[books, computers] You Do Like Reading Off a Computer Screen

[bridgetester]

You Do Like Reading Off a Computer Screen
Cory Doctorow

http://www.locusmag.com/Features/2007/03/cory-doctorow-you-do-like-reading-off.html

March 2007"I don't like reading off a computer screen" - it's a cliché of the e-book world.

Comments

[sharp_blue]

I read an awful lot on the screen, but I've certainly noticed a tendency to constantly switch context while at the computer whether I'm reading or writing. Megazoomer helps a lot with that - I now spend a lot of time with NetNewsWire or TextMate expanded to the full screen. I've started reading scientific papers like that too. It's much easier to focus when all that's visible is the text and an application toolbar.

In my opinion, the main thing that makes reading long articles on a screen difficult is scrolling. I don't know why but I always scroll a little bit with each line I read, even though I know this increases the effort needed to read. I wonder if there are hacks to make browsers display things one screen at a time.

[bridgetester]

Hmm. I know I've seen some sites that provide auto-scrolling, but that's the opposite of what you want. You could try converting long articles to pdf for the single screen view?

[epi_lj]

The "hack" to make Firefox and Internet Explorer advance one page is the spacebar.

I like that in the New Yorker collection that I have, not only does the space bar work, but immediately after scrolling, for a second or two, it displays a highlighted bar to show you what line you're on.

[sharp_blue]

Oh my goodness. I really am an idiot...

[gfish]

I've read several novels on screen. The only real trouble I have is getting etext copies in the first place. :P

[bridgetester]

You might like this then.

[andrewwyld]

I don't know, but is it significant that I skipped to your summary after reading only up to halfway through the last paragraph before the cut?

Mind you, I read a lot of stuff properly on Wikipedia.  I think I tend to skip LJ because of the sheer volume.

[bridgetester]

I know for some articles all I want is a 1-3 paragraph-explanation of the headline; others, I'm willing to read the whole thing...

[malpomme]

I read extensively on and off line, and will admit that while online reading has the appeal of thousands of things to read at a click away, I like books better. I thinks it's because books feel more solid to me in the physical and psychological sense. It's comforting to have that weight and the smell of binding glue. When I read online I have a greater tendency to have more than thing to read at the same time which is both nice and distracting! As I type this I have 4 Firefox windows open averaging 8 tabs a piece. With books I rarely read more than 3 books at a time and on the practical side they tend to be more portable than my laptop! I hope this was helpful in some vague, rambling way!