Thread: Device upgrade
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Old 03-15-2017, 03:30 PM   #4
barryem
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Arkansas
Device: Paperwhite 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by gldnlvr View Post
I'd also like it to be backlit for use in the dark.
I think it's worth pointing out here that a backlight is very different than the front light used with e-ink. The backlight on an LCD shines through the screen so you can see it. It's behind the screen and it's basically a light shining into your eyes. If you dim it properly reading on it is okay for a most people although a lot of people are limited in how long they can stare into a backlight. In my case, 15 minutes of reading on an LCD doesn't bother me but much more and I'm done reading for the day.

E-ink is opaque and the light is evenly spread over the screen and shines down onto the screen just as a lamp shines down on paper, so your eyes get reflected light. This doesn't cause eyestrain. It also means it can be read either in the dark or in bright sunlight, unlike a backlit LCD which isn't easily read in the sun.

Another thing about a front light on e-ink is that it increases contrast and makes reading easier even when the light isn't actually needed.

Anyway my point is that it's a very important distinction when considering ereaders.

Barry
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