preference for non-touch models

franklekens · 09-03-2012, 04:32 PM

Do you think non-touch screen models are on the way out? I tend to get that impression. But I've recently tried both the regular K4 as well as the Kindle Touch next to my old K3, and I have to say I have a marked preference for an ereader without touchscreen.

I prefer an ordinary screen because I dislike accidental page turns (whether caused by accidental finger movements, a screen that's too trigger happy or a fly landing on my screen), and because I prefer the ergonomics of the page turn buttons on the side to having to stretch my thumb towards the screen for every page turn.

In addition, I prefer the K3 because the extra space of the keyboard makes it sit easier in my hand. (Depends on your hand size, I guess.)
And I also prefer the K4 to the KT because it feels so much lighter. (Not even 100 grams, but you do notice it.)

Between the K3 and the K4, it's a little more difficult to choose. Better contrast for the one, 3G for the other...

Anyone else who'd still choose a non touch model for that reason, and not just because it's cheaper?

I'm a little afraid that as touch screens will continue to get cheaper, they'll simply crowd out the non touch screen models.

Blossom · 09-03-2012, 05:39 PM

I have a K3 and K4. I love my K3 it has the better contrast but for me it's not easy to hold because it's too thin and oddly shaped. I use to think it was the weight but I use my Kindle Fire just fine every night. So I prefer the K4 and would by one again. I have not tried a KT yet. If the new Kindle is only touch I guess I will soon know how a touch reader other than my Kindle Fire feels.

soulfuldog · 09-03-2012, 05:49 PM

I think a combination of the two is the best option (an e-reader with a touch screen and physical page turn buttons). That way you get the best of both worlds, the touch screen for ease of use navigating menus, sorting books etc, and the option to turn pages using either taps/swipes of the screen or physical buttons.

spindlegirl · 09-03-2012, 06:19 PM

I prefer non-touch. For many other reasons than price. I have had 2 touch screen models and I am preferring the physical buttons instead. I like how I can be on a bus and not accidentally turn pages if my hand brushes the screen. I actually like to put my finger on the screen as I am reading without worrying I am executing some command.

I find I am going back to basics with my e-reader preferences. Being able to plunk different books into categories, and just, well, read, as long as it can do that via usb, I'm quite happy.

tubemonkey · 09-03-2012, 06:41 PM

I have a K3 and a K4. I don't like keyboards, so I was looking to replace my K3 with either a K4 or a KT. I chose the K4 because it was $49.

Personally, I don't care if it's touch or non-touch. Price is the determining factor for me.

Blossom · 09-03-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I have a K3 and a K4. I don't like keyboards, so I was looking to replace my K3 with either a K4 or a KT. I chose the K4 because it was $49.

Personally, I don't care if it's touch or non-touch. Price is the determining factor for me.

It does play a large part for me too.

tannenba · 09-03-2012, 08:09 PM

I have the K3 and find that I use the keyboard quite a bit for task like annotating a pdf file for class, playing an interactive fiction game (aka text adventure game with kif), or writing short forum posts like this one. (yes i am writing this on my K3). Maybe the touch keyboard works just as well as the physical keyboard, but I doubt it. Would love to hear experiences from folks who use a touch keyboard regularly on an eink device.

HarryT · 09-04-2012, 01:37 AM

The soft keyboard on the Touch works better than the physical keyboard on the K3, to my mind.

You don't have to "stretch out your thumb" to turn the page on the Touch, as the OP stated. If you rest your thumb on the edge of the bezel, a slight roll of the thumb is sufficient to turn the page.

Piper_ · 09-04-2012, 01:49 AM

I prefer the k3 w/ keyboard, for the reasons the op gave, particularly accidental clicks, and the better accessibility features overall.

I really hope they never discontinue the model, as I think it's the best out there for people with vision problems, shaky fingers, and the elderly.

jbcohen · 09-04-2012, 07:35 AM

Personally I recommend that Amazon keep one non-touch model around in all of their generations of kindles, because some people simply do not like touch models.

abookreader · 09-04-2012, 09:56 AM

The only aspect of the Touch model that I didn't like was the lack of the page turn button. It was enough of a dislike for me though to return it and go back to using my Kindle Keyboard. For some reason I just didn't like screen tapping or thumb rolling or whatever for page turns. I want a button to push down on.

I'm kind of ambivalent about the new release. I wouldn't mind the glow light but my Kindle Keyboard in the lighted case is still working like brand new with all the nice collections set up on it and I STILL have my Kindle 2 which also still works great. And my Kindle Fire works great too. It gets to the point of "How many nice devices does one girl need?"

From what I can see from the pictures the new Kindle might not have physical page turn buttons either so I don't know that I'll be buying this go around.

RainingLemur · 09-04-2012, 10:53 AM

I think that the keyboard models are going to be on their way out, unfortunately. I prefer the physical keyboard, but I wouldn't complain (much) if I had to upgrade/downgrade to one of the touch models. At the least, I'd rather have the touch model than the base non-touch model.

Zeebra · 09-04-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l_macd

I think a combination of the two is the best option (an e-reader with a touch screen and physical page turn buttons). That way you get the best of both worlds, the touch screen for ease of use navigating menus, sorting books etc, and the option to turn pages using either taps/swipes of the screen or physical buttons.

I agree with you. I would like the touchscreen to look up definitions, way easier to just touch a word instead of having to move the cursor halfway down a page to get to it. That being said, I prefer having a physical page turn button on the side as opposed to changing pages with the screen.

spindlegirl · 09-04-2012, 11:28 AM

I wouldn't mind a combo if there were an option to toggle one or the other. If I could disable touch screen that would be great. With the Sony T1, it had a 'combo' but the touch screen was always active.

BeeTee-Ess · 09-04-2012, 08:40 PM

I am really hoping that, whatever else may happen, we continue to have available a Kindle with page turning buttons. I can cope with either physical or soft keyboards (a la K3/K4NT). I do not like using the touch screen models.

What worries me is that as the technology of Kindle document formats evolves (eg: KF8), Amazon may not release button-equipped models capable of reading them.

09-03-2012, 04:32 PM	#1
franklekens Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 3421956 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: various Kobo's, Onyx Note2, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Keyboard	preference for non-touch models Do you think non-touch screen models are on the way out? I tend to get that impression. But I've recently tried both the regular K4 as well as the Kindle Touch next to my old K3, and I have to say I have a marked preference for an ereader without touchscreen. I prefer an ordinary screen because I dislike accidental page turns (whether caused by accidental finger movements, a screen that's too trigger happy or a fly landing on my screen), and because I prefer the ergonomics of the page turn buttons on the side to having to stretch my thumb towards the screen for every page turn. In addition, I prefer the K3 because the extra space of the keyboard makes it sit easier in my hand. (Depends on your hand size, I guess.) And I also prefer the K4 to the KT because it feels so much lighter. (Not even 100 grams, but you do notice it.) Between the K3 and the K4, it's a little more difficult to choose. Better contrast for the one, 3G for the other... Anyone else who'd still choose a non touch model for that reason, and not just because it's cheaper? I'm a little afraid that as touch screens will continue to get cheaper, they'll simply crowd out the non touch screen models.

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09-03-2012, 05:39 PM	#2
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I have a K3 and K4. I love my K3 it has the better contrast but for me it's not easy to hold because it's too thin and oddly shaped. I use to think it was the weight but I use my Kindle Fire just fine every night. So I prefer the K4 and would by one again. I have not tried a KT yet. If the new Kindle is only touch I guess I will soon know how a touch reader other than my Kindle Fire feels.

09-03-2012, 05:49 PM	#3
soulfuldog I ♥ Calibre Posts: 2,073 Karma: 5678911 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Voyage, Sony PRS-350, Hudl2	I think a combination of the two is the best option (an e-reader with a touch screen and physical page turn buttons). That way you get the best of both worlds, the touch screen for ease of use navigating menus, sorting books etc, and the option to turn pages using either taps/swipes of the screen or physical buttons.

09-03-2012, 06:19 PM	#4
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	I prefer non-touch. For many other reasons than price. I have had 2 touch screen models and I am preferring the physical buttons instead. I like how I can be on a bus and not accidentally turn pages if my hand brushes the screen. I actually like to put my finger on the screen as I am reading without worrying I am executing some command. I find I am going back to basics with my e-reader preferences. Being able to plunk different books into categories, and just, well, read, as long as it can do that via usb, I'm quite happy.

09-03-2012, 06:41 PM	#5
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	I have a K3 and a K4. I don't like keyboards, so I was looking to replace my K3 with either a K4 or a KT. I chose the K4 because it was $49. Personally, I don't care if it's touch or non-touch. Price is the determining factor for me.

09-03-2012, 08:09 PM	#7
tannenba Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2004 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	I have the K3 and find that I use the keyboard quite a bit for task like annotating a pdf file for class, playing an interactive fiction game (aka text adventure game with kif), or writing short forum posts like this one. (yes i am writing this on my K3). Maybe the touch keyboard works just as well as the physical keyboard, but I doubt it. Would love to hear experiences from folks who use a touch keyboard regularly on an eink device.

09-04-2012, 01:37 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The soft keyboard on the Touch works better than the physical keyboard on the K3, to my mind. You don't have to "stretch out your thumb" to turn the page on the Touch, as the OP stated. If you rest your thumb on the edge of the bezel, a slight roll of the thumb is sufficient to turn the page.

09-04-2012, 01:49 AM	#9
Piper_ ~~~~~ Posts: 761 Karma: 1278391 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle 3, Sony 350	I prefer the k3 w/ keyboard, for the reasons the op gave, particularly accidental clicks, and the better accessibility features overall. I really hope they never discontinue the model, as I think it's the best out there for people with vision problems, shaky fingers, and the elderly.

09-04-2012, 07:35 AM	#10
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Personally I recommend that Amazon keep one non-touch model around in all of their generations of kindles, because some people simply do not like touch models.

09-04-2012, 09:56 AM	#11
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	The only aspect of the Touch model that I didn't like was the lack of the page turn button. It was enough of a dislike for me though to return it and go back to using my Kindle Keyboard. For some reason I just didn't like screen tapping or thumb rolling or whatever for page turns. I want a button to push down on. I'm kind of ambivalent about the new release. I wouldn't mind the glow light but my Kindle Keyboard in the lighted case is still working like brand new with all the nice collections set up on it and I STILL have my Kindle 2 which also still works great. And my Kindle Fire works great too. It gets to the point of "How many nice devices does one girl need?" From what I can see from the pictures the new Kindle might not have physical page turn buttons either so I don't know that I'll be buying this go around.

09-04-2012, 10:53 AM	#12
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I think that the keyboard models are going to be on their way out, unfortunately. I prefer the physical keyboard, but I wouldn't complain (much) if I had to upgrade/downgrade to one of the touch models. At the least, I'd rather have the touch model than the base non-touch model.

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09-04-2012, 11:28 AM	#14
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	I wouldn't mind a combo if there were an option to toggle one or the other. If I could disable touch screen that would be great. With the Sony T1, it had a 'combo' but the touch screen was always active.

09-04-2012, 08:40 PM	#15
BeeTee-Ess Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 679580 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: K3, K4NT, KPW2, Voyage, iP4, iP6, iPad Mini, HP TouchPad, Kobo Mini	I am really hoping that, whatever else may happen, we continue to have available a Kindle with page turning buttons. I can cope with either physical or soft keyboards (a la K3/K4NT). I do not like using the touch screen models. What worries me is that as the technology of Kindle document formats evolves (eg: KF8), Amazon may not release button-equipped models capable of reading them.