A study in contrasts - the silicone cover

[Ea]

I've found that with the white/transparent silicone cover, the text on the screen looks especially crisp and clear.

Waterstone's been having a 505 cover sale, and since I've been thinking of getting a 600 - and in that case might relegate the 505 to 'kitchen duty' for recipes - I thought a silicone cover might be a good investment.

I just got today, and somewhat to my surprise, it's a very nice cover overall - it really doesn't look as nice on photos as it feels to hold. It has a nice feel, and gives the Reader a good grip.

It's "white-transparent" rather than white, and this is the interesting part, since, while you can still see the buttons through the skin, it blurs all contrasts on the Reader - button edges, printed text, edges in general - and the text on the screen looks especially crisp and clear in comparison with this. I can follow the idea that a dark-coloured edge might give a greater, perceived, contrast, but I hadn't imagined the silicone cover would do as well, in its own way.

[DixieGal]

Got pics? What brand? Where buy?

[Ea]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Got pics? What brand? Where buy?

Attached. Sony. Waterstones.co.uk.

Since you're in USA, so you might need to look elsewhere. I doubt the perceived clarity of the screen is visible in the photo, but I was overall quite impressed with the cover. It's not for bumbing about in a purse, since it doesn't protect the screen, but nice if you just use it at home. Gives a good grip without adding a lot of bulk. Looks better on, than off, BTW - it put me off in the photos I saw - and slides right on

[Juliette]

Quite impressive, Ea! It could be the solution for me- though I know that I won't able to get it from Waterstones. I plan on giving my father my PRS-505 and it would save the poor thing a lot of trouble in terms of stains (he's a little kid sometimes ) and of course, with presbyopia advancing, it would make it easier for him to read.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Juliette

Quite impressive, Ea! It could be the solution for me- though I know that I won't able to get it from Waterstones. I plan on giving my father my PRS-505 and it would save the poor thing a lot of trouble in terms of stains (he's a little kid sometimes ) and of course, with presbyopia advancing, it would make it easier for him to read.

Are you sure you can't get it from Waterstone's? I'm from Denmark, and I could order it:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterston...do?sku=6337800
You should be able to order it from Italy as well. It was 5 pounds for the postage though, but still much the cheapest offer in Europe.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Juliette

... and of course, with presbyopia advancing, it would make it easier for him to read.

It's not THAT much greater contrast, and it's only perceived. I noticed because of a discussion in another thread about potential glare of the silver case (in my experience, there isn't any) and the merits of the dark blue vs. the silver. Some has experienced that the blue case gives the appearance of higher contrast, I just didn't expect that the silicone case could do so, as well.

[Juliette]

Originally Posted by Ea

Are you sure you can't get it from Waterstone's? I'm from Denmark, and I could order it:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterston...do?sku=6337800
You should be able to order it from Italy as well. It was 5 pounds for the postage though, but still much the cheapest offer in Europe.

But that's wonderful news! And I guess that if I were to throw in some paper book the postage would be more, uhm, justifiable O

Originally Posted by Ea

It's not THAT much greater contrast, and it's only perceived. I noticed because of a discussion in another thread about potential glare of the silver case (in my experience, there isn't any) and the merits of the dark blue vs. the silver. Some has experienced that the blue case gives the appearance of higher contrast, I just didn't expect that the silicone case could do so, as well.

Maybe that's how one looks at it- like in those optical games with colours. I should probably ask my father first, then, if he'd prefer the Cybook (I see it like you: better contrast with the silver than the black, and no glare...)

[Siwickimom]

Very interesting. I read somewhere that the Kindles are white because they did field testing and people reported that they found the white made the text easier to read. I suppose this validates it in a way! Very pretty!

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Siwickimom

Very interesting. I read somewhere that the Kindles are white because they did field testing and people reported that they found the white made the text easier to read. I suppose this validates it in a way! Very pretty!

That wasn't eactly my conclusion. It's the semi-opaqueness of the silicone cover that blurs the appearance of the buttons and print on the case, which in turn makes the text one the screen appear a little bit sharper because of the contrast. The silicone case isn't white, more like 'milky' water an the silver colour of the Reader appears through it.