11-13-2006, 11:36 AM | #1 |
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Sony Reader physical ergonomics
I've now spent about a day with my new Sony Reader. I love it, the screen is great. That said, I have a few beefs with the physical design of the device.
I strongly recommend that Sony (and any other eBook device maker) have their designers take a close look at the physical design of the REB1100. I know that the screen sucks, the device is too heavy, etc. BUT... No matter which hand you hold it in, when you have the reader well balanced in your hand the next-page button is right under your thumb. And it's a biiiiiiig button, so that's true whether you have giant hands or the tiny hands of my youngest niece. The device is designed so the battery is in a bulge that rests directly in your hand -- makes it easy to hold onto. The battery placement also means that the side-to-side center of balance of the device is well off-center towards the battery-and-button side -- the side that you'll naturally wind up holding in your hand. That's muuuuuch better and more comfortable than the Sony eReader. And if you choose to switch hands, you can trivially tell the REV1100 which side of the screen is the top -- and it automatically switches the next/prev buttons around so that the one that is under your thumb is always "next-page". To sum up: Yes, the eInk screen's readability clearly trumps all of these other considerations. But Sony really should have worked a lot harder on the ergonomics of the device. There's no excuse for doing this much worse than a well-known (at least within the eBook world) previous device. Dean |
11-13-2006, 02:49 PM | #2 |
I got nothin...
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I agree-- button placement was poorly thought out.
I don't understand why they put both sets of buttons on the same side of the reader and so close to each other. If they would allow us to rotate the screen 180 at least we could have a chance to switch hands. at least let us have an option to switch the functions of the joystick and disc while reading. I've been wishing lately for a next page button at the top right of the device to mimic the placement of turning a page in an actual book. Hopefully the next version of the reader will be designed with actual user feedback in mind. |
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11-13-2006, 03:03 PM | #3 |
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Yep, a page turn where the joystick is (or that use of the joystick or ring) would be nice. I'd like bigger buttons on the left also. And an option to flip the page would be great.
I think the right hand side of the device was limited because of hardware limitations... that part of the device was so full of "stuff" that it didn't allow for more controls. |
11-13-2006, 03:55 PM | #4 |
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I guess this all comes down to how people hold books, which is obviously different, I find the setup great for how I use it anyway, just folding the front cover back behind the reader and holding it with my left hand puts my left thumb right on the buttons on the mid-left side. I do agree that there should be more options for the page buttons on different sides of the device so it could be a truly ergonomic, hold-anywhere device.
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11-13-2006, 04:04 PM | #5 |
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Here's a really wild idea ... what if the remote page turner discussed elsewhere could be placed on the end of your finger like a thimble (except comfortable) or ring, and then to change pages, you just pressed it against whatever was handy: the tabletop, the back of the Reader, another finger, your chin, the cat, etc.
Then it wouldn't matter where the buttons were located on the device. And now that I think about it, when the remote wore out, you could just replace the remote -- no big worries about the longevity of the buttons 'cause they're not built into the Reader itself. |
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11-13-2006, 04:06 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
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11-13-2006, 04:24 PM | #7 |
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I switch back and forth between my left and right hands while reading... I find the buttons well-placed when holding the book with my left hand, but obviously when holding it with my right there is no button at all. I have to use my left hand, or reach across it.
I love the idea of a remote page turner that would fit over a finger or somesuch... That would be great for this problem. (It would also be nice to use while reading the book in landscape mode, propped up on the edge of the bathtub. Right now, when doing that I have to be very careful to dry my hand before turning pages. I guess this means I would like the thimble-remote-page-turner to also be waterproof!) |
11-13-2006, 04:47 PM | #8 |
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atreis, try the MobileRead patented Waterproof (well, resistant) E-Reader Case -- otherwise known as a Ziplok bag.
Others have reported good results with this product. |
11-13-2006, 07:46 PM | #9 | |
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Ziploc should really come up with such bags that fit the size of PDAs etc ... ... |
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11-14-2006, 03:18 AM | #10 |
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I'm left-handed, but the placement of the two smaller buttons on the side is still a bit off. What about two shoulder buttons like on a Gameboy?
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11-14-2006, 10:28 AM | #11 | |
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Holding books differently
Quote:
I do want to make sure that I'm clear about one thing, though. The difference in display quality is SO LARGE that I'm not going back to the REB1100 -- it's going on eBay real-soon-now (unless someone here PMs me about it first). Xenophon |
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11-14-2006, 11:45 AM | #12 |
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I guess I addressed most of what you're dealing with by adding a wrist lanyard. I can wrap it over the back of my hand and down between my index & middle fingers and it supports most of the weight for me. I just have to keep my fingers flat along the back of the Reader and I'm good. To turn pages, I just bring my thumb over to the button and click -- no having to clamp the Reader in my hand to hang onto it, so I don't have the strain that you're running into.
You might want to give that a try if you have a lanyard handy from something else (why they didn't include one just baffles me), it may help. |
11-14-2006, 01:33 PM | #13 |
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Nathan, I saw you mention that, and I'm glad it works for you. Can't possibly imagine that being more comfortable, though. And definitely not as comfy as just laying it on the bed next to you, if you are reading late at night!
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11-14-2006, 01:39 PM | #14 |
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Well, now, bed reading is an entirely different matter, of course!
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11-15-2006, 12:26 AM | #15 |
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In addition to the ziplock bag approach for the tub, might I suggest throwing a dessicant packet in there (if you don't happen to own any, just keep the ones that come with a new pair of shoes. This eliminates the condensation issue that may crop up due to excessive heat from the tub (or maybe I just take really hot baths )
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