Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoshka
The ipad 2 is only 21.3 oz, for much more screen area, and it appears to have a better design for reading now--flat, with a smoother edge. Of course, it all comes down to what you want in a tablet/ereader, balancing size, weight, price, and app features, and how much you'll actually read on a device. Then there is buyer's remorse over constant upgrades--many are already saying to wait for the ipad 3, which is supposed to have a sharper screen, and there will no doubt be a Kindle 4 and Nook Color 2 to drool over. So many toys and choices, it's almost enough to drive me back to reading real books and doing computer things on a computer and using a phone to make phone calls.
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The iPad 1 and 2 screens are exactly the same. They have a similar resolution to the nookcolor except the iPads have a 4:3 screen ratio compared to a wider screen ratio for the nookcolor. However, whenever you take a similar screen resolution and shrink the screen size from the iPad 9.7" to the nookcolor 7", then the smaller screen seems to have a better reading capability--that is, you cannot see the spaces around the pixels as easily. When reading on an iPad I can definitely see the black (or dark) space around the individual dots (pixels) and after reading for a while this will cause a lot of eyestrain. It doesn't bother everyone, but it sure bothers me. When reading on the nookcolor I don't notice the black (or dark) space around the individual dots (pixels) and can read for a long time without much eyestrain.
Just for fun here is a comparison of screens and resolutions on a few popular devices and how they compare to each other;
- iPad 9.7" diagonal screen at 1024 x 768 = 786,432 pixel resolution.
- nookcolor 7" diagonal screen at 1024 x 600 = 614,400 pixel resolution.
- iPhone4 3.5" diagonal screen at 960 x 640 = 614,400 pixel resolution.
- Mid to high end point and shoot digital camera 3" diagonal screens often have 614,400 pixel resolution. (So much for Apple's BS statement that the retina display is revolutionary and innovative as these cameras have been around longer than the retina display!)
- My Canon EOS T1i dSLR camera has a 3" diagonal screen with 920,000 pixel resolution. (BTW, this high resolution is now fairly standard on even mid-level point and shoot Nikon cameras.)
I have the nookcolor and the iPod touch 4G with retina display and I've used an iPad. The iPhone / iPod touch 4G retina display is hands down the best for reading on as far as eyestrain or lack thereof goes, but at 3.5" the screen is too small to fit enough text so it isn't practical as a primary reader. The nookcolor is a not-so-near second place as far as eyestrain or lack thereof goes, and the 7" screen is just about the right size for a primary reader. The iPad is a far and distant third (read last) place as far as eyestrain or lack thereof goes.
I rate the iPhone4 retina display as terrific but too small, the nookcolor display as adequate to good and it is large enough but should of had a 4:3 ratio, and the iPad screen as totally inadequate for long-duration reading.
I also find it interesting that iPhone people harp about how wonderful and innovative the retina display is. BS! I've got point and shoot cameras with as good of displays and my Canon dSLR has a display with 50% more resolution than the retina display and in a smaller size!
