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I like e-readers now

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Re: I like e-readers now

#151

Post by kroltan »

kbenson wrote: post #123
Spivak wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why I love playing games on my Switch. It's super noticeable now when I play on my PS4 that I have to think about holding the controller in front of me rather than just letting my arms fall.

I'm confused. The switch has a screen and accelerometers. How does that that result in a situation you can just let your arms drop that you can't when playing the PS4?

The answer is twofold:

- The PS4 controller's range is VERY limited, even playing crouched on the sofa with your legs interrupting LOS between the console and the controller can cause connection issues.

- The Switch's tiny split controllers (the JoyCons, though there is also a traditionally-shaped Pro Controller) have very good reception, and being small and split means your arms can be in different positions.

I sometimes play lying on the bed with the console on a stand in front of me, and my arms under the sheets, when it's cold, for example. It's a tiny thing but is mighty convenient when you feel like it.

Re: I like e-readers now

#152

Post by dnilasor »

Lol I like your unvarnished criticism embedded in encomia. But I share it...as soon as I started thinking...I can use it in the bathtub...and with my OverDrive account?? I want one. I started reading real books much more frequently this year (my #1 childhood pastime) after yearssss of basically only "reading" audiobooks besides books for grad school. So maybe I want one. Hardware experience sounds annoying AF, but that's nothing a shitty/lazy Linux user can't handle, right? And as others have said...a natural deterrent from doing anything but reading, woot.

Re: I like e-readers now

#153

Post by andrewingram »

One thing I noted after using a Kindle for the first time (about 10 years ago) is that I was reading without a constant physical sense of how far I was through the book, to the point that the ending almost caught me off-guard. It was certainly an interesting experience, I'm still undecided as to whether it's a pro or a con.

Re: I like e-readers now

#154

Post by the__alchemist »

AshamedCaptain wrote: post #105
kayodelycaon wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the obvious lack of features is so that you can have a focused, distraction-free experience This means the device is more of an appliance than a general computing device. A good example is a reMarkable 2. It is a solid, well-designed digital version of a paper notebook. (I will add paper notebooks aren't searchable.) Yes, anything else, including search, is bolted on but the core experience it was designed for isn'…

Actually, reMarkable is _precisely_ what I had in mind. Distraction-free is just an excuse for obviously unfinished software; just go and see which con most reviews agree on. The hardware is quite capable, but held back by the software.

Not every electronic device needs to run a general purpose operating system and arbitrary software! This is a big contributor to why modern electronics have high latency and frustrating UIs.

Re: I like e-readers now

#156

Post by radiator »

maltalex wrote: post #16

As someone who's reading a lot of technical material, I'm on the fence about e-readers. On the one hand, many technical books are thick and heavy, and can benefit from having a search function. But on the other, e-reader screens tend to be small and require a lot of scrolling back and forth (like between a code sample and an accompanying explanation). Does anyone have experience with reading technical books on an e-r…

The screen size is important, as you say. I use a 9" reader and it is large enough, but it is a 7-year-old device. I got the impression that those larger screen sizes later disappeared from the market.

As for the back and forth scrolling, again correct that it is much slower than with a physical book.

You can pack a lot of technical books in your device but, in my opinion, the best ones it is a good idea to have them printed as well.

Re: I like e-readers now

#157

Post by ksd482 »

andrewingram wrote: post #153

One thing I noted after using a Kindle for the first time (about 10 years ago) is that I was reading without a constant physical sense of how far I was through the book, to the point that the ending almost caught me off-guard. It was certainly an interesting experience, I'm still undecided as to whether it's a pro or a con.

For me personally that's a con. Not specifically being caught off guard when the book ends, but not being able to physically tell how far along I am.

I am currently reading "the way of kings" which is a very thick book. My progress is very slow, but I really really enjoy my bookmark work its way down the stack of pages.

Re: I like e-readers now

#158

Post by diob »

morsch wrote: post #100

I finally found a way to do remote page-turning for Kindle -- something I was trying to do for years. It does mean I have to read books on my Android phone instead of the Paperwhite. With OLED and white on black, I find it's pretty all right though. But I can finally rest the reader somewhere, on my knees, on a pillow, whatever, and click a remote button to get to the next page. Freedom! You enable volume button page…

I absolutely agree. I read with a mechanical arm that holds the book for me so I can read on my back while I try to sleep. I would love a way to turn pages with a little remote.

Re: I like e-readers now

#159

Post by BeetleB »

Otek wrote: post #46
2Gkashmiri wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i am a pirate and i extensively use a borrowed overdrive. i still buy kindle from olx because i can get them on the cheap, much more than amazon itself.

Ebooks are so cheap these days, that it's a shame to pirate them.

I'm not sure what you mean by "cheap". A lot of nonfiction is $15-50.

Also, when I buy physical books, I often buy used ones. At local used book stores, I can often get them for $5 or less.

Re: I like e-readers now

#160

Post by tailspin2019 »

kroltan wrote: post #151
kbenson wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm confused. The switch has a screen and accelerometers. How does that that result in a situation you can just let your arms drop that you can't when playing the PS4?

The answer is twofold: - The PS4 controller's range is VERY limited, even playing crouched on the sofa with your legs interrupting LOS between the console and the controller can cause connection issues. - The Switch's tiny split controllers (the JoyCons, though there is also a traditionally-shaped Pro Controller) have very good reception, and being small and split means your arms can be in different positions. I some…

> The PS4 controller's range is VERY limited, even playing crouched on the sofa with your legs interrupting LOS between the console and the controller can cause connection issues.

Odd, I’ve never once experienced any sort of issue like this with my PS4 controllers.

Makes me wonder if there could be something else environmental going on, or if I’m just lucky…

EDIT: Just double checked and they use Bluetooth with no obvious need tor maintaining line of sight? (I should have remembered this as I’ve used my PS4 controllers with Raspberry Pis over Bluetooth before). So I guess localised radio interference will have the potential to affect range.

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