It is the Worst of Times for Reading EBooks

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

Those two sentences directly contradict each other. If "most are quite happy," then how could that be "likely not a good solution for most"? Most = most and if they're happy, who's to say there's a problem?
...
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It's not a contradiction at all. I was saying that using Calibre and sideloading ebooks is not a good solution for most readers. Instead, they are quite happy using whichever ebook store is associated with their device.

[Nausicaa]

I don't like a device like an ebook reader because of its constant delays. Its way too slow for me to enjoy reading. I don't really like eink I found out after years of using it. I would have a bad experience with it and buy another one thinking that it would be better for me and it would be, but not enough for me to use it.

Monochrome displays have done what eink has done for many years (my iPod mini was notably visible in the sunlight) but with worse battery life. Since I don't read that much, its not a big deal to charge something when I am charging other stuff too. What I think OP and I expected was cooler devices. We have slightly higher refresh rates with higher resolution, same battery life and same price so its really a boring field.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Nausicaa

I don't like a device like an ebook reader because of its constant delays. Its way too slow for me to enjoy reading. I don't really like eink I found out after years of using it. I would have a bad experience with it and buy another one thinking that it would be better for me and it would be, but not enough for me to use it. <snip>.

I am not sure what your issue is. Even my ancient Astak (vizplex) did page turns about as fast as I could flip a page on my paperback. True, it did not have opposing pages, so there were double the page 'turns'. But they were brisk. (Note: I still don't use animated 'flips'. on any device that supports those)

Was you content image or chart heavy? That would slow things down.

[Deskisamess]

I've used various e-ink readers since 2009, and have never noticed "constant delays" when reading.

Other navigation on the device such as adjusting settings etc. is noticeably slower than a smart phone or tablet, but when using a reader for reading, page turns are as fast as necessary.

[Nausicaa]

Originally Posted by theducks

I am not sure what your issue is. Even my ancient Astak (vizplex) did page turns about as fast as I could flip a page on my paperback. True, it did not have opposing pages, so there were double the page 'turns'. But they were brisk. (Note: I still don't use animated 'flips'. on any device that supports those)

Was you content image or chart heavy? That would slow things down.

I am not comparing it to a paperback, its compared to what I usually use for reading, LCDs with nearly instant changes. It makes it impossible to search or do anything aside from reading, and it detracts from my reading experience. Lets say you found a word you wanted to look up. Before you would dig out a dictionary and flip through pages. Now you can highlight the eink reader, probably fumbling and then selecting it finally, searching on the device itself and finding it after a bit of the screen being slow and flashing. If your expectations went from a book its great. Instead on a fast device with fast screen, you can do all that, and find more information on google or wikipedia with updated information. And forget about browsing on it, I would have loved to have an eink internet device, but its awful for that purpose.

Reading has become more than just reading text unless you are doing pleasure reading. Reading anything technical is frustrating.

[Deskisamess]

Lets say you found a word you wanted to look up. Before you would dig out a dictionary and flip through pages. Now you can highlight the eink reader, probably fumbling and then selecting it finally, searching on the device itself and finding it after a bit of the screen being slow and flashing.

Reading on my Oasis, I see a word I need to look up. I touch and hold the word, and the dictionary definition pops up. There is no fumbling, no flashing. It is fairly seamless and quick. Along with the definition window, there are two more windows to the right, Wiki, and Translation. The latter two need a connection.

But there is nothing fumbling or difficult about the process. It takes less than a full second.

This process can seem odd to a new user, but after a few attempts, it's easy and quick.

It is virtually the same process on my iPad or iPhone using the Kindle app.

[Nausicaa]

That's assuming it goes perfectly. I fumble with the highlighting, accidentally click and go to another page, or have the wrong word. With more complex terms, I will dig out my phone to look it up. I also don't use the wifi on it because I don't want it to automatically update.

I think the intention of having a device that is perfect for reading is great, but the execution was not for me. I prefer scrolling (for pictures and the text that goes with it). Honestly, I am not sure why I don't prefer using it. I think its too slow for me, but works great for pleasure reading.

[Deskisamess]

That's assuming it goes perfectly. I fumble with the highlighting, accidentally click and go to another page, or have the wrong word.

None of that is a limitation of the device. You can't blame the device if you're the one who has problems operating it. My husband is not a huge fan of touch screens. But the Kindles don't seem to present the same issues for him BECAUSE they are slower in response time.

When I sometimes read on my iPhone 7+, I like the scrolling option, because of how I hold the phone. But I don't miss that option on larger devices or my Kindles. I don't use it if I'm reading on my iPad mini.

[4691mls]

Perhaps the difficulty highlighting or looking up a word in the dictionary is due to large hands & thick fingers? That could make it difficult to select just one word. I personally haven't had an issue with these functions but then I have small hands.

I don't think anyone would argue with the statement that eink readers are not good for internet browsing. I doubt you would find many people who use their eReaders for that purpose. I use my smartphone or PC for internet browsing.

[teija]

Why would anyone buy an eInk device to use for internet browsing?? It is just a side-thing that they "sort of" do, but definitely not their main purpose nor do they do it well. Same with the built-in games: nice to have, but many will never use it.

[4691mls]

I figure eink readers have internet capability for the purpose of obtaining books from a connected store or library. I wouldn't try to use the browser for anything more than that.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by teija

Why would anyone buy an eInk device to use for internet browsing?? It is just a side-thing that they "sort of" do, but definitely not their main purpose nor do they do it well. Same with the built-in games: nice to have, but many will never use it.

It gives them something to gripe about? I've seen quite a few complaints that amount to "my phone/tablet/whatever plays full colour, full motion videos at 60FPS with Dolby 7.1 audio and my lousy ereader doesn't". I suspect that they are the type who complain that their vise-grips make a lousy hammer and their hammer makes a lousy screwdriver.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by DNSB

It gives them something to gripe about? I've seen quite a few complaints that amount to "my phone/tablet/whatever plays full colour, full motion videos at 60FPS with Dolby 7.1 audio and my lousy ereader doesn't". I suspect that they are the type who complain that their vise-grips make a lousy hammer and their hammer makes a lousy screwdriver.

The only joy some people have in life is to complain.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I don't think anyone would argue with the statement that eink readers are not good for internet browsing. I doubt you would find many people who use their eReaders for that purpose. I use my smartphone or PC for internet browsing.

I think most of what i call casual internet browsing (not booking a flight or buying a physical book from amazon) is made of two different kinds of actions.
Searching for some informations on a topic, and then reading it.
Usually i do research with google, on a computer, then when i found something longer than a page, i use an application like Pocket to save the url.
When the research is finished, i have no problem launching Pocket on my Onyx Nova and read the collected articles with the ereader browser.

[Nausicaa]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I figure eink readers have internet capability for the purpose of obtaining books from a connected store or library. I wouldn't try to use the browser for anything more than that.

Why only books? I read articles and would love to browse a news site on a ereader. Wouldn't you love a digital newspaper?

Originally Posted by DNSB

It gives them something to gripe about? I've seen quite a few complaints that amount to "my phone/tablet/whatever plays full colour, full motion videos at 60FPS with Dolby 7.1 audio and my lousy ereader doesn't". I suspect that they are the type who complain that their vise-grips make a lousy hammer and their hammer makes a lousy screwdriver.

Its more that my cell phone has evolved from a thing to call and text into a computer that is more powerful than a desktop from a few years ago to my 5 year old chucks that hasn't changed. I wanted an evolution of the way I read, a browser that can allow me to read news sites and sites I like visiting is still not a standard good experience. My kindle in 2010 could browse the web poorly, had a keyboard and page turn buttons, data syncing for books and had a 6in eink display. My kindle now can browse the web poorly, has data syncing for books, a higher resolution 6in eink display with frontlight, the loss of physical buttons and a touchscreen. In some ways its regressed while my phone has improved.

With AMOLED displays, its even better for night time reading, although it would be nice if a device that can read in the sun could show me my favorite sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBEtPQDQNcI
Like you said, my screwdriver makes a bad hammer, would like to see the hammer invented!