Private e-reader search

[Sirtel]

The physical keyboard would make a 8" reader far too large and heavy.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There's no way I would go back to a non-touch Reader.

Me either. I don't want any buttons for the reading process. That little Kindle with the skinny page turn buttons and 4 little buttons around the center controller was my least favorite Kindle of all time.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The next Kindles without all those buttons and just the D pad are terrible.

The K2 was my first ereader and it transformed reading for me. But when I got the K4NT, I found reading on it even better overall, not even counting its much better pocketability, which was a big plus. I did find turning pages on it awkward without a cover, but somehow its cover made page turning a very nice experience. Using the on screen keyboard wasn't pleasant, but it was much easier one handed than using the K2 keyboard one handed and I didn't really use either much nor have much need to type at all while reading.

But the most ergonomic ereader for me was the non touch Pocketbook 360, which had about half as many buttons as the K4NT. (A central button D ring centered between two other buttons, and a power button.) All the buttons distinguished between short press and long press and the function performed by a button press was configurable. Too bad that in less than two years it got to where it couldn't get through a single reading session without freezing up. It took me years to give up on a reliable equivalent coming out.

IMO a well done minimal set of buttons (beyond page turn) would be worthwhile on a touch screen ereader.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

T
IMO a well done minimal set of buttons (beyond page turn) would be worthwhile on a touch screen ereader.

Sony PRS-350 or Sony T2?

But I agree. Lack of a "back" when a link (esp footnote) is selected is stupid. "Back" could be multi-function depending on context?
Harder to decide which other buttons are important.

The main functions I'd use when reading:
TOC
My Books / Library
Details
Maybe search (current read by default)
Bookmark list.

I'd not fuss about Battery charge, Time, Changing font etc.
The Pull down list of recent books is useless on Kobo as books added replace ones recently read. Last 10 actually opened would be good when researching.

Also Bookmarks should be separate to Highlights & Annotations (personally I never highlight without typing something, even if only "?". I don't go back to Annotations. I export them to text files using Calibre Kobo Utilities.

In general I find Kobo UI better than it was esp. "My Books" and Kindle much worse than it used to be on PW3. PW3 is now worse UI than KK3 or DXG!

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

While not very convenient, I could manage with a nontouch 6" screen. If I wanted to read on a 6" screen, of course, which I don't.

Navigating on the 8" screen of my Sage (for dictionary look-up, word search and the like) would be quite painful without touch. Unless there's a better solution for moving around than the D-pad used on old Kindles.

Well, the Hanlon mentioned above uses a combination of programmable physical buttons (I think they also distinguish between short and long presses, maybe double presses) and a wacom stylus.

To select a word or highlight text one would then use the stylus, which is as quick as using a finger. It has the advantage of not leaving prints on the screen, too.

The buttons can be programmed to have certain functions in notebooks and others in the reading app. They would then be used for page turning, going back and forward, accessing the ToC, etc etc.

To me it would be the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, buying it from Aliexpress seems very expensive.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The Pull down list of recent books is useless on Kobo as books added replace ones recently read. Last 10 actually opened would be good when researching.

It's not useless for me, as I don't load books on my Kobos often and usually read 2 or more books concurrently. So the 3 recently opened books replace the newly added books almost immediately and 3 is generally all I need. I wouldn't need 10.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by kandwo

Well, the Hanlon mentioned above uses a combination of programmable physical buttons (I think they also distinguish between short and long presses, maybe double presses) and a wacom stylus.

To select a word or highlight text one would then use the stylus, which is as quick as using a finger. It has the advantage of not leaving prints on the screen, too.

The buttons can be programmed to have certain functions in notebooks and others in the reading app. They would then be used for page turning, going back and forward, accessing the ToC, etc etc.

To me it would be the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, buying it from Aliexpress seems very expensive.

Yes, such an ereader would be nice to have (I actually use a stylus for navigating on my Kobos). Not with a 10'' screen, though. Far too large for me.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

IMO a well done minimal set of buttons (beyond page turn) would be worthwhile on a touch screen ereader.

I agree.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

It's not useless for me, as I don't load books on my Kobos often and usually read 2 or more books concurrently. So the 3 recently opened books replace the newly added books almost immediately and 3 is generally all I need. I wouldn't need 10.

I agree it's useful some of the time, but current behaviour is surely a bug? It was handy for swapping between a novel and and Advanced Notebook for the novel till I abandoned notes on the Sage.

I think my problem is I add too many ebooks each week. Now more on the Sage than I can possibly read!

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I agree it's useful some of the time, but current behaviour is surely a bug? It was handy for swapping between a novel and and Advanced Notebook for the novel till I abandoned notes on the Sage.

I think my problem is I add too many ebooks each week. Now more on the Sage than I can possibly read!

Oh, I have far too many books on my Kobos too - over 2000 by now. I just load many books at once, not drop only a few of them at a time, because I can't be bothered to connect more than a couple of times per month.

[Amalthia]

I think the Pocketbook comes close to your current needs. It still has buttons and I think it may be possible to turn off the touch screen, I know I was able to do that with my HD2. Also you can use the device without connecting to any accounts so it may be more private than other options.

[kandwo]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes, such an ereader would be nice to have (I actually use a stylus for navigating on my Kobos). Not with a 10'' screen, though. Far too large for me.

I would actually want such a reader in a 13" format. But I also like the 7-8" form factor. Or even 6".

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Lack of a "back" when a link (esp footnote) is selected is stupid.

I love my text/footnote toggle button on my keyfob. I can quickly check a footnote to see if it's an interesting anecdote or just an ibid.

Originally Posted by Quoth

Sony PRS-350 or Sony T2?
The Pull down list of recent books is useless on Kobo...

My library has by modified date, last read, never read, expiration date.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Amalthia

I think the Pocketbook comes close to your current needs. It still has buttons and I think it may be possible to turn off the touch screen, I know I was able to do that with my HD2. Also you can use the device without connecting to any accounts so it may be more private than other options.

You can also use a Kobo without an account, by enabling the sideloaded mode.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Renate

My library has by modified date, last read, never read, expiration date.

The pull down list is not a library sorting option. It's a way to quickly hop between a few recent books while reading, without exiting the book. Great for those who read more than one book at a time.