Is e-ink really a better display than my Treo?

Bob Russell · 07-27-2006, 01:02 PM

Believe me, I'm not posting this to cause trouble. But while reading on my Treo 700p, I noticed the crispness of the display, and the nice white background on my device.

I understand that the Treo will never compete with an e-ink reader because of screen size. Nor will it compete for viewing in direct sunlight. But it does have a distinct advantage in the dark because of the backlight, and page turns are very responsive.

So when I look at how nice the Treo display is, I have to ask the question... Is e-ink really any nicer than a really good LCD display like the one on my Treo 700p? I'm using a bold sans serif regular size font, which allows 13 lines of text on the screen. But like I said, it's really sharp looking. I'm thinking that e-ink may give more resolution, but won't look at white in the background, nor have that nice contrast and "easy to look at" feel.

Anyone have experience with both e-ink and a Treo 650 or Treo 700p?

rlauzon · 07-27-2006, 01:14 PM

I don't have experience with the Treos, but I think we can assume that the screen is similar to the Palm TX that I currently use for reading eBooks.

The main issues I have with the Palm is the direct sunlight issue and the screen size issue. Other than that, it works nicely. If I am indoors, without my sunglasses on, reading eBooks on my TX doesn't cause eye strain or anything.

But I can say that, after reading eBooks on my iLiad for the last 2 days, reading eBooks on my iLiad is FAR nicer and what I plan on using for my eBook reading from now on.

jæd · 07-27-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

Anyone have experience with both e-ink and a Treo 650 or Treo 700p?

Yep... I have a Treo 650... The difference between the screens is *huge*. I can do about 30 mins tops with my Treo, but reading with the Illiad is much easier on the eye. And a Treo is "usable" in a park in strong sunlight, just, but the illiad is much crisper and is really, really like reading from a piece of paper....

The Treo wins out currently with screen refresh, but thats the only thing...!

ElaHuguet · 07-27-2006, 01:22 PM

I've seen some pretty sharp screens, but the iLiad (e-ink in general) is just amazing, it just doesn't look "real". Take a piece of paper, put a piece of plastic on top (eg. one of those crystal plastic thingies for carrying papers around) and look at it... that's what it's like... every time it refreshes, you think "how weird, paper shouldn't 'move'!".

Sischa · 07-27-2006, 01:49 PM

All i can say is that this are 2 complete different things you could not compare.

I used a nokia 770 before with one of the most decent displays out there but for reading purpose compared to the ilead its just crap.

So no for reading the treo screen could not even compete with the ilead.

Beside that it was always a pain in the eyes to read longer in front of this shining devices, with eink i can read for more then 5+ hours without any problems.

stinky ox · 07-27-2006, 02:12 PM

I could read from a PDA if I *had* to, but I read on the iLiad because I *want* to. There's no glare, no viewing angle issues, and I can read in direct sunlight - in fact it's *best* in direct sunlight, and given that my favourite place to read is lying out on the grass in the sun (goats willing), that's the clincher for me.

Most "active" screens do your eyes in after a while, whereas reading the Iliad is exactly like reading paper, and tires your eyes no more than normal book reading.

Riocaz · 07-27-2006, 03:01 PM

Just to add my 2 pennyworth.

The Zaurus SL5500 was a much better screen than my old palm. And it doesn't _compare_ to the e-ink screen.

It really is like reading paper (Ok the back is light grey not white) but it really does look like it's been printed. The amount of people at work or on the tube that thought it was one of those stickers they put onto phones and the like to simulate their screen, when, its on in shops was amazing. It is that crisp and that different to a "normal" PDA screen.

bingle · 07-27-2006, 08:08 PM

One of the benefits of the eink screen over a handheld screen is also the battery life question - I like the idea that I can stare at a single page/screen for as long as I want and use no battery (and not have the device go into standby mode or turn off the backlight). Of course, it sounds like iRex isn't really living up to this potential currently, but that's one of the great promises of eink, in my mind.

07-27-2006, 01:02 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Is e-ink really a better display than my Treo? Believe me, I'm not posting this to cause trouble. But while reading on my Treo 700p, I noticed the crispness of the display, and the nice white background on my device. I understand that the Treo will never compete with an e-ink reader because of screen size. Nor will it compete for viewing in direct sunlight. But it does have a distinct advantage in the dark because of the backlight, and page turns are very responsive. So when I look at how nice the Treo display is, I have to ask the question... Is e-ink really any nicer than a really good LCD display like the one on my Treo 700p? I'm using a bold sans serif regular size font, which allows 13 lines of text on the screen. But like I said, it's really sharp looking. I'm thinking that e-ink may give more resolution, but won't look at white in the background, nor have that nice contrast and "easy to look at" feel. Anyone have experience with both e-ink and a Treo 650 or Treo 700p?

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07-27-2006, 01:14 PM	#2
rlauzon Wizard Posts: 1,018 Karma: 67827 Join Date: Jan 2005 Device: PocketBook Era	I don't have experience with the Treos, but I think we can assume that the screen is similar to the Palm TX that I currently use for reading eBooks. The main issues I have with the Palm is the direct sunlight issue and the screen size issue. Other than that, it works nicely. If I am indoors, without my sunglasses on, reading eBooks on my TX doesn't cause eye strain or anything. But I can say that, after reading eBooks on my iLiad for the last 2 days, reading eBooks on my iLiad is FAR nicer and what I plan on using for my eBook reading from now on.

07-27-2006, 01:22 PM	#4
ElaHuguet iLiad freak Posts: 339 Karma: 243 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mallorca, Spain Device: iRex iLiad	I've seen some pretty sharp screens, but the iLiad (e-ink in general) is just amazing, it just doesn't look "real". Take a piece of paper, put a piece of plastic on top (eg. one of those crystal plastic thingies for carrying papers around) and look at it... that's what it's like... every time it refreshes, you think "how weird, paper shouldn't 'move'!".

07-27-2006, 01:49 PM	#5
Sischa Evangelist Posts: 428 Karma: 2370 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Device: Nokia 770, Ilead, Cybook G3, Kindle DX, Kindle 2, iPad, Kindle 3, PW	All i can say is that this are 2 complete different things you could not compare. I used a nokia 770 before with one of the most decent displays out there but for reading purpose compared to the ilead its just crap. So no for reading the treo screen could not even compete with the ilead. Beside that it was always a pain in the eyes to read longer in front of this shining devices, with eink i can read for more then 5+ hours without any problems.

07-27-2006, 02:12 PM	#6
stinky ox Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 41 Join Date: Jul 2006 Device: samsung q1, iLiad	I could read from a PDA if I had to, but I read on the iLiad because I want to. There's no glare, no viewing angle issues, and I can read in direct sunlight - in fact it's best in direct sunlight, and given that my favourite place to read is lying out on the grass in the sun (goats willing), that's the clincher for me. Most "active" screens do your eyes in after a while, whereas reading the Iliad is exactly like reading paper, and tires your eyes no more than normal book reading.

07-27-2006, 03:01 PM	#7
Riocaz Fulfilled but not by iRex Posts: 932 Karma: 286846 Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Device: Far too many	Just to add my 2 pennyworth. The Zaurus SL5500 was a much better screen than my old palm. And it doesn't _compare_ to the e-ink screen. It really is like reading paper (Ok the back is light grey not white) but it really does look like it's been printed. The amount of people at work or on the tube that thought it was one of those stickers they put onto phones and the like to simulate their screen, when, its on in shops was amazing. It is that crisp and that different to a "normal" PDA screen.

07-27-2006, 08:08 PM	#8
bingle Addict Posts: 273 Karma: 499 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Device: Sony Reader	One of the benefits of the eink screen over a handheld screen is also the battery life question - I like the idea that I can stare at a single page/screen for as long as I want and use no battery (and not have the device go into standby mode or turn off the backlight). Of course, it sounds like iRex isn't really living up to this potential currently, but that's one of the great promises of eink, in my mind.

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