Which Technology you prefer for reading novels

[blue_skies]

Originally Posted by David Marseilles

I do much of my recreational reading at night, just before bed, as such I like LCDs and backlighting.

People complain about backlights and eyestrain, but in my 8 years of experience, that really has more to do with the amount and color of the light. I learned my current color scheme (green text on black background with backlight on minimum) from my now ancient m500. It had a monochrome LCD with no permanent backlight for day time use, but a switchable backlight that made dark colors (incl text) glow green when switched on. When I switched my night reading exclusively to that device, I went from getting a moderate increases in my eyeglass prescription every 2 years to getting a teeny increase in one eye once in the past 8 years. Reading with book lights and even lamps at night caused me more eyestrain than my current method. To say nothing of the increased ergonomic comfort of not having to balance a separate light while laying down or having to lean towards a fixed light source.

I'm very eager for advanced LCD techs like mirasol and pixel qi to appear in mainstream products, so there is less compromise in my choice. I'm happy to sacrifice daylight reading and battery life for better nighttime reading, but I'd be thrilled to have to sacrifice less of both.

Same here. I am hoping for a Mirasol screen with a long battery life. I get more eyestrain with paper and e-ink. Backlit screens are much easier on my eyes, and are much better for reading in low light conditions. (For me, anyway.)

[FinancialWar]

don't you think you might get biased opinion if you asked this question on a forum like this?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by warakawa

don't you think you might get biased opinion if you asked this question on a forum like this?

The way the option are put up, yes, it will be biased...

[sabredog]

In the end it does not matter if it is e-ink or backlit LCD. You chose the display that you are comfortable with. It is purely a personal choice as both have pro's and con's.

Trying to convince either party that they are making the wrong choice is a total waste of time. Being forceful about that choice is akin to arrogance.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Even better than eInk, is audio.

That is true. It also the best (or only) option for people with vision problems.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by jocampo

The option is eink.

Which "eink flavor" or device you need or want, that's a different story and there are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing such device and a lot of options as well.

With respect, reflective LCDs are not eInk. I had a Jetbook for almost two years before the case cracked. While the screen is very readable, it is not eInk or ePaper. It has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the LCD screen has a much faster refresh and now "flash". This makes it well suited for those who are annoyed by the "flash" on eInk. It also makes it usable on oversized PDFs, since scrolling is similar to how it works on a computer screen. On the flip side, it burns batteries much faster than most eInk based readers (I figure a new unit got about 5-6 days of use on a charge, after two years, it needed recharging every 3-4 days.) and in certain light conditions, you can see a slight quiver in the text caused by the synch rate of the screen. Also, unlike eInk, it definitely looks like text rendered on a screen, not text printed on the screen .

Its a good, if mostly neglected technology for eBooks, but it is different enough that some will prefer it or not as distinct from eInk.

--
Bill

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

With respect, reflective LCDs are not eInk. I had a Jetbook for almost two years before the case cracked. While the screen is very readable, it is not eInk or ePaper. It has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the LCD screen has a much faster refresh and now "flash". This makes it well suited for those who are annoyed by the "flash" on eInk. It also makes it usable on oversized PDFs, since scrolling is similar to how it works on a computer screen. On the flip side, it burns batteries much faster than most eInk based readers (I figure a new unit got about 5-6 days of use on a charge, after two years, it needed recharging every 3-4 days.) and in certain light conditions, you can see a slight quiver in the text caused by the synch rate of the screen. Also, unlike eInk, it definitely looks like text rendered on a screen, not text printed on the screen .

Its a good, if mostly neglected technology for eBooks, but it is different enough that some will prefer it or not as distinct from eInk.

--
Bill

Hi Bill,

My post was about the two technologies, not any brand in particular. There are two main technologies for ereaders today (the most important and commercial ones) eink and LCD. For each one, there are some variants also.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Hi Bill,

My post was about the two technologies, not any brand in particular. There are two main technologies for ereaders today (the most important and commercial ones) eink and LCD. For each one, there are some variants also.

And my point was that the Reflective TCT LCD used by Jetbook and Aluratek is not ePaper (eInk is brand of ePaper, not the technology itself) and it is decidedly different in many of its properties from the color LCD's used by a lot of the Android based readers. Prior to the Nook Color, it was probably more prominent than color LCDs in dedicated readers. Its relative prominence and unique advantages and disadvantages mean that many who would not embrace eInk and/or color LCD's, might choose it for reading instead.

--
Bill

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

And my point was that the Reflective TCT LCD used by Jetbook and Aluratek is not ePaper (eInk is brand of ePaper, not the technology itself) and it is decidedly different in many of its properties from the color LCD's used by a lot of the Android based readers. Prior to the Nook Color, it was probably more prominent than color LCDs in dedicated readers. Its relative prominence and unique advantages and disadvantages mean that many who would not embrace eInk and/or color LCD's, might choose it for reading instead.

--
Bill

Hi Bill,

I did not mention any of those devices in my post. What I said or replied to another forum member is that eink is a valid option to LCD technology.

You are correct, eink is a brand. So ... if we want to be specific, with eink I am referring to electronic paper.

[stickybuns]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

eInk really took me by surprise... when I first got the K3 I though there was a printed 'fake screen' sticker covering the real screen (good thing I didn't try peel it off).

Oh, I'm so glad that I'm not alone in doing this! I kept scoffing at the Kindle display at Target because, "Geez, can't they afford to put a real one on display instead of this stupid mock-up?"

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Hi Bill,

I did not mention any of those devices in my post. What I said or replied to another forum member is that eink is a valid option to LCD technology.

Actually, you responded to a question asking specifically where the non-backlit LCD was by saying the option was eInk. To me that implied that you were equating that particular technology with ePaper. Either way, I think many of us who are familiar with the technology see it as being distinct from both ePaper and backlit LCD.

Omitting this third technology would be like lumping in plasma TVs with LCD's because they are both flap panels.

--
Bill

[astra]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Even better than eInk, is audio.

Not for everyone.

I don't like audio books, because I like to read.

[Billi]

Originally Posted by astra

I don't like audio books, because I like to read.

Normally, that's me too. I can't imagine myself sitting on my sofa and listening to an audiobook when I could read the book.

But in situations when I can't read - for instance while running or travelling - I love to listen to audiobooks.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Billi

Normally, that's me too. I can't imagine myself sitting on my sofa and listening to an audiobook when I could read the book.

But in situations when I can't read - for instance while running or travelling - I love to listen to audiobooks.

You must be very good at being able to stay focused during activities. I would never be able to do it when running or walking. I tend to get distracted by my own thoughts. I would miss great chunks of the story.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Billi

Normally, that's me too. I can't imagine myself sitting on my sofa and listening to an audiobook when I could read the book.

But in situations when I can't read - for instance while running or travelling - I love to listen to audiobooks.

Fine thing to listen to when doing the dishes or cleaning the bathroom. For walking I prefer more "drive"