Accessories Lighted cover - returning it - Page 3

penguintri · 08-28-2010, 04:28 PM

cheers man thats cool only 65g difference thats not too much!

xmiyux · 08-28-2010, 08:22 PM

I like the cover. I debated over the price a bit before hand but ultimately decided that I really like the fact that no matter where I am reading there is always a charged light at hand.

I wondered how hard it was going to pull on the battery of the Kindle and am glad to see some data on the thing. I suppose if I have to charge it once every two weeks I will be fine. As it stands I only really use the light for in bed - so maybe 45 minutes each night - so it should be manageable.

HarryT · 08-29-2010, 09:26 AM

I had a chance to use the light last night, and I have to say that I love it! It's very cleverly constructed; the light from the three LCDs is shielded so that it doesn't fall directly onto the screen, but instead illuminates the wide metal "stalk" of the light. This in turn illuminates the screen, resulting in a nice even illumination without "highlights". Yes, there obviously is a fall-off in illumination from top right (where the light is) to bottom left, but not so much that it's a problem. I think it's a very clever piece of engineering indeed.

coolbreeze · 08-29-2010, 12:40 PM

After a few days (OP here) I decided to hand on to it. If my mind changes at day 29, I'm still good...although it's growing on me!

MsAstoria · 08-29-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schulzmc

Here are some facts about the battery drain from the cover. From the "Blog Kindle" review:

Buy doing some simple math we can calculate average current drains of about 2.4 mA with wireless completely off, 3.5 mA when running on WiFi and 7.3 mA when running on 3G + WiFi.

Many people are wondering about what would cover with built-in LED light do to the battery life. Luckily I had a digital multimeter and a piece of wire handy so I was able to measure the drain current of the cover as well. It turned out to be 76.6 milliamperes. This by an order a magnitude larger than what Kindle 3 consumes even with wireless on. So with LED light on battery life is going to be between 20.85 and 22.15 hours of constant reading. This is about twice as long as 10 hour battery life of Apple iPad.

Oh give it up on the iPad! They are two totally different products! Frankly I doubt that anyone is going to be reading a constant 20+ hours but I see your point for when there is no electrical outlet to recharge daily. I bought this case for my hubby's new K3 as I remember what a pain it was not only to remember to bring my Mighty Bright, and then drag it out of the bottom of my my purse to clip on my K2. It definately added top weight and I was constantly adjusting the light. I love the idea of this case and he will have whenever he feels the need to use the light. I used mine mostly when we went to the movie theater and we would read while waiting for the movie trailers etc to begin.

WilliamG · 08-29-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I had a chance to use the light last night, and I have to say that I love it! It's very cleverly constructed; the light from the three LCDs is shielded so that it doesn't fall directly onto the screen, but instead illuminates the wide metal "stalk" of the light. This in turn illuminates the screen, resulting in a nice even illumination without "highlights". Yes, there obviously is a fall-off in illumination from top right (where the light is) to bottom left, but not so much that it's a problem. I think it's a very clever piece of engineering indeed.

It's really not a clever piece of engineering, since it doesn't work properly.

If Amazon had let the light come out of the center of the case at the top rather than the top right corner (what WERE they thinking??), it would have a winner on its hands.

Anyway, hopefully some third-party manufacturer comes out with a decent clip-on light, since Amazon failed with their attempt, for sure. It would be one thing if the light fall-off was horizontal, but it's diagonal, and HARD, and ever so distracting!

No thanks.

(If I sound bitter, it's because I am. I spent $60 + tax on it.)

Skydog · 08-29-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamG

It's really not a clever piece of engineering, since it doesn't work properly.

If Amazon had let the light come out of the center of the case at the top rather than the top right corner (what WERE they thinking??), it would have a winner on its hands.

Anyway, hopefully some third-party manufacturer comes out with a decent clip-on light, since Amazon failed with their attempt, for sure. It would be one thing if the light fall-off was horizontal, but it's diagonal, and HARD, and ever so distracting!

No thanks.

(If I sound bitter, it's because I am. I spent $60 + tax on it.)

Bitter? What a strange reaction. Just return the d***ed thing.

flandroid · 08-29-2010, 10:10 PM

With all the engineering they put into the baffles and reflectors in the light head, there's no reason they couldn't have worked it so there was a bit of occlusion in the area lighting the top right corner, then gradually less towards the bottom, to give it a nearly perfectly even cast -- at least perceptually. It needn't even have cost any more to produce, just a tiny bit more engineer time.

Glad I ordered the unlit cover; my Belkin clip-on cost me $10, has two brightness levels, and fits the K3 just fine. Wish it was dark plastic instead of white, but that's easy enough to fix.

HarryT · 08-30-2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamG

It's really not a clever piece of engineering, since it doesn't work properly.

If Amazon had let the light come out of the center of the case at the top rather than the top right corner (what WERE they thinking??), it would have a winner on its hands.

If you don't like it, you should of course return it; personally I think it works very well indeed.

AdrianM · 08-30-2010, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamG

It's really not a clever piece of engineering, since it doesn't work properly.

If Amazon had let the light come out of the center of the case at the top rather than the top right corner (what WERE they thinking??), it would have a winner on its hands.

Anyway, hopefully some third-party manufacturer comes out with a decent clip-on light, since Amazon failed with their attempt, for sure. It would be one thing if the light fall-off was horizontal, but it's diagonal, and HARD, and ever so distracting!

No thanks.

(If I sound bitter, it's because I am. I spent $60 + tax on it.)

Given my recent posts on how I think the Nook is an awful piece in engineering because of reflectivity and glare issues I can sympathise, but personal preference really has a lot to do with it. I guess that in their testing, Amazon found the majority of people were satisfied with the light coverage.

Yes, I also think they probably could have engineered the light so it diffused over the entire screen more evenly and it's a pity that they didn't but, as far as I'm concerned, it still works adequately as is and any downsides are certainly made up for by the fact that it is built in and doesn't need its own batteries.

But I fully understand that some people, and I've seen more than a few posting here and there, will find it distracting and/or unusable.

kathyfitz · 08-30-2010, 10:58 AM

I finally got to use the lighted cover last night and was very impressed!! I thought the coverage was very good, the drop off in the lower corner was minimal. I had tested it with low light earlier and felt like it evened out the overall lighting very nicely. But last night I used it with no other light and was quite happy with the results! For me, it was definitely worth the money!

ylsul · 08-30-2010, 11:28 AM

I also have the lighted case. I find the light to be fine for reading. The throw of the light is fine, at least for me.

I *do* wish the case was maybe a little smaller and lighter, but I can live with that.

wachuko · 08-30-2010, 11:35 AM

From your photos it actually looks great... perfect for when I am on a plane for those 8+ hour long trips and do not want to bother the person sitting next to me...

If I go with the K3 for my next reader (waiting on what Sony will come out with) I will order one with the lighted cover.

Mike 01Hawk · 08-30-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flandroid

Glad I ordered the unlit cover; my Belkin clip-on cost me $10, has two brightness levels, and fits the K3 just fine. Wish it was dark plastic instead of white, but that's easy enough to fix.

Is this the model you're talking about? It's listed @ $25, where'd ya get it for $10?

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Reading.../dp/B003HKRVAW

HarryT · 08-30-2010, 01:07 PM

But does your Belkin light automatically tuen if when you fall asleep, like the Kindle light does? That's one of its niftiest features; the light turns off when the Kindle goes into sleep mode.

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08-28-2010, 04:28 PM	#31
penguintri Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Paperwhite 2	cheers man thats cool only 65g difference thats not too much!

08-28-2010, 08:22 PM	#32
xmiyux Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 106 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: West Virginia Device: Kindle 3	I like the cover. I debated over the price a bit before hand but ultimately decided that I really like the fact that no matter where I am reading there is always a charged light at hand. I wondered how hard it was going to pull on the battery of the Kindle and am glad to see some data on the thing. I suppose if I have to charge it once every two weeks I will be fine. As it stands I only really use the light for in bed - so maybe 45 minutes each night - so it should be manageable.

08-29-2010, 09:26 AM	#33
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I had a chance to use the light last night, and I have to say that I love it! It's very cleverly constructed; the light from the three LCDs is shielded so that it doesn't fall directly onto the screen, but instead illuminates the wide metal "stalk" of the light. This in turn illuminates the screen, resulting in a nice even illumination without "highlights". Yes, there obviously is a fall-off in illumination from top right (where the light is) to bottom left, but not so much that it's a problem. I think it's a very clever piece of engineering indeed.

08-29-2010, 12:40 PM	#34
coolbreeze Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Nook Color, White 3G K3	After a few days (OP here) I decided to hand on to it. If my mind changes at day 29, I'm still good...although it's growing on me!

08-29-2010, 10:10 PM	#38
flandroid Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 294 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 2/3/4/PW3	With all the engineering they put into the baffles and reflectors in the light head, there's no reason they couldn't have worked it so there was a bit of occlusion in the area lighting the top right corner, then gradually less towards the bottom, to give it a nearly perfectly even cast -- at least perceptually. It needn't even have cost any more to produce, just a tiny bit more engineer time. Glad I ordered the unlit cover; my Belkin clip-on cost me $10, has two brightness levels, and fits the K3 just fine. Wish it was dark plastic instead of white, but that's easy enough to fix.

08-30-2010, 10:58 AM	#41
kathyfitz Electronics Whore Posts: 115 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Mountains of Southern California Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad, iPad mini, iPhone5, Kindle3	I finally got to use the lighted cover last night and was very impressed!! I thought the coverage was very good, the drop off in the lower corner was minimal. I had tested it with low light earlier and felt like it evened out the overall lighting very nicely. But last night I used it with no other light and was quite happy with the results! For me, it was definitely worth the money!

08-30-2010, 11:28 AM	#42
ylsul Connoisseur Posts: 76 Karma: 53 Join Date: Mar 2007	I also have the lighted case. I find the light to be fine for reading. The throw of the light is fine, at least for me. I do wish the case was maybe a little smaller and lighter, but I can live with that.

08-30-2010, 11:35 AM	#43
wachuko eBook Worm Posts: 205 Karma: 2745996 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Device: Kindle Paperwhite/ Sony PRS-505/PRS-600 Silver/PRS-T1	From your photos it actually looks great... perfect for when I am on a plane for those 8+ hour long trips and do not want to bother the person sitting next to me... If I go with the K3 for my next reader (waiting on what Sony will come out with) I will order one with the lighted cover.

08-30-2010, 01:07 PM	#45
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	But does your Belkin light automatically tuen if when you fall asleep, like the Kindle light does? That's one of its niftiest features; the light turns off when the Kindle goes into sleep mode.