E-Reader Page Numbers - Page 3

Alpha o · 02-20-2015, 09:35 AM

I just look at a clock and stop. I usually remember the last paragraph in what I was reading. If it's a hard copy, either shove anything at hand in as a bookmark or turn book face down.

theducks · 02-20-2015, 09:53 AM

All I need is a 'bookmarking' system that works. For paper books, it was one of those loose ad cards or a store supplied cardboard bookmark (without tassel, that cats love to pull out

)
For e-reading MRSDK's block # or Kindles progress bar is fine
I do like the K's progress bar with dots for the chapter breaks and the marker to show where YOU are

Luffy · 02-20-2015, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I do like the K's progress bar with dots for the chapter breaks and the marker to show where YOU are

Same here!

Solitaire1 · 02-21-2015, 02:11 PM

I do find displaying the page numbers as shown in the first post to be distracting and less useful since one "page" can consist of several screens of information. For most types of books (such as novels and short story collections) all I need is the ability to bookmark, and a table of contents with hyperlinks for chapters/individual stories.

However, I do find some sort of "page" numbering system to be very useful with some types of books, such as reference books, to allow me to go to or return to a specific part of the ebook with some precision. The system I prefer is a simple percentage showing how far you are into the book (with one or two decimal places for long ebooks) since that should be the same from ereader to ereader, and from ebook format to ebook format.

Ripplinger · 02-21-2015, 02:24 PM

I like to see page numbers. I like knowing there's 565 pages in the book I'm reading and at what point I'm at. Beyond that, doesn't matter how accurate they are or if they match up to any hard copy edition (which I think was already pointed out can also vary), but just as a general guide as to my progress in the book. A slider without numbers means nothing since it could be based on 50 pages or 5000 pages.

Solitaire1 · 02-22-2015, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

I like to see page numbers. I like knowing there's 565 pages in the book I'm reading and at what point I'm at. Beyond that, doesn't matter how accurate they are or if they match up to any hard copy edition (which I think was already pointed out can also vary), but just as a general guide as to my progress in the book. A slider without numbers means nothing since it could be based on 50 pages or 5000 pages.

Since a "page" can be so variable with ebooks, I think a workable option is to use the number of the specific screen you are on and the total number of screens in the ebook (such as "121 of 430"), basically treating each screen of information as one page. Although both numbers can vary due to factors such as screen size, font size, line spacing, and so on, it would give you a clear indication of how far you have progressed in the ebook, and how far you have to go. I think this would be less confusing than a numbering system where a "page" could be 2, 3, 4, or more screens of information, with each new page starting somewhere on the screen.

JSWolf · 02-22-2015, 01:05 PM

I too like page numbers. I like the way ADE does page numbers. Once you get used to ADE style page numbers, it gives you a very good indication where you are in the book and how much left you have. I also like the way Kobo has added percent as well as the ADE style page numbers. So when reading ePub, I can have both ways to know how much more there is to go and/or how much into the book I am.

I know these page numbers do now match with paper editions and that's OK. I don't need them to match. I just need them to display in a way that I can use to get the information I want which I can.

EowynCarter · 02-22-2015, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I too like page numbers. I like the way ADE does page numbers. Once you get used to ADE style page numbers, it gives you a very good indication where you are in the book and how much left you have. I also like the way Kobo has added percent as well as the ADE style page numbers. So when reading ePub, I can have both ways to know how much more there is to go and/or how much into the book I am.

I know these page numbers do now match with paper editions and that's OK. I don't need them to match. I just need them to display in a way that I can use to get the information I want which I can.

Ditto.
I found them disturbing at fist, now i rather like them.

Ripplinger · 02-22-2015, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

Since a "page" can be so variable with ebooks, I think a workable option is to use the number of the specific screen you are on and the total number of screens in the ebook (such as "121 of 430"), basically treating each screen of information as one page. Although both numbers can vary due to factors such as screen size, font size, line spacing, and so on, it would give you a clear indication of how far you have progressed in the ebook, and how far you have to go. I think this would be less confusing than a numbering system where a "page" could be 2, 3, 4, or more screens of information, with each new page starting somewhere on the screen.

That's exactly how it displays on my Sony and Kobo Glo readers, and the method I prefer. I don't think I'd use a reader with any other format or without that method as an option. The PW2 displays the page number you're on and a percentage complete for the book, not as good but at least it still gives a rough idea about the total pages left.

eschwartz · 02-23-2015, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

Since a "page" can be so variable with ebooks, I think a workable option is to use the number of the specific screen you are on and the total number of screens in the ebook (such as "121 of 430"), basically treating each screen of information as one page. Although both numbers can vary due to factors such as screen size, font size, line spacing, and so on, it would give you a clear indication of how far you have progressed in the ebook, and how far you have to go. I think this would be less confusing than a numbering system where a "page" could be 2, 3, 4, or more screens of information, with each new page starting somewhere on the screen.

I think that is a terrible idea. Not only is AFAIK useless information (Kindle Time Left to Read FTW) it would require recalculating the entire book any time one of those variable factors changed, which slows the device down from doing what I want it to do -- read.

HarryT · 02-23-2015, 08:55 AM

It really depends what your primary use for a page number is. If it's simply to tell you how far through the book you are, then sure, device-dependent methods work absolutely fine, and can very easily and quickly be calculated based on current choice of font face and size.

If, however, you want to use a page number to tell someone else whereabouts in a book something is (as I have to in my essays for my Egyptology degree, for example), then you need a device-independent method of numbering pages which doesn't vary with screen size, font size, etc. The Kindle does this by mapping positions in an ebook to page numbers in a specific paper edition; ADE does it by assigning a page number to an arbitrary number of characters in a book. The way it's done doesn't matter: what does matter is that "page n" on my reading device or app takes me to (roughly) the same position in the book as "page n" does on yours.

patrickt · 02-23-2015, 12:06 PM

I was going to give Harry a reputation point but the forum won't allow it. They said I had to give someone else a point before I could do that.

Harry T hit it pretty much on the head with one minor exception. When I first started reading with an ereader the lack of page numbers drove me crazy. It was purely because I had almost 65 years of pages numbers in my background. After a year, I found using the location or a visual representation to meet my needs. I don't need to give someone else a page number for their paper book.

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02-20-2015, 09:35 AM	#31
Alpha o Addict Posts: 282 Karma: 2603524 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Onyx Boox Darwin, inkBOOK Obsidian	I just look at a clock and stop. I usually remember the last paragraph in what I was reading. If it's a hard copy, either shove anything at hand in as a bookmark or turn book face down.

02-20-2015, 09:53 AM	#32
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	All I need is a 'bookmarking' system that works. For paper books, it was one of those loose ad cards or a store supplied cardboard bookmark (without tassel, that cats love to pull out ) For e-reading MRSDK's block # or Kindles progress bar is fine I do like the K's progress bar with dots for the chapter breaks and the marker to show where YOU are

02-21-2015, 02:11 PM	#34
Solitaire1 Samurai Lizard Posts: 14,922 Karma: 69500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: NookColor, Nook Glowlight 4	I do find displaying the page numbers as shown in the first post to be distracting and less useful since one "page" can consist of several screens of information. For most types of books (such as novels and short story collections) all I need is the ability to bookmark, and a table of contents with hyperlinks for chapters/individual stories. However, I do find some sort of "page" numbering system to be very useful with some types of books, such as reference books, to allow me to go to or return to a specific part of the ebook with some precision. The system I prefer is a simple percentage showing how far you are into the book (with one or two decimal places for long ebooks) since that should be the same from ereader to ereader, and from ebook format to ebook format.

02-21-2015, 02:24 PM	#35
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I like to see page numbers. I like knowing there's 565 pages in the book I'm reading and at what point I'm at. Beyond that, doesn't matter how accurate they are or if they match up to any hard copy edition (which I think was already pointed out can also vary), but just as a general guide as to my progress in the book. A slider without numbers means nothing since it could be based on 50 pages or 5000 pages.

02-22-2015, 01:05 PM	#37
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,745 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I too like page numbers. I like the way ADE does page numbers. Once you get used to ADE style page numbers, it gives you a very good indication where you are in the book and how much left you have. I also like the way Kobo has added percent as well as the ADE style page numbers. So when reading ePub, I can have both ways to know how much more there is to go and/or how much into the book I am. I know these page numbers do now match with paper editions and that's OK. I don't need them to match. I just need them to display in a way that I can use to get the information I want which I can.

02-23-2015, 08:55 AM	#41
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It really depends what your primary use for a page number is. If it's simply to tell you how far through the book you are, then sure, device-dependent methods work absolutely fine, and can very easily and quickly be calculated based on current choice of font face and size. If, however, you want to use a page number to tell someone else whereabouts in a book something is (as I have to in my essays for my Egyptology degree, for example), then you need a device-independent method of numbering pages which doesn't vary with screen size, font size, etc. The Kindle does this by mapping positions in an ebook to page numbers in a specific paper edition; ADE does it by assigning a page number to an arbitrary number of characters in a book. The way it's done doesn't matter: what does matter is that "page n" on my reading device or app takes me to (roughly) the same position in the book as "page n" does on yours.

02-23-2015, 12:06 PM	#42
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I was going to give Harry a reputation point but the forum won't allow it. They said I had to give someone else a point before I could do that. Harry T hit it pretty much on the head with one minor exception. When I first started reading with an ereader the lack of page numbers drove me crazy. It was purely because I had almost 65 years of pages numbers in my background. After a year, I found using the location or a visual representation to meet my needs. I don't need to give someone else a page number for their paper book.

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