How to go to a page on Kindle??? Locations are annoying. - Page 5

isotherm · 09-16-2010, 09:19 AM

I have a Kindle book with 100,000+ "locations."

The physical editions of this book all have the same page numbering (they just enlarged or shrunk the page). The footnotes often reference page numbers, which are hyperlinked in the Kindle edition. Therefore it is sometimes possible to find a page number in the physical edition by searching for "p297" or such -- if there is a footnote referring to that page. I use the book sometimes in a group context, and it is still annoying if they say "turn to page such-and-such," and I have to ask for some text on the page to search for. Nonetheless, I knew of this limitation before I got an eBook reader. To me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for certain applications.

If a publisher has an eBook where page numbers are important (for example, a textbook), it might help for them to include a section at the end with hyperlinks to every page (p1 p2 p3 etc). Then they would show up in a search. If page numbers are a necessity, it seems like PDF is the best option, since it retains the analogue of paper pages.

HarryT · 09-16-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomsk

From my observations, it seems that Kindle location numbers refer to the sentences, subject to a minimum number of words per sentence.

No, they are a count of units of 128 bytes in the file. This has been repeatedly stated throughout this thread.

pashlit · 09-16-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isotherm

I have a Kindle book with 100,000+ "locations."

The physical editions of this book all have the same page numbering (they just enlarged or shrunk the page). The footnotes often reference page numbers, which are hyperlinked in the Kindle edition. Therefore it is sometimes possible to find a page number in the physical edition by searching for "p297" or such -- if there is a footnote referring to that page. I use the book sometimes in a group context, and it is still annoying if they say "turn to page such-and-such," and I have to ask for some text on the page to search for. Nonetheless, I knew of this limitation before I got an eBook reader. To me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for certain applications.

If a publisher has an eBook where page numbers are important (for example, a textbook), it might help for them to include a section at the end with hyperlinks to every page (p1 p2 p3 etc). Then they would show up in a search. If page numbers are a necessity, it seems like PDF is the best option, since it retains the analogue of paper pages.

PDF is like ghetto workaround on Kindle. If I want pages I have to convert to PDF. If I want to read in other language with different encoding I have to convert to pdf... etc. But then I loose hyperlinks, dictionary supports, annotations, text resizing and other stuff. PDF support is horrible on Kindle. Is it so darn hard for Kindle programmers just to include all that stuff? Its a pretty expensive device (I am talking about DX) so it should have descent feauters. I like the device, its feel and other stuff but the lack of some simple things makes me look towards other gadgets.

Sischa · 09-16-2010, 09:30 AM

Reminds me about the painful discussion between people asking still for folders and others moving on to tags and categories.

There will always be some people living in vers. 1.0 and crying about changing things and others who see the advantages from 2.0 and "live" them.

I can see no point in trying to explain the advantages if someone tries to ignore them. There are still products wich are doing it the "1.0 way" like using pages, folders, mp3 players with the option to simple copy&paste files ... get yourself one of this.

Locations are one of the best inventions in ebooks they make life so damn easily (especially for readers or books which don't support synchronisation).

SirCumference · 09-16-2010, 09:37 AM

I really enjoy the location feature and am glad it is uniform for Kindle devices. In this way I can ask a fellow Kindle user what location they are on and easily get to the same place. On the same token I can simply ask anyone using a physical copy of the book what chapter they are on or some phrase and such to search for. Generally if someone is trying to direct you to a certain place in a book there was something memorable about the place in the book, and a chapter or phrase is much more likely to be floating around in their head than a page number which may or may not help you. Hopefully locations will become the new standard for ebooks. It certainly doesn't help to have a page number if it doesn't correlate to anything at all when it comes down to different editions. I don't see how anyone can argue the point that page numbers and locations aren't exactly the same thing except that locations are actually a more accurate representation of where you are in the book and that chapters or a searchable phrase are not the best possible means to reference your place between formats/editions.

Tomsk · 09-16-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, they are a count of units of 128 bytes in the file. This has been repeatedly stated throughout this thread.

oops!

I skimmed this thread and missed that.

RonF · 09-16-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

This is pretty much what my thought was - instead of 128 byte chunks of text, why not 1280 byte chunks of text and forget the decimal point? I think the problem is just that you end up with 4 digits for location and multiple locations per screen instead of 3 digits for pages which is easier to remember (for me at least)

For me at least, part of the issue is the multiple locations

If they just put the location that is at the top of the viewed page instead of all of the locations on the page, it would work smoother for me.

So instead of Locations 1046-56, it would just read Location 1046. I don't know if it's just me, but that would translate more to having page numbers.

SirCumference · 09-16-2010, 10:00 AM

Makes sense. Perhaps locations are too accurate then but your dilemma that it should only list the first part of the location instead of the dash indicating there are more locations on the page is simple. Stop reading past the first part of the location.

ivanjt · 09-16-2010, 12:17 PM

Locations are useless for me and the PDF manuals that I use my DX for. The index and contents uses pages and I need something like a 'go to page number' to get to the section I need without having to page through everything.

Before anyone asks why did I get a DX - simple answer - screen size.

HarryT · 09-16-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanjt

Locations are useless for me and the PDF manuals that I use my DX for. The index and contents uses pages and I need something like a 'go to page number' to get to the section I need without having to page through everything.

It sounds more as if what you need is hyperlink support in a PDF file - something which the Kindle is almost alone in not providing. That way you could simply use the hyperlinks in the TOC and index.

pashlit · 09-16-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanjt

Locations are useless for me and the PDF manuals that I use my DX for. The index and contents uses pages and I need something like a 'go to page number' to get to the section I need without having to page through everything.

Before anyone asks why did I get a DX - simple answer - screen size.

Same here. Only because of screen size and Pearl screen I got DX. There are no competitors so far to DX.

andavane · 09-16-2010, 12:30 PM

The value of locations is shown in this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98847
where a very small section of text is focused on.

Purple Lady · 09-16-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonF

For me at least, part of the issue is the multiple locations

If they just put the location that is at the top of the viewed page instead of all of the locations on the page, it would work smoother for me.

So instead of Locations 1046-56, it would just read Location 1046. I don't know if it's just me, but that would translate more to having page numbers.

which leads back to the question of why didn't they just have static page numbers in the first place. That should make the people who like locations happy because they are the same on every device and just make more logical sense.

I wonder what the person who first decided to use locations thinks of their decision now. I know I look back on programs I wrote years ago and wonder what in the world was I thinking. Since page numbers could be built on a specific number of bytes, implementation of page numbers shouldn't be much different than locations are.

susan_cassidy · 09-16-2010, 05:05 PM

Because, if you have the font size set to very large, you might have the same "page number" on more than one screen, which would not help you go to a specific part of the book.

Regarding why they display 1046-56, and you only want 1046, why is having more information than you feel you need a problem? Only look at the first number, and ignore the rest, and others of us can use both numbers, if we want.

Purple Lady · 09-16-2010, 05:17 PM

I have a very large font and have the same page number on multiple screens and don't see a problem with that. It's the same as reading a pdf or a word doc on your pc - you will always have the same page number on multiple screens with a larger font.

I guess this is personal preference thing where not everyone can have their choice. I've seen multiple posts asking for the choice to display what you want - isn't one of the features of ereaders the ability to view according to your needs? Amazon should offer a choice. I didn't realize so many people would prefer locations.

09-16-2010, 10:00 AM	#68
SirCumference Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Makes sense. Perhaps locations are too accurate then but your dilemma that it should only list the first part of the location instead of the dash indicating there are more locations on the page is simple. Stop reading past the first part of the location. Last edited by SirCumference; 09-16-2010 at 10:27 AM.

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09-16-2010, 09:19 AM	#61
isotherm Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 187319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 2	I have a Kindle book with 100,000+ "locations." The physical editions of this book all have the same page numbering (they just enlarged or shrunk the page). The footnotes often reference page numbers, which are hyperlinked in the Kindle edition. Therefore it is sometimes possible to find a page number in the physical edition by searching for "p297" or such -- if there is a footnote referring to that page. I use the book sometimes in a group context, and it is still annoying if they say "turn to page such-and-such," and I have to ask for some text on the page to search for. Nonetheless, I knew of this limitation before I got an eBook reader. To me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for certain applications. If a publisher has an eBook where page numbers are important (for example, a textbook), it might help for them to include a section at the end with hyperlinks to every page (p1 p2 p3 etc). Then they would show up in a search. If page numbers are a necessity, it seems like PDF is the best option, since it retains the analogue of paper pages.

09-16-2010, 09:30 AM	#64
Sischa Evangelist Posts: 428 Karma: 2370 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Device: Nokia 770, Ilead, Cybook G3, Kindle DX, Kindle 2, iPad, Kindle 3, PW	Reminds me about the painful discussion between people asking still for folders and others moving on to tags and categories. There will always be some people living in vers. 1.0 and crying about changing things and others who see the advantages from 2.0 and "live" them. I can see no point in trying to explain the advantages if someone tries to ignore them. There are still products wich are doing it the "1.0 way" like using pages, folders, mp3 players with the option to simple copy&paste files ... get yourself one of this. Locations are one of the best inventions in ebooks they make life so damn easily (especially for readers or books which don't support synchronisation).

09-16-2010, 09:37 AM	#65
SirCumference Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I really enjoy the location feature and am glad it is uniform for Kindle devices. In this way I can ask a fellow Kindle user what location they are on and easily get to the same place. On the same token I can simply ask anyone using a physical copy of the book what chapter they are on or some phrase and such to search for. Generally if someone is trying to direct you to a certain place in a book there was something memorable about the place in the book, and a chapter or phrase is much more likely to be floating around in their head than a page number which may or may not help you. Hopefully locations will become the new standard for ebooks. It certainly doesn't help to have a page number if it doesn't correlate to anything at all when it comes down to different editions. I don't see how anyone can argue the point that page numbers and locations aren't exactly the same thing except that locations are actually a more accurate representation of where you are in the book and that chapters or a searchable phrase are not the best possible means to reference your place between formats/editions.

09-16-2010, 12:17 PM	#69
ivanjt Guru Posts: 858 Karma: 1027478 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South of France Device: kindle dx; eDGe	Locations are useless for me and the PDF manuals that I use my DX for. The index and contents uses pages and I need something like a 'go to page number' to get to the section I need without having to page through everything. Before anyone asks why did I get a DX - simple answer - screen size.

09-16-2010, 12:30 PM	#72
andavane Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Device: Kindle Keyboard, + Wifi, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini, Sony PRS-T2	The value of locations is shown in this post https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98847 where a very small section of text is focused on.

09-16-2010, 05:05 PM	#74
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Because, if you have the font size set to very large, you might have the same "page number" on more than one screen, which would not help you go to a specific part of the book. Regarding why they display 1046-56, and you only want 1046, why is having more information than you feel you need a problem? Only look at the first number, and ignore the rest, and others of us can use both numbers, if we want.

09-16-2010, 05:17 PM	#75
Purple Lady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,698 Karma: 16542228 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Huawei MediaPad M5, LG V30, Boyue T80S, Nexus 7 LTE, K3 3G, Fire HD8	I have a very large font and have the same page number on multiple screens and don't see a problem with that. It's the same as reading a pdf or a word doc on your pc - you will always have the same page number on multiple screens with a larger font. I guess this is personal preference thing where not everyone can have their choice. I've seen multiple posts asking for the choice to display what you want - isn't one of the features of ereaders the ability to view according to your needs? Amazon should offer a choice. I didn't realize so many people would prefer locations.

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