Reading whole books on screen - do you?

I'm amazed at the number of books available in Logos. I have the basic Scholar's library and have bought some additional 150 books or so. However, I rarely read whole books on-screen. I find myself primarily using Logos as a study tool mostly using Bibles, commentaries, dictionaries and encyclopedias but not really using the monographs very much.What are your experiences?

There are some excellent resources that I consider buying such as the Christian Origins and the Question of God Series by N.T. Wright. I've also preordered the 5-volume Raymond Brown collection. I've eyed the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library with the excellent books by John P. Meier.

BUT my question is: do you people really find yourself reading whole books in Logos? I mean from page one to the last page? Or do you mainly use monographs for reference and to search as part of collections?

I use a nice tablet pc (Dell Latitude XT2) and occasionally take it to the armchair and read a book in Logos using portrait mode and doing highlighting and writing notes using the tablet pen. However I don't find this as comfortable and intuitive as reading a normal book on paper and doing manual highlighting and scribbling notes in the margins. What are your experiences?

I'm a bit hesitant to buy big into resources that I in the end may not read because they tie me to the computer. I know I can read them on iphone and ipad but until the app does highlighting and notes it's not an option to me.

It would be very interesting to hear what others experiences are of reading whole books (or at least large chunks of) in Logos.

I appreciate any comments or input.

Andreas

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Rev. D.

Great question! One of my greatest frustrations regarding Logos is my inability (note that I said my and not Logos) to read a book completely on my computer. I have the Portfolio package and part of my rationale in purchasing was I would commit to do more reading. However, I still cannot seem to get comfortable with reading on my laptop or desktop. There are instances when I'll read something on my iPod Touch, but I'd hesitate to read an entire book on that because of the small screen size.

I'm actively in the market for an iPad and the main reason is for me to have access to my Logos library in an environment that will, hopefully, be more conducive to reading. My library contains a lot of great books and i would love to read them. It's going to take more commitment on my part and, hopefully, additional technology might be able to help in this effort.

By the way, a few months ago, someone posted something about software that changes the font used on a website. Although I'm probably not explaining it correctly, all I know is that the font type used made the presentation of the material easier to read. The appearance was closer to what you'd find in a book and the poster was suggesting that, perhaps, Logos might incorporate this technology as it would make reading our Logos books much easier. If I can remember the post, I'll make sure to send the link to you.

Blessings!

Christina

DominicM

do you people really find yourself reading whole books in Logos?

yes

I mean from page one to the last page?

Since we got the reading planner able to do monographs, I am now reading cover to cover in Logos, I did not in v3

However it will take me all the rest of my life to read all I currently have and wish to add.

Rev. D.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127255#Comment_127255

Since we got the reading planner able to do monographs

Dominic,

What's the reading planner? Okay, I know I'm the slow one in the group!

Thanks!

Christina

Alan Macgregor

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127255#Comment_127255

do you people really find yourself reading whole books in Logos?

No. I use Logos, as I always have, as a study tool. Someday, when I can afford it, I'll get an iPad and I shall read whole books then.

DominicM

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127256#Comment_127256

Just to clarify, I use my netbook for reading..

in v4

Choose New > Reading Plan

Choose your book>and other settings and it will split the book into the specified chunks

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127259#Comment_127259

Yes, I do read on the screen from cover to cover, but I rather use iPhone for that purpose. I use also voice reading to read books. I wish iPhone/iPad Logos would support that feature. I am looking forward to have an iPad sometimes, especially if the iPad Logos would work with notes and highlighting and of course voice reading. I have to admit reading on a notebook is not easy and natural. iPad (and other similar devices) IMHO should solve that problem.

Donovan R. Palmer

BUT my question is: do you people really find yourself reading whole books in Logos?

Yes. The reason for this is not so much choice, but here in West Africa it is the easiest way for me to have a library of books with me to read. It is not ideal though and I am very interested in getting an iPad. I will probably wait until the second generation is out though.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127259#Comment_127259

Read whole books on screen or printed = seldom, but read gobs of pages from wide variety of books and web sites on screen = Yes. Looking forward to purchasing an iPad to read book and web pages.

Noticed Apple planning to ship iPad's to 9 countries on May 28, followed by 9 more in July:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/05/07ipad.html

Also noticing availability delays - demand currently exceeding supply:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/05/06/apple_stores_completely_sold_out_of_ipad_3g_furnish_waiting_lists.html

Keep Smiling [:)]

Jim VanSchoonhoven

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127268#Comment_127268

I do all my reading on my laptops, if at all possible, the little 10 inch screen was the best, but it got ran over by a car, I have a 13 inch that works great and is the one I use for as much of my reading is possible. I have a 15 in and 17 in laptop too, I don't like reading on them if I can avoid it, the smaller laptops are so much nicer!

In Christ,

Jim

Bob

Yes I read entire books. One problem I used to have was headaches from screen flicker. Cheaper monitors and monitors at low refresh rates flicker (even if you cannot detect it) and that flicker leads to headaches. Make sure that your ambient light does not produce glare and use a good monitor (in my case the iMAC 27" is great). The MBP I use when off-site is not nearly as good as the iMAC and a motion tablet I got years ago is terrible. YMMV.

Jerry Bush

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127286#Comment_127286

I have never read books on Logos. It annoys me to no end.

Until the mobile app came out, that is.

Now am reading books that I have had for years and really enjoying them. I do pretty much zero study on the mobile, only reading books.

What I really wish is that I could make a collection of "reading" books and have that collection show up on my mobile. I know how to make the collection, but I don't know how to access collections on the app.

Jerry

Ward Walker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127262#Comment_127262

Yes, I do read on the screen from cover to cover ... I am looking forward to have an iPad sometimes, especially if the iPad Logos would work with notes and highlighting

...

Ditto!...amen!

The mind can only absorb what the butt can endure; sitting for long spells reading at my computer causes eyestrain and backaches. Would love to move to a comfy chair instead, using the lightest device that will get the job done. Doc told me to take quick breaks from screen reading every 20 min after I had trouble focusing one morning...my reading has diminished quite a bit since then.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127311#Comment_127311

I have started reading my first book cover to cover on Logos, and have been enjoying it. I'm about 50 pages in so far, and I've been using highlighting extensively. I must say, though, doing it on my laptop when I'm somewhere away from Internet access is much easier. I can sit in a more relaxed reading position, and I don't have distractions, so I actually get some reading done!

Pam Larson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127311#Comment_127311

The mind can only absorb what the butt can endure; sitting for long spells reading at my computer causes eyestrain and backaches. Would love to move to a comfy chair instead, using the lightest device that will get the job done. Doc told me to take quick breaks from screen reading every 20 min after I had trouble focusing one morning...my reading has diminished quite a bit since then.

I spend an hour a day reading Logos on my treadmill. Here's my setup:

I have a board across the treadmill arms, and a tv tray on top of the board. I put my laptop on top of the tv tray, and away I go.

So far I've completed 23 books cover to cover in Logos.

Allen Browne

Yes: I have started to read whole books through on screen.

The NT Wright series is a good example. I'm taking it slowly, as you have to digest him, so I'm currently only 150 pages into NT and People of God. Nevertheless, I'd have to say this is the best foundation for theology I've ever read anywhere (except the Bible itself.)

FWIW, I use a 17" notebook, highlight heavily, make notes about key phrases ideas, and use the Information window to auto-lookup words I'm not familiar with. I save layouts for different tasks, so I can instantly return to my NT Wright layout and resume, whether at home, work, or waiting somewhere.

In the last few months, I've read several books through on screen, as well as using Logos for the research approach where it shines.

Ward Walker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127330#Comment_127330

I spend an hour a day reading Logos on my treadmill. Here's my setup:....

Great Idea! However, try as I may, I can't seem to get my comfy chair to balance properly on the treadmill ... [;)]

Keith Gant

You might want to read some of the discussion on this link.

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/15986/121255.aspx#121255
(corrected link)

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127347#Comment_127347

I spend an hour a day reading Logos on my treadmill. Here's my setup:....

Awesome! Now that might be some motivation for me to actually use my treadmill! Can you actually still get a pretty good workout while going slowly enough to be able to read? I've been able to do it with a paperback book, but then the book would bounce up and down with me as I ran, so it worked OK. Not so with a laptop on a TV tray...

Jonathan Sine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127367#Comment_127367

Can you actually still get a pretty good workout while going slowly enough to be able to read?

Perhaps this is a good time to incorporate the "Read Aloud" function? [:)]

Josh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127369#Comment_127369

This is a problem for me. Reading cover to cover on a computer screen is not comfortable. I am currently reading a book on a reading plan, but it truly isn't an awesome experience. I drag myself through it because I like to learn. I use Logos 4 mainly for study. For this purpose it is excellent.

I am looking into buying an iPad because of the Logos App. I've seen it in action and I am impressed. I'll be able to get comfortable in my Lazy Boy and read as if I have a book in my hand.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127369#Comment_127369

Can you actually still get a pretty good workout while going slowly enough to be able to read?

Perhaps this is a good time to incorporate the "Read Aloud" function?

Yeah, I might do that if they had a "Highlight by Voice Command" function. [:)]

Pam Larson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127367#Comment_127367

I spend an hour a day reading Logos on my treadmill. Here's my setup:....

Awesome! Now that might be some motivation for me to actually use my treadmill! Can you actually still get a pretty good workout while going slowly enough to be able to read? I've been able to do it with a paperback book, but then the book would bounce up and down with me as I ran, so it worked OK. Not so with a laptop on a TV tray...

I'm not a runner - my normal treadmill speed when reading a physical book is around 3.5-3.8. With Logos I can walk at about 3.3 mph, so it's a little slower. But I figure it's better than just sitting on my butt. [:P]

Simon Pleasants

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127393#Comment_127393

I'm currently reading through Reymond's New Systematic Theology using a six-month reading plan (it works out to about five pages per day). I find that Logos really comes into it's own for reading books containing lots of references to the Bible. I used to find it very time-consuming to look all the references. Now, I just hover over references with with the cursor.

I'm used to reading material on the computer as I do it everyday in my job as a scientific proofreader.

Frank Fenby

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127399#Comment_127399

A major factor for easy reading is column width. Try 2 to 4 inches. Our eyes have trouble scanning back to the next line. The narrow width will help your eyes find the start of the next line. Also adjust the the type size. Play with these to variables until it is easy to read. I find changing the resource panel background color to paper helps. (It is under Tools, Program Settings.)

I sometimes turn on the read aloud feature. You will probably want to purchase a quality reading voice to replace the operating system default. I will listen to books while doing robot like tasks such as dusting my physical bookshelves. If I hear something I want to highlight or note, then I stop the reader, make my annotations, start the reader, and go back into robot mode. I do this for what I call "couch potato" books.

Michael Birney

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127423#Comment_127423

I have started to read L4 books, but only on the iPad. It's much easier to sit in a chair and read like I do with paper books. It annoys me that I cannot take notes or highlight when I read on the iPad, hopefully that will come soon.

I just don't like sitting in front of the computer screen and reading, that has never been enjoyable to me, so the only time I have done that is when I am reading for a certain topic.

Kaye Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127369#Comment_127369

I do read complete books on my laptop, parked in my little Ikea recliner with my feet up on the ottoman. When I find a book I want to read that way I tag it so it shows up in my To Read collection. When I start on it I set up a reading plan for a few pages a day. When I'm done I change the tag to know I have completed it and check my list to see what I want next. I mostly read for pleasure and personal growth. I was highlighting but I enjoy it more and actually get more out of it when I just read through. It's easy enough to search if I ever need to find a point again.

Mike Childs

Absolutely not. However, I might on a Kindle or iPad. That is a very promising possibility.

Jonathan Sine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127386#Comment_127386

Yeah, I might do that if they had a "Highlight by Voice Command" function.

Strangely, I didn't see that on the "Features Coming Soon to Logos!" [:D]

Jonathan Sine

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127435#Comment_127435

When I find a book I want to read that way I tag it so it shows up in my To Read collection. When I start on it I set up a reading plan for a few pages a day. When I'm done I change the tag to know I have completed it and check my list to see what I want next.

I wasn't smart enough to think of this! Great idea!

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127484#Comment_127484

When I find a book I want to read that way I tag it so it shows up in my To Read collection. When I start on it I set up a reading plan for a few pages a day. When I'm done I change the tag to know I have completed it and check my list to see what I want next.

I wasn't smart enough to think of this! Great idea!

I use three different tags (got the idea from someone else on the forum): TOREAD, READING, and FINISHED (I use FINISHED instead of READ [past tense] so that a library search for it won't also find the other two).

JimTowler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127386#Comment_127386

Yeah, I might do that if they had a "Highlight by Voice Command" function.

Actually, it might be interesting to see what kinds of things will become possible once we get the basic API for Logos4.0d and later.

I'm hoping we can control some of the page-up/page-down/next hightlght/next verse from search/ etc stuff. Once we have that kind of thing, it might be possible to automate all kinds of useful things.

Maybe a button "Read John and write me an outline" [:)]

Jerry Bush

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127679#Comment_127679

When I find a book I want to read that way I tag it so it shows up in my To Read collection. When I start on it I set up a reading plan for a few pages a day. When I'm done I change the tag to know I have completed it and check my list to see what I want next.

I wasn't smart enough to think of this! Great idea!

I use three different tags (got the idea from someone else on the forum): TOREAD, READING, and FINISHED (I use FINISHED instead of READ [past tense] so that a library search for it won't also find the other two).

Rosie -

Great idea! Now if I can only get that to show up on the iPhone, I
will be a happy camper.

Jerry

Bohuslav Wojnar

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127679#Comment_127679

I use three different tags (got the idea from someone else on the forum): TOREAD, READING, and FINISHED (I use FINISHED instead of READ [past tense] so that a library search for it won't also find the other two).

Now that's great idea. Thank you Rosie for sharing that. I hope you will not mind if I use it. In my READING tag will be quite a number of books (10 - 15) [:$] Some of them will never get to the FINISHED tag, but it looks that is the way to sort it out properly. Thanks again.

David Ames

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127423#Comment_127423

I have read several books in Logos 3 (and do not see any problem in doing so in 4)

I set the book up as a workspace

I would resave the workspace so that next time it would open where I left off.

(Yes, I know that 4 can also do that)

And as others have said – keep the line length short (half screen – about 4 inches)

And LARGE PRINT size (14 points or so)

Note that my laptop has a NON REFLECTIVE screen.

Re IPhone – very readable but way too small for my eyesight

Re IPad – No money

For notes I use my word processor – coping text from the book and adding “MY Notes: ” as needed.

Frank Fenby

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127945#Comment_127945

And as others have said – keep the line length short (half screen – about 4 inches)

And LARGE PRINT size (14 points or so)

This is a good combination. It also helps to keep the column long. Look at the layout of a high quality newspaper. These newspapers are designed for speed reading.

Scroll with the PgUp button not the mouse! This is equivalent to turning a page.

Reading speed, ease, and comprehension are inversely proportional, by some sort of a power function, to the number of eye movements needed to read a passage. Also with less eye movement you can easily progress to reading thoughts or even concepts instead of words. When you read at the thought or concept level you read at several thousand words per minute.

Bob

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/127326#Comment_127326

I must say, though, doing it on my laptop when I'm somewhere away from Internet access is much easier.

Over the years I have come to appreciate the value of a proper ergonomic chair and desk. (both of mine adjust in hight etc, so I get thinks just right. ) ALso note the comment on the monitor above. The one I use (30" Apple) is actually more comfortable (for me at least) to read than an actual book.

Jason Saling

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/128049#Comment_128049

I now do on the iPad! And it works great! Even though it's still a computer like "screen," there is something totally different in holding an iPad to read books, than to sit at a normal computer/laptop to read. iPad highly suggested if you want to read books cover to cover.