front lit ereaders

[bcgirl]

What is the advantage of front lit screens? I have a Sony PRS-t1 with a cover and reading light which works great. Is it the same as using a front lit screen? I know that iPad gives light from behind the screen and that is not great for reading for hours.
I see all these nice Kindles, Kobo Auras.....but like I said, I think my 2 year old Sony works fine as it is.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Front lit screens give a nice, even light that can be adjusted depending on how dark the room is. They don't have the glare that you sometimes get with reading lights attached. If you're happy with your current setup however, that's great!

[FizzyWater]

If you're happy with what you have, I'd say keep on truckin'. Why spend more money on hardware - buy more books!

I bought a front lit reader (started with Nook, now have a Pocketbook Touch Lux) and it would be hard to go back to one without the light. You know how the pictures of the normal readers always look like "white paper with black font", but really look more like light-to-medium gray paper? With the light one, it looks like white paper. I think the contrast is much better, and that allows me to read smaller fonts more easily.

All the lighting in my home is lamps (okay, the kitchen has overhead lighting, but that's it). So I tend to have pockets of better lighting and not so good (for reading). So having a reader with a built in light saves my eyes from strain.

I have read with a booklight....it's just not the same. I never seemed to get good coverage and relaxing my hand or shifting could change the angle and I'd have to start over. Then there's the glare.

I doubt I'd be willing to go back to a reader without the built in front light. But if I hadn't tried one, I probably would have been content with what I had before. I wish I could stop buying new gadgets....that $100 or so every year could go to my book budget!

[meeera]

Better contrast, very even lighting, finely adjustable, less glare, doesn't add weight to the device, charges when the device charges, more portable - I wouldn't go back.

[HarryT]

Agreed. Lighting enormously enhances a reader. Far more even illumination than a book light provides, and makes it easy to read in any lighting conditions. I certainly wouldn't go back to an unlit reader.

[Mhtsos]

I used for years the T1+clip led and it was the best solution prior to the front lit readers.
Now I just can't go back.
The quality of the light,the balance of the device and the practicality of using only one device made the non-lit readers a deal breaker for me.

But,as always,there are exceptions.Some people seem to manage quite good with non-lit readers.I suppose it boils down to the user.

[shanghaichica]

Front lit devices provide more even lighting than clip on book lights or lights incorporated into cases. Also with a frontlit reader you have a lot more control over the level of light. Most external lights have 2 or 3 light settings at best, a front lit device has several light settings. This makes it more useful in all settings. You can adjust the light level, say when in darkness. Also there may be times when lighting is not optimal but a clip on light would be too bright, whereas you can turn on the front light to enhance reading.

[ProfCrash]

If you are happy with your Sony then don't worry about changing. When the time is right, you will get a new e-reader and be amazed at how nice it is but until then, use what is working for you.

I got the PW2 because I wanted a front lit e-reader since I like to read in bed and when rocking my baby boy to sleep. I found that I struggled to focus on a book with my iPad, email alerts, video games at my finger tips, facebook, Mobile Reads, all far too distracting. I could not read on my K3 in a dark room, so no reading while rocking baby boy to sleep. The PW2 fit my needs so I went for it.

Upgrade when you think you need to. If what you have works for you, then enjoy!

[bcgirl]

Well that was quite interesting to read all your comments. Now I want a front lit ereader !
Yes true, moving the reading light in different positions compared to even light...makes sense! It really makes a difference if I all hear you. (And how are the colour ones?)
Which one would you recommend, in Canada?

[Ripplinger]

I keep the light on my Kobo Glo always on at around 25%. Even though the light isn't needed most of the time, it just makes the background much whiter looking instead of the grey when the light is completely off, and for me that improves the contrast. You should try and take a look at a lighted reader in a store alongside your present reader.

[soulfuldog]

If you are in Canada one of the Kobo's probably is your best option.

If possible, I agree with Ripplinger's suggestion to try and take a look at one of the lighted readers in a store and compare it with your Sony. Ideally looking at it in dull lighting instead of the bright store lighting, but the lighted screens definitely have a little impact on the readability of the screen, which some people don't like, whereas others just love the inbuilt light.

[Rizla]

Beware. Some people prefer a clip on light to a front light. If you do it, I hear the Kobo HD is the best. Personally I wouldn't bother until your current device dies.

[bcgirl]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Beware. Some people prefer a clip on light to a front light. If you do it, I hear the Kobo HD is the best. Personally I wouldn't bother until your current device dies.

You're right. My Sony TRS-1 is still working great so do no need to replace it. Unless there are great Boxing Day sales? One more thing, the colour ereaders are the same as front lit ereader but show coloured book covers? And thus good for magazine reading as well?
Or are the coloured ereaders sort of tablets like the iPad with distracting email, internet etc.

[ProfCrash]

I do not know of any color e-rink readers. None of the biggies have color e-ink (Kindle, Sony, Nook, Kobo). More likely then not, if you are seeing color you are looking at an LCD screen and not an e-ink screen

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by bcgirl

You're right. My Sony TRS-1 is still working great so do no need to replace it. Unless there are great Boxing Day sales? One more thing, the colour ereaders are the same as front lit ereader but show coloured book covers? And thus good for magazine reading as well?
Or are the coloured ereaders sort of tablets like the iPad with distracting email, internet etc.

The only colour eInk devices currently on the market use the "Trident" eInk screen. This isn't a "true" colour device, but a colour mask on top of a B&W screen. Not only does this halve the linear resolution of the device, but the colour as weak and unsaturated. I really wouldn't go for one of these.