Comparison Kindle/Paperback

WS64 · 02-04-2012, 11:56 AM

Here's a comparison between a paper book and the same book on my Kindle 3.
To make it more comparible I changed the picture to grayscales in a 2nd step and added a grayscale table.
Very easy to see that there is still much to improve on the reader side, even against a 25 year old paperback that for sure is not as white anymore as it once was...

Martyd · 02-04-2012, 12:14 PM

Interesting. I would like to know how the lighting was set up for the photo. To my eye I think my Kindle looks better than the photo, so I wonder about lighting.

pidgeon92 · 02-04-2012, 12:16 PM

I find the gray background more relaxing for reading.

WS64 · 02-04-2012, 12:18 PM

Ahh, I forgot to mention, these are not photos but scans... (Epson 2400, nearly 10 years old, default settings)

HoopyFrood · 02-04-2012, 12:23 PM

To be honest there just isn't that much difference to me.

Sorry, but I fail to see "...that there is still much to improve on the reader side...".

Synamon · 02-04-2012, 12:33 PM

Since no one reads books facedown on a scanner, I'm not sure what your point is. In bright light the Kindle is far superior to a paperback, the glare off the white (or yellowed) paper is terrible. In less light, the crisp letters on the Kindle and the ability to increase the font size more than make up for any potential lack of contrast, if that's what you were trying to prove.

Contrast is great, except when it isn't and you get glare from the bright background. I'd say that the design of the e-ink screen on the Kindle is easy on the eyes. The Kindle screen isn't ideal in very low light, but adding a book light solves that problem.

RainingLemur · 02-04-2012, 02:33 PM

Both are easy to read on. I prefer the Kindle anymore, though. Easier to hold.

mr ploppy · 02-04-2012, 02:40 PM

Why has the Kindle version got little arrows instead of quotes?

WS64 · 02-04-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Why has the Kindle version got little arrows instead of quotes?

Because I like the french quotes.

SteveEisenberg · 02-04-2012, 08:50 PM

On the Kindle I use a larger font, so the OP does not show the book comparison which is relevant for my case.

Also, the Kindle largely replaces my newspaper reading. And the OP does not show the newspaper comparison.

Also, a lot of what I read on the Kindle are essays sent from places like longform.org to my @kindle.com address via readability.com or klip.me. For these the comparison is not with a paperback book page, but a computer screen. The computer screen may look better, but is uncomfortable for long texts.

Also, I sometimes read, on my Kindle, Gutenberg books that are locally unavailable in paper. Then the comparison would be a Kindle with nice large readable text on it, and a closed paperback

macminer · 02-04-2012, 10:28 PM

I am not sure what you wanted to prove or show, but evidence is evidence. What I can see in your photos:

Pbook has better contrast. This would be hard to deny. Background is lighter and clearer, despite the aged (yellowish) pages
Pbook makes better usage of available space. The same format can hold about 30% more text at similar font size. Moreover, pbook is two-paged, so effectively it can show more than twice the amount of text compared to Kindle. This might be irrelevant with fiction, it is however a big advantage with non-fiction, especially textbooks.
Pbook is "fixed", which means no possibility of changing font size etc. But if someone (like me) has good sight memory, this "fixedness" helps remember content. I can still remember the layout of some books I read as far back as 20 years ago!
The characters in pbook are of variable quality. Some are printed darker than others. There is also some blending from the other side of the page. This, to my eyes, is a big nuissance and even better overall contrast isn't enough to make up for these deficiencies.

altorno · 02-07-2012, 05:34 AM

i still prefer printed books to ebooks but many books i buy as ebooks because they are cheaper. also big books are not comfortable for reading (too heavy,...). to me the difference is really small between a physical page and a page on my kindle!

__________________
Farm Kingdom vs.

02-04-2012, 11:56 AM	#1
WS64 ♫ Posts: 661 Karma: 506380 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura / PB Lux 2 / Bookeen Frontlight / Kobo Mini / Nook Color	Comparison Kindle/Paperback Here's a comparison between a paper book and the same book on my Kindle 3. To make it more comparible I changed the picture to grayscales in a 2nd step and added a grayscale table. Very easy to see that there is still much to improve on the reader side, even against a 25 year old paperback that for sure is not as white anymore as it once was...

02-04-2012, 12:33 PM	#6
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	Since no one reads books facedown on a scanner, I'm not sure what your point is. In bright light the Kindle is far superior to a paperback, the glare off the white (or yellowed) paper is terrible. In less light, the crisp letters on the Kindle and the ability to increase the font size more than make up for any potential lack of contrast, if that's what you were trying to prove. Contrast is great, except when it isn't and you get glare from the bright background. I'd say that the design of the e-ink screen on the Kindle is easy on the eyes. The Kindle screen isn't ideal in very low light, but adding a book light solves that problem. Last edited by Synamon; 02-04-2012 at 12:52 PM.

02-04-2012, 08:50 PM	#10
SteveEisenberg Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,354 Karma: 42994616 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: near Philadelphia USA Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)	On the Kindle I use a larger font, so the OP does not show the book comparison which is relevant for my case. Also, the Kindle largely replaces my newspaper reading. And the OP does not show the newspaper comparison. Also, a lot of what I read on the Kindle are essays sent from places like longform.org to my @kindle.com address via readability.com or klip.me. For these the comparison is not with a paperback book page, but a computer screen. The computer screen may look better, but is uncomfortable for long texts. Also, I sometimes read, on my Kindle, Gutenberg books that are locally unavailable in paper. Then the comparison would be a Kindle with nice large readable text on it, and a closed paperback Last edited by SteveEisenberg; 02-04-2012 at 10:41 PM.

02-04-2012, 10:28 PM	#11
macminer Connoisseur Posts: 98 Karma: 660420 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Poland Device: Boox Nova 3, Lenovo Tab 4 8" (formerly many others)	I am not sure what you wanted to prove or show, but evidence is evidence. What I can see in your photos: Pbook has better contrast. This would be hard to deny. Background is lighter and clearer, despite the aged (yellowish) pages Pbook makes better usage of available space. The same format can hold about 30% more text at similar font size. Moreover, pbook is two-paged, so effectively it can show more than twice the amount of text compared to Kindle. This might be irrelevant with fiction, it is however a big advantage with non-fiction, especially textbooks. Pbook is "fixed", which means no possibility of changing font size etc. But if someone (like me) has good sight memory, this "fixedness" helps remember content. I can still remember the layout of some books I read as far back as 20 years ago! The characters in pbook are of variable quality. Some are printed darker than others. There is also some blending from the other side of the page. This, to my eyes, is a big nuissance and even better overall contrast isn't enough to make up for these deficiencies.

02-07-2012, 05:34 AM	#12
altorno Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 200 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: kindle	i still prefer printed books to ebooks but many books i buy as ebooks because they are cheaper. also big books are not comfortable for reading (too heavy,...). to me the difference is really small between a physical page and a page on my kindle! __________________ Farm Kingdom vs. Last edited by altorno; 09-07-2012 at 04:09 AM.

02-04-2012, 12:14 PM	#2
Martyd Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 774868 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle Voyage, Paperwhite	Interesting. I would like to know how the lighting was set up for the photo. To my eye I think my Kindle looks better than the photo, so I wonder about lighting.

02-04-2012, 12:16 PM	#3
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I find the gray background more relaxing for reading.

02-04-2012, 12:18 PM	#4
WS64 ♫ Posts: 661 Karma: 506380 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura / PB Lux 2 / Bookeen Frontlight / Kobo Mini / Nook Color	Ahh, I forgot to mention, these are not photos but scans... (Epson 2400, nearly 10 years old, default settings)

02-04-2012, 12:23 PM	#5
HoopyFrood Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 1005064 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Cruz e-reader, 2 Kindles and a Kindle DX, Sanza Clip	To be honest there just isn't that much difference to me. Sorry, but I fail to see "...that there is still much to improve on the reader side...".

02-04-2012, 02:33 PM	#7
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Both are easy to read on. I prefer the Kindle anymore, though. Easier to hold.

02-04-2012, 02:40 PM	#8
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	Why has the Kindle version got little arrows instead of quotes?

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