Thread: Touch-screen non-eInk readers?
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Old 08-01-2009, 01:58 AM   #18
rogue_ronin
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Honolulu
Device: Nokia 770 (fbreader)
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjkel View Post
Why doesn't jetBook have a touch screen display? Touch screen panels dramatically reduce the purity of an image. It blurs letters and puts stress on the eyes causing fatigue. This is the main reason why we did not use a touch screen.

Why is there no backlight in jetBook? We deliberately removed the backlight from jetBook's original specification after a lengthy consultation with ophthalmologists in the US. We were advised that if we wanted to make jetBook closer in experience to a regular book, we should not use any backlight. Similar to the fatigue that comes with computer monitors, if you read by looking at a source of light your eyes get tired within 1-2 hours and you need a longer period of rest to recover. Just like a regular printed-paper book, with jetBook you read in reflected light so the eyes do not get tired (if you get tired just switch the font to a larger size and you may continue to enjoy reading). This is the main reason why the backlight was not implemented.


I have been reading for years on lcd screens, originally on a Dell Axim and I have never had these problems mentioned. Personally I think people have problems with the backlight because they leave it up too high, I tend to have mine pretty low and off colour background, not glaring white. But what can ya do? The experts have spoken.
Yeah, that FAQ quote is a bunch of weaseling about why they wanted to use the cheapest possible components. I agree with you about LCDs -- it's mostly the backlight, and mostly the fact that most backlights were fluorescent. Fluorescent light hurts. But it's cheap!

Ophthalmologists, my ass.

JetBook gets a lot right. It's definitely a superior device. They're working on their firmware constantly. But if they did just a little bit more, and without excuses, they'd go over the top in a big way.

For instance, with a touch-screen, they don't need that silly side-keyboard. The buttons could do with a good redesign, as well. There's more. Lots more. Oh, my brain is full of more!



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