techno poll!

[derien]

eor's been researching the various options for downloading stories to some sort of handheld device so that I don't have to be chained to the computer to fulfill all my slashy needs, or so that he can carry several books on trips in the same space as would normally be taken up by one.  Palm pilots are one option.  Ebooks are another, but they don't seem to be widespread. 

Now, when you read offline, do you revert to traditional paper books?  (Yes, I'd like to hear from everyone on this, I'm curious about the spread of who bothers with tech and who doesn't.) 

If you do have some sort of text-displaying device which you read stories on, what do you use? 

Or, what do you think you would use? 

What features do you think are vital in a device you would read on?  (The ability to change contrast and brightness?  The ability to read any type of file?)

Comments

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Paper all the way! Although if I had a palm pilot I'd probably load it up with favourite fic and read it offline.

When I read on-line I like to be able to see italics, so that would be pretty vital for me in a device to read on - I also hate, hate, HATE whatever that font is most plain text uses, so I'd be all about having a pleasant font too.

[derien.livejournal.com]

So it sounds as though your stopping blocks are either money or disliking bothering to learn a new technology...?

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Both, really; although my extreme laziness can't be discounted either. I'd have to make sure the device's battery was charged, and possibly carry a charger with me. And I'd feel sort of horribly visible, reading from it in public - I don't think palm pilots are desirable objects for muggers as are iPods and fancy phones, but I'd still worry.

[inscrutable.livejournal.com]

What features do you think are vital in a device you would read on?

It should be made of dead trees.

Sorry, I can't stand reading for pleasure on a computer screen or pda or whatever. I stare at glowing pixels all day at work, and I just can't sit back and enjoy words that are glowing at me. (Cartoons or Flash animation on the other hand...)

[derien.livejournal.com]

That's a serious consideration. Some people get migrains from stairing a that sort of glow.

What if they could make it so it wasn't glowing? I saw proposed, once, millions (? Thousands, anyway) of tiny black and white balls which would rearrange to form the words.

[licking-suntan.livejournal.com]

Paper!

I, too, sit at a computer all day, so when I want to read for pleasure, I want it to be with a book or newspaper. Although, I might feel differently if I had a laptop or other device I could sit in bed or on the couch with. It's not the headaches, it's the sitting at a desk.

If I had to read e-files, I would prefer a nice font, ability to control contrast and font size. Palm pilot screens are so tiny, too. I need I wide screen to read upon. Which is why I would prefer a laptop, but that's not very portable, in comparison.