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Third report with the replacement PW2:
This time I got to reading during the dark evening, but with some in-door lighting. I think this was the best Paperwhite reading experience so far for me. I still think PW2 works best when there is some other light/lighting available, the contrast between dark surroundings and a lit screen isn't so big then. Also, one can use the light to whiten the page and increase reading lighting just so, without making it look like an LCD screen...
I was reading at light level 15, which does make the screen glow a little, but the overall experience was pleasant. There were a moment or two when I noticed unevenness in the lighting in the middle of the screen, but it was more academic than a worry - as said, the evenness has improved to a reasonable level. I got lost in the book and that's a good thing. Changing pages and using the dictionary with touch is very nice, that part I liked especially considering the page changing keys in the $69 Kindle are a bit small.
The swipes and the touch areas are a bit confusing when reading on left and right hands alternatively, but I mostly got used to it - sometimes I was changing pages into the wrong direction. Using the dictionary in PW2 requires long pressed of the word, because there are other functions (highlighting etc.) there as well. In my use it would be nice if only a short press would be needed for the dictionary, but still using the dictionary is much easier on the PW2 than on the $69 Kindle.
I was reading with Caecilia at size four and found the blacks perfectly serviceable. I didn't feel like needing to hack in darker fonts or the like. Looking side by side with the $69 Kindle, the blacks on the PW2 are clearly worse, but they were good enough to read on today. The slightly decreased weight of the PW2 compared to PW1 (especially since mine are PW2 Wi-Fi vs. PW1 3G) is also welcome, although with the case it is still a little heavier than the lighted $69 Kindle. The official PW2 cover works very nicely too and the quality is higher than that of the $69 Kindle case - love the magnetic on/off latch.
I'm especially impressed with the PW2 main menu, with the books and sharp graphics, now that my screen isn't slanted and the lighting is even enough to get to appreciate the graphics. A splotchy, crooked screen really messes with the beauty of this - and with my replacement PW2 I can finally use that menu in a way that let's me enjoy it.
I still think there is the possibility I will never get to grips with reading on the PW2 in "absolute" darkness. It is possible it isn't very goot at that, for my use, because keeping the light low enough makes it harder to read. But so far I am genuinely warming up to the PW2 otherwise - as long as one can find a unit they are comfortable with, unfortunately that is still quite the hit and miss...
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