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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 19 2016, @05:25PM
by Anonymous Coward
on Monday September 19 2016, @05:25PM (#403857)
Reading for fun, though, that's paper all the way. No batteries needed. Works in broad daylight. Vast array of compatible add-ons to get paper to work in the dark. Taller than wide making it easy for the eyes to move from one line to the next. Typesetting instead of "justified" or ragged right. More add-on technologies for annotations and keeping multiple bookmarks. Possibly to quickly compare and cross-reference upwards of 4 or 5 (or more with creativity) passages from different sections of the work at once. Usually lightweight so it doesn't strain the arms. Flexible form factor allows some wiggle room when getting comfortable.
Reading for fun, that's FBreader all the way. Runs on the devices I'm already keeping the battery charged on. Works in broad daylight (on my phone, YMMV). Works in the dark (on my phone, YMMV) with no add-ons needed. Taller than wide; of course if I'm using my laptop's landscape display, it magically splits into a two-page spread with each page, again, taller than wide. I don't even know the difference between 'typesetting' and '"justified"', because I'm here to read words, not whitespace. Multiple bookmarks doesn't need add-on technologies, though I rarely use them, and never do any annotation. Paper totally wins for cross-referencing more than 2-3 things, but my pleasure reading doesn't involve that, YMMV. If my phone strained my arms, or was incompatible with comfortable lounging, I'd have already got a different phone (or more likely, a better pair of arms!).
And when I'm comfortably lounging with my phone in my unstrained arms, and I come to the end of one book, I don't have to get up or even rummage in my bag for the next one -- it's right there.
FWIW, we seem to read in very different ways, or perhaps just very different types of books. I'd go nuts if I had to make notes, compare multiple passages side-by-side, and generally make work out of reading -- it's supposed to be fun! Yeah, I know I miss some details from some books on a linear read-through; I know because I catch them when I reread the book. And if the book's not worth rereading, it's certainly not worth making a chore out of the first read just to be sure I notice everything. Clearly you don't see it the same way -- and while intellectually, I know your approach is no wronger than mine, it just strikes me as bizarre.
For some inexplicable reason, always cheaper than the crappier electronic version.
That's not inexplicable at all. As ebooks usually sell about 20% off the paper version (both new), it sounds like you're buying paper books used, but refuse to consider used ebooks.
I get most of my ebooks used. Sure, the publisher (and thus, if you believe in fairy tales, the author) doesn't make any money, but they don't with used paper books either. And unlike used paper books, used ebooks have (next to) no scarcity, and thus have (next to) no economic value -- they're too cheap to meter.
And, of course, the best part: I own it 100%. When I'm finished with it I can swap with friends and relatives or sell it or flat out give it away unless I really want to keep a copy around in the "private library."
And the best part: I own it 100%. When I'm finished with it I can swap with friends and relatives or flat out give it away, and I still get to keep a copy around in the "private library."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 19 2016, @05:25PM
Reading for fun, though, that's paper all the way. No batteries needed. Works in broad daylight. Vast array of compatible add-ons to get paper to work in the dark. Taller than wide making it easy for the eyes to move from one line to the next. Typesetting instead of "justified" or ragged right. More add-on technologies for annotations and keeping multiple bookmarks. Possibly to quickly compare and cross-reference upwards of 4 or 5 (or more with creativity) passages from different sections of the work at once. Usually lightweight so it doesn't strain the arms. Flexible form factor allows some wiggle room when getting comfortable.
Reading for fun, that's FBreader all the way. Runs on the devices I'm already keeping the battery charged on. Works in broad daylight (on my phone, YMMV). Works in the dark (on my phone, YMMV) with no add-ons needed. Taller than wide; of course if I'm using my laptop's landscape display, it magically splits into a two-page spread with each page, again, taller than wide. I don't even know the difference between 'typesetting' and '"justified"', because I'm here to read words, not whitespace. Multiple bookmarks doesn't need add-on technologies, though I rarely use them, and never do any annotation. Paper totally wins for cross-referencing more than 2-3 things, but my pleasure reading doesn't involve that, YMMV. If my phone strained my arms, or was incompatible with comfortable lounging, I'd have already got a different phone (or more likely, a better pair of arms!).
And when I'm comfortably lounging with my phone in my unstrained arms, and I come to the end of one book, I don't have to get up or even rummage in my bag for the next one -- it's right there.
FWIW, we seem to read in very different ways, or perhaps just very different types of books. I'd go nuts if I had to make notes, compare multiple passages side-by-side, and generally make work out of reading -- it's supposed to be fun! Yeah, I know I miss some details from some books on a linear read-through; I know because I catch them when I reread the book. And if the book's not worth rereading, it's certainly not worth making a chore out of the first read just to be sure I notice everything. Clearly you don't see it the same way -- and while intellectually, I know your approach is no wronger than mine, it just strikes me as bizarre.
For some inexplicable reason, always cheaper than the crappier electronic version.
That's not inexplicable at all. As ebooks usually sell about 20% off the paper version (both new), it sounds like you're buying paper books used, but refuse to consider used ebooks.
I get most of my ebooks used. Sure, the publisher (and thus, if you believe in fairy tales, the author) doesn't make any money, but they don't with used paper books either. And unlike used paper books, used ebooks have (next to) no scarcity, and thus have (next to) no economic value -- they're too cheap to meter.
And, of course, the best part: I own it 100%. When I'm finished with it I can swap with friends and relatives or sell it or flat out give it away unless I really want to keep a copy around in the "private library."
And the best part: I own it 100%. When I'm finished with it I can swap with friends and relatives or flat out give it away, and I still get to keep a copy around in the "private library."