Reading speed on Kindle

markbot · 12-09-2007, 07:03 PM

SO far....do you think you read about the same...faster...or slower.....as compared to a paper book.

Personally....I think I'm probably slightly slower...but haven't tested it yet.

azog · 12-09-2007, 08:00 PM

I'm about the same I think. Hard to judge, really, since the concept of "page numbers" isn't very applicable. I did have to adjust my habits. I started to read to the end of the page, and then press the page button, but that was a little bit slow. I've found a fairly comfortable speed which allows me to scan the last line while pressing the next page button.

I don't really know what I'd be called in terms of reading speed. I got my Kindle on Nov 23, and have read Lawhead's "Merlin" (500pgs in paperback), about 25% of Lawhead's "Arthur", "Treasure Island" and one of the Tom Swift novels (those last two were both downloaded from manybooks.net).

Alisa · 12-10-2007, 12:29 AM

I think I'm a little faster. I don't find my hands cramping up or have the need to keep shifting positions to find the right way to balance the book when I read with the kindle. I've been spending way too much time reading lately because of this. I used to read some then take a break and go take care of other things. I've just been sitting down to read and next thing you know eight hours have flown by, it's dark, and I wonder why I'm so hungry.

sfernald · 12-10-2007, 12:30 PM

Yeah, I know. I am reading much more too, to the point that it's annoying others in my life.

Thanks, Kindle.

cfw123 · 12-10-2007, 12:34 PM

I have been checking myself re reading speed with my Kindle. I know I read faster, and have these reasons apparent to me:

1. Page turning is much faster, and can be done with one hand. My right hand thumb is positioned perfectly to advance a page almost instantly. The actual page turn is very fast, and I can keep reading without losing connection with the ideas I am absorbing while reading. If you don't believe this, just try page turning with one hand, especially trade press paperbacks with very stiff splines.

2. The Kindle displays text well staced top to bottom -- like double spacing. This is much faster to read since it's difficult to make an error when going to one line to the next, either jumping a line or reading the same line twice.

3. The Kindle has a relatively short line length of 3" with a 1/4" border on each side. It's easier than trying to read very long line lengths where by the time you reach the line end, you don't remember what you read at the start of the same line. Also a shorter line length is easier on your eyes to retrace back to the start of the line when moving to the next line.

4. The fonts are consistent. There are thousands of fonts in the print media whch adds difficulty to the reader. But only one is used with the Kindle, although it can display that in up to 6 sizes to accomodate eyesight demands of people with vision difficulties.

5. The preprocessor designed to make Kindle documents look good and be consistent uses line length justification, so that all lines are the same length as opposed to ragged edges on the right border. Tests made by the print media -- books, magazines, and newspapers have shown this adds to ease of reading.

All in all, I certainly feel that my reading speed is increased on the Kindle.

Charles Wilkes

ampressman · 01-28-2009, 10:46 AM

Overall, I don't notice much difference but when reading in bed at night, as I start to get a little sleepy, I increase the font size of whatever I'm reading and I definitely get in more reading than I would with a paper-printed book...
-Aaron

huevos · 01-28-2009, 01:34 PM

I just spent a week reading an old tech book on vacation because I didnt want to get any sand in my kindle. This provided me with a good opportunity to compare my reading speed. I think I read faster with the kindle. the biggest reason is that when my eyes get tired of smaller font, i can bump up the size and continue reading longer. I think I may read slightly faster on the kindle...but I dont think its that noticeable.

desertgrandma · 01-28-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huevos

I just spent a week reading an old tech book on vacation because I didnt want to get any sand in my kindle. This provided me with a good opportunity to compare my reading speed. I think I read faster with the kindle. the biggest reason is that when my eyes get tired of smaller font, i can bump up the size and continue reading longer. I think I may read slightly faster on the kindle...but I dont think its that noticeable.

A lot of people take their Kindle to the beach and in the bath.......They just stick it in a one gallon baggie, seal it, and read away~

lilac_jive · 01-28-2009, 03:25 PM

I know this is a Kindle thread, but I wanted to poke my head in anyway.

I just picked up a paperback after a good dozen ebooks (and then before that library books for a while), and I don't know if I'm reading it faster, but man, this curling page thing is bugging me out after reading a flat page for a while (I tend not to bend the binding). It was so easy to jump to my Reader, but it's harder to go back.

I can say I have been reading a whole lot more though.

Alisa · 01-28-2009, 03:48 PM

I think the biggest factor in my increased reading is simply that I always have a book I want to read. There's no lag in between books while I go to the bookstore or library or wait for Amazon. I can get a new book from Amazon, the PD sites and even my local library any time day or night and with the first two, I don't even need to be near my computer to do it.

PhishStyx · 01-28-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

A lot of people take their Kindle to the beach and in the bath.......They just stick it in a one gallon baggie, seal it, and read away~

That's a cool idea, I'll have to keep that in mind.

desertgrandma · 01-28-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I know this is a Kindle thread, but I wanted to poke my head in anyway.

I just picked up a paperback after a good dozen ebooks (and then before that library books for a while), and I don't know if I'm reading it faster, but man, this curling page thing is bugging me out after reading a flat page for a while (I tend not to bend the binding). It was so easy to jump to my Reader, but it's harder to go back.

I can say I have been reading a whole lot more though.

Yeah, and whats up with that 'I put it down, and when I picked it up, it didn't keep my place?? And, wheres the built in dictionary?? And WHY are they making the printing so dang small???

lilac_jive · 01-28-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Yeah, and whats up with that 'I put it down, and when I picked it up, it didn't keep my place?? And, wheres the built in dictionary?? And WHY are they making the printing so dang small???

And what on earth is that smell? Books don't smell!

desertgrandma · 01-28-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

And what on earth is that smell? Books don't smell!

Okay, back off the smell. I LOVE that smell...........

lilac_jive · 01-28-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Okay, back off the smell. I LOVE that smell...........

I do too

12-09-2007, 07:03 PM	#1
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	Reading speed on Kindle SO far....do you think you read about the same...faster...or slower.....as compared to a paper book. Personally....I think I'm probably slightly slower...but haven't tested it yet.

12-10-2007, 12:34 PM	#5
cfw123 Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Jose, Calif., USA Device: Kindle	Reading speed on the Kindle I have been checking myself re reading speed with my Kindle. I know I read faster, and have these reasons apparent to me: 1. Page turning is much faster, and can be done with one hand. My right hand thumb is positioned perfectly to advance a page almost instantly. The actual page turn is very fast, and I can keep reading without losing connection with the ideas I am absorbing while reading. If you don't believe this, just try page turning with one hand, especially trade press paperbacks with very stiff splines. 2. The Kindle displays text well staced top to bottom -- like double spacing. This is much faster to read since it's difficult to make an error when going to one line to the next, either jumping a line or reading the same line twice. 3. The Kindle has a relatively short line length of 3" with a 1/4" border on each side. It's easier than trying to read very long line lengths where by the time you reach the line end, you don't remember what you read at the start of the same line. Also a shorter line length is easier on your eyes to retrace back to the start of the line when moving to the next line. 4. The fonts are consistent. There are thousands of fonts in the print media whch adds difficulty to the reader. But only one is used with the Kindle, although it can display that in up to 6 sizes to accomodate eyesight demands of people with vision difficulties. 5. The preprocessor designed to make Kindle documents look good and be consistent uses line length justification, so that all lines are the same length as opposed to ragged edges on the right border. Tests made by the print media -- books, magazines, and newspapers have shown this adds to ease of reading. All in all, I certainly feel that my reading speed is increased on the Kindle. Charles Wilkes

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What's Your Reading Speed	junkyardwillie	Lounge	41	10-10-2013 03:12 PM
Question about kindle screen - can i touch it? (Speed reading)	d47	Amazon Kindle	25	10-19-2010 03:00 PM
Reading speed	tsantsa	News	27	03-01-2010 02:38 PM
Reading speed???	tnronin	Sony Reader	13	02-08-2010 10:02 PM
Speed reading?	Gatton	Lounge	34	09-05-2009 11:14 AM

12-09-2007, 08:00 PM	#2
azog Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 33 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Cybook Gen3, Kindle	I'm about the same I think. Hard to judge, really, since the concept of "page numbers" isn't very applicable. I did have to adjust my habits. I started to read to the end of the page, and then press the page button, but that was a little bit slow. I've found a fairly comfortable speed which allows me to scan the last line while pressing the next page button. I don't really know what I'd be called in terms of reading speed. I got my Kindle on Nov 23, and have read Lawhead's "Merlin" (500pgs in paperback), about 25% of Lawhead's "Arthur", "Treasure Island" and one of the Tom Swift novels (those last two were both downloaded from manybooks.net).

12-10-2007, 12:29 AM	#3
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I think I'm a little faster. I don't find my hands cramping up or have the need to keep shifting positions to find the right way to balance the book when I read with the kindle. I've been spending way too much time reading lately because of this. I used to read some then take a break and go take care of other things. I've just been sitting down to read and next thing you know eight hours have flown by, it's dark, and I wonder why I'm so hungry.

12-10-2007, 12:30 PM	#4
sfernald Zealot Posts: 102 Karma: 101 Join Date: Oct 2006	Yeah, I know. I am reading much more too, to the point that it's annoying others in my life. Thanks, Kindle.

01-28-2009, 10:46 AM	#6
ampressman Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Needham, MA Device: Kindle 1.0	Overall, I don't notice much difference but when reading in bed at night, as I start to get a little sleepy, I increase the font size of whatever I'm reading and I definitely get in more reading than I would with a paper-printed book... -Aaron

01-28-2009, 01:34 PM	#7
huevos Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DC Device: Kindle	I just spent a week reading an old tech book on vacation because I didnt want to get any sand in my kindle. This provided me with a good opportunity to compare my reading speed. I think I read faster with the kindle. the biggest reason is that when my eyes get tired of smaller font, i can bump up the size and continue reading longer. I think I may read slightly faster on the kindle...but I dont think its that noticeable.

01-28-2009, 03:25 PM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I know this is a Kindle thread, but I wanted to poke my head in anyway. I just picked up a paperback after a good dozen ebooks (and then before that library books for a while), and I don't know if I'm reading it faster, but man, this curling page thing is bugging me out after reading a flat page for a while (I tend not to bend the binding). It was so easy to jump to my Reader, but it's harder to go back. I can say I have been reading a whole lot more though.

01-28-2009, 03:48 PM	#10
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	I think the biggest factor in my increased reading is simply that I always have a book I want to read. There's no lag in between books while I go to the bookstore or library or wait for Amazon. I can get a new book from Amazon, the PD sites and even my local library any time day or night and with the first two, I don't even need to be near my computer to do it.

Advert

Advert