03-13-2009, 01:33 PM | #1 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
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Is there an anti-LCD/pro-Eink bias on MobileRead?
Some time ago I noticed a pattern here on MobileRead. It seemed to me that there was a nearly complete disregard for LCD based ebook readers in favor of Eink based ones.
If there is a bias, I'd like to correct it. I don't want to see devices brushed aside cavalierly, nor should members here be marginalized becuase they went against the groupthink. I'd like to hear from anyone who doesn't own an ebook reader with an Eink screen. What do you think? |
03-13-2009, 01:36 PM | #2 |
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Given that you yourself do own an eInk device, Nate, you have just disqualified your own opinion. Many of us here - yourself and myself included - own and use devices with both types of screen. For reading, my view is the eInk devices are superior, due to the total lack of screen flicker, lack of reflectivity, and very low power consumption. For other types of activity, LCD clearly "wins out" due to the very slow refresh rate of eInk. I wouldn't want to write a letter on an eInk screen.
It's a case of using the best tool for the task at hand. I am typing this message on a device with an LCD screen. |
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03-13-2009, 01:42 PM | #3 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
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As much as I love the Kindle, I'm very happy to use something else. The main reason I still have it is to test the formatting of ebooks I make, and buy ebooks from the Kindle store.
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03-13-2009, 01:43 PM | #4 |
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Well, the Jetbook is getting talked up quite a bit and that's not an eInk device. iPhone/Touch seem to get a fair amount of play. Ebookwise still seems to get a healthy amount of discussion. I don't think there's a bias other than the fact that a lot of what's talked about is the new and exciting and in most cases that's going to be an eInk type device. For the most part that's what's coming out so that's what people are buying & discussing.
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03-13-2009, 01:47 PM | #5 |
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I admit to being guilty (I was really surprised that you prefer to read on LCD). I never liked reading books on my computer screen. It was okay reading them on my Handspring Visor. I didn't/couldn't really embrace ebooks until e-ink hit the scene. For me it is so much easier to read.
I hereby acknowledge that e-ink is not the best form of ebook reading for everyone and will try to have a more open mind. |
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03-13-2009, 01:49 PM | #6 |
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I loved my EB1150 very much. I have stated before that it was an emotional attachment, like one feels for a pet or something. The Sony is nothing like that at all.
I loved LCD and the backlight very much. Absolutely hate the lightwedge cover on the Sony, but it's better than nothing. If only there was more content available that could be easily zoomed to extra large fonts, I never would have switched. It's in a good home now and I can see it from here, propped up on my friend's desk so that she can read and eat lunch at the same time. I get a little tear of nostalgia every time I see it. |
03-13-2009, 02:15 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
1. those that can work without backlight - like on very old palms, calculators and digital watches and old monochrome mobile phones 2. and bright ones that need backlight - a good example is notebook display, modern color mobile phones. My first e-book reader was a notebook (several of them). I look at the bright screen for 8 hour a day at work and several hours at home and I have no problem with that, but when it comes to reading e-books ... So I got an old Cassiopeia A-11 and later A-20 with display of the first kind. At first my only reason for using Cassiopeia was that it was much more portable. Yet, very soon I started to prefer non-backlight display for reading (despite the fact that Cassiopeia has very low contrast display). I have used my Cassiopeias for years as my primary e-book readers. Then I purchased PRS-500. Holy $DEITY! In terms of readability there is no question for me which is better. The PRS-500 has the oldest generation of e-ink, and I suspect that my display has lower contrast than it had when it was new. Yet it is still magnitude better for me ... There are quite a few people here that do not tolerate flashing of the e-ink and still others that want to read in bed without disturbing their spouse. |
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03-13-2009, 02:44 PM | #8 |
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Thanks Nate, it's nice to see some acknowledgement of the fact that not everyone reads on e-ink. Not that I feel there's any deliberate marginalization going on - it's just that the majority of people here have e-ink readers, so that's what conversation centers around.
Personally, I have no plans to abandon my Zodiac because 1) It serves a multitude of purposes besides reading; 2) it's the largest device I can envision myself carrying all the time, and being able to have reading material with me constantly is, for me, the main advantage of e-books; 3) it has lovely ergonomics; 4) battery life hasn't been a problem for me, although it doesn't approach that of an e-ink device;5) the screen size seems fine to me (as wide as a paperback, but shorter vertically), as does the resolution and the backlighting; and 6) it gives me enormous flexibility with regard to reading apps, file formats, sources for books, and their appearance on the screen. If it ever wears out...well, I guess I'll have to pull out the backup Zodiac. |
03-14-2009, 02:00 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
BOb |
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03-14-2009, 02:09 PM | #10 |
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I also think that the angle of the screen is part of the reason why people don't like reading on their computer - it's not comfortable for your neck.
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03-14-2009, 02:15 PM | #11 |
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03-14-2009, 02:35 PM | #12 |
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Yes the Jetbook has this kind of screen. Read about it on the our wiki
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Reflective_LCD Dale |
03-14-2009, 02:40 PM | #13 |
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03-14-2009, 02:43 PM | #14 |
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My Visor was an early PDA. If the Jetbook is like that, I'll stick with e-ink but again I understand that what works for me doesn't work for everyone.
Edit: After looking at DaleDe's link to the wiki, I see that these new LCD screens have a much higher resolution and do look much better than my old Visor. |
03-14-2009, 03:37 PM | #15 |
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Daffy says it well. I spend 8-10 hours a day reading manuscript on my computer screen (LCD). The very last thing I want to do is read for pleasure on it. Additionally, like Daffy, I find eInk much easier on the eyes.
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