the produce it all they care about is being one of the first to have what ever it is that is new. I do not remember when the IPhone came out but I did not get one until 5s, same with the IPad I waited until the air 2. Same with tablets did not get one until the Nexus 7 2013. I got my for e-ink in 2008 I believe, and my first Kindle in 2010. I do not buy every new one that comes out. I only buy when I have too, or finally decide the time is right. I even drive an 9 year old car. But I will say when I do buy it is the new one at that time.

And by the way I care less about what anyone else uses, and I could care if you like what I use. What matters is that I use what works for me and you use what works for you. And neither you or I can ever control what the companies do. Most of the time if you see it advertised today it will be obsolete by this even and the companies are already designing the 4 th or 5th gen of it down the line.

Cinisajoy · 12-23-2015, 05:39 PM

The way to read on anything. Look at the words. That is all it takes.

Freeshadow · 12-23-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

How 'bout I just say I don't like reading on a tablet? (Unless I'm reading a PDF.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Remember the days of 'Glass Teletypes'?
This sounds Familiar

(normal text)

Green on dark (shades of IBM 3270

)
Blueish White on dark (mainly DEC)
Amber on dark (others)

Amber! Seriously, how could anyone prefer green?!

As I remember an amber CRT from my school, and also remember that I liked the color for reading, I tried to replicate it as close as possible for some of my uses (IRC client, Linux console etc.)

The values I use are: B89000 (R: 185; G: 128; B:00)
If you have better ones, or even a still working original to check, you're more than welcome to correct mine.

I think I posted it already in a similar MR thread, but for the sake of better search results repost them here.

disconnected · 12-24-2015, 12:47 AM

There’s a hierarchy of reader-seriousness even within the e-ink faction.

A truly serious reader does not want any wasted space on pages – no titles, page numbers, paragraph breaks, margins, any white space at all.

Never mind progress bars or any indication of the length of the book, a worthwhile book is as long as it needs to be; it will end when it should end.

Book covers are another lamentable waste of space; only content matters.

Reading efficiency is important. The ereader should be held and operated with one hand with no unnecessary pauses to put down a coffee cup or a baby to free up a second hand to turn the page.

I do slightly prefer e-ink (although not knowing any better I spent many happy years reading on Pocket PC and phone screens) but I’m irredeemably frivolous. I just want to wallow in my Golden Age mysteries, attractively spaced on the page with the title at the top. In between books (or chapters even) I often pause to admire my book covers; I’d like them even better if they were in color.

crossi · 12-24-2015, 06:01 AM

Never mind the screen, I don't like reading on my Fire because of the weight. It just is not as comfortable to hold and carry around as my uncovered kindle (yes I've heard the warnings about breakage but I've carried my kindle keyboard around in an ovenmitt since they first came out). I also dislike the tablet interface in all it's manifestations, all of them, every brand from Ipads to Fires. Give me a mouse, or at least buttons, or give me death. Also my Fire always seems to have low batteries at inconvenient times so when I (rarely) take my Fire somewhere I also take it's charger (more weight) and my Kindle. Actually since the Fire is just sitting on it's shelf most times for months, I have to remember to charge it before I take it somewhere if I have time.

leebase · 12-24-2015, 09:18 AM

I've never had a problem with the "I don't prefer tablets to eInk" crowd. It's the "science proves..." crowd that bother me, along with the "serious readers..." crowd.

So, yes, I put up instructions knowing that SOME people will not have known to even try to make the experience more comfortable. Just like back when I was reading on my iPhone 3GS and the librarian asked "how can you read on a phone". I put the phone inside a book and asked her "which has the larger words"? Because she didn't know that you could change the font size.

The bullcrap that reflected light is easier on the eyes is a fallacy and the result of terrible "science". What is easy on the eyes is light that is in balance between your reading material and the room. You can achieve that by adjusting the output on your tablet - as my first image shows.

Cinisajoy · 12-24-2015, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossi

Never mind the screen, I don't like reading on my Fire because of the weight. It just is not as comfortable to hold and carry around as my uncovered kindle (yes I've heard the warnings about breakage but I've carried my kindle keyboard around in an ovenmitt since they first came out). I also dislike the tablet interface in all it's manifestations, all of them, every brand from Ipads to Fires. Give me a mouse, or at least buttons, or give me death. Also my Fire always seems to have low batteries at inconvenient times so when I (rarely) take my Fire somewhere I also take it's charger (more weight) and my Kindle. Actually since the Fire is just sitting on it's shelf most times for months, I have to remember to charge it before I take it somewhere if I have time.

I see your oven mitt and raise you a quilted placemat folded in half.

murg · 12-24-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

How 'bout I just say I don't like reading on a tablet? (Unless I'm reading a PDF.)

Amber! Seriously, how could anyone prefer green?!

I used some form of amber plastic film (from a printing process) to convert a white CRT to amber. This was back when the amber ones were first starting to come out, were more expensive, and were very difficult to find.

yonkyunior · 12-25-2015, 07:53 AM

comfortable?

reading in good couch and position will make me comfort reading with any device for long time. why e-ink is much comfortable for longer reading than any device?

if e-ink is much better, and i have just tablet or the same thing, the best move is just set the setting to mimic the e-ink behavior ( brightness, contrast, etc )

and i dont mind to change the font, i found [link deleted - MODERATOR] give me more comfort, i am still using it now, maybe i just get used to it, because i changed to others, but i keep comfort using the first.

AnotherCat · 12-25-2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

...The bullcrap that reflected light is easier on the eyes is a fallacy and the result of terrible "science".

But those of us that understand the quantum mechanics of wave-particle duality know very well that for reflected light the photons behave as waves and so those pass in a kindly way into the eye, but those of emitted light behave as particles and so drill damaging holes through ones eyes as they pass into it.

Tarana · 12-26-2015, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

The bullcrap that reflected light is easier on the eyes is a fallacy and the result of terrible "science". What is easy on the eyes is light that is in balance between your reading material and the room. You can achieve that by adjusting the output on your tablet - as my first image shows.

It's not bullcrap. If you have damage to your eyes, you quickly learn why some things are harder on the eyes than others. The fact that YOU don't perceive it that way has a lot to do with being young and having healthy eyes. I think it's useful to advise folks that there are ways to adjust your tablet to improve your reading experience since not everybody finds these things out automatically.

Barbara1955 · 12-26-2015, 01:34 AM

Amazon Phone... Light dim 1/2 way> Green/Blue background> Helvetica...A tap 8-9 times for size. I can read on it from Full Battery till Dead Battery about 8 hours. I can also read in Bright sunlight except the light has to be on Full Brightness. Then I get about 6 hours.

Blossom · 12-26-2015, 03:17 AM

I'm one who can not look at a black background or my eyes see blinds literally. I can read on a tablet or phone but it has to have a high ppi. I use a paperback background with black text or Sepia and I use minimum brightness. In low light this okay but in high lighting the tablet just isn't best for reading like eInk is. This is mostly due to a mirror effect of seeing yourself in the background of your shiny device. It can cause eye strain for me. I have switch to eInk for this reason. The only time I ever turn up brightness on my tablets is when watching a video.

12-23-2015, 05:28 PM	#18
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,430 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	Who really knows what the companies will dream up and try to push, mostly down the throats of people that could careless about how good the produce it all they care about is being one of the first to have what ever it is that is new. I do not remember when the IPhone came out but I did not get one until 5s, same with the IPad I waited until the air 2. Same with tablets did not get one until the Nexus 7 2013. I got my for e-ink in 2008 I believe, and my first Kindle in 2010. I do not buy every new one that comes out. I only buy when I have too, or finally decide the time is right. I even drive an 9 year old car. But I will say when I do buy it is the new one at that time. And by the way I care less about what anyone else uses, and I could care if you like what I use. What matters is that I use what works for me and you use what works for you. And neither you or I can ever control what the companies do. Most of the time if you see it advertised today it will be obsolete by this even and the companies are already designing the 4 th or 5th gen of it down the line. Last edited by cvkemp; 12-23-2015 at 05:32 PM.

12-25-2015, 07:53 AM	#26
yonkyunior Cultivator Posts: 94 Karma: 216 Join Date: Feb 2015 Device: PRST2	comfortable? reading in good couch and position will make me comfort reading with any device for long time. why e-ink is much comfortable for longer reading than any device? if e-ink is much better, and i have just tablet or the same thing, the best move is just set the setting to mimic the e-ink behavior ( brightness, contrast, etc ) and i dont mind to change the font, i found [link deleted - MODERATOR] give me more comfort, i am still using it now, maybe i just get used to it, because i changed to others, but i keep comfort using the first. Last edited by Dr. Drib; 12-25-2015 at 12:22 PM.

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12-23-2015, 05:39 PM	#19
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	The way to read on anything. Look at the words. That is all it takes.

12-24-2015, 12:47 AM	#21
disconnected Fanatic Posts: 527 Karma: 4504715 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: US Device: Kobo Forma, Libra, H2O2e2, Clara, Auras, Kindles, Nooks, Sony, iPAQ	There’s a hierarchy of reader-seriousness even within the e-ink faction. A truly serious reader does not want any wasted space on pages – no titles, page numbers, paragraph breaks, margins, any white space at all. Never mind progress bars or any indication of the length of the book, a worthwhile book is as long as it needs to be; it will end when it should end. Book covers are another lamentable waste of space; only content matters. Reading efficiency is important. The ereader should be held and operated with one hand with no unnecessary pauses to put down a coffee cup or a baby to free up a second hand to turn the page. I do slightly prefer e-ink (although not knowing any better I spent many happy years reading on Pocket PC and phone screens) but I’m irredeemably frivolous. I just want to wallow in my Golden Age mysteries, attractively spaced on the page with the title at the top. In between books (or chapters even) I often pause to admire my book covers; I’d like them even better if they were in color.

12-24-2015, 06:01 AM	#22
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	Never mind the screen, I don't like reading on my Fire because of the weight. It just is not as comfortable to hold and carry around as my uncovered kindle (yes I've heard the warnings about breakage but I've carried my kindle keyboard around in an ovenmitt since they first came out). I also dislike the tablet interface in all it's manifestations, all of them, every brand from Ipads to Fires. Give me a mouse, or at least buttons, or give me death. Also my Fire always seems to have low batteries at inconvenient times so when I (rarely) take my Fire somewhere I also take it's charger (more weight) and my Kindle. Actually since the Fire is just sitting on it's shelf most times for months, I have to remember to charge it before I take it somewhere if I have time.

12-24-2015, 09:18 AM	#23
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I've never had a problem with the "I don't prefer tablets to eInk" crowd. It's the "science proves..." crowd that bother me, along with the "serious readers..." crowd. So, yes, I put up instructions knowing that SOME people will not have known to even try to make the experience more comfortable. Just like back when I was reading on my iPhone 3GS and the librarian asked "how can you read on a phone". I put the phone inside a book and asked her "which has the larger words"? Because she didn't know that you could change the font size. The bullcrap that reflected light is easier on the eyes is a fallacy and the result of terrible "science". What is easy on the eyes is light that is in balance between your reading material and the room. You can achieve that by adjusting the output on your tablet - as my first image shows.

12-26-2015, 01:34 AM	#29
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Amazon Phone... Light dim 1/2 way> Green/Blue background> Helvetica...A tap 8-9 times for size. I can read on it from Full Battery till Dead Battery about 8 hours. I can also read in Bright sunlight except the light has to be on Full Brightness. Then I get about 6 hours.

12-26-2015, 03:17 AM	#30
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I'm one who can not look at a black background or my eyes see blinds literally. I can read on a tablet or phone but it has to have a high ppi. I use a paperback background with black text or Sepia and I use minimum brightness. In low light this okay but in high lighting the tablet just isn't best for reading like eInk is. This is mostly due to a mirror effect of seeing yourself in the background of your shiny device. It can cause eye strain for me. I have switch to eInk for this reason. The only time I ever turn up brightness on my tablets is when watching a video.