Quote:
Originally Posted by queentess
I'm thinking of getting a JetBook, but I've only ever owned a Kindle and handled a Sony, which both use e-ink. How does the screen compare? Does it cause any eyestrain? Easily readable in sunlight?
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It's about the same. I don't think you'll perceive any meaningful difference.
Sunlight readability is fine. LCDs have always had excellent direct light readability(1). The jetBook's LCD works well from lamplight to full sun. The blacks are crisper than eInk, but the background is a light, matte-reflective gray-green rather than the light, sort of dirty, gray of eInk. I was pleasantly surprised that pictures turn out as well as they do with the very limited gray scale.
I've never had any problem with eyestrain unless, well, I overstrained my eyes. You don't need technology to do that. Most people who have eyestrain problems either overuse their eyes, don't set up the screen/room lighting correctly, or have some kind of hypersensitivity to lighting quirks. I know folks who hate 60 cycle flicker from fluorescents. I've even known a few who could sense it from incandescents. Use proper lighting when reading.
My biggest question is, "How long between charges?" Unfortunately, since it charges whenever you hook up the USB cable, I haven't found a limit yet. My PDA got charged every other day, and I had two batteries for travel, since I also used it for music. My smartphone (which I also read on) gets charged about every three or four days. The jetBook hasn't shown any movement on the power indicator at all. I don't think it will be an issue.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
(1) Yes, back-lit LCDs aren't very good in bright sunlight. They're dynamite in dim light because they have their own light source. Non-backlit LCDs/eInks/paper books are dynamite in bright light, but aren't worth a penny in dim light because they don't have their own light source. I've never understood disputes about this point. It seems really obvious to me. The lamp you use for reading a magazine? Turn it on for non-backlit eReaders, too.