Reading ebooks - do you print or squint?

Ani-squinter -

> I'd say the ebook writers should say in the
> directions that if you squint, that you
> should change your desktop to a lower
> resolution so everything is bigger. There's
> no reason to do that to your eyes if you are
> having a problem.

> Then I'd say they need to teach you the
> steps of

> Move some windows so you can see a blank
> part of your desktop.

> In the blank part of the desktop, right
> click and choose properties.

> Then choose the settings tab.

> Then change the numbers on your screen area
> by sliding the slider to the left.

> Then choose OK and follow the directions to
> check if your window looks alright.

> After your window looks good, re-start the
> ebook and read in comfort.

Hmmm. I've been sitting here thinking about your post. I'm an e-book author and author of a "hard copy" course. I'm helping my wife complete her first e-book.

As I said, your post made me do some thinking. Here's what I came up with. (Read all the way to the end. You'll see the process. *g*)

1. If I sell you a car, is it my responsibility to teach you how to drive it? Of course not. Not beyond making sure you understand how the controls of *this* car function. Most dealers handle that in about 5 minutes.

2. So if it isn't my responsibility to teach you how to drive a car if I sold it to you, why is it my responsibility to teach you how to use your computer? Again, of course not. But again, it *is* my responsibility as the author/publisher to help you get the best use out of the e-book you just purchased from me.

3. Ken Evoy is the best I've seen at doing this. Every one of his e-books that I've ever seen tells you right up front exactly how to use his e-book.

4. Shouldn't we provide a better experience than our readers expect?

Conclusion: I didn't come up with one. I think you're right. I think we as publishers should do *something* to help our customers with this issue. In my wife's e-book, we are using a Times-Roman font with a size of 18 points. This should help our readers be able to better see the text. I think many e-books are published with font sizes of 10 - 14 points. So increasing font size is one thing publishers can do to make it easier for folks to read their e-books.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"