Poll: Touchscreen or Buttons (E-ink)

[OtterBooks]

I didn't want to polarize the issue into all-or-nothing, while at the same time avoiding the long list of options needed to cover every degree of preference. I chose page-turn buttons/touch combo because pageturn seemed to be the biggest physical button preference, and it made the poll loosely reflect the types of navigation found in current popular devices.

Unfortunately this resulted in an option that no-doubt comprises opinions that range from "I prefer not to touch the screen, but I suppose I wouldn't mind it there for occasional use" to "I prefer touchscreen, but I wouldn't mind buttons for some functions or occasional use."

Hence, Option 2 could likely be divided between people who lean more towards Option 1, and people who lean more towards Option 3. Due to the variations, I felt it best to leave the details for people to express in discussion.

[JSWolf]

I'm guessing that a lot of the people who voted I like touchscreen, but with physical page-turn buttons. have not used an eink touch with IR and don't really know that it really doesn't show fingerprints and that once they get to using such, will not need the page turn buttons and if there are any won't really use them. I'd like to see all the people who voted for page turn buttons with the touch revote after spending say 2 or 3 weeks with a touch screen reader. I bet the numbers would change.

[ApK]

I only had the patience to go back and multi-quote the first 8 pages.
If people like this would simply acknowledge all the counter examples they've been given, it would have been a much shorter, and equally usefully discussion. But instead they keep restating their opinions as fact, as if all experiences counter to theirs are irrelevant aberrations not worth even the courtesy of acknowledgement. (See post immediately above, as if on cue.)

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You really don't see fingerprints all that much on a Pearl screen. It shouldn't be an issue.

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Do you "hands off" people dip you hands in a jar of peanut butter before you read?

It is not an issue. Touch screen FTW!

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

I reckon, reading the posts, that if you've already got a kindle
(stuck with one ? ) - you aren't going to say you want a touchscreen, & if you've a Sony. Nook, Kobo etc... ( yes, you deserve one ) you aint going to say you would rather have a keyboard !

Originally Posted by Harmon

So my overall conclusion is that there is NO situation in which buttons are actually superior to touch;

Originally Posted by Harmon

But I don't see the point in adding page turn buttons to a device that is built around touch

Originally Posted by djgreedo

I can't imagine anyone asserting that it is easier to use the clicky buttons to visit a footnote link halfway down the page than simply touching the little superscript number with your finger.
[...]Anything that involves the buttons on the Kindle is truly tedious (besides page turns).

[astra]

I voted for

I like touchscreen, but with physical page-turn buttons.

because I see using page-turn buttons as an alternative. On a whim, certain circumstances, etc. Mind you, the question is about physical page-turn buttons only. It is not a general usage of touch screen vs. physical buttons.

Spoiler:

I believe this poll is very precise. The way Sony Reader PRS 3/650 is made is 98% perfect for me. The only physical button I miss is a History button. Then again it is a battery usage to its bare minimum miser in me speaks . Accessing History is not a problem or time consuming, only a few clicks away. Home and Options buttons are a must and Sony recognises it and put them in place

I would say that I use physical page-turn buttons vs. touch screen swipe 60/40. Out of 40% of physical usage, 1/2 is the old habit. Sometimes I catch myself on using buttons instead of screen (because the buttons are placed in exactly the same place where the buttons were located on PRS-505 that I used for 3 years daily!) and start using screen, because it more convenient. This happens when the buttons are inconvenient in comparison to swiping, it only takes me some time to realise why and what I am doing, because the old habits die hard. Just because I sometimes use physical page-turn buttons instead of touch screen, it no way hints that I

prefer non-touch for at least some purposes

It is only a nice, not a necessary, alternative to have for 20% of the ebbok reader usage.
I repeat myself, just in case there is a misunderstanding and as a reminder, in this particular poll for at least some purposes is physical page-turn buttons is the only function we discuss.

I sincerely hope I made myself clear enough this time.

[astra]

Originally Posted by ApK

I only had the patience to go back and multi-quote the first 8 pages.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You really don't see fingerprints all that much on a Pearl screen. It shouldn't be an issue.

This is
There is no way around it. It is a fact.
I, myself, belonged to the camp who always said that I would hate touch screen because I would see fingerprints. I bought 650 because it had additional features that I wanted, such as search, dictionary, a better epub support i.e., one side justification fixed and more powerful h/w. However, I was dreading seeing my fingerprints. What followed was really funny. I remembered this my "dread" about two weeks after actively using 650. I realised then that I didn't see the fingerprints. As JSWolf said somewhere else, you can see them more when you switch off the reader but they are virtually invisible when reading and there are very little of them in the first place probably because of technical characteristics of the latest Sony screen.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by astra

Just because I sometimes use physical page-turn buttons instead of touch screen, it no way hints that I

Quote:
prefer non-touch for at least some purposes

It is only a nice, not a necessary, alternative to have for 20% of the ebbok reader usage.

While I honestly can't parse the semantics of that in a way consistent with my understanding of the meanings of the words, I am totally willing to allow that that is my own problem, and I totally accept that you do not prefer non-touch for at least some purposes. In fact, I don't think I've had any significant argument with much of anything you've said.
I voted in the same category as you, and I, personally, do prefer non-touch for at least some purposes . So it seems there is mix of opinion in the middle poll option, and a clear division on the ends in the two other option. I think that division of opinion is inherently valid. I'm spending time calling out people who repeatedly claim it's not.

I hope I've made myself clear enough this time as well.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by astra

This is
There is no way around it. It is a fact.

OK, you finally got one that is patently wrong, and I'll argue it with you.

It's FALSE. Say "I really don't see finger prints" and "It's really not an issue for me" if you want it to be true.

More than one of us are telling you the fingerprints are an issue for us. It's ridiculously obnoxious to keep repeating that we are somehow mistaken or not capable of determining this for ourselves.

[astra]

Originally Posted by ApK

OK, you, finally got one in that is patently wrong, and I'll argue it with you.

It's FALSE. Say "I really don't see finger prints" and "It's really not an issue for me" if you want it to be true.

Obvious it is I. I assume people speak for themselves and don't add IMHO every sentence.

[odiakkoh]

No offense astra and I don't mean to be rude but you stated "There is no way around it. It is a fact". How is that "obviously" your opinion?

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm guessing that a lot of the people who voted I like touchscreen, but with physical page-turn buttons. have not used an eink touch with IR and don't really know that it really doesn't show fingerprints and that once they get to using such, will not need the page turn buttons and if there are any won't really use them. I'd like to see all the people who voted for page turn buttons with the touch revote after spending say 2 or 3 weeks with a touch screen reader. I bet the numbers would change.

I tend to assume that when people say they do / don't prefer something, that they do in fact have experience with the something in question.

The fingerprint issue is, to me, a Dead Horse. I believe you don't see fingerprints on your device, and that's great for you, but I have a PRS 950 and it definitely has fingerprints on it. My mother uses a PRS 350 and she sees fingerprints, too, so I assume I've inherited my super-fingerprint-eyesight from her.

I've already explained that I prefer the Sony physical option button over the Nook Color touch-the-center-of-the-screen-have-the-menu-buttons-come-up model. And I do very much prefer my PocketBook 360 physical buttons to the Sony swipe (even though it is a very well-integrated, well-designed swipe, no doubt about it) for personal ergonomic reasons.

I'm sure you won't assume that THIS Mobile Reader just doesn't have the experience to know what she's talking about, and thus do I assume that everyone else knows their personal preferences pretty darn well.

[astra]

Originally Posted by odiakkoh

No offense astra and I don't mean to be rude but you stated "There is no way around it. It is a fact". How is that "obviously" your opinion?

I don't see the fingerprints. So it is obvious for me? On a forum I state my own opinion/ experience etc., unless further clarified. Some people add IMHO every other sentence. I believe it is silly.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by astra

I don't see the fingerprints. So it is obvious for me? On a forum I state my own opinion/ experience etc., unless further clarified. Some people add IMHO every other sentence. I believe it is silly.

Generally "opinions" and "facts" aren't used in the same sentence. For future reference to avoid misunderstandings.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by astra

Obvious it is I. I assume people speak for themselves and don't add IMHO every sentence.

Then why keep restating the insistance over and over? Why was it not enough that JSWolf and Donnageddon said it once? Some people then posted opposing opinions and personal experiences, having the courtesy to phrase it as such.
It should have stopped there.
But no, the people who phrased it like they speak for everyone have to come back again and again and repeat that it's non issue.

[astra]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Generally "opinions" and "facts" aren't used in the same sentence. For future reference to avoid misunderstandings.

I will think about it

[odiakkoh]

Originally Posted by astra

I don't see the fingerprints. So it is obvious for me? On a forum I state my own opinion/ experience etc., unless further clarified. Some people add IMHO every other sentence. I believe it is silly.

But if it's a fact to you but not to everyone else, it's an opinion. If no one in the world ever saw a fingerprint, it would be a fact. Looks like from the responses that some people do see fingerprints so it would be an opinion.