The daily commute - books vs ebook readers vs papers

ShortNCuddlyAm · 02-01-2010, 07:47 AM

Putting this in the llounge because it is nowhere near serious or scientific enough to go in News and Commentary

In my little section of the tube this morning there were about 21 people (14 sitting, 7 standing). Before the first major exodus there were:

3 reading books
3 reading on ebook readers (all Sonys, 1x 505 (me) and 2x 300)
2 reading papers

Unusually no one was playing games or watching video.

I'm not sure whether to be encouraged by seeing 3 ebook readers in one place, or discouraged by the lack of people actually reading.

This piece of useless information brought to you courtesy of the northbound Northern Line.

Javed · 02-01-2010, 07:51 AM

Maybe some were "stealth reading" on iPhone?

Sweetpea · 02-01-2010, 07:52 AM

I've never seen anybody reading on any electronic device... Not counting me, my husband and one of my ex-colleagues who I infected with the ebook virus...

ShortNCuddlyAm · 02-01-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javed

Maybe some were "stealth reading" on iPhone?

Only if it was an audio book - no-one had their iPhones out that I could see (yes, I am that nosey!)

Javed · 02-01-2010, 07:58 AM

What were they doing instead of reading?

ShortNCuddlyAm · 02-01-2010, 08:02 AM

Sitting staring blankly into space mostly. Although one person did appear to be trying to read over the shoulder of the person next to them.

EowynCarter · 02-01-2010, 08:02 AM

Woo, impresive. I'm never seen much reader in train but mine.

There are more people reading these day (on p-book) , buy also a lot with thier iPod / iPhone doing some random message typing / video watching / listening to music.

vivaldirules · 02-01-2010, 08:05 AM

People read there? That would be rather unusual here, unless it was a glossy magazine about Brad and Angelina or John Edwards. Or, more seldomly, a newspaper about Tiger. I have very rarely seen ebook readers in the wild.

Javed · 02-01-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

People read there? That would be rather unusual here, unless it was a glossy magazine about Brad and Angelina or John Edwards. Or, more seldomly, a newspaper about Tiger. I have very rarely seen ebook readers in the wild.

Wild Tigers but not wild ereaders.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-01-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Sitting staring blankly into space mostly. Although one person did appear to be trying to read over the shoulder of the person next to them.

whenever i find myself with nothing to read (it's rare, but it can happen) i try to read over the shoulder of whoever is nearby.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Woo, impresive. I'm never seen much reader in train but mine.

There are more people reading these day (on p-book) , buy also a lot with thier iPod / iPhone doing some random message typing / video watching / listening to music.

i've never seen anybody with a liseuse either, so 3 in one wagon seems impressive. i do see a lot of people with paper books, or with those free newspapers (20Minutes, etc.). and i see people with telephones, but from the few times i've been close enough to verify, i'm pretty sure they're all either listening to music or playing games.

Sweetpea · 02-01-2010, 08:20 AM

When I still went by train, I generally read on my way back and listened to an audiobook on the way to work. Easier to listen to a book when it's rather crowded...

But what you see the most here, is either people listening to their phone, sometimes even talking to it, and reading the free newspaper you can find at every single station...

vivaldirules · 02-01-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

whenever i find myself with nothing to read (it's rare, but it can happen) i try to read over the shoulder of whoever is nearby.

I suppose that can happen when all you have is an Ebookwise 1150. Maybe you should consider buying a Sony. Or even two!

zelda_pinwheel · 02-01-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I suppose that can happen when all you have is an Ebookwise 1150. Maybe you should consider buying a Sony. Or even two!

you know, that's not a bad idea.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 02-01-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

When I still went by train, I generally read on my way back and listened to an audiobook on the way to work. Easier to listen to a book when it's rather crowded...

Until I got my reader, I would only read on the train when I got a seat. The reader's so much easier to read one-handed!

Quote:

But what you see the most here, is either people listening to their phone, sometimes even talking to it, and reading the free newspaper you can find at every single station...

The papers were all the free morning paper. Normally there's people playing games on their phone or console, or reading messages on their blackberry, but I didn't spot anyone doing that this morning. Thankfully the part of the line I travel on is underground, so there's no-one talking on their phones

Sweetpea · 02-01-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Until I got my reader, I would only read on the train when I got a seat. The reader's so much easier to read one-handed!

Try a nice PDA... Which is what I used

(at least, after the ebookman...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

The papers were all the free morning paper. Normally there's people playing games on their phone or console, or reading messages on their blackberry, but I didn't spot anyone doing that this morning. Thankfully the part of the line I travel on is underground, so there's no-one talking on their phones

I never really seen anybody play with their gadgets, only either listening to music (I presume) or talking on the phone. Unless it was somebody with a laptop (I moved before the netbooks became popular), because that person would most likely be doing some work on it...

(and no undergrounds in my neck of the woods!)

02-01-2010, 07:47 AM	#1
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	The daily commute - books vs ebook readers vs papers Putting this in the llounge because it is nowhere near serious or scientific enough to go in News and Commentary In my little section of the tube this morning there were about 21 people (14 sitting, 7 standing). Before the first major exodus there were: 3 reading books 3 reading on ebook readers (all Sonys, 1x 505 (me) and 2x 300) 2 reading papers Unusually no one was playing games or watching video. I'm not sure whether to be encouraged by seeing 3 ebook readers in one place, or discouraged by the lack of people actually reading. This piece of useless information brought to you courtesy of the northbound Northern Line.

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02-01-2010, 07:51 AM	#2
Javed Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,270 Karma: 1126878541 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Astak Pocket PRO, iPod Touch, PRS-650	Maybe some were "stealth reading" on iPhone?

02-01-2010, 07:52 AM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I've never seen anybody reading on any electronic device... Not counting me, my husband and one of my ex-colleagues who I infected with the ebook virus...

02-01-2010, 07:58 AM	#5
Javed Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,270 Karma: 1126878541 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Astak Pocket PRO, iPod Touch, PRS-650	What were they doing instead of reading?

02-01-2010, 08:02 AM	#6
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	Sitting staring blankly into space mostly. Although one person did appear to be trying to read over the shoulder of the person next to them.

02-01-2010, 08:02 AM	#7
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,332 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Woo, impresive. I'm never seen much reader in train but mine. There are more people reading these day (on p-book) , buy also a lot with thier iPod / iPhone doing some random message typing / video watching / listening to music.

02-01-2010, 08:05 AM	#8
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	People read there? That would be rather unusual here, unless it was a glossy magazine about Brad and Angelina or John Edwards. Or, more seldomly, a newspaper about Tiger. I have very rarely seen ebook readers in the wild.

02-01-2010, 08:20 AM	#11
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	When I still went by train, I generally read on my way back and listened to an audiobook on the way to work. Easier to listen to a book when it's rather crowded... But what you see the most here, is either people listening to their phone, sometimes even talking to it, and reading the free newspaper you can find at every single station...