I have been seduced by the Dark Side

jgray · 05-26-2013, 09:45 PM

I've owned a few Sony eInk readers in the past, but for my eyes, I never liked the low contrast. In recent years, I've been reading on either my phone or tablet.

Recently, when Radio Shack was blowing out those Nook Simple Touch readers for $20, I thought I'd get one to see if the eInk screens has improved. Although the Simple Touch is a very nice reader, it doesn't appear to me that the screen contrast is any better than the last Sony Reader I had. I didn't feel too bad, having only spent $20. I gave the Nook to a friend and he thinks it's great.

After reading reviews for both the Simple Touch w/Glowlight and the Kindle Paperwhite, it seems that the Paperwhite takes the prize for screen readability. So, I headed up to Best Buy and joined the Dark Side

I have all along resisted joining the Kindle ecosystem, preferring to stay with epub. I have taken advantage of the Kindle freebies, however. I have both Aldiko and Kindle apps on my phone and tablet.

Even with all of my reservations about ebook formats, I will say that the Paperwhite is the best eInk reader I've ever seen. With the front light adjusted to suit the ambient conditions, I find the Paperwhite very readable, and the matt screen isn't as reflective as my phone or tablet.

I still prefer epub and will purchase that format when I need to buy. I have found that dropping an epub onto the command-line tool kindlegen produces a Kindle ebook that is essentially the same format as the original epub. It is an extra step to convert, but is not too big a nuisance.

So, although I really like the Paperwhite, I will still resist going completely over to the Dark Side by not purchasing Kindle books. And I have recently learned that the latest Kindle book format is just a binary conversion of an epub. So, even though Amazon is embracing epub as a better format, they continue to make it proprietary.

Joe

Ken Maltby · 05-27-2013, 01:22 AM

Should we tell him about the Kobo AuraHD ?

No... that would be just too cruel.

Luck;
Ken

davidfor · 05-27-2013, 01:44 AM

I was thinking it would be impolite to point out the Kobo Glo, but mentioning the Aura HD would be cruel.

danskmacabre · 05-27-2013, 05:31 AM

Well I'm glad you didn't mention either of them then!

forsooth · 05-27-2013, 05:58 AM

shhhh...

booklover6 · 05-27-2013, 06:47 AM

If he has not seen a Kobo Glo in person, he will not realize what he is missing!

BeccaPrice · 05-27-2013, 09:28 AM

I love my paperwhite, but even I must admit the Kobo Glow is superior in that way (I just think the kindle firmware is superior to the kobo firmware, although I couldn't tell you why, just a vague notion from reading posts here, I think.)

Ravensknight · 05-27-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgray

So, I headed up to Best Buy and joined the Dark Side

And thus, my new apprentice, you are REBORN, as Darth Kindler, the Gray!

fjtorres · 05-27-2013, 01:05 PM

The title is a tad confusing:

wizwor · 05-27-2013, 03:01 PM

Jeff Bezos loves us -- each and everyone of us. He feeds us, he clothes us, and when we are weary with the world's problems, he comforts us with customer service. There is no darkness -- it's bright and beautiful at Amazon. Follow the light. Beat your Netflix accounts into Prime and be delivered (in two days, for free).

samhy · 05-27-2013, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

Jeff Bezos loves us -- each and everyone of us. He feeds us, he clothes us, and when we are weary with the world's problems, he comforts us with customer service. There is no darkness -- it's bright and beautiful at Amazon. Follow the light. Beat your Netflix accounts into Prime and be delivered (in two days, for free).

The "delivered" part is just great

wizwor · 05-27-2013, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samhy

The "delivered" part is just great

Here for you

poohbear_nc · 05-27-2013, 03:59 PM

Verily! Whan my PaperWhite recently succumbed to a deadly plague, the forces of Bezos delivered unto me (in 2 days) the new light of my life .... Yoicks!

jgray · 05-27-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

I was thinking it would be impolite to point out the Kobo Glo, but mentioning the Aura HD would be cruel.

Actually, I have read about both of those. There is nowhere around here that I could actually see either of them.

For now, I will be satisfied in my ignorance. There is always something better on the horizon.

Joe

Namekuseijin · 05-27-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The title is a tad confusing:

that should be dark seed

05-26-2013, 09:45 PM	#1
jgray Fanatic Posts: 554 Karma: 2928497 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Clara 2E & Sage	I have been seduced by the Dark Side I've owned a few Sony eInk readers in the past, but for my eyes, I never liked the low contrast. In recent years, I've been reading on either my phone or tablet. Recently, when Radio Shack was blowing out those Nook Simple Touch readers for $20, I thought I'd get one to see if the eInk screens has improved. Although the Simple Touch is a very nice reader, it doesn't appear to me that the screen contrast is any better than the last Sony Reader I had. I didn't feel too bad, having only spent $20. I gave the Nook to a friend and he thinks it's great. After reading reviews for both the Simple Touch w/Glowlight and the Kindle Paperwhite, it seems that the Paperwhite takes the prize for screen readability. So, I headed up to Best Buy and joined the Dark Side I have all along resisted joining the Kindle ecosystem, preferring to stay with epub. I have taken advantage of the Kindle freebies, however. I have both Aldiko and Kindle apps on my phone and tablet. Even with all of my reservations about ebook formats, I will say that the Paperwhite is the best eInk reader I've ever seen. With the front light adjusted to suit the ambient conditions, I find the Paperwhite very readable, and the matt screen isn't as reflective as my phone or tablet. I still prefer epub and will purchase that format when I need to buy. I have found that dropping an epub onto the command-line tool kindlegen produces a Kindle ebook that is essentially the same format as the original epub. It is an extra step to convert, but is not too big a nuisance. So, although I really like the Paperwhite, I will still resist going completely over to the Dark Side by not purchasing Kindle books. And I have recently learned that the latest Kindle book format is just a binary conversion of an epub. So, even though Amazon is embracing epub as a better format, they continue to make it proprietary. Joe

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05-27-2013, 01:22 AM	#2
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Should we tell him about the Kobo AuraHD ? No... that would be just too cruel. Luck; Ken

05-27-2013, 01:44 AM	#3
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I was thinking it would be impolite to point out the Kobo Glo, but mentioning the Aura HD would be cruel.

05-27-2013, 05:31 AM	#4
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	Well I'm glad you didn't mention either of them then!

05-27-2013, 05:58 AM	#5
forsooth tec montage Posts: 435 Karma: 544444445 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: harsh unforgiving places Device: kindles, lenovo, chromebook, mobiles	shhhh...

05-27-2013, 06:47 AM	#6
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	If he has not seen a Kobo Glo in person, he will not realize what he is missing!

05-27-2013, 09:28 AM	#7
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I love my paperwhite, but even I must admit the Kobo Glow is superior in that way (I just think the kindle firmware is superior to the kobo firmware, although I couldn't tell you why, just a vague notion from reading posts here, I think.)

05-27-2013, 01:05 PM	#9
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	The title is a tad confusing:

05-27-2013, 03:01 PM	#10
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Jeff Bezos loves us -- each and everyone of us. He feeds us, he clothes us, and when we are weary with the world's problems, he comforts us with customer service. There is no darkness -- it's bright and beautiful at Amazon. Follow the light. Beat your Netflix accounts into Prime and be delivered (in two days, for free).

05-27-2013, 03:59 PM	#13
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,772 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Verily! Whan my PaperWhite recently succumbed to a deadly plague, the forces of Bezos delivered unto me (in 2 days) the new light of my life .... Yoicks!

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