What's the use case for an 8" screen? - Page 2

Dr. Drib · 08-09-2016, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Too small (for me at least) for most PDFs. It's the same screen size as the iPad Mini, which I replaced with a full-size iPad because I didn't find reading PDFs comfortable on the 7.9" screen.

But reading of epubs or AZW3 files on that size would be most welcome, for me. I thoroughly enjoy reading MOBI files on my ancient (when not malfunctioning) Kindle DX-G, to the point where I'm still considering purchasing the Boox Onyx N96 ml (w/front light) reader.

Having a Kobo reader, and one with better firmware than the Boox is capable of providing, and also Kobo with a more modern - but smaller screen - will be (I feel) a joy to read on. But NOT for PDFs, of course.

Barty · 08-10-2016, 12:53 AM

I use largish font so it'll be nice to have a bigger screen. Problem is it may be too big and heavy for me to hold in one hand, and too small to cradle / set on something. Remains to be seen.

If it has Pocket that'll be really good. RSS would really rock.

AnemicOak · 08-10-2016, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

With so many people liking the size of 6" readers, I wonder what the use case is for hard covers?

Door stops?

GeoffR · 08-10-2016, 01:36 AM

I find 6in is just a tad on the small side for reading novels. With fully-justified text a wider screen would allow more even word spacing and/or less hyphenation wihout reducing the font size, and in general a larger screen allows wider margins, wider line spacing, larger font size etc. without reducing the number of words on a page.

My eyes are still good so I think my next ereader will be 6.8in. However I can see when I get a bit older that a larger screen like 7.8in will be better.

robko · 08-10-2016, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barty

If it has Pocket that'll be really good.

It's almost a guarantee it will. Kobo devices use pretty much identical firmware so no reason to think this one won't have it like the others.

Luffy · 08-10-2016, 04:13 AM

I didn't know that the Aura was 6 8". I was wondering why it was more dear than the Glo HD. Now I know. I'd rather got both, but with the Aura One coming out, I guess Kobo Aura is off my shopping list.

MikeB1972 · 08-10-2016, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I see that the release of an (approximately) 8" device from Kobo seems likely to me imminent, but I'm wondering what that screen size is best suited for?

For me personally, a device with a 6" screen is pretty much perfect for novels. I can carry it around in my pocket (no comments, please, Jon!) and it's always with me. For reading reference material or PDFs, though, I find that a 9.7" screen is the right size. It allows me to read an A4/Letter-formatted page without zooming or scrolling (after I've cropped the margins).

8", though, seems to be neither fish nor fowl. It's too big to easily carry around, but too small for comfortable PDF reading. I'd be interested to know what people see the main use of such a screen size as being.

Trade paperback is 7.8"-8.5", so I'd say it's a good choice size for an already proven market, if it's a success I'd guess 10" for hardback next.

John F · 08-10-2016, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luffy

I didn't know that the Aura was 6 8". I was wondering why it was more dear than the Glo HD. Now I know. I'd rather got both, but with the Aura One coming out, I guess Kobo Aura is off my shopping list.

Just in case...

The original Aura is 6". The Aura HD and the Aura H2O are 6.8".

HarryT · 08-10-2016, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Quick question. Back when you had a Kindle 2 were you okay with the size when carrying around? I'm pretty sure Kobo's new larger screen device is within a few mm of that 6" reader in size (it is of course larger than more modern 6" devices).

I found that, when I had a Kobo H2O, it was a little too big to be able to slip it into my pocket, as I can with modern 6" readers. Hence my preference for such devices rather than larger devices such as the K2 you mention, and more modern devices with 6.8" screens. When it comes to fiction, for me at least, the reader you always have with you is the one that gets most use.

Of course everyone's tastes and requirements differ, and not everyone has a need (or a desire) to carry a reader in their pocket.

JoOrwick · 08-10-2016, 07:41 AM

I'd like to feel like I'm actually reading a book. Reading from 6" devices makes me feel like I'm reading from a smartphone. Paperbacks are usually 8" in size (not including the margins). In my opinion, the biggest advantage of a larger screen is that you can use larger fonts without having to flip the page every 15 seconds. You obviously get a lot more real estate which means more text on screen in general and fewer page flips. This can potentially save battery life.

I've been wanting a larger screen device for the longest time, but most of the companies selling them (Pocketbook, Onyx etc.) use old e-ink technology, dodgy frontlighting and very low resolution displays. We're finally getting a premium ~8" device and I'm very excited.

HarryT · 08-10-2016, 07:46 AM

It's worth noting that there are significant technical challenges to making a light diffuser work well on a screen as large as 8", hence the lack of stellar (pun intended

) lighting quality on the 8" devices that are already out there. We should perhaps wait and see how good the lighting is before assuming it'll be good.

Katsunami · 08-10-2016, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

8", though, seems to be neither fish nor fowl. It's too big to easily carry around, but too small for comfortable PDF reading. I'd be interested to know what people see the main use of such a screen size as being.

I've always (yes, *ALWAYS*) have my bag with me when I'm going somewhere. It contains at least the following:

E-Reader
Umbrella
Pen, Pencil, Paper
a strip of Ibuprofen tablets and 0.5L water
Phone (If I have trousers with too small pockets)

Thus carrying the reader around is not a problem.

For me, 8" would show more text. My eyesight is poor, so my fonts are larger than what would be normal in a paperback; I can read the smaller fonts, but why should I, if I have a choice?

The fact that the Kindle has useless font selection (5 is the only usable font, and in most books, it's still small, while 6 is huge), makes me consider every Kobo that is released. I've been using my KPW1 for 3,5 years now, but if the price is right, I might actually try an 8 inch reader and a Kobo in one fell swoop.

If I like it, so much the better. If I like it because it's a Kobo, but would like a smaller one, I can return it for the smaller Aura. If I don't like it at all, I can return it and keep the KPW1.

Maybe I'll try it, if it gets covers that I like (with no protrusions, metal, clasps, or outer magnets).

sakura-panda · 08-10-2016, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I see that the release of an (approximately) 8" device from Kobo seems likely to me imminent, but I'm wondering what that screen size is best suited for?

For me personally, a device with a 6" screen is pretty much perfect for novels. I can carry it around in my pocket (no comments, please, Jon!) and it's always with me. For reading reference material or PDFs, though, I find that a 9.7" screen is the right size. It allows me to read an A4/Letter-formatted page without zooming or scrolling (after I've cropped the margins).

8", though, seems to be neither fish nor fowl. It's too big to easily carry around, but too small for comfortable PDF reading. I'd be interested to know what people see the main use of such a screen size as being.

I've been hoping for an eink reader that is somewhere between 6" and 9"; I think that 8" would fit that well. Before ebooks, the books I read were exclusively trade paperback or hardcover. I didn't even consider MMPB sized books when I was browsing. I have a couple of [now discontinued 6"] ebook readers that were "good enough" until I started reading on a 9" NOOK HD+ and now I prefer to do all my reading on that, only because of its size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Of course everyone's tastes and requirements differ, and not everyone has a need (or a desire) to carry a reader in their pocket.

For many women, pockets really aren't a reasonable option, especially in "career" clothes.

I *always* have a bag on me, even when I only need to carry my phone and my keys, because most of the time I either don't have pockets in my clothes or they are too small to be useful.

Back on topic, my smartphone is so close to 6" that I feel like the 6" ebook reader is redundant and that a distinction in size (by going to 8") would make it more marketable, as well as be better suited to my personal preferences.

Phogg · 08-10-2016, 11:31 AM

I bought an Onyx Boox I86ml when it came out because eight inches is about right for manga.
A waterproof manga reader from Kobo would be nice.

theducks · 08-10-2016, 11:42 AM

I never understood why all you folk want to PAY Display prices for onscreen Margins

A 6" kindle has the WIDER display than a (1990's USA) paperback uses for PRINT.
The screen is SHORTER than that same standard page.

Note: I use the tweak/hack (also available from Calibre via the Kindle Collections PI) to reduce the side margins value from 40 to 10 (= 5 per side)
The text matches pretty much line for line (+/-font face variations)

a Plastic bezel is a lot cheaper than paying for a e-ink display of a larger size, JUST to display... Nothing

So, why must there be full sized e-Ink (side) margins??

08-10-2016, 07:41 AM	#25
JoOrwick Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 94656 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Croatia Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 3 (2015)	I'd like to feel like I'm actually reading a book. Reading from 6" devices makes me feel like I'm reading from a smartphone. Paperbacks are usually 8" in size (not including the margins). In my opinion, the biggest advantage of a larger screen is that you can use larger fonts without having to flip the page every 15 seconds. You obviously get a lot more real estate which means more text on screen in general and fewer page flips. This can potentially save battery life. I've been wanting a larger screen device for the longest time, but most of the companies selling them (Pocketbook, Onyx etc.) use old e-ink technology, dodgy frontlighting and very low resolution displays. We're finally getting a premium ~8" device and I'm very excited. Last edited by JoOrwick; 08-10-2016 at 07:43 AM.

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08-10-2016, 12:53 AM	#17
Barty doofus Posts: 2,555 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	I use largish font so it'll be nice to have a bigger screen. Problem is it may be too big and heavy for me to hold in one hand, and too small to cradle / set on something. Remains to be seen. If it has Pocket that'll be really good. RSS would really rock.

08-10-2016, 01:36 AM	#19
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	I find 6in is just a tad on the small side for reading novels. With fully-justified text a wider screen would allow more even word spacing and/or less hyphenation wihout reducing the font size, and in general a larger screen allows wider margins, wider line spacing, larger font size etc. without reducing the number of words on a page. My eyes are still good so I think my next ereader will be 6.8in. However I can see when I get a bit older that a larger screen like 7.8in will be better.

08-10-2016, 04:13 AM	#21
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,468 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	I didn't know that the Aura was 6 8". I was wondering why it was more dear than the Glo HD. Now I know. I'd rather got both, but with the Aura One coming out, I guess Kobo Aura is off my shopping list.

08-10-2016, 07:46 AM	#26
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's worth noting that there are significant technical challenges to making a light diffuser work well on a screen as large as 8", hence the lack of stellar (pun intended ) lighting quality on the 8" devices that are already out there. We should perhaps wait and see how good the lighting is before assuming it'll be good.

08-10-2016, 11:31 AM	#29
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I bought an Onyx Boox I86ml when it came out because eight inches is about right for manga. A waterproof manga reader from Kobo would be nice.

08-10-2016, 11:42 AM	#30
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,267 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I never understood why all you folk want to PAY Display prices for onscreen Margins A 6" kindle has the WIDER display than a (1990's USA) paperback uses for PRINT. The screen is SHORTER than that same standard page. Note: I use the tweak/hack (also available from Calibre via the Kindle Collections PI) to reduce the side margins value from 40 to 10 (= 5 per side) The text matches pretty much line for line (+/-font face variations) a Plastic bezel is a lot cheaper than paying for a e-ink display of a larger size, JUST to display... Nothing So, why must there be full sized e-Ink (side) margins??