Backlight alternatives

[yvanleterrible]

Tried a similar one. Lasted until I blinded my wife reading in bed when I looked towards her just at the moment she was turning around to face me. She was pretty clear in saying her piece.

[DrMoze]

Just a heads-up (which I posted in another "light" thread!): Barnes & Noble has the 3-led 'z-light' (see posts #52 and #69 of this thread) for only $12.99, plus there's an online printable coupon for 30% off. Total with tax is under $10. And you can get the CR2450 batteries for under $1 each on ebay.

This light is pretty bright, very good for regular books. (Still waiting for my Sony reader - damn you, SonyStyle, for your slow order processing and shipping!!!) A big plus is that it is very tiny when folded flat, about as thick as a box of matches and the size of a somewhat elongated business card. Portability is important for me. Several of the other lights posted here are simply too bulky.

[Hughdal]

Tried a similar one. Lasted until I blinded my wife reading in bed when I looked towards her just at the moment she was turning around to face me. She was pretty clear in saying her piece.
__________________

Now that's funny ! I nominate Yvanleterrible's story for inclusion in the Sony Portable Reader Forum Hall of Fame.

Hughdal

[Quelle]

This is my first post and have been keeping up with the various recs for book lights. I have several different book lights and my favorite for either treebooks or the Sony is the Readermate Model No. MBL3. It is a three LED design, running on 3 AAA's, and can be used with an external AC adapter. The light bulb unit itself telescopes out of the housing allowing for the light to be positioned well above the page. It is made in China so best not to chew on it. I also like the Energizer 5 LED headlamp.

[NatCh]

Welcome to MobileRead, Quelle!

And thanks for the recommendation. Do you have a site you could link to so we can see what it looks like?

[Quelle]

The reader mate can be seen here:http://www.eyesave.com/styles/p9250/...ght/index.aspx, although I picked mine up a couple of years ago at BN. I find that it provides even light-more so than a light similar to the z-light.

[delphidb96]

I know it's not ear-attachable, but I really *like* the Mighty Bright XtraFlex Duet Super LED Music Stand Light as it's light, flexible and casts a wide, flat light across the surface of the screen.

Derek

Originally Posted by Quelle

The reader mate can be seen here:http://www.eyesave.com/styles/p9250/...ght/index.aspx, although I picked mine up a couple of years ago at BN. I find that it provides even light-more so than a light similar to the z-light.

[Quelle]

I forgot to thank NatCh for the welcome, so thanks. In looking up Derek's favorite light, I see that the Reader Mate is also marketed by Mighty Bright. Thanks Derek.

[europas_ice]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I know it's not ear-attachable, but I really *like* the Mighty Bright XtraFlex Duet Super LED Music Stand Light as it's light, flexible and casts a wide, flat light across the surface of the screen.

Derek

How does having two lights affect the glare on the screen? I'm having a lot of trouble with glare. My best solution so far is the Triple LED Book Light I got at Borders, since with the telescoping arm it gets the light farther away from the screen. Unfortunately, it's too bright for reading in bed with a sleeping partner though.

(PS: Triple LED Book Light is at previously posted site: http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lig...oductList.aspx)

[delphidb96]

First, the totally flexible nature of the light post makes it quite easy to position the LED where it produces little or no glare. Note I said 'it', because in medium-low-light situations, you can turn *OFF* one or the other lamp to reduce power consumption! And the housing of the LED as well as the lens tend to give a much broader light on the screen. With both lamps on, it's *VERY* eye-friendly in an otherwise completely dark room. And it's very lightweight. It runs $17.95 through Amazon, so for ease of use, price, low glare and light weight, I'd give it 4.5 out of 5 LEDs rating!

Derek

Originally Posted by europas_ice

How does having two lights affect the glare on the screen? I'm having a lot of trouble with glare. My best solution so far is the Triple LED Book Light I got at Borders, since with the telescoping arm it gets the light farther away from the screen. Unfortunately, it's too bright for reading in bed with a sleeping partner though.

(PS: Triple LED Book Light is at previously posted site: http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lig...oductList.aspx)

[yvanleterrible]

As a note of interest related to this thread.

The Kindle in its manual provides an optional light. You can see a drawing in the manual post #7 on pages 18-19.

[anathema]

Quick question..How deep inset is the screen to the reader? (mine shipped yesterday do I dont have it yet )

I was thinking of just removing the top cover, putting 4 little holes in it and gluing LEDs to the inside. It would have a similar effect as obelix's modified light wedge, but running on internal battery.

Also how much would 80mA draw(20/LED) reduce battery life of the reader itself ? I might even be able to cut that down to 40ish mA total depending on how much light I end up needing..

But this all hinges on the reader screen beeing inset at least a couple mm and there beeing enough room behind it to stuff these leds

Anyone had their reader open to look?

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by anathema

Anyone had their reader open to look?

Yup.

The inset might be a couple of millimeters. Personally, I don't have much hope for such a mod working very well, I just don't think you're going to get enough light out of it without some sort of a light guide.

If you get it working, though, there will be many people interested in it.

[anathema]

Makes me wish I had a broken junked reader to play with. Maybe some time ill find one on ebay then I can play.

Maybe 8 leds would do it (2 per side). Or maybe ill go to industrial paint&plastics and get a 1mm sheet of plastic, grind 1mm off of the bottom of the reader bezel, glue the (frosted) plastic on, and shine 4 leds on that. Should light a lot more evenly but its a lot of work

I'll do some testing when I get the reader itself. I've successfully compiled a hello world app for the reader, so a folder view app may be just around the corner!

[DrMoze]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I know it's not ear-attachable, but I really *like* the Mighty Bright XtraFlex Duet Super LED Music Stand Light as it's light, flexible and casts a wide, flat light across the surface of the screen.

Derek

I might pick up one of these for the piano at home. Although forgood light with excellent portability, I would have to give the 3-LED z-light the big thumbs-up. It is small, flat, and I use it on the dim setting and still get plenty of light.