paperwhite light off?
 

I just have a query about the light on the paperwhite.

Does the light on the paperwhite actually turn off? I've turned it down to the lowest setting (none of the bars highlighted). I've just turned all the lights off in my bedroom to do the bedroom test and it was already lit. I could make out the text and only turned it up to 3 and I could see really well. I'm not bothered if this is not what its supposed to be doing as I'm fine with it like that. I'm just curious. When anyone else has their light tuned off in the dark does it still look slightly lit?

You cannot turn the light off completely, no. It's always on even on the lowest setting.

The light never turns completely off except in sleep mode.

Oh I see thanks. I was just surprised to see it lit. I guess that would explain why my screen looks so nice in bright light/outdoors.

I hope there will be an update to change this - no background light whatsoever is a lot easier on the eye!

Any ambient light at all makes it impossible to notice the light at the lowest level. Even on 10 or 11, the sun or a bright light will make the built-in light irrelevant.

Nope! The sun yes, but not any indoor light.

Why on earth would Amazon do that when the selling point of the PW IS the frontlighting feature which CAN be turned down to nearly non-existent? If one does not want any lighting they can easily purchase a KT or K4B.

What if someone wants to control the lighting so it is only switched on when it is needed?

I wanted the backlight so I could read during the night.

What's the big problem with having the option to switch it off when you don't need it and want less eye-strain?

I don't leave my lamp on for 24 a day though its selling point is to bring light.

This is exactly what worries me, the inability to switch of the light completely and so avoid unnecessary eyestrain. My Paperwhite is still on order but I shall make very sure my eyes are not going to suffer before I decide to keep it. I tried the Kobo Glo that has a light you can turn off. I really liked it, other than the fact that the light settings cannot be turned down low enough.

Why is it so hard for the manufacturers to get it right I wonder. The flexibility of formatting and the light on/off switch from the Glo and the light variability from the Paperwhite ...... are you listening Sony, or anyone else?

Eyestrain? Have you actually SEEN a Paperwhite on minimum light setting? Genuine question. I cannot imagine anyone getting "eyestrain" from the minimum light setting on a PW. It's a glimmer barely visible in a totally dark room.

I don't get the eyestrain comments.

In a poorly lit area, the PW light helps avoid eyestrain.

In a well lit area, the PW light on one of the lower settings is virtually invisible (i.e. it sure looks like its off even though it isn't).

This is my experience too. However I noticed that the light went out while my PW updated the last time. I assume there must be some reason for leaving it on all the time and it's probably what marcus writes.

Please don't compare the Kobo Glo (or the Nook with light) to the Paperwhite :) Now that I have my PW, and having played with both the Kobo and Nook models, there is absolutely NO comparison...

I have to agree with the others here, too, that sliding the light down to 1 or 2 makes it pretty much "off" in my opinion.

Exactly! You only know it's on if you're in a room with no light on at midnight. Other than that, it sure as heck looks like it's off! It's so minimal it might as well BE off. There's zero eye strain at the lowest level and if someone does get eyestrain from that, give up reading. You've got bigger issues to deal with & get yourself to an eye doctor ASAP!