Considering Kobo Aura HD. But a few questions

magneto_ms · 07-18-2013, 03:04 PM

Hello,

I am currently an Amazon Kindle owner 4th generation. As I am a persistent reader I am a little worried about the lighting being damaging to my eyes so I went for the one without any front or sidelighting.Based on the feature set I am really considering the Kobo Aura HD, but the one thing pulling me back in the 'comfort lighting' or the 'glo lighting' they seem to advertise. From reviews I assume it is possible to turn it completely off and make it behave exactly like an ereader without a front light. I don't do a lot of night reading so this is one feature i do not have any use for anyway.

I just want to be 100% sure I would be able to switch it off. Can any users of this device confirm?

Thanks for reading.

Anghirrim · 07-18-2013, 03:44 PM

Hi,

At least on the Kobo Glo and the Odyssey HD Frontlight, you can turn it off completely. This is a major point.

But you must keep in mind that the "light layer" will add grey onto the screen. The less layers you have, the better it is.

If you really don't want the light, you'd better focus on readers that don't have this feature and that has a very good contrast screen.

Regards,

Thomas

AnemicOak · 07-18-2013, 03:48 PM

Yes, the light has it's own on/off button along the top edge of the device. I pretty much never use it, but it did come in handy once and didn't bother my eyes like a backlight sometimes can, with the light at a low setting (4% IIRC).

As to the point Thomas offered all I can say that my Aura's screen with the light off is comparable to the screen on my Kindle Touch, with no contrast loss.

The only other frontlit reader I've personally tried was the Paperwhite and that too had no perceivable contrast loss, I did however get an 'under glass' effect from looking through the extra layer (and the PW's light can not be turned off 100%, although at 1% in any kind of lighting you can't really tell it's on).

mbovenka · 07-18-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magneto_ms

I just want to be 100% sure I would be able to switch it off. Can any users of this device confirm?

Yes, the light can be switched off completely; it has a physical on/off switch.

Rizla · 07-18-2013, 04:35 PM

I've played with the Aura and the screen is super-nice with the light off and on.

pidgeon92 · 07-18-2013, 10:35 PM

The screen is indeed very nice, and I can't fathom how the lighting on the Aura could be any more injurious than any light that might be used to illuminate the screen in a dark room.

HarryT · 07-19-2013, 04:14 AM

Screen lighting can only improve the readability - it certainly can't "damage your eyes".

samhy · 07-19-2013, 04:22 AM

Great screen, great light.
Each time I show the Aura to someone, there is a "wow" moment

magneto_ms · 07-19-2013, 08:53 AM

Thanks for all the feedback, guys!

BTW is the device sold out already? Can't find it anywhere on Kobo's site: http://www.kobo.com/ereaders?__utma=...__utmk=3409650

susan_cassidy · 07-20-2013, 03:01 PM

Light alone won't damage your eyes, unless it is too bright, like the sun. The light from a tablet or similar isn't going to damage your eyes. You might find it uncomfortable to read, but that doesn't mean that it is damaging your eyes.

07-18-2013, 03:04 PM	#1
magneto_ms Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Kobo aura	Considering Kobo Aura HD. But a few questions Hello, I am currently an Amazon Kindle owner 4th generation. As I am a persistent reader I am a little worried about the lighting being damaging to my eyes so I went for the one without any front or sidelighting.Based on the feature set I am really considering the Kobo Aura HD, but the one thing pulling me back in the 'comfort lighting' or the 'glo lighting' they seem to advertise. From reviews I assume it is possible to turn it completely off and make it behave exactly like an ereader without a front light. I don't do a lot of night reading so this is one feature i do not have any use for anyway. I just want to be 100% sure I would be able to switch it off. Can any users of this device confirm? Thanks for reading.

07-18-2013, 03:48 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Yes, the light has it's own on/off button along the top edge of the device. I pretty much never use it, but it did come in handy once and didn't bother my eyes like a backlight sometimes can, with the light at a low setting (4% IIRC). As to the point Thomas offered all I can say that my Aura's screen with the light off is comparable to the screen on my Kindle Touch, with no contrast loss. The only other frontlit reader I've personally tried was the Paperwhite and that too had no perceivable contrast loss, I did however get an 'under glass' effect from looking through the extra layer (and the PW's light can not be turned off 100%, although at 1% in any kind of lighting you can't really tell it's on). Last edited by AnemicOak; 07-18-2013 at 03:54 PM.

07-19-2013, 08:53 AM	#9
magneto_ms Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2013 Device: Kobo aura	Thanks for all the feedback, guys! BTW is the device sold out already? Can't find it anywhere on Kobo's site: http://www.kobo.com/ereaders?__utma=...__utmk=3409650 Last edited by magneto_ms; 07-19-2013 at 09:01 AM.

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07-18-2013, 03:44 PM	#2
Anghirrim Seeking for Graal Posts: 202 Karma: 16198 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: France Device: Kobo Forma / Onyx Boox Page	Hi, At least on the Kobo Glo and the Odyssey HD Frontlight, you can turn it off completely. This is a major point. But you must keep in mind that the "light layer" will add grey onto the screen. The less layers you have, the better it is. If you really don't want the light, you'd better focus on readers that don't have this feature and that has a very good contrast screen. Regards, Thomas

07-18-2013, 04:35 PM	#5
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	I've played with the Aura and the screen is super-nice with the light off and on.

07-18-2013, 10:35 PM	#6
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	The screen is indeed very nice, and I can't fathom how the lighting on the Aura could be any more injurious than any light that might be used to illuminate the screen in a dark room.

07-19-2013, 04:14 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Screen lighting can only improve the readability - it certainly can't "damage your eyes".

07-19-2013, 04:22 AM	#8
samhy Wizard Posts: 1,821 Karma: 9503859 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: France Device: (Sony (J) PRS 650), Kobo Mini, Kobo Glo HD (broken), Kobo Clara BW	Great screen, great light. Each time I show the Aura to someone, there is a "wow" moment

07-20-2013, 03:01 PM	#10
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	Light alone won't damage your eyes, unless it is too bright, like the sun. The light from a tablet or similar isn't going to damage your eyes. You might find it uncomfortable to read, but that doesn't mean that it is damaging your eyes.

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