Oh, hi.

Ellimist · 05-24-2009, 12:28 AM

I live in the US.

Ever since the E-Ink technology was announced in 2005, I was very eagerly and anxiously awaiting the release of an eBook reading device implementing it...

Of course, we get the Sony PRS 500, right? How much was it? $400?

Yeah, so... 4 years later, the prices finally drop low enough for me (I paid $250 for a Sony 505), and in the meantime (and before, of course), I have been struggling with iPod Touch (jailbroken with PDF support - before the Apps features) and Palm cell phone eBook reading... both are major pains in the ass. Especially PDFs...

But this Sony with the e-ink.... so freaking fantastic. I have complete control over formatting and the files... the battery life is immaculate. All of the "problems" people have with it I have managed to overcome with ease. (heh, I particularly enjoy the "argument" that because it's an electronic device, it should have a backlight... which is a (or the) significant purpose of the device - not to have one - paper pages don't, and this is supposed to be like those...

)

Perusing the forums, I notice people non-nonchalantly discussing reading books on their backlit mobile devices:
Perhaps this has been discussed, and I will search later, but is there a certain percentage of the population who are able to read on backlit LCD screens for long periods without it causing eye strain? I am not part of that population, unfortunately.

MickeyC · 05-24-2009, 12:39 AM

Hi Ellimist and welcome to MobileRead. Very much agree with you regarding backlighting

Curly · 05-24-2009, 01:57 AM

Welcome to MobileRead Ellimist!

I read on my laptop for a while, but quickly switched to e-ink which is so much easier on my eyes and I can read for much longer.

Enjoy the forums!

kelly1010 · 05-24-2009, 03:26 AM

Hi and welcome to the forums, I love my 505 and I also love my lightwedge which is BETTER than a backlight screen! I also have not had any problems that people have mentioned. My ebook reading experience has been perfect so far.

Ellimist · 05-24-2009, 10:42 AM

I have an original standalone lightwedge (the largest/hardcover one - - a gift) for real books. It's fantastic!

That 505 case with the lightwedge in it looks great, but I really don't do much reading in the dark, so I probably won't get it until I get a raise.

GraceKrispy · 05-26-2009, 01:42 AM

Oh, hi yourself! Glad you joined us (after 4 years of anxious waiting on your part... I have to admit "ereaders" were not on my radar 4 years ago, although I do remember Steven King releasing a book in ebook only form many moons ago.... ticked me off, at the time...)

I don't like reading on backlit screens either. I do on my crackberry on occasion, but I can only handle so much. I'm *so* glad my sony has no backlighting. I haven't yet gotten a light wedge, not sure if I will or not, but I am trudging along with a handy booklight for nighttime reading...

Alphapheemail · 05-26-2009, 04:54 PM

Kudos on the holding out! I found about e-readers in November 08 with the announcement of the new prs 700, and it was a long 5 months for me to save up for it....

Ellimist · 05-29-2009, 12:39 AM

Thanks, everyone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

I do remember Steven King releasing a book in ebook only form many moons ago.... ticked me off, at the time...)

Was this different from the recent Kindle book, "UR"?

Because I got that onto my Sony Reader after buying it from Amazon. No Digital Rights Management breaking, either!

desertgrandma · 05-29-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellimist

Thanks, everyone!

Was this different from the recent Kindle book, "UR"?

Because I got that onto my Sony Reader after buying it from Amazon. No Digital Rights Management breaking, either!

I remember that one...it wasn't UR.

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifesty.../2000/03/34940

Elfwreck · 05-29-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellimist

Perusing the forums, I notice people non-nonchalantly discussing reading books on their backlit mobile devices:
Perhaps this has been discussed, and I will search later, but is there a certain percentage of the population who are able to read on backlit LCD screens for long periods without it causing eye strain? I am not part of that population, unfortunately.

I can read on a backlit screen, mobile or desktop, all day, with no notable strain. (6 hrs uninterrupted on the big screen will make my eyes feel twitchy, so I try to make sure to get up & have lunch at some point in there.) I love my Sony Reader, but if I could get a Clié SJ30 with a 12-hour battery life, I'd give up on e-ink entirely.

I switched to e-ink for the battery life, not for the screen. I preferred the 3" screen (fits in one hand) and the faster page flipping.

05-24-2009, 12:28 AM	#1
Ellimist Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505 (blue)	Oh, hi. I live in the US. Ever since the E-Ink technology was announced in 2005, I was very eagerly and anxiously awaiting the release of an eBook reading device implementing it... Of course, we get the Sony PRS 500, right? How much was it? $400? Yeah, so... 4 years later, the prices finally drop low enough for me (I paid $250 for a Sony 505), and in the meantime (and before, of course), I have been struggling with iPod Touch (jailbroken with PDF support - before the Apps features) and Palm cell phone eBook reading... both are major pains in the ass. Especially PDFs... But this Sony with the e-ink.... so freaking fantastic. I have complete control over formatting and the files... the battery life is immaculate. All of the "problems" people have with it I have managed to overcome with ease. (heh, I particularly enjoy the "argument" that because it's an electronic device, it should have a backlight... which is a (or the) significant purpose of the device - not to have one - paper pages don't, and this is supposed to be like those... ) Perusing the forums, I notice people non-nonchalantly discussing reading books on their backlit mobile devices: Perhaps this has been discussed, and I will search later, but is there a certain percentage of the population who are able to read on backlit LCD screens for long periods without it causing eye strain? I am not part of that population, unfortunately. Last edited by Ellimist; 05-24-2009 at 12:32 AM.

05-24-2009, 12:39 AM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Ellimist and welcome to MobileRead. Very much agree with you regarding backlighting

05-24-2009, 01:57 AM	#3
Curly I need a holiday! Posts: 1,227 Karma: 4622 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Device: PRS-505, ipod touch	Welcome to MobileRead Ellimist! I read on my laptop for a while, but quickly switched to e-ink which is so much easier on my eyes and I can read for much longer. Enjoy the forums!

05-24-2009, 03:26 AM	#4
kelly1010 Book Addict! Posts: 533 Karma: 1070 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Device: Sony PRS-505, iPod Touch, Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi	Hi and welcome to the forums, I love my 505 and I also love my lightwedge which is BETTER than a backlight screen! I also have not had any problems that people have mentioned. My ebook reading experience has been perfect so far.

05-24-2009, 10:42 AM	#5
Ellimist Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505 (blue)	I have an original standalone lightwedge (the largest/hardcover one - - a gift) for real books. It's fantastic! That 505 case with the lightwedge in it looks great, but I really don't do much reading in the dark, so I probably won't get it until I get a raise.

05-26-2009, 01:42 AM	#6
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	Oh, hi yourself! Glad you joined us (after 4 years of anxious waiting on your part... I have to admit "ereaders" were not on my radar 4 years ago, although I do remember Steven King releasing a book in ebook only form many moons ago.... ticked me off, at the time...) I don't like reading on backlit screens either. I do on my crackberry on occasion, but I can only handle so much. I'm so glad my sony has no backlighting. I haven't yet gotten a light wedge, not sure if I will or not, but I am trudging along with a handy booklight for nighttime reading...

05-26-2009, 04:54 PM	#7
Alphapheemail .a ribbon around a bomb. Posts: 639 Karma: 4334 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sigh... ny Device: PRS700	Kudos on the holding out! I found about e-readers in November 08 with the announcement of the new prs 700, and it was a long 5 months for me to save up for it....

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