Anyone worried about reading on such a big screen? (Kindle DX) Iliad users?

[Gideon]

I have to admit, I'm a bit concerned about reading novels on such an enormous screen as the DX.

For you Illiad users, what's the experience like? Pleasant enough to read for hours and hours?

Anyone else a bit worried?

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Gideon

I have to admit, I'm a bit concerned about reading novels on such an enormous screen as the DX.

For you Illiad users, what's the experience like? Pleasant enough to read for hours and hours?

Anyone else a bit worried?

If I recall correctly, a 10" screen is approximately 6.3" wide and 7.9" tall. In other words, still smaller than the fairly popular book size of 6"x9".

If you are really, really used to reading mass-market paperbacks, it might be jarring... those I think might be as small as around 4"x6" but most other North American books are 5"x8" or 6"x"9 which are not greatly smaller than the 10" screen size.

- Ahi

[Gideon]

Perhaps I'm just imagining it a bit too big.

[lisreed]

Are you buying it for other reasons than reading novels? Do you plan to keep your kindle 2 as well? I understand if you are buying it for more technical reading but otherwise I would imagine its a bit akward for just leisure reading. Its 18 ounces and that is without a cover. That sounds heavy.

[Argel]

Originally Posted by Gideon

Anyone else a bit worried?

On the contrary, I'm increasingly drawn to the concept.

Given the fact that here in the UK we're faced with an growing inability to buy editions due to geographic restrictions and the limited range of UK editions at absurd prices, a few minutes with a Stanley knife and a Scansnap scanner suffices to produce an entirely adequate PDF of the average book.

A larger screen, enabling me to see the output at full size or even slightly enlarged would complete the equation and free me finally from the artificial restrictions imposed by publishers.

[Gideon]

I'll be using it for a lot of both. Main reason I'm upgrading is because I read lots of academic journals, pdf's lying around, etc. There's a SLIM chance I'll keep my K2, but I really need to sell it if I get the DX.

So we'll see. They have a 30 day return policy!

[lisreed]

I see. Since you like academic journals that makes sense. I know I personally like to read with the kindle feeling as light as possible so I read it without a case for the most part. I have a sleeve case for it. So 18 ounces sounds heavy to me personally! Kindle 2 looked big to me before I got it. Now it looks a good size so probably the same for DX. In the pictures it looks huge but once you get it you can judge better.

[Talldog]

The way I see it, I've got 30 days to decide. If I don't like it, I'll exchange it for another K2.

[ahi]

Originally Posted by Gideon

Perhaps I'm just imagining it a bit too big.

I also did... but really it depends simply on the font size. Our eyes are not fond of overly long horizontal lines, so a 10" screen is probably not great if you prefer your fonts 9pt or 10pt; but with 11pt or 12pt font size it should be comparable to your average paper book page.

Or so the math in my head suggests.

- Ahi

[Andybaby]

you could always increase the margins on your novels.

the 10 inch screen is about the size of the kindle 2, but if the entire thing is a screen.

[Sonist]

I have an iLiad BE and a K2, and find the iLiad's larger screen much more pleasant to read. For novels.

[sirbruce]

When I first got my K2, my main complain was that the screen wasn't larger and no native PDF support. KDX solves both those issues.

That being said, though, I've come to love my K2 so much that I do worry about the portability of the KDX. Lately I've been mostly reading while on the treadmill, and I think the KDX might be too unwieldy for that. I'm also annoying they removed the buttons on the left side; this means I can't just switch hands every few minutes when the other one gets tired.

So I may wind up using the KDX only to read PDFs at home. We'll see.

[HarryT]

I read on my DR1000 using the 3rd largest font size. With that setting, and all the toolbars, etc, enabled, the screen shows almost exactly the same amount of text as does a "standard" hardback book. I find it very comfortable to use.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

When I first got my K2, my main complain was that the screen wasn't larger and no native PDF support. KDX solves both those issues.

That being said, though, I've come to love my K2 so much that I do worry about the portability of the KDX. Lately I've been mostly reading while on the treadmill, and I think the KDX might be too unwieldy for that. I'm also annoying they removed the buttons on the left side; this means I can't just switch hands every few minutes when the other one gets tired.

So I may wind up using the KDX only to read PDFs at home. We'll see.

A large-screen device certainly isn't a replacement for a 6" reader when it comes to portability. Like your K2, I carry my CyBook with me everywhere I go. It's comfortable to hold one-handed, and I can use it pretty much anywhere.

My iRex DR1000 is completely different. It needs two hands to comfortably hold and use (standing up, I hold it "cradled" in one arm, and use the other hand to turn pages; sitting down, I hold it in two hands, one on each side, like a book, and use my thumbs to turn the pages). It's a much more "rewarding" reading experience than the CyBook, but it's definitely not a "take it with you everywhere" device.

I'm happy that I have both; it gives me the best of both worlds.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Gideon

I have to admit, I'm a bit concerned about reading novels on such an enormous screen as the DX.

For you Illiad users, what's the experience like? Pleasant enough to read for hours and hours?

Anyone else a bit worried?

I think it's all about what you're used to. For me, a 6" device looks positively huge! I've been reading on a 3.4" device for years now...