Where do I rest my thumb when reading on a Kindle? The bezel?

[kindledude20]

Hello,

Sorry in advance for the asinine question but am brand new to ebook readers and just received my kindle paper white 3 a few days ago.

I absolutely love this thing. In a brightly lit room I turn the lighting feature to the lowest setting, and in an absolutely pitch black bedroom at night I can set it at 25% and it’s totally fine.

Anyhow, I’m wondering where to rest my thumb when reading? Ideally I’d love to be able to place my thumb anywhere on the “page” just like how I would when reading any real paperback book, but obviously on the kindle resting my thumb on the words brings up the Wikipedia/dictionary feature or highlights more than a few words.

I wouldn’t mind if there was like a lock setting but still letting me ‘turn’ the page when the time comes.

Maybe I’m missing something here but am really grad this forum exists.

Thanks all!

[beespeckled]

I don't have the PW but find having a protective cover that opens like a book more comfortable-like reading a regular book with my e-readers.

[Tomk2]

First you have to lose 100 pounds or chop off half your thumb so it fits on the paperwhite bezel. Well, sarcasm aside, your thumb goes on the bezel, hanging off the outside, three fingers behind the paperwhite, pinky under the bottom. Watch out for the on off button positioned just where your pinky wants to rest.

A case helps.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[ilovejedd]

Iirc, there’s a disable touchscreen option on Kindles. With this, you’d need to use swipe to turn pages.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Iirc, there’s a disable touchscreen option on Kindles. With this, you’d need to use swipe to turn pages.

Yes, and then you have to press power twice to get touch back.

I don’t use a cover, it makes it too heavy. I don’t rest thumb on bezel, it just floats off to side ready to tap. This is when sitting in a chair with Kindle horizontal to floor, with fingers underneath supporting center of gravity. Hand remains relaxed, not ‘gripping’. I don’t read when horizontal, I sleep.

At least with this technique (everybody’s hands are different), they could get rid of the bezel entirely and either have a smaller device or larger screen in same size case.

[haydnfan]

(right-handed) I put the bottom right corner against my palm I then put my thumb along the right bezel and the fingers on the back.

(left-handed) I sometimes put the bottom left corner against my palm then I put my thumb along the bottom bezel and the fingers on the back.

If you look at the picture on the basic Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Now-wi.../dp/B07DPMXZZ7 that is how I hold my Kindle, Kobo etc.

One final way, I don't like living fingerprints on the bezel of my PW4, and so I hold it with my fingers on the left edge and my thumb on the right edge like so:
https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/jce...indle-2019.jpg

It is not a stupid question imo, we all go through this problem because the devices are not ergonomically designed (excepting the premium Kindles and Kobos). I had no problem holding my Kindle 3 nor my Nook STR for extended periods of time and comfortable ways to hold them were intuitive. Kindle 4 on they became much harder to hold.

Finally if none of that works for you, try using a popsocket.

[kindledude20]

Originally Posted by beespeckled

I don't have the PW but find having a protective cover that opens like a book more comfortable-like reading a regular book with my e-readers.

I did fail to mention that I do have the Kindle black leather bound case that opens and closes like a book. I dig the on/off feature when opening and closing the cover.

[kindledude20]

Originally Posted by Tomk2

First you have to lose 100 pounds or chop off half your thumb so it fits on the paperwhite bezel. Well, sarcasm aside, your thumb goes on the bezel, hanging off the outside, three fingers behind the paperwhite, pinky under the bottom. Watch out for the on off button positioned just where your pinky wants to rest.

A case helps.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

This made me laugh. Lol.

Admittedly what you described is pretty much exactly how I’ve been holding it for the past few days since I’ve owned it.

[kindledude20]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Iirc, there’s a disable touchscreen option on Kindles. With this, you’d need to use swipe to turn pages.

I think this is the specific feature I’m hoping for. How would I go about turning it on?

[kindledude20]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Yes, and then you have to press power twice to get touch back.

I don’t use a cover, it makes it too heavy. I don’t rest thumb on bezel, it just floats off to side ready to tap. This is when sitting in a chair with Kindle horizontal to floor, with fingers underneath supporting center of gravity. Hand remains relaxed, not ‘gripping’. I don’t read when horizontal, I sleep.

At least with this technique (everybody’s hands are different), they could get rid of the bezel entirely and either have a smaller device or larger screen in same size case.

I totally hear you on having a case-less kindle and boy do I enjoy how light it is, but I also fear dropping it and messing up the screen.

[haertig]

I'm a naked Kindle reader. I don't use a cover or case (I'm talking about for the Kindle, not for me!) I like the device to be small and light. For transport, I use a small neoprene carry bag (a larger bag being required for myself).

I'm a two-hander for reading. Hold in left hand, turn pages with right hand. In the left hand, thumb is on one side of reader, fingers 3,4,5 on the other side, and index finger lightly resting on the back. I figure I have two hands, why not use them both?

There is no one-handed hold of a Kindle that feels secure to me. It always feels like I'm on the ragged edge of dropping the thing when trying to turn the page. Very awkward.

I sometimes do a one-handed hold when reading in bed since if I drop it, it will hit the soft mattress (possibly after bouncing off my belly on the way down).

Some day, they'll probably have optical tracking on these things. When you want to turn the page, you just look to the side of the screen for 500 ms and bingo, the page turns. Light intensity will be adjustable by squinting or opening your eyes up wide. When you go to sleep, your closed eyes will shut the thing off. A bonus - as you start to fall asleep and your eyes begin closing, that is like the squint maneuver, and the display intensity will start to go down. So as not to interrupt you on your way to sleep. Just don't let the dog sleep in bed with you, because they could really mess up your current location and settings while inspecting the device.

[twowheels]

Here’s how I hold both my kindle and kobo. The kindle is a bit easier with its larger bezels. I tap with my thumb to turn the page.