Do you read in direct sunlight? - Page 3

SolRaven · 05-12-2011, 01:27 AM

Never. The sun is way to strong for me to ever want to be in directly doing anything, or doing nothing. If I'm in direct sunlight, I'm very aware and looking for shade asap, unless I'm on the beach, then I just want to be in the ocean and I'm definitely not reading. I have used my netbook outside at night. I haven't used my iPad yet. So having an lcd screen is more helpful at time.

Joykins · 05-12-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

I ask because, as much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE my e-ink reader, I am always a little baffled when they tout "reading in direct sunlight" as such a great benefit. Even if I were sitting on a beach or by the pool with a pina colada in my hand, I would rather be under an umbrella. Maybe that's just me. But for regular reading... I do it indoors!

eP

If you are on the beach or in direct BRIGHT sunlight, it's actually very difficult to read with an LCD reader (such as an iPhone), especially if your reading glasses transition to sunglasses as mine do. Even with an umbrella it isn't all that great because of all the brightness around you. I have tried but it's eyestrain city. Much easier with an e-ink reader. I read on the bus, by windows, at the bus stop, etc. quite often, so there is sometimes direct sunlight.

I think it's not so much that people want to read in direct sunlight all the time, but that an e-ink reader is much better than any other option if you're going to do that.

HappyMartin · 05-12-2011, 10:55 AM

I said frequently but actually it will be mostly in open shade. Still down here at 1600m open shade can be pretty dam bright and harsh

teadonkey · 05-12-2011, 11:38 AM

Frequently. (: In fact, pre-Kindle, my favorite type of light to read under was sunlight. It's not as harsh. If I'm not reading OUTSIDE, I read next to a window. Obviously if it's at night I use a regular light. But I do like reading in sunlight. And if I'm outside, I hardly ever sit under an umbrella. I don't burn fast.

patrickt · 05-12-2011, 11:45 AM

One of the most frequent questions I receive about the Kindle is whether or not it can be read in direct sunlight. If it's daytime I always take my Kindle out and show them.

If I decide to read for awhile I obviously don't leave my comfortable chair to go it outside in the sun. But, It's nice to be able to sit in a restaurant, where I do read frequently, with sunlight coming in the window. Not long ago I was meeting a friend in a park and she was, of course, late so I sat and read on my Kindle. There was no shade so I was sitting in the sun.

On the other hand, a man arrived this winter who saw my Kindle and proudly announced he had the new Nook Color. He proceeded to tell me about surfing the web and playintg games and so forth and I asked if I could see it. Well, he never bothered taking it out of his hotel room. So, I asked him to tell me about the last book he read and he couldn't remember.

My opinion, Kindles are for readers, sunlight or no.

astrodad · 05-12-2011, 01:14 PM

It's rare that I read in full sunlight. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows nearly entirely at the beach, but even then I was under an umbrella. I read at night while my wife is sleeping much more often than I read in open sunlight.

boswd · 05-12-2011, 02:18 PM

once in a while, while at beach or pool or on deck or sun coming in through the trains windows.

I prefer shade but it is what it is. This when I'm glad I have my nook classic.

dwig · 05-12-2011, 07:38 PM

Frequently, though very bright open shade is a more frequent situation.

I read on the porch at lunch almost every day year round (here in Key West the mid-day temps in the dead of winter rarely drop below 60). At that time of day part or all of my table, and often my Kindle, is in the sun though more often than not I'm in at least partial shade.

SolRaven · 05-12-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teadonkey

Frequently. (: In fact, pre-Kindle, my favorite type of light to read under was sunlight. It's not as harsh.

I'm going to guess that you live in a higher parallel. Even when I lived up north, in the summer time, the sun was too strong to read in direct sunlight. The reflection off of the page would make my eyes water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplumey

It's rare that I read in full sunlight... I read at night while my wife is sleeping much more often than I read in open sunlight.

In general I read more at night than in the daytime. Reading has always been something that helps me to relax after I've taken care of things during the day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwig

I read on the porch at lunch almost every day year round (here in Key West...

Oh how I love Key West. I haven't been since 2008 and was hoping to drive down the last two Xmas seasons, but as you you know, we had 2 fluke cold winters. I couldn't imagine sitting anywhere in Key West that wasn't al fresco, so I didn't bother driving down. I'm seriously considering driving down in August, because I'd rather be in the "too hot" than the "too cold."

GraceKrispy · 05-13-2011, 01:41 AM

To add to this, as I sat here on the couch reading this evening, the sun was setting and coming right in my window onto my reader. I guess it wasn't "direct" sunlight, but it was strong light and the reader looked great. I love the way the reader looks in light, actually.

But I agree- with actual book pages in totally direct sunlight, it hurts my eyes, too. The reflection is too much to bear! The eink is much kinder in stronger light.

SolRaven · 05-13-2011, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

To add to this, as I sat here on the couch reading this evening, the sun was setting and coming right in my window onto my reader. I guess it wasn't "direct" sunlight, but it was strong light and the reader looked great. I love the way the reader looks in light, actually.

But I agree- with actual book pages in totally direct sunlight, it hurts my eyes, too. The reflection is too much to bear! The eink is much kinder in stronger light.

Outside in the shade, eink looks amazing! Outside in the shade is definitely my favorite light.

TenaciousBadger · 05-13-2011, 10:31 AM

I avoid direct sunlight because, one, it usually starts getting too hot, and two, because I have to scrunch my eyes which doesn't make for a pleasant reading experience.

Jeremiah.L.Burns · 05-13-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

I ask because, as much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE my e-ink reader, I am always a little baffled when they tout "reading in direct sunlight" as such a great benefit. Even if I were sitting on a beach or by the pool with a pina colada in my hand, I would rather be under an umbrella. Maybe that's just me. But for regular reading... I do it indoors!

eP

It's more about direct-sunlight being a worst-case-scenario, I think. Obviously, with LCD displays (particularly high-gloss) reading in natural lighting is difficult. The more direct the sunlight is, the worse the issue is. It's like trying to watch the TV when the window is reflecting on it...you loose a lot of the quality.

It's therefore touted as a feature because if you can read it in direct sunlight without the issue of glare, then you can rest assured that you will be able to read it anywhere provided there is an adequate light source provided.

dsvick · 05-13-2011, 11:52 AM

I sit in the back yard on the patio as often as I can to read - there is no shade back there so, if the sun is out, I'm in direct sunlight.

HarryT · 05-13-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremiah.L.Burns

It's more about direct-sunlight being a worst-case-scenario, I think.

I'd have thought that heavy rain was actually a lot more of a worst-case. How many readers are waterproof?

View Poll Results: Do you read in direct sunlight?
Never	34	16.11%
Once in a while	100	47.39%
Frequently	74	35.07%
Always	3	1.42%
Voters: 211. You may not vote on this poll

05-12-2011, 01:27 AM	#31
SolRaven Wizard Posts: 2,214 Karma: 12796976 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Sunshine State Device: Clara, Voyage, Oasis, Paperwhite & PRS-650	Never. The sun is way to strong for me to ever want to be in directly doing anything, or doing nothing. If I'm in direct sunlight, I'm very aware and looking for shade asap, unless I'm on the beach, then I just want to be in the ocean and I'm definitely not reading. I have used my netbook outside at night. I haven't used my iPad yet. So having an lcd screen is more helpful at time. Last edited by SolRaven; 05-12-2011 at 11:22 PM.

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05-12-2011, 10:55 AM	#33
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	I said frequently but actually it will be mostly in open shade. Still down here at 1600m open shade can be pretty dam bright and harsh

05-12-2011, 11:38 AM	#34
teadonkey Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 2179008 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	Frequently. (: In fact, pre-Kindle, my favorite type of light to read under was sunlight. It's not as harsh. If I'm not reading OUTSIDE, I read next to a window. Obviously if it's at night I use a regular light. But I do like reading in sunlight. And if I'm outside, I hardly ever sit under an umbrella. I don't burn fast.

05-12-2011, 11:45 AM	#35
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	One of the most frequent questions I receive about the Kindle is whether or not it can be read in direct sunlight. If it's daytime I always take my Kindle out and show them. If I decide to read for awhile I obviously don't leave my comfortable chair to go it outside in the sun. But, It's nice to be able to sit in a restaurant, where I do read frequently, with sunlight coming in the window. Not long ago I was meeting a friend in a park and she was, of course, late so I sat and read on my Kindle. There was no shade so I was sitting in the sun. On the other hand, a man arrived this winter who saw my Kindle and proudly announced he had the new Nook Color. He proceeded to tell me about surfing the web and playintg games and so forth and I asked if I could see it. Well, he never bothered taking it out of his hotel room. So, I asked him to tell me about the last book he read and he couldn't remember. My opinion, Kindles are for readers, sunlight or no.

05-12-2011, 01:14 PM	#36
astrodad Guru Posts: 962 Karma: 568242 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle Paperwhite 1, iPad, iPhone	It's rare that I read in full sunlight. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows nearly entirely at the beach, but even then I was under an umbrella. I read at night while my wife is sleeping much more often than I read in open sunlight.

05-12-2011, 02:18 PM	#37
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	once in a while, while at beach or pool or on deck or sun coming in through the trains windows. I prefer shade but it is what it is. This when I'm glad I have my nook classic.

05-12-2011, 07:38 PM	#38
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718541 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	Frequently, though very bright open shade is a more frequent situation. I read on the porch at lunch almost every day year round (here in Key West the mid-day temps in the dead of winter rarely drop below 60). At that time of day part or all of my table, and often my Kindle, is in the sun though more often than not I'm in at least partial shade.

05-13-2011, 01:41 AM	#40
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	To add to this, as I sat here on the couch reading this evening, the sun was setting and coming right in my window onto my reader. I guess it wasn't "direct" sunlight, but it was strong light and the reader looked great. I love the way the reader looks in light, actually. But I agree- with actual book pages in totally direct sunlight, it hurts my eyes, too. The reflection is too much to bear! The eink is much kinder in stronger light.

05-13-2011, 10:31 AM	#42
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	I avoid direct sunlight because, one, it usually starts getting too hot, and two, because I have to scrunch my eyes which doesn't make for a pleasant reading experience.

05-13-2011, 11:52 AM	#44
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	I sit in the back yard on the patio as often as I can to read - there is no shade back there so, if the sun is out, I'm in direct sunlight.