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tapar · 06-25-2010, 06:31 PM

I wonder why there are not more ebook readers with e-ink style screens and built in LED lights (external not for back-lighting) to light that screen? Why have a clunky clip on light to deal with, it feels like it should be part of the device. If I had to guess I would lean towards the trend of making them thinner and thinner, but I would gladly sacrifice a bit of thickness for some convenient lighting.

I vaguely remember there was a unit with some lights around the edges of the screen, I think it was a sony model but I am not sure. I don't have a clue how well received the feature was. I am also wondering if other brands have built in lights and I just never heard of them.

I love my kindle v1 and I have wanted to upgrade to the v2 model. I held off originally because I thought it was a downgrade to loose the removable battery and SD card support. I used my mom's v2 kindle and changed my mind and have been itching to upgrade ever since. I just feel like I need to hold on till the v3 comes out, especially since it is rumored to be in August.

I picked up an iPad as well and have been surprised to find myself using it for reading more often than I would ever have guessed. I have been gravitating towards using it more than the kindle lately and am confused as too why. I honestly think the e-ink display is way better. I prefer epub to mobi, but with caliber I can bounce to whatever I need so it is not THAT big a deal. The iPad's weight is annoying, but I seem to be adapting to that fairly well.

I have been wondering if part of the problem is the lighting I read the kindle in, I have a low watt light behind my recliner that gives off soft lighting. I can see fine, but I do need to angle the kindle towards the light a tiny bit. I wonder if that has been competing subconsciously with the iPad's back-lit screen.

If my feet were in the fire and i was forced to pick one thing to explain my recent gravitation towards reading on the ipad, I would probably pick UI speed and layout. It is easier to scroll down a list to find what I am looking for rather than page through lots of e-ink screens. Navigating to the specific book you want is just plain easier on the iPad...though not displaying if you have read it or where you are in the book (on the book selection menu) like the kindle does is a negative. If you are reading a book series with many books in it, it is easy to forget which book you just read if you weren't paying enough attention to the tittle.

In any event all the iPad use has me questioning the criteria that I should use to pick my next ebook reader. That is what made me wonder why there was a lack of built in lighting. I dislike using e-reader covers so the slick lights built into some case's are not the solution I would prefer. They do seem functional though and nearly convinced me to use one.

06-25-2010, 06:31 PM	#1
tapar Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 1420 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Kindle Keyboard 3g, Kindle Paperwhite v1	why no built in lights? I wonder why there are not more ebook readers with e-ink style screens and built in LED lights (external not for back-lighting) to light that screen? Why have a clunky clip on light to deal with, it feels like it should be part of the device. If I had to guess I would lean towards the trend of making them thinner and thinner, but I would gladly sacrifice a bit of thickness for some convenient lighting. I vaguely remember there was a unit with some lights around the edges of the screen, I think it was a sony model but I am not sure. I don't have a clue how well received the feature was. I am also wondering if other brands have built in lights and I just never heard of them. I love my kindle v1 and I have wanted to upgrade to the v2 model. I held off originally because I thought it was a downgrade to loose the removable battery and SD card support. I used my mom's v2 kindle and changed my mind and have been itching to upgrade ever since. I just feel like I need to hold on till the v3 comes out, especially since it is rumored to be in August. I picked up an iPad as well and have been surprised to find myself using it for reading more often than I would ever have guessed. I have been gravitating towards using it more than the kindle lately and am confused as too why. I honestly think the e-ink display is way better. I prefer epub to mobi, but with caliber I can bounce to whatever I need so it is not THAT big a deal. The iPad's weight is annoying, but I seem to be adapting to that fairly well. I have been wondering if part of the problem is the lighting I read the kindle in, I have a low watt light behind my recliner that gives off soft lighting. I can see fine, but I do need to angle the kindle towards the light a tiny bit. I wonder if that has been competing subconsciously with the iPad's back-lit screen. If my feet were in the fire and i was forced to pick one thing to explain my recent gravitation towards reading on the ipad, I would probably pick UI speed and layout. It is easier to scroll down a list to find what I am looking for rather than page through lots of e-ink screens. Navigating to the specific book you want is just plain easier on the iPad...though not displaying if you have read it or where you are in the book (on the book selection menu) like the kindle does is a negative. If you are reading a book series with many books in it, it is easy to forget which book you just read if you weren't paying enough attention to the tittle. In any event all the iPad use has me questioning the criteria that I should use to pick my next ebook reader. That is what made me wonder why there was a lack of built in lighting. I dislike using e-reader covers so the slick lights built into some case's are not the solution I would prefer. They do seem functional though and nearly convinced me to use one.