10,3” ereaders too big for comfortable reading (page width)?

[Percivale]

Dear owners of 10" ereaders

I have been considering the purchase of 10,3” ereader (possibly one of Onyx Boox models). I don’t need a reader for pdf texts.

I have some doubts about the comfort of reading on a bigger screen. I like bigger fonts and I find them more comfortable to read.

However, I am afraid that the page width will be too big for comfort and fast reading. Obviously I can add much bigger margins to shorten lines but it will be a waste of space. Eventually, it leads to the practicality of such a purchase. To buy a bigger screen and then waste space for much bigger margins only to keep the comfort of reading?

I don’t mind the weight and the size of 10,3’ ereaders, I only have some reservations about the comfort and speed of reading with longer lines.

Can anyone please comment on this issue?
I will be very grateful for any comment.

[theducks]

You could use in Landscape with 2 page view (assumes 2 up supported)?

A 7" device is slightly wider that the typical paperback TEXT Area *the bezel provides the typical page white space (page margins).

So this begs the question, why spend the extra for a bigger screen unless you need bigger text because of vision issues? (you did state not needed for PDF )

[Quoth]

I only use my 10.3″ eink to proof PDFs for POD or a few PDFs that I can't read on the 8″ Sage (which has more pixels!).

I find 9.7″ and 10.3″ too big and heavy compared to 8″ as well as lines too long unless I set big margins. I have also 7.8″, 7″, 6″ and 4.7″ eink. The 8″ 300 dpi Sage is used for almost all my reading.

[John F]

First, I do not have a 10" reader, but I plan on purchasing one in the future (for my mother).

To me "bigger fonts" and a larger reader go hand in hand. Maybe increase line spacing so going to the next line is easier, although if the font is "big", then line spacing would be big also.

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by Percivale

Dear owners of 10" ereaders

I have been considering the purchase of 10,3” ereader (possibly one of Onyx Boox models). I don’t need a reader for pdf texts.

I have some doubts about the comfort of reading on a bigger screen. I like bigger fonts and I find them more comfortable to read.

However, I am afraid that the page width will be too big for comfort and fast reading. Obviously I can add much bigger margins to shorten lines but it will be a waste of space. Eventually, it leads to the practicality of such a purchase. To buy a bigger screen and then waste space for much bigger margins only to keep the comfort of reading?

I don’t mind the weight and the size of 10,3’ ereaders, I only have some reservations about the comfort and speed of reading with longer lines.

Can anyone please comment on this issue?
I will be very grateful for any comment.

I always say the same thing: a person who is used to reading physical books will have no problem using a 10" e-reader, either in single-column portrait or two-column landscape mode. If you prefer to use large fonts, a 10" e-reader is a very good option (I use "small" fonts and I am equally satisfied). Contrary to what is often claimed, I believe that reading on a 10" e-reader is the closest to reading a physical book (in landscape two-column mode it looks like a small open book, and in portrait single-column mode it looks like a page in a large book), which does not mean that a person has to prefer them to other smaller sizes as there are many factors to consider. But to answer your specific question (not my personal preferences) in my opinion you won't have any problem with the page width for a satisfactory reading.

[pickyaxe]

here's a different opinion - 10" readers are indispensable for PDFs and comics (and that's after every possible trick via zooming/cropping with the help of KOReader). I would not read those on a smaller screen, and even the extra 2 inches from a 8" reader are very noticeable here (and for the record, my eyesight is fine).

however, they're quite heavy and wide, which makes significantly less nice to, say, read in bed. so if I were to read mainly ePUBs again I would definitely choose a smaller device.

[John F]

Also, if you have access to a computer or tablet, you could simulate a 10" reader.

[Percivale]

Thank You very much for great feedback.

I am looking forward to more replies.

Once again I will amplify: I am thinking about the issue if 10.3 screen size matters when it comes to ease of reading epubs? I don't mind weight and size.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Percivale

Once again I will amplify: I am thinking about the issue if 10.3 screen size matters when it comes to ease of reading epubs? I don't mind weight and size.

It depends on your personal preferences. There are posters here who prefer to read on 10'' devices, posters who prefer to read on 6'' devices, and anything in between. There is no "one size fits all".

My preferred size is 7'' or 8''; I don't want a larger device, nor a smaller one either. YMMV.

[Percivale]

I refer to the thesis that the optimum line length for reading speed is claimed to be fairly low.

Do you agree with the above?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Percivale

I refer to the thesis that the optimum line length for reading speed is claimed to be fairly low.

Do you agree with the above?

I tend to disagree with that thesis. For me, I don't find a wider line width causing me to slow down noticeably when reading for anything narrower than a broadsheet. OTOH, I am an outlier when it comes to reading speed so YMMV.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Percivale

I refer to the thesis that the optimum line length for reading speed is claimed to be fairly low.

Do you agree with the above?

No idea, as I hate reading narrow columns and avoid them wherever possible. And reading speed doesn't matter to me; I only ever read for pleasure.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Percivale

I refer to the thesis that the optimum line length for reading speed is claimed to be fairly low.

Do you agree with the above?

It would have to be a LOT wider to slow me down.
By a LOT, I mean over 36" wide, requiring me to turn my head to see the rest of the line.

60+ years has slowed me down (quite a bit) from the days in high school where I read at 800wpm (the teacher made me take the test again as I was twice as fast as the next person in class)