[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I concur. But one way to avoid such issues is to not to respond in kind.

<shrug>

I'm one of the folks for whom advancing age has caused eye changes, and wear reading glasses. As I aged, I got far sighted.

I don't have a problem with LCD screens. I've been staring at CRT screens for a majority of the day for many years, starting back before LCD became the preferred technology, and never found it a problem, though I recognize some folks do. (I know one chap who developed an actual allergy to large CRT screens, which was problematic as he works for a major computer vendor.)

My default reader is a PDA, for three reasons:

1) I need color support. A fair bit of what I read uses it. For instance, I collect electronic versions of illustrated children's books that are coming into the public domain. Illustrations by Randolph Caldecott, Arthur Rackham, or N. C. Wyeth rendered in 16 shade grayscale? No, thank you.

2) I need a device that does other things besides display ebooks. Dedicated readers are becoming multi-function, but aren't at a point I'd use. While half the purpose in life for my PDA is reading ebooks, I can create, view and edit documents and spreadsheets, perform standard PDA functions like keep my calendar, appointments, and address book, view videos, listen to audio files, surf the web, program in an assortment of languages, keep a reference library of information that is not in ebook format, play with code in an assortment of languages, and oh, yes, I can play games. The one thing I don't do with the PDA is make phone calls - I have a separate cell phone, and don't want a converged device. I'll carry around a xell phone and PDA. I won't carry a cell phone, PDA, and reader.

3) With my PDA, I can read just about anything. About the only popular current format I can't read is ePub, as no ePub reader is available for my device, but I can convert ePub to something I can read. I wouldn't mind a larger screen, but can deal with the one I have.

The biggest advantage to eInk devices for anybody is increased battery life, as eInk requires no power to refresh the screen once a page is rendered. I wouldn't mind longer battery life, but my PDA gets topped off nightly, and I've never had a case where I exhausted the battery before being able to recharge. I'm a little bemused at complaints about the color nook's 8 hour battery life. Assuming it actually gets that life, I wonder how many folks might find themselves in a position where they will drain the battery before they can recharge, and what they'll be doing that will put them in that position.
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Dennis

Thank you Dennis, great well thought out post that is insightful, makes sense & doesn't insult or put anything or anyone down. I will try my best to respond to the insulting anti lcd posters without insulting them myself but still make my point that it doesn't have to be an either/or debate.

Originally Posted by Jakie

It seems to me this is a forum about reading....not only devices. We seem to lose sight (sorry about the pun -not) that regardless which screen method, we ARE reading, and electronically at that. I have read on PDA, netbook, android pad with cheap resisitive screen, and will pick up an e ink reader in the near future. Global statements that X cannot be used for reading, because...does not stand up to scrutiny. I am glad that we like the device we have...after all, we bought it. Let's not try to convert the world. Remember, " a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still" End of sermon.

Terrific and correct conclusion post. Thanks Jakie.

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Eye strain has nothing to do with the source of light, and has everything to do with the distance between your eye and the screen. Normal reading distance, that is the distance where people with good eyesight would have no eyestrain, is 35 cm (14"). People with myopia (nearsighted) feel better if the distance is shorter, people with hyperopia (farsighted) feel better if the distance is bigger. Young people with good eyesight can adjust to different distances.
If you have no problem reading for hours of your desktop monitor you are probably farsighted, if you can't stand to read of a desktop monitor you might be nearsighted.
With hand held devices, the problem is different. If it is too heavy you will keep it in a position that gives less strain to your hand muscles, since otherwise your hand will start to hurt before you feel eyestrain. And, obviously, you will get eyestrain.
There is a size for the image of letters on your retina that gives best reading speed and comprehension. If the font is too small (even if your eyesight is good and you can see the letters) you will feel the need to bring the device closer to your eyes and you will get eyestrain.
You can't get an accurate impression of a screen if you are looking over somebody's shoulder: the distance is bigger and therefore it is normal to get eye strain.
Any discomfort that you feel from your device in terms of light intensity is not eye strain, that is just your brain telling you to get away from the bright light, and it has to do with the fact that you are going to damage your eyes if you don't. (Long before electronic devices there was always the sun.) This can be avoided by turning the lights on in the room (your pupil will get smaller, as your eyes adjust), turning the brightness down or reading white letters on black background.
There is of course the other side, where there is not enough light intensity, and all I can say to that is: stop it, night vision was not meant for reading.

LCD monitors are not like CRT monitors. The problem with CRTs is that they are emitting small amounts of X-ray radiation, which you wouldn't actually feel, but were damaging your eyes, and the closer you would get to it, the more X-rays you got.

Thank you so much Sil_lis for this informative, illuminating, factual post. I suspect you have a medical background to provide all of this terrific information. Laying it out as you have, makes it completely clear & understandble why people might have trouble with lcd's, or reading in either too much or too little light. THANK YOU!