5" screens need a cover not a sleeve

[Madam Broshkina]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why is it we are seeing 5" screened eink devices coming with a sleeve and not a proper cover? They need a cover just as much as a 6" screen. They are just as susceptible to breakage as a 6" screen.

If there is a need for a cover for 5 inch devices a company will make them. Thats what successful companies do. See a need, meet that need, profit.

[rcuadro]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But then what will they do when the complaints come in about broken screens that probably would not have broken had the readers had a cover?

I am sure that people will buy a real cover anyhow. Just look at the K2. The price was not bad but the freaking thing didnt come with a cover. I though it was a crap deal but I bought a cover anyhow. In all reality I dont think a cover is any more protection against a fall than a sleeve. The impact causes the reader to flex cracking the screen and casing and I dont know of many covers that can adequately protect against a fall...

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But then what will they do when the complaints come in about broken screens that probably would not have broken had the readers had a cover?

I assume they'll charge the customer $60 or whatever to replace the screen. That type of damage isn't usually covered by a warranty.

I concur with at least one poster that Sleeve vs Case is a personal choice. I vastly prefer using a sleeve, which provides 100% protection and lets me toss my reader into pretty much any bag I've got. I also believe that moving forward, more and more e-readers will either come with cheap or no coverings in order to keep the initial sticker price as low as possible.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I'm not so sure that a case would provide more protection than a sleeve.

I'm not saying a case would provide more protection then the sleeve for carrying the devices around. But once you are reading, the case will provide more protection as it will be on the device while you are reading unlike the sleeve that won't be on the device while reading. So if the reader gets dropped, the case has a chance to protect the device while the sleeve will just not proved any extra protection.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

It sucks, but companies have no obligation to include cases.

Look at cellphones. Many are pretty fragile and really need a good case (especially the iPhone) but seldom do any come with a case.

Or look at the Kindle 2 where the case is a $30 accessory not included in the package.

Even if it doesn't come with a case, at least make it known that a case can be purchased at a reasonable price and that a case is necessary.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rcuadro

I am sure that people will buy a real cover anyhow. Just look at the K2. The price was not bad but the freaking thing didn't come with a cover. I though it was a crap deal but I bought a cover anyhow. In all reality I don't think a cover is any more protection against a fall than a sleeve. The impact causes the reader to flex cracking the screen and casing and I don't know of many covers that can adequately protect against a fall...

You can still have a sleeve that the reader with cover goes into for added protection when carrying it around. But, when you read, you have to take the reader out of the sleeve. Then you get no protection at all. Granted, there is no perfect protection other than not dropping it. But it happens. And a case can give some protection which is better then no protection.

Also, with my 505, I find the case is good to help hold it in one hand.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I assume they'll charge the customer $60 or whatever to replace the screen. That type of damage isn't usually covered by a warranty.

I concur with at least one poster that Sleeve vs Case is a personal choice. I vastly prefer using a sleeve, which provides 100% protection and lets me toss my reader into pretty much any bag I've got. I also believe that moving forward, more and more e-readers will either come with cheap or no coverings in order to keep the initial sticker price as low as possible.

A sleeve will only provide protection as long as the reader is in the sleeve. And when you are reading, that protection is gone. Do you want some protection at all times or do you want times with no protection at all?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

A sleeve will only provide protection as long as the reader is in the sleeve. And when you are reading, that protection is gone. Do you want some protection at all times or do you want times with no protection at all?

I often remove my reader (PDA) from its cover because of shadows (outside, in sunlight) or generally not being able to hold it comfortably in the position I'm sitting/laying. And I just got the cover for my JE100. It looks awesome, but can be unhandy at times as well.

I want protection when I'm not holding it (preventing scratches while in my bag, for instance). I want protection that won't interfere with my reading.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I often remove my reader (PDA) from its cover because of shadows (outside, in sunlight) or generally not being able to hold it comfortably in the position I'm sitting/laying. And I just got the cover for my JE100. It looks awesome, but can be unhandy at times as well.

I want protection when I'm not holding it (preventing scratches while in my bag, for instance). I want protection that won't interfere with my reading.

The only cover I have enough experience with is that of the 505. And the cover does not shadow anything while reading. And it's handy for helping to hold the 505 so you don't end up pressing buttons by mistake.

[Andybaby]

well the stock covers for the sonys offer no protection really at all, no more then a sleeve would.

a good hard leather cover is my personal choice, and I wish there would always be an option for this. but many readers don't have it.

its kinda silly, but it is a preference issue.

the best stock cover I have witnessed in terms of protection was the kindle one. besides the flaws that there were when it was opened. (which were easily fixed with a thumbnail or/and a strip of velcro)

[kacir]

This is not about protection when reading.
This is about cover being attached permanently to the device.

When you use a typical flip cover ala Sony Reader PRS-500, the cover is attached to the device.
So:
You pick reader from your night table, carry it to the loo, flip cover open, read for 3 minutes, flip cover closed, go to wash your hands, then you go to the living room, flip cover open, read for 10 minutes, flip cover closed, put reader on the table.

When you use sleeve cover and you remove it and you have to put it somewhere. In the above described scenario you would most probably just leave the sleeve on a nightstand.

Another scenario.
You go to the park with kids and sit on a bench while they are playing in the sandbox or making rounds on bicycle.
With flip cover you sit on the bench, take out reader, flip it open and read away ... When it is time to go home, you flip the cover closed, put it into bag or breast pocket and start looking for your kids ;-)
With sleeve, you sit on the bench, take out reader, pull down sleeve, you have to find a place to put your reader down, so you can open bag and store the sleeve, then you pick the reader ... You are basically juggling with reader, detached sleeve, bag, whatever.

Now, imagine reading in Metro train. Holding yourself with one hand.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

I'm not sure a cover is that much help if you drop your reader. It helps prevent twisting forces (which a sleeve does not do) and sharp pressure on the screen (e.g. from the corner of another device in, say, a backpack). A sleeve also helps for the latter very common failure mode, but only if you always use it.

For me, it's not about protection.
For me, it's mainly about the touch and feel.
Sony 505, I hold in hands very similar to a book. The cover opens like a book cover would do.
That's the reason, why I don't like "backflip" covers, like they are available for iRex 1000S for example.
And sleeves simply mean, there's nothing at all. You take it out of the sleeve for reading and hold the "naked" unit in your hands.
First of all, this means fingerprints on the unit. On Cybook Opus' plastic housing this may not be visible, but on Cybook Gen3 or Sony 505 it probably would annoy me.
(This doesn't mean, that I prefer Opus' housing. To me it's a bit too "plasticky".)
Second of all, ergonomically it's less convenient, to hold the unit without cover. Opus for example has "round edges", so the best holding position is laying it flat on your hand. A cover, I way more conveniently could hold where it folds between my thumb and index finger.
And last but not least: Protection. Not so much protection against falling, but protection while transporting in my bag. Sony 505 for example can't slip from it's cover. The only way to damage it would be, putting too much pressure on the screen, for example my laptop pushing against the reader. But Opus and similar units simply could slip out of the sleeve, having no protection at all. And I guess, there's less protection against pressure to the screen as well. A cover is flat, perfectly parallel to your unit's screen. A sleeve isn't perfectly parallel, it's kind of "bulgy".
And: What to do with the sleeve, while reading? When reading on a train for example, I only have to remember, not to forget my reader in the train. With a Sleeve, I already have 2 parts to remember. And I need to lay down my sleeve "somewhere in the dirt", whereas I'd hold a cover in my hands...

I hope, there will be 3rd party cover for Opus asap.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kacir

Now, imagine reading in Metro train. Holding yourself with one hand.

Actually, before I got the cover for my PDA, it only had a sleeve. (ok, it didn't have anything, but I had the sleeve from my old PDA, which is the same size). And I commuted daily, in a very busy train. And I always read during the commute. (falling wasn't an issue, as there was no room).

Originally Posted by mgmueller

But Opus and similar units simply could slip out of the sleeve, having no protection at all. And I guess, there's less protection against pressure to the screen as well. A cover is flat, perfectly parallel to your unit's screen. A sleeve isn't perfectly parallel, it's kind of "bulgy".
And: What to do with the sleeve, while reading? When reading on a train for example, I only have to remember, not to forget my reader in the train. With a Sleeve, I already have 2 parts to remember. And I need to lay down my sleeve "somewhere in the dirt", whereas I'd hold a cover in my hands...

I hope, there will be 3rd party cover for Opus asap.

Hmm, my PDA can't slip out of the sleeve. It has a "lock" to close the top. Easily to open with one hand, but it won't open by itself (not even if you turn it upside down with the PDA in it). And I generally put that sleeve in my pocket or held it underneath my PDA. And the rigidity is the same.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a sleeve instead of a cover. Right now, I remove my JE100 (which I use primarily now) from its cover, as I have the same problem as reading with a book: when I turn around in bed, I have to deal with that flap as it can't be flipped back.

[Kris777]

[QUOTE=JSWolf;541139]You can still have a sleeve that the reader with cover goes into for added protection when carrying it around. But, when you read, you have to take the reader out of the sleeve. Then you get no protection at all.
QUOTE]

This is incorrect. you don't need take the reader out of the sleeve when you read:

[John F]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

well the stock covers for the sonys offer no protection really at all, no more then a sleeve would.

a good hard leather cover is my personal choice, and I wish there would always be an option for this. but many readers don't have it.

its kinda silly, but it is a preference issue.

...

Which Sony do you have? My 505 came (standard) with a hardish cover that would be beneficial towards protection.