Quote:
Originally Posted by JWLaRue
Out of curiosity, what was the lighting (levels) like in the Borders where the Sony was located? In the two Borders near me, one display is located in an area that is not well lit, while the other is right out in the main aisle and very well lit. As it happens, I first saw the Sony at the store without the good lighting and was disappointed in what I saw. But after seeing it at the second store, I was very happy with the display.
It became no surprise to me, after reading the various comments posted here, that the perceived contrast on these e-ink screens is highly dependent upon the ambient lighting.
-Jeff
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Actually the lighting was good as the display was at the store's "center counter" where you can get help or what not...it's the main help and whatever counter not one of the off in a side isle kiosk/computer stations.
I would say the lighting was what one would find in a typical library or office. Plus the store has large windows though they are tinted and so I don't think they add much lighting.
I can agree with others that are more zealous eink users and supporters, the brighter the lighting the better the contrast would be...so, if I wanted to read outside or even sitting in front of a nice big window eink wins over the N800 hands down.
I will add that "perceived contrast" is everything. Isn't it? The major short coming, perhaps the only real short coming, of eink is the NEED for brighter lighting to increase/improve contrast.
Perhaps because I am more conditioned to inside reading I find the display on both devices I have now at least as easy on my eyes. Eink screens simply are not comfortable to MY eyes. So for those who comment that the eink "blows away" LCD I feel such comments are, perhaps, painting with a bit too broad of a brush.
I do, however hope the next gen of display's will have better contrast in low lighting using either a built in LED lighting system or some other fix.
Sure, I would be OK with a Visplex device but based in screen readability alone, eink is not yet even be close to my first choice...additionally I would need to alter when and where I read to improve the contrast enough to for my eyes. So, everyone is different. And as I suggest to everyone, if possible compare or at least look at an eink device before deciding. It might be better for a fair number or people to wait a few months to a year to see what shakes out by the next CES in Vegas. And do not assume eink is the solution for people with vision issues. Only way to know for sure is to test, and if adding a bright reading lamp improves the contrast then GREAT!!
Then again a brighter light might not improve contrast enough. Same goes for LCD display's....TEST them for yourself first. I do suggest if you look at LCD devices do try and get a transreflective LCD based device, as it can only help in brighter light. I can read my Clie nx73v with reasonable ease in outdoor conditions. Still, I think an eink reader would be the obviously superior choice for outside in sunlight.
It's just not as cut and dried as one being vastly superior to others because these things are subjective, varying between individuals. It's a shame there really are not many places to compare side by side. At least Amazon and Sony seem to have decent return deals.