Grey or Black Kindle? Maybe the Grey is a better choice

[oldbook]

Hi,

I ordered two kindles, grey and the black.

The grey seems to be the old production kindle.

I try to compare the two screens, the black seems to be a little more sharper
with slight more contrast. But only at the first look.

I think tis is mainly an optical illusion due the black bezel/frame.

But the reading experience is huge different: The black force my view to the screen. My eyes are not free like on a real printed book. On the grey K4 the device "disappears" and it is more friendly to my eyes.

How is your "long time" reading experience?
Anybody who have both kindles too?

[jbcohen]

In one sitting I can go up to three hours, not that long. I do not think the choice in the shell color makes much difference in the performance of the reader its simply a choice in appearance. My kindle three is black however I would be just as happy with a white or grey colored one.

[beninma]

I would make the choice based on which one picks up less reflections... personally I am a big fan of black with a matte finish.

I have a Nook STG and it is nice and matte black.. but it has a silvery surround and that thing picks up distracting reflections pretty easily.

[geekmaster]

You can always stick a skin on it, if you can find (or make) one that suits your preferences. Then the bezel color is less important.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by oldbook

Hi,

I ordered two kindles, grey and the black.

The grey seems to be the old production kindle.

I try to compare the two screens, the black seems to be a little more sharper
with slight more contrast. But only at the first look.

I think tis is mainly an optical illusion due the black bezel/frame.

But the reading experience is huge different: The black force my view to the screen. My eyes are not free like on a real printed book. On the grey K4 the device "disappears" and it is more friendly to my eyes.

How is your "long time" reading experience?
Anybody who have both kindles too?

Some threads to check of others who own both colors.
Check out this thread and this one and mine own here

For me there is a huge difference between both. The black is a huge improvement over my Silver. I can read forever on it. When I say forever I really mean 8 hours. I love my K4B so much with it's better contrast I've gone back to using the default font because it's dark enough. I can't do this on the silver I must use my modified font which is very bold compare to the defaults.

[oldbook]

Thank for the threads. One the pictures shown the is a big difference.

But I looked again on my kindles and there is absolutely no difference.
Got both this week. Maybe they are using now the newer screens on both.
(Both are sets to page refresh on each turn)

I will try to post some pictures.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by oldbook

Thank for the threads. One the pictures shown the is a big difference.

But I looked again on my kindles and there is absolutely no difference.
Got both this week. Maybe they are using now the newer screens on both.

I will try to post some pictures.

Pics would be good We do know there are a few Silver ones out there that do have good contrast but Quality control on the silver makes it a gamble out of the three I have used all were of poor contrast.

[oldbook]

same contrast (the black is slightly out of focus on the picture, but also sharp)
Maybe its a good K4S and I should keep it...

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by oldbook

same contrast (the black is slightly out of focus on the picture, but also sharp)
Maybe its a good K4S and I should keep it...

It's really hard to tell due to way the pic is taken. I've never seen a screen that color before. The lighting really comes in to play here. You might try to take it from a father angle or different lighting.

[oldbook]

I used a polarization filter and pro lighting to avoid any glare.
If I have some time, i will shot some more.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by oldbook

I used a polarization filter and pro lighting to avoid any glare.
If I have some time, i will shot some more.

I find with comparison pics of Kindles it's best to use you're normal reading lighting and no special effects to get what the naked eye sees. Glare is okay. It can be worked around. Flash is optional it depends on how good your camera is and the lighting whether it is needed or not. Keep in mind flash can make the text appear darker than it is though. I had to do many angles to keep that from happening.

Originally Posted by oldbook

same contrast (the black is slightly out of focus on the picture, but also sharp)
Maybe its a good K4S and I should keep it...

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's really hard to tell due to way the pic is taken. I've never seen a screen that color before. The lighting really comes in to play here. You might try to take it from a father angle or different lighting.

Originally Posted by oldbook

I used a polarization filter and pro lighting to avoid any glare.
If I have some time, i will shot some more.

I took a full crop of the same word from each unit. The K4 Silver is on top and the K4 Black is below it.



As Blossom says the lighting is a big unknown here, especially since you stacked the K4 Silver on top of the K4 Black. But it does look like the text on the Silver unit is lighter. Again that can be lighting. A true side by side photo will be better. You might take two--one with Silver on left then the next with Silver on the right.

[oldbook]

In the past I compared many different readers, but on these devices I really cannot see any difference. I tried it under daylight too, yesterday. All font sizes.

But if you read with the device the fonts on the K4B appear darker due the black frame.
Its an completely different reading experience. I still do not know which I like better.

I believe they changed the display in last production run, compared to images from others.
My first intention was to keep the K4B, but now I will keep both.

Here with some picts with glare:

Originally Posted by oldbook

Here with some glare:

Again, it is extremely hard to tell from those photos. You again stacked them which throws the focus off for one or the other and causes shadowing, and in the side by side you took it at a very low angle which causes most of the screen to be out of focus. Try straight on side by side shots.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by oldbook

In the past I compared many different readers, but on these devices I really cannot see any difference. I tried it under daylight too, yesterday.

Here with some picts with glare:

From the last pic it's much better. You can tell the black has the better contrast of the two. It's text is darker and the background is cleaner, lighter like near white. You're silver does seem to have better contrast than most. I do know they exist but hard to get. The black's quality seems to be consistent. Daylight isn't the best to compare. All eInk look good in daylight. The best way to compare is in low lighting. Which one can you read best in that situation and that's the one I would keep. I can't read on my Silver in low lighting without using a modified font. I can on my black without a problem.