Kindle (And Ereaders) Advantage on the Subway - Page 2

HansTWN · 09-04-2009, 07:46 PM

Hitting a mugger over the head with an eReader works better than with an iPhone. Besides, I wonder why they have no signal, in subways in other cities (HK, for example) you can get a very good 3.5G/GPRS connection. The US really is falling behind.

dmaul1114 · 09-04-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

The subway isn't all that crime ridden.

Personally I like that with an e-reader, no one knows what I'm reading. There are a lot of loud mouths who think they're entitled to comment on the cover of every book I have open.

Yeah, it's not the 80s or early 90s anymore. NYC is pretty safe these days relative to other major cities.

dmaul1114 · 09-04-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Hitting a mugger over the head with an eReader works better than with an iPhone. Besides, I wonder why they have no signal, in subways in other cities (HK, for example) you can get a very good 3.5G/GPRS connection. The US really is falling behind.

Some US subways do. Most of the DC metro has cell signal--at least with Verizon.

DawnFalcon · 09-05-2009, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

The subway isn't all that crime ridden.

Personally I like that with an e-reader, no one knows what I'm reading. There are a lot of loud mouths who think they're entitled to comment on the cover of every book I have open.

That's why I use an opaque dust jacket. Honestly, some of the silly comments you get for scifi books... oh, and let's not forget the books with scantily-clad ladies on the cover (usually nothing to do with the storyline), which is ungood in some situations.

Crowl · 09-05-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Some US subways do. Most of the DC metro has cell signal--at least with Verizon.

I must say that I prefer underground systems that don't have connectivity, I can't get my emails, but at least the moron who feels the need to shout their inane conversation can't make any calls.

poohbear_nc · 09-05-2009, 10:34 AM

An impressive feature of this article, regardless of how the author's comments on internet connectivity were meant, is the observation that people are READING - even in the (allegedly) unconnected and (allegedly) dangerous environment of the subway.

Scholars have posited that storytelling is a defining feature of humanity. Can we add that reading the stories are also part of our humanity as well? In whatever medium the reading takes place? (Cue Ray Bradbury here?)

dmaul1114 · 09-05-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowl

I must say that I prefer underground systems that don't have connectivity, I can't get my emails, but at least the moron who feels the need to shout their inane conversation can't make any calls.

I've personally never gotten why it bothers people.

No different that people loudly talking to each other on the subway, and they're already noisy as hell.

tompe · 09-05-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I've personally never gotten why it bothers people.

No different that people loudly talking to each other on the subway, and they're already noisy as hell.

There is a big difference. Hearing just one side of the conversion will grab more of your attention then hearing a full conversation and it is much harder to filter away half a conversation. Google for some research about this if you want to read more about it.

Blue Tyson · 09-05-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

That's why I use an opaque dust jacket. Honestly, some of the silly comments you get for scifi books... oh, and let's not forget the books with scantily-clad ladies on the cover (usually nothing to do with the storyline), which is ungood in some situations.

Interesting, people in the Northern Hemisphere seem to complain about this a lot. Are public transport users ruder there or something?

I've never had this happen to me.

My response to comments like that from people certainly would not be polite!

doreenjoy · 09-05-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

Interesting, people in the Northern Hemisphere seem to complain about this a lot. Are public transport users ruder there or something?

I've never had this happen to me.

My response to comments like that from people certainly would not be polite!

WARNING: Gross simplification follows.

I wouldn't say people in the US are ruder, but there is a tendency to let things "all hang out." I've seen people go up to smokers and lecture them on the evils of smoking. On the subway you'll hear commentary on how the train operator is driving the car, how hot it is, and all about the speaker's last colonoscopy or last night's one-night stand.

I've noticed in the EU, there is far less conversation between strangers in public, and even among acquaintances you won't hear people discussing personal topics.

I used to joke that if a train stalls between stations in NYC, riders will elect a representative to go to the driver's car and find out what's going on, then come back and give us a report. If a train stalls in the UK, there will be dead silence as everyone tries to avoid eye contact with each other.

JSWolf · 09-05-2009, 10:21 PM

I risde the subway in Boston and I do bring my 505 with me and read while I ride. I see a lot of others reading. Most are reading the Metro which is a free local newspaper. Others are reading books. A lot are texting. Not many people have a reader with them.

I like it when I have my reader handy and see people hauling around these great big heavy hardcover books.

doreenjoy · 09-06-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I risde the subway in Boston and I do bring my 505 with me and read while I ride. I see a lot of others reading. Most are reading the Metro which is a free local newspaper. Others are reading books. A lot are texting. Not many people have a reader with them.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ional-airport/.

I have a friend who likes carrying multiple books and journals around with her, so she can read/write whatever she's in the mood for as she's out during the day. I do the same thing .... the only difference is she carries one entire tote bag dedicated to books and journals, and I carry one E-reader and one Moleskine notebook.

Crowl · 09-06-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I've personally never gotten why it bothers people.

No different that people loudly talking to each other on the subway, and they're already noisy as hell.

The people talking loudly to each other on the train are also annoying, so are the people who don't know how to fit their headphones properly, but phonecalls are probably a bit more annoying as its a bit harder to tune them out since its only the one half that is noisy.

Crowl · 09-06-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

I used to joke that if a train stalls between stations in NYC, riders will elect a representative to go to the driver's car and find out what's going on, then come back and give us a report. If a train stalls in the UK, there will be dead silence as everyone tries to avoid eye contact with each other.

If there are train problems in the uk, the travellers will assume the driver has no idea whats going on and just get on with their book, paper or whatever, chalking things up to the joys of public transport.

fugazied · 09-06-2009, 07:39 PM

It's not exactly a rebuttal to 'people don't read anymore', because the main people not reading are the young. I'm really worried about the low reading rates in people below 25. Most of the people commuting and reading were over that age undoubtedly.

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09-04-2009, 07:46 PM	#16
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	Hitting a mugger over the head with an eReader works better than with an iPhone. Besides, I wonder why they have no signal, in subways in other cities (HK, for example) you can get a very good 3.5G/GPRS connection. The US really is falling behind.

09-05-2009, 10:34 AM	#21
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,473 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	An impressive feature of this article, regardless of how the author's comments on internet connectivity were meant, is the observation that people are READING - even in the (allegedly) unconnected and (allegedly) dangerous environment of the subway. Scholars have posited that storytelling is a defining feature of humanity. Can we add that reading the stories are also part of our humanity as well? In whatever medium the reading takes place? (Cue Ray Bradbury here?)

09-05-2009, 10:21 PM	#26
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,792 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I risde the subway in Boston and I do bring my 505 with me and read while I ride. I see a lot of others reading. Most are reading the Metro which is a free local newspaper. Others are reading books. A lot are texting. Not many people have a reader with them. I like it when I have my reader handy and see people hauling around these great big heavy hardcover books.

09-06-2009, 07:39 PM	#30
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	It's not exactly a rebuttal to 'people don't read anymore', because the main people not reading are the young. I'm really worried about the low reading rates in people below 25. Most of the people commuting and reading were over that age undoubtedly.