Is being able to read on a desktop machine important to you?

HarryT · 11-21-2007, 07:35 AM

The topic has come up elsewhere about the importance of being able to read books on the desktop (PC, Mac, or whatever) as well as on a hand-held device.

Is being able to read on the desktop important to you or not? Please answer the poll so we can get an idea of the proportion to whom it is.

tompe · 11-21-2007, 07:46 AM

I think you need a third alternative "being able to finish the book I am currently reading using a PC is important when the reading device does not work".

dugbug · 11-21-2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I think you need a third alternative "being able to finish the book I am currently reading using a PC is important when the reading device does not work".

I think the poll was intended to reflect the primary/desired method of reading. Maybe a third option shoud be "an actual book" for the unconverted.

HarryT · 11-21-2007, 07:54 AM

The poll arose through a thread in which someone is saying that Amazon have made a big mistake in not permitting Kindle books to be read on a PC. I don't read on a PC myself, and I was interested to see whether I am typical in only using handheld devices for reading, or whether many other people would also regard PC reading as a vital thing.

FixB · 11-21-2007, 08:00 AM

I just voted accordingly to my post on the other thread.
I don't feel any eye strain reading on a classical lcd, but I just don't like it

tompe · 11-21-2007, 08:01 AM

I see, I slightly misread the alternatives.

I would say that being able to read on another device is important for me but not because I would do it normally. So I can see this as an argument against Kindle but not for the reasons stated in the other thread.

So my vote here went to the second alternative.

dugbug · 11-21-2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

I see, I slightly misread the alternatives.

I would say that being able to read on another device is important for me but not because I would do it normally.

Sorry, my bad. I misinterpreted Harry's poll not you. He was interested in anyone who has to read on a computer monitor (be it desirable or in your case the my-reader-is-freakin-dead-and-I-need-to-finish-it!).

-d

azog · 11-21-2007, 08:32 AM

Define "read". I do "read" PDFs and stuff on my desktop, but that's usually technical material which I am reading to solve a problem. I do have many RSS feeds, and I read them on my desktop (until any of these can get Google feeds onto their devices, that will remain so), but that's a casual read, like watching TV to catch the news rather than reading a newspaper.

But when I read for pleasure (or leisure) I'd rather not use my PC.

HarryT · 11-21-2007, 08:41 AM

Reading for pleasure.

TallMomof2 · 11-21-2007, 09:03 AM

I wish you had a third option. To be able to read on the PC is nice but not essential. My first ebooks were .PDF and then eReader .PDB. I could only read the PDFs on my PC and the PDBs on my Clie. Eventually I was able to read the PDFs on my Clie but I didn't care for the interface. Now eReader has a PC reader so I can read on that if I care to. Mostly what I use the PC readers for is to organize my books.

For non-fiction, I prefer pbooks because it's easier to annotate and bookmark. *But* I'm hoping that the Kindle with its larger screen and easier ability to annotate will change my preference.

For pure pleasure, handheld all the way.

Sparrow · 11-21-2007, 09:12 AM

I voted 'Yes' - I'll read on anything and the more options I have, the better

JSWolf · 11-21-2007, 09:15 AM

What I do is I view (not so much read) the book on the computer so I can have a look at the formatting so when I convert it, I make sure I do a good job of converting.

fugsly · 11-21-2007, 09:23 AM

I voted that it's not important. It isn't but it's certainly a bonus. As other said it's good to have a back up way of reading

nekokami · 11-21-2007, 09:28 AM

If I'm reading just for fun, I prefer to read on my iLiad, but sometimes I'm trying to find a particular passage (even in fiction that I'm reading "for fun") and this is a bit harder to do on the iLiad, so I do it on my desktop linux box. (For example, recently I was looking through my Steven Brust books to find information for a t-shirt project I'm working on for him. I used grep on the linux box. I use it when I'm contributing to wikis, as well.)

HarryT · 11-21-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I do is I view (not so much read) the book on the computer so I can have a look at the formatting so when I convert it, I make sure I do a good job of converting.

That's what I do as well, but I don't classify that as "reading"

.

View Poll Results: How important is being able to read on the desktop?
Reading books on the desktop machine is important for me.	37	27.82%
I'm only interested in being able to read on a hand-held device.	96	72.18%
Voters: 133. You may not vote on this poll

11-21-2007, 07:35 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Is being able to read on a desktop machine important to you? The topic has come up elsewhere about the importance of being able to read books on the desktop (PC, Mac, or whatever) as well as on a hand-held device. Is being able to read on the desktop important to you or not? Please answer the poll so we can get an idea of the proportion to whom it is.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Seriously thoughtful Why MobileRead is so important	desertgrandma	Lounge	15	10-25-2009 12:10 PM
Most Important Improvements	TedPark	Sony Reader Dev Corner	4	06-21-2008 11:04 AM
Docking the Asus EEE for use as a desktop machine	mogui	Alternative Devices	14	05-19-2008 02:50 PM
GUI desktop emulates papers and books on physical desktop	Bob Russell	News	2	06-25-2006 07:42 PM

11-21-2007, 07:46 AM	#2
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I think you need a third alternative "being able to finish the book I am currently reading using a PC is important when the reading device does not work".

11-21-2007, 07:54 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The poll arose through a thread in which someone is saying that Amazon have made a big mistake in not permitting Kindle books to be read on a PC. I don't read on a PC myself, and I was interested to see whether I am typical in only using handheld devices for reading, or whether many other people would also regard PC reading as a vital thing.

11-21-2007, 08:00 AM	#5
FixB Groupie Posts: 186 Karma: 499 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: France, Toulouse Device: Sony PRS500	I just voted accordingly to my post on the other thread. I don't feel any eye strain reading on a classical lcd, but I just don't like it

11-21-2007, 08:01 AM	#6
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I see, I slightly misread the alternatives. I would say that being able to read on another device is important for me but not because I would do it normally. So I can see this as an argument against Kindle but not for the reasons stated in the other thread. So my vote here went to the second alternative.

11-21-2007, 08:32 AM	#8
azog Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 33 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Cybook Gen3, Kindle	Define "read". I do "read" PDFs and stuff on my desktop, but that's usually technical material which I am reading to solve a problem. I do have many RSS feeds, and I read them on my desktop (until any of these can get Google feeds onto their devices, that will remain so), but that's a casual read, like watching TV to catch the news rather than reading a newspaper. But when I read for pleasure (or leisure) I'd rather not use my PC.

11-21-2007, 08:41 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Reading for pleasure.

11-21-2007, 09:03 AM	#10
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	I wish you had a third option. To be able to read on the PC is nice but not essential. My first ebooks were .PDF and then eReader .PDB. I could only read the PDFs on my PC and the PDBs on my Clie. Eventually I was able to read the PDFs on my Clie but I didn't care for the interface. Now eReader has a PC reader so I can read on that if I care to. Mostly what I use the PC readers for is to organize my books. For non-fiction, I prefer pbooks because it's easier to annotate and bookmark. But I'm hoping that the Kindle with its larger screen and easier ability to annotate will change my preference. For pure pleasure, handheld all the way.

11-21-2007, 09:12 AM	#11
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I voted 'Yes' - I'll read on anything and the more options I have, the better

11-21-2007, 09:15 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,996 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What I do is I view (not so much read) the book on the computer so I can have a look at the formatting so when I convert it, I make sure I do a good job of converting.

11-21-2007, 09:23 AM	#13
fugsly living dead girl Posts: 40 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Device: sony 505	I voted that it's not important. It isn't but it's certainly a bonus. As other said it's good to have a back up way of reading

11-21-2007, 09:28 AM	#14
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	If I'm reading just for fun, I prefer to read on my iLiad, but sometimes I'm trying to find a particular passage (even in fiction that I'm reading "for fun") and this is a bit harder to do on the iLiad, so I do it on my desktop linux box. (For example, recently I was looking through my Steven Brust books to find information for a t-shirt project I'm working on for him. I used grep on the linux box. I use it when I'm contributing to wikis, as well.)