Reading speed - Ebook vs. Pbook?

[drjd]

I recently finished a Pbook having around 450 pages, and it took me around 5 days to go. Usually I read a similar size ebook in around 2.5-3 days. Reading a pbook has apparenty taken about double the time. Incidentally, I haven't read a pbook in last 2 years and I think (non-adjustable) printed fonts may be a valid phenomena for the slow reading speed.

Does any one else has noted a significant difference in reading speeds of pbooks and ebooks? Do the ebooks help us enable reading faster? Or is it my illusion? Your views will be highly appreciated.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by drjd

I recently finished a Pbook having around 450 pages, and it took me around 5 days to go. Usually I read a similar size ebook in around 2.5-3 days. Reading a pbook has apparenty taken about double the time. Incidentally, I haven't read a pbook in last 2 years and I think (non-adjustable) printed fonts may be a valid phenomena for the slow reading speed.

Does any one else has noted a significant difference in reading speeds of pbooks and ebooks? Do the ebooks help us enable reading faster? Or is it my illusion? Your views will be highly appreciated.

How much of that time was tapping on the pages and waiting for new text?

[meeera]

I think I read the words at a similar speed. However with treebooks I have to keep taking breaks for my hands to recover, or to change position and grip; I don't need to do that with ebooks, so the whole process is smoother and more comfortable and enjoyable.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by meeera

I think I read the words at a similar speed. However with treebooks I have to keep taking breaks for my hands to recover, or to change position and grip; I don't need to do that with ebooks, so the whole process is smoother and more comfortable and enjoyable.

Mostly this. I generally read in bed, on my side. So, with a paper book, I was turning over and over (because you try to read that heavy book while most of the weight on top!) as my arms would get heavy and laying on the other side was more uncomfortable (I have a prefered side). And almost guaranteed the book would close and I'd have to find my page again...

With an ereader I don't need to turn that often, I just prop the reader against a pillow/stuffed animal (which ever is handy) and read. And I can even continue reading while turning!

[Waylander]

Some books are quicker in e form, some in p form. It doesn't seem to follow a pattern which is weird, as books I think will a quick read on my kindle are actually quicker in p form.

[faltradl]

Wy does the speed of reading matter? Are you on the run while reading?

[drjd]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

How much of that time was tapping on the pages and waiting for new text?

Um.. I think I am satisfied with the page turn speed of my Kobo. It probably takes the same time as the page turning of a physical book.

Originally Posted by meeera

I think I read the words at a similar speed. However with treebooks I have to keep taking breaks for my hands to recover, or to change position and grip; I don't need to do that with ebooks, so the whole process is smoother and more comfortable and enjoyable.

I agree, it becomes a burden to handle a treebook sometimes, and a stress on the hands. It may be another reason to slow down the overall reading process resulting in more time consumed.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Mostly this. I generally read in bed, on my side. So, with a paper book, I was turning over and over (because you try to read that heavy book while most of the weight on top!) as my arms would get heavy and laying on the other side was more uncomfortable (I have a prefered side). And almost guaranteed the book would close and I'd have to find my page again...

With an ereader I don't need to turn that often, I just prop the reader against a pillow/stuffed animal (which ever is handy) and read. And I can even continue reading while turning!

You are right. The weight of a pbook is a considerable issue concerning the strain on wrist and arms. Auto-closing of the book and finding the page where you left, has been a nagging problem for me too. Definitely the comparative little weight of the ereader should have been helpful to resolve these small but important factors affecting the overall reading time and speed.

Originally Posted by Waylander

Some books are quicker in e form, some in p form. It doesn't seem to follow a pattern which is weird, as books I think will a quick read on my kindle are actually quicker in p form.

I perhaps am not clear on what you are trying to explain me. I think I'll have to do some experiments using a stopwatch to read a chapter of same book on ereader and physical format, to accurately compare the time consumed on both the media.

Originally Posted by faltradl

Wy does the speed of reading matter? Are you on the run while reading?

Um.. perhaps because the life is too short and the books are so very many, and I might be trying to digest a large amount of books in short time.

[latepaul]

I've been measuring my reading for the last 6 or 7 years. I've not noticed a difference between p- and e- book speeds. But I have noticed quite a lot of variation depending on the type of book.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by drjd

Um.. I think I am satisfied with the page turn speed of my Kobo. It probably takes the same time as the page turning of a physical book.

I meant tapping the pbook, if I read a pbook nowadays I tap the side and it takes a good few seconds for me to realise why the page hasn't changed

[4691mls]

I think I read faster with ebooks because I can set the font size as small as I want. It feels like I read more slowly if the font is too big, as my eyes have to move back and forth more frequently, whereas with a small font I can read a lot of words before having to switch back to the left side of the page. Of course this is totally non-scientific and may be completely wrong

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

I meant tapping the pbook, if I read a pbook nowadays I tap the side and it takes a good few seconds for me to realise why the page hasn't changed

Or long pressing a word to get the dictionary to pop up.

[drjd]

Originally Posted by latepaul

I've been measuring my reading for the last 6 or 7 years. I've not noticed a difference between p- and e- book speeds. But I have noticed quite a lot of variation depending on the type of book.

Yes, I agree. The type of book certainly affects the reading speed. Reading a page turner vs. some serious subject book will definitely vary the time spent on equal number of pages.

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I think I read faster with ebooks because I can set the font size as small as I want. It feels like I read more slowly if the font is too big, as my eyes have to move back and forth more frequently, whereas with a small font I can read a lot of words before having to switch back to the left side of the page. Of course this is totally non-scientific and may be completely wrong

Reading with small size fonts will surely reduce the time consumed in tapping and turning the pages. Unfortunately I am blind as bat and have to read in a fairly large font, thus increasing the page-turn-taps too.

[drjd]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

I meant tapping the pbook, if I read a pbook nowadays I tap the side and it takes a good few seconds for me to realise why the page hasn't changed

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Or long pressing a word to get the dictionary to pop up.

Ah.. this happened many times with the recent pbook I finished!

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

I meant tapping the pbook, if I read a pbook nowadays I tap the side and it takes a good few seconds for me to realise why the page hasn't changed

Worse... sometimes, I turn the page, and then, for a second or two, are wondering why the text seems to start in the middle of nowhere instead of finishing the sentence I was reading.

Then I look at the *LEFT* page, and the world is well again

[DrNefario]

I don't think it makes any difference to me.

I am coincidentally currently reading an ebook which has about the same number of pages as the pbook I just finished (Mote in God's Eye - paperback, 560 pages vs Promise of Blood - ebook, 561 pages). And yes, I'm making much faster progress in Promise of Blood, but I think it's largely down to the more modern writing style. Mote... comes from a time when 200 pages was a novel, Promise... is only a few years old, and I'd say the norm now is about 350-400 pages. Even if that sometimes means printing big.