What is easier on your eyes while reading.

[JeremyZ]

For the sake of keeping everything apples to apples, here are the assumptions.

• High quality LCD, at least 6" diagonal, like iPad, vs.
• High quality eInk, 6" diagonal, like Kindle 2.
• Reading fiction
• For an average of 2 hours at a time.

[Donnageddon]

Poll needs a "Why are we beating this dead horse again?" option.

[hgwlackey]

I want to add that the selection I ticked in the poll - "LCD is easier on the eyes" - should really read "LCD is easier on MY eyes." I don't doubt that eInk is easier on some people's eyes--it's just not easier on MY eyes.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by hgwlackey

I want to add that the selection I ticked in the poll - "LCD is easier on the eyes" - should really read "LCD is easier on MY eyes." I don't doubt that eInk is easier on some people's eyes--it's just not easier on MY eyes.

This poll should make a distinction between back-lit LCD's like the iPad and others have, and the reflective LCD's that are used by the Jetbook. I know when I did a lot of reading on the iPod Touch, I noticed some eye strain, but never have on the Jetbook (Though that could also be due to other factors... for example, I suspect I picked smaller font on the iPod Touch to compensate for the small screen).

--
Bill

[hgwlackey]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

for example, I suspect I picked smaller font on the iPod Touch to compensate for the small screen).

And then there's new retina display on the iPhone 4's, the clarity of which is amazing. I can read web pages without zooming in that I would have had to zoom in for on the iPhone 3G.

[simplyparticular]

There should be a distinction between backlit and non-backlit LCD.

And for me, I read with a backlit LCD PDA or phone for 7 years, and I still do on-the-go, but I now prefer reading on E-Ink at night.

A backlit LCD makes it easy to read at night, but my eyes start to water after about an hour.

But I can read an E-Ink device (with clip light) for 4 hours.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

For the sake of keeping everything apples to apples, here are the assumptions.

• High quality LCD, at least 6" diagonal, like iPad, vs.
• High quality eInk, 6" diagonal, like Kindle 2.
• Reading fiction
• For an average of 2 hours at a time.

And how many people responding to the poll have actually read for at two hours at a time on both of these types of devices? Rather than just picking what they think the right answer is?

[Talldog]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Poll needs a "Why are we beating this dead horse again?" option.

Beating dead horses like this never goes out of style in tech forums.

[JeremyZ]

Well, I searched this forum and the "What reader should I buy" forum for: 'easy read', 'easy eyes', and 'easier read'

Didn't come up with a single thread.

I know it has been discussed in other threads, but if you're going to accuse it of being a dead horse, you should be ready to post the supposedly identical thread.

Besides, all you had to do was click twice: once to make your selection, once to submit. No typing necessary, Talldog and donnegeddan.

I notice that 93% of the people have not had a problem with this simple request for a vote.

Thanks for putting forth the heroic effort to participate in the poll.

[GhostHawk]

None of the above, Reflective TFT aka Jetbook.

[JeremyZ]

Just curious, Ghosthawk, what is the advantage of a reflective TFT compared to an eInk? Just color?

[GhostHawk]

Nope, its not color, its greyscale. The reflective background illuminates without causing strain. Granted at night you need a light. But in everything from full sun to dim it is clean, crisp, easy to read, with no strain. At least for my eyes, whats more it actually takes less light to read by than a conventional book.

Try reading a paperback at night with just 2 candles. Pretty tough sledding.
But when the power goes out I can, and have read comfortably for hours with just 2 candles for light. I do jump the font size from 18 to 20 for that kind of low light situation.

Granted it does not have the super long battery life some E-ink screens have.
But it also does not flash, and page turns are quick. Almost instantaneous in fact.

Granted everyone has their preferences, their likes and dislikes. But until you have actually tried a reflective TFT please don't lump it in with all the rest of the LCD's.

[Lemurion]

I read regularly on both a backlit LCD and an E-Ink device, and while my LCD is only 3.7" it's higher resolution than my 6" E-Ink - second only to the iPhone4.

What I find is that while the Sony is easier to read for long periods - and has a fantastic battery life - I've been using the Droid more frequently. It's always with me, and that makes a difference.

I can read on either, and the E-Ink is definitely easier on my eyes - but that doesn't mean the device is always my first choice. It depends on the situation.

[leebase]

In what lighting? A more useful poll would be about how ling people are comfortably reading on the iPad, how ling on eInk, how long on paper.

In some lighting conditions a book is easier on my eyes. In other kinds of light the iPad is easier on my eyes.

Lee

[Maggie Leung]

To me, all that matters is what works for me. If 100 million people found X product useful, but I didn't, I still wouldn't buy it. I care about only what works for my eyes. For me, LCD, e-ink or print all work fine. I'm glad I have choices.