MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - E-readers in low light

Worldwalker · 04-12-2011, 11:00 AM

Pretty much what OtterBooks said: e-ink does a decent job of replicating paper, so (allowing some variation for eyes and devices) you can generally read it where and how you can read paper.

I have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GS6LDA

I also have a wall wart with a USB output, and a USB extension cable. I think you can figure where this is going. The light apparatus is a bit big, with that long 5-LED bar, but it's great in that it functions as a personal light instead of a bedside light. The only down side is that I haven't figured out a good way to attach it to my ebook reader's case yet, as I use that cable instead of the batteries. I wouldn't recommend clipping the battery pack, if you're using that, to the case -- it holds three AAA batteries, not to mention having a magnet, which makes for some weight. I wouldn't clip it to a paperback either. But with some other clip target (a stiff piece of cardboard?) and rechargeable batteries, using the base would be a viable option.

I like that because of its very even lighting (no hotspots) and because of the option to run it off of house power. The big problem I've seen with the smaller and lighter ones is that they use CR-2016 or CR-2032 batteries, which have a fraction the life of larger ones and cost beaucoup to replace -- I rarely pay more than 50 cents for an AAA (warehouse stores for the win) whereas a single button cell generally goes for $3 or more even at a discount store, and doesn't come in rechargeable form. My previous book light was some cheap model whose batteries cost more than buying a whole new light with batteries ... it was at that point that I realized that battery type, and access to infinitely cheaper mains power, was at least as important as form factor.

That said, I do have a tiny, CR-2032-powered, clip-on booklightlet. I just don't use it much.

04-12-2011, 11:00 AM	#19
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	Pretty much what OtterBooks said: e-ink does a decent job of replicating paper, so (allowing some variation for eyes and devices) you can generally read it where and how you can read paper. I have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GS6LDA I also have a wall wart with a USB output, and a USB extension cable. I think you can figure where this is going. The light apparatus is a bit big, with that long 5-LED bar, but it's great in that it functions as a personal light instead of a bedside light. The only down side is that I haven't figured out a good way to attach it to my ebook reader's case yet, as I use that cable instead of the batteries. I wouldn't recommend clipping the battery pack, if you're using that, to the case -- it holds three AAA batteries, not to mention having a magnet, which makes for some weight. I wouldn't clip it to a paperback either. But with some other clip target (a stiff piece of cardboard?) and rechargeable batteries, using the base would be a viable option. I like that because of its very even lighting (no hotspots) and because of the option to run it off of house power. The big problem I've seen with the smaller and lighter ones is that they use CR-2016 or CR-2032 batteries, which have a fraction the life of larger ones and cost beaucoup to replace -- I rarely pay more than 50 cents for an AAA (warehouse stores for the win) whereas a single button cell generally goes for $3 or more even at a discount store, and doesn't come in rechargeable form. My previous book light was some cheap model whose batteries cost more than buying a whole new light with batteries ... it was at that point that I realized that battery type, and access to infinitely cheaper mains power, was at least as important as form factor. That said, I do have a tiny, CR-2032-powered, clip-on booklightlet. I just don't use it much.