Is there an anti-LCD/pro-Eink bias on MobileRead?

[HarryT]

Some people prefer LCD; others prefer eInk. What's the big deal?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

*bump*

I decided to dig up this thread again becuase right now I'm currently seeing the anti-LCD bias here on MobileRead.

It's rather interesting that the bias seems to be one way. You don't see LCD supporters going to threads about a particular Eink reader and saying:

My idea? The LCD supporters are safe in the knowledge that they have a good technology. No reason to defend it. While the e-ink supporters may harbour doubts about it and feel the need to defend it.

(why are some people jealous when their partner talks to somebody of the opposite sex, while others aren't? It might be the same problem...)

And I can post those things at every e-ink based device (and you forgot the most import one: no touch-screen!)

And Harry, I sometimes get the feeling I'm a second-grade e-reader person, because I don't own an e-ink device. And from the responses from other people I think some others may feel the same. There are people that say LCD = bad, e-ink = good and nothing in between.

[HarryT]

The important thing is that you're happy with what you've got. Let others think what they will; it's your choice that's important.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

My idea? The LCD supporters are safe in the knowledge that they have a good technology. No reason to defend it. While the e-ink supporters may harbour doubts about it and feel the need to defend it.

(why are some people jealous when their partner talks to somebody of the opposite sex, while others aren't? It might be the same problem...)

And I can post those things at every e-ink based device (and you forgot the most import one: no touch-screen!)

And Harry, I sometimes get the feeling I'm a second-grade e-reader person, because I don't own an e-ink device. And from the responses from other people I think some others may feel the same. There are people that say LCD = bad, e-ink = good and nothing in between.

I'd rather you didn't. I think we should leave those kinds of comments to tech blogs like Gizmodo and Engadget.

[netseeker]

Well, i use both: E-INK (Sony PRS-505) and LCD (Computer, Laptop, Netbook and iPod touch) and i prefer E-INK (I explained more than once in the forum why). But i would never say that LCD is generally useless and E-INK is perfect. First i had some prejudices against LCD but some friendly users here showed me that most of these prejudices were wrong. Now it's only my own experience that let's me prefer the one over the other.

I don't think that we have an an "anti-LCD/pro-Eink bias" here. Sometimes opinions are written just like facts and maybe E-INK supporters do this more often than LCD-supporters. So what? This is a discussion forum and not a playschool. If no one hyperventilates over a "anti-LCD/pro-Eink" or a "anti-Eink/pro-LCD" statement here and there then such statements aren't a big deal.

From time to time i would give a kingdom for either a LCD with the eye-friendly characteristics of an E-INK screen or an E-INK screen with the performance and robustness of a LCD...

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I'd rather you didn't. I think we should leave those kinds of comments to tech blogs like Gizmodo and Engadget.

that's what I was about to say. all those other blogs say that crap and its annoying. here is home of the E-ink

but, that's only because of the no backlight.

Its Not Anti LCD. its anti backlight that hurts our eyes.

most people are Pro Pixel Qi screen. and pro Innovation. E-ink has its limitations, no one is hoping it to fail, but we all want a perfect E-ink Like Display, with full color, and full 60 Refresh rate, with an optional backlight on or off. the pixel qi screen will not be able to do colors very well with the backlight off. so it's a step to that hybrid dream. but not there yet.

[Who are you?]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

*bump*

I decided to dig up this thread again becuase right now I'm currently seeing the anti-LCD bias here on MobileRead.

It's rather interesting that the bias seems to be one way. You don't see LCD supporters going to threads about a particular Eink reader and saying:

You however do see LCD retailers putting ads on eInk forums (even the moderators notice that these are obvious advertisments on unrelated forums, but don't delete the spam).

[Ham88]

I personally don't think there is a anti-LCD movement. I think that people who are opposed to LCD devices (Jetbook) are because they think of the LCDs attached to their computers, and those aren't suited for reading but the screens on of ereaders with LCDs (Jetbook, again) aren't back lit or anything are for reading.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

that's what I was about to say. all those other blogs say that crap and its annoying. here is home of the E-ink

but, that's only because of the no backlight.

Its Not Anti LCD. its anti backlight that hurts our eyes.

No, it doesn't hurt my eyes, so, it can't hurt "our" eyes...

Actually, what you write here, is what I find most annoying at most of the posts Nate refers at. Because you don't like it, or your eyes start to hurt, it doesn't mean everybody shouldn't like it and everybody's eyes will hurt.

It already makes a great difference if you say:

I don't like LCD because the backlight makes my eyes hurt

instead of:

LCD isn't good for reading because it'll make your eyes hurt.

Beside, this is the home for e-reader devices, be they e-ink, LCD or any other screen.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

No, it doesn't hurt my eyes, so, it can't hurt "our" eyes...

Actually, what you write here, is what I find most annoying at most of the posts Nate refers at. Because you don't like it, or your eyes start to hurt, it doesn't mean everybody shouldn't like it and everybody's eyes will hurt.

It already makes a great difference if you say:

I don't like LCD because the backlight makes my eyes hurt

instead of:

LCD isn't good for reading because it'll make your eyes hurt.

Beside, this is the home for e-reader devices, be they e-ink, LCD or any other screen.

I'm 20, routinely spend more than 10 hours a day in front of a computer, and have better than 20/20 vision.

only when I read on a backlight, on a small device like a 7" EEEPC for an extended period of time do I notice any eyestrain issues. I think it has something to do with the distance an average book is held from the eye, in addition to the backlight. and the relative small size that it dotesn't take up the full field of view. it creates an effect which causes blurry vision in people by making it hard to focus.

also a backlight leads to reading in a room not bright enough for reading. which exacerbates the problem even further

if it has an effect on my eyesight like that. I am comfortable in saying that it would effect almost everyone elses eyesight like that

I'm glad if it doesn't effect your eyesight, but, as someone who has better than average eyesight, and is used to the effects of many hours in front of a computer or watching my 220 watt 42 inch tv in a dark room without eye "burn" and I remember how bad that can be. the Focusing issue is one that I think anyone can have, as its impossible to get used to it.

I read on my PSP/EEE/cell for nearly 9 months for 3+ hours a day before my first Eink device. and there is a world of difference. if anyone reads in a similar manner on a backlight small device. I believe that they would be affected too.

that said. a Jet book is a very capable device and have no qualms about it and that's an LCD.

(note: I tried to get the right affects and effects right. its never something I really learned, but I want to, tell me if I mixed any up here.. the reason I never learned is the same reason I cant really tell a Noun from a Verb from an Adverb, I Have a natural cadence, and rythmn, and I can just think proper English... which leads to lots of phonetic errors, Like Affect and Effect, as well as I wrote matter instead of manner, because I write phonetically. so for many years, Affect and Effect were filed away in my brain as the same word. with many meanings. I'm trying to split them. but I still don't really know the difference)

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

I'm 20, routinely spend more than 10 hours a day in front of a computer, and have better than 20/20 vision.

only when I read on a backlight, on a small device like a 7" EEEPC for an extended period of time do I notice any eyestrain issues.

Ah, but there is the difference: here you say You have problems with it. Earlier, you said that it hurts "our" eyes. Which implies mine too.

What I'm trying to say: I couldn't care less if you preferred e-ink over LCD (backlit or not). But, saying something a device is not meant for e-reading because it has a LCD screen is not a founded argument. It only means it's not the best device for all people, as some people may get eye troubles.

And I'm 30+, routinely spend more than 10 hours a day in front of a computer (both LCD screen and CRT screen) and have a less than 20/20 vision (don't need glasses, yet, so it's not too bad, yet...)
I must say, I don't like reading from my HTC phone (horrible screen, only installed Mobipocket on it to see how it went ). It's way too bright and glossy (even with a screenprotector in place). But I never have problems reading from my PDA screen (and I use a very small font-size, the smallest available actually!)

[HarryT]

I read for 20-odd years on PDAs on various descriptions. I make no secret of the fact that I personally prefer eInk, but I'm certainly not going to "condemn" anyone who feels otherwise - it's their choice, and we all have personal preferences.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

*bump*

I decided to dig up this thread again becuase right now I'm currently seeing the anti-LCD bias here on MobileRead.

It's rather interesting that the bias seems to be one way. You don't see LCD supporters going to threads about a particular Eink reader and saying:

The problem (at present) with LCD is the batter life of most LCD devices. When used as an eBook reader, they don't get enough battery life. And to be a good reader, the LCD has to be able to be viewed in bright sunlight. As for eye strain, I don't have any eye strain looking at our LCD TVs, LCD computer monitors, or my wife's iPod Touch. So that is a non-issue for me. My wife doesn't have that problem as well.

Is there an LCD device that is being used as a reader that can be well viewed in full sunlight that has a 6" or larger screen?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem (at present) with LCD is the batter life of most LCD devices. When used as an eBook reader, they don't get enough battery life. And to be a good reader, the LCD has to be able to be viewed in bright sunlight. As for eye strain, I don't have any eye strain looking at our LCD TVs, LCD computer monitors, or my wife's iPod Touch. So that is a non-issue for me. My wife doesn't have that problem as well.

Is there an LCD device that is being used as a reader that can be well viewed in full sunlight that has a 6" or larger screen?

I think that's a red herring argument. How many people actually use their ebook reader in full sunlight? I don't. Instead, I sit in the shade and read. And my Airpanel 100 is quite usable for that.

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I think that's a red herring argument. How many people actually use their ebook reader in full sunlight? I don't. Instead, I sit in the shade and read. And my Airpanel 100 is quite usable for that.

I do. I also use my laptops outside with a Hoodman.