Tablet versus lighted E Ink e-reader

faithbw · 09-04-2013, 08:55 PM

I just purchased the new Nexus 7 and the high pixel density makes text very crisp and clear. I actually find the text clearer and easier to read on the Nexus as opposed to the Sony PRS-350 that I previously owned.

However, I wonder how tablets with high pixel density stack up against some of the newer lighted e-reader like the Aura HD and the new Paperwhite. Which one is better for reading in bed in the dark. Which provides an overall better reading experience?

Julius Caesar · 09-04-2013, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithbw

I just purchased the new Nexus 7 and the high pixel density makes text very crisp and clear. I actually find the text clearer and easier to read on the Nexus as opposed to the Sony PRS-350 that I previously owned.

However, I wonder how tablets with high pixel density stack up against some of the newer lighted e-reader like the Aura HD and the new Paperwhite. Which one is better for reading in bed in the dark. Which provides an overall better reading experience?

In term of pixel density, the new Nexus 7 wins hands down. The nexus has 323 ppi, Kobo Aura HD has 265ppi and Kindle Paperwhite I and II have 212 ppi.

However, I would prefer to read using a dedicated eink reader with front light. A front light device like Paperwhite or Aura HD do not shine light to your eyes. Instead it shines light to the device first and then reflect the light to your eyes. A back light LCD like Nexus 7 and all other tablet computers shine light directly to your eyes. Giving you an eyestrain for a long time reading.

xendula · 09-05-2013, 12:12 AM

I agree with Julius C: I much prefer my Paperwhite screen and lighting to my iPad and Nexus, because tablets give me eye strain when in complete darkness ( that's how I like to read at night) and when they are close to my face.

danskmacabre · 09-05-2013, 12:27 AM

I love both.
I use my Tablet for reading PDFs for game manuals and media heavy books (In PDF format).

For epubs I use my Kobo glo.

They both do a great job for the tasks I use them for.

HarryT · 09-05-2013, 02:07 AM

Depends what I'm reading.

Fiction: PW
Non-fiction/PDFs: iPad

For reading in bright light, an eInk screen wins hands-down, of course. My iPad is great for indoor reading (it's what I read all my academic PDFs on) but it's hopeless in sunlight. The PW is great in sunlight.

HarryT · 09-05-2013, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

However, I would prefer to read using a dedicated eink reader with front light. A front light device like Paperwhite or Aura HD do not shine light to your eyes. Instead it shines light to the device first and then reflect the light to your eyes. A back light LCD like Nexus 7 and all other tablet computers shine light directly to your eyes. Giving you an eyestrain for a long time reading.

Speaking with my physicist's hat on, this is nonsensical. Your eyes don't "know" if a photon has travelled directly to them, or been reflected from a screen first. If you get eyestrain from an LCD screen it simply means that you have the backlight turned up too high. Turn the brightness down.

Julius Caesar · 09-05-2013, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Speaking with my physicist's hat on, this is nonsensical. Your eyes don't "know" if a photon has travelled directly to them, or been reflected from a screen first. If you get eyestrain from an LCD screen it simply means that you have the backlight turned up too high. Turn the brightness down.

Even with brightness all the way down, I couldn't stand reading a book with an LCD screen. Not for long.

Even with brightness all the way up, I have no problem reading a book with a Kindle Paperwhite for hours. Even in a dark room.

Jdschi · 09-05-2013, 03:42 AM

I'm interested in that too. For the longest time I didn't even consider a tablet as a device to read my ebooks on because I had read and heard so often that the backlit screen causes too much eye strain. Then my (not lighted) eReader broke and I had to continue reading on my smartphone. Surprisingly, that was easier on my eyes than the eReader, presumably because of the higher contrast between background and writing and the much higher resolution. So for me at least, the backlighting does not seem to be a problem at all. I have ordered the new Kindle PW to finally try a lighted reader for myself, but I don't think it will replace my tablet (new Nexus 7 here too) as my main reading device.

Mivo · 09-05-2013, 03:58 AM

Since I got my Nexus 7 (2013), I have been using it as my primary reader. It was completely unexpected, because previous tablets and LCD displays felt less comfortable and after reading I'd see a dark "ghost image" of the display for a while.

It's entirely different with the Nexus 7. The brightness can be lowered to below 0%, and at night in a dark room it is more comfortable to read on than on my two lighted e-ink readers. In broad daylight, the brightness can be turned so high that the text is readable, unlike on my iPad. An e-ink device is better for reading in sunlight. But for a backlit device, the Nexus does really well.

The extreme crispness of the text, paired with a very lightly paper-patterned, grey background (a Moon+ feature), is an absolute joy. The device is also extremely responsive and quick, much better than any e-ink reader. The reading apps offer more costumization and generally better features (there is certainly more choice). The ability to use colors for highlighting text and making notes is also superior -- and any images inside books are actually clearly visible and sharp as a razor.

The only downside is the battery life. I can read all day on a charge, but not for weeks like you can with an e-ink reader. But it's not an issue for me since I also use the device as my electronic notepad, to-do list, contact list, alarm clock, etc, so I charge it every night anyway. And well, a personal downside is the ease of checking mail or forum on it does distract from reading.

The display is really spectacular. It's unlike anything I had seen before. I realize I keep gushing over the Nexus 7, but... it's just so good.

meeera · 09-05-2013, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mivo

The brightness can be lowered to below 0%, and at night in a dark room it is more comfortable to read on than on my two lighted e-ink readers.

Well, yes. With its brightness down below 0%, your Nexus would be sucking light from your lighted e-ink readers, reducing their readability dramatically.

Mivo · 09-05-2013, 04:15 AM

The device's brightness setting goes to -50%!

David Munch · 09-05-2013, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

However, I would prefer to read using a dedicated eink reader with front light. A front light device like Paperwhite or Aura HD do not shine light to your eyes. Instead it shines light to the device first and then reflect the light to your eyes. A back light LCD like Nexus 7 and all other tablet computers shine light directly to your eyes. Giving you an eyestrain for a long time reading.

That would the LCD refresh rate you don't like, not a racial discrimination of photons.

HarryT · 09-05-2013, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Munch

That would the LCD refresh rate you don't like, not a racial discrimination of photons.

Although LCD screens have a refresh rate (typically 60Hz) they don't flicker like the old CRT displays did. An LCD screen displays a perfectly steady image, just like eInk does.

owly · 09-05-2013, 05:33 AM

There is also the weight factor although the latest Nexus 7 weighs only 290 g.

crich70 · 09-05-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

In term of pixel density, the new Nexus 7 wins hands down. The nexus has 323 ppi, Kobo Aura HD has 265ppi and Kindle Paperwhite I and II have 212 ppi.

However, I would prefer to read using a dedicated eink reader with front light. A front light device like Paperwhite or Aura HD do not shine light to your eyes. Instead it shines light to the device first and then reflect the light to your eyes. A back light LCD like Nexus 7 and all other tablet computers shine light directly to your eyes. Giving you an eyestrain for a long time reading.

Yep. I agree with Julius Caesar on that one. A tablet has an LCD screen and to quote Bezos, "it's like having someone shine a flashlight in your eyes while you try to read." I can only look at a LCD screen for so long before my eyes get to the point where strain causes them to lose focus and ache. I've never had that problem with an e-ink screen. And even tablets usually weight more than an e-ink reader does. Plus e-ink uses battery power a lot more slowly than any portable computer will.

09-04-2013, 08:55 PM	#1
faithbw Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 1526148 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: A place where the sun always shines Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Mini 2	Tablet versus lighted E Ink e-reader I just purchased the new Nexus 7 and the high pixel density makes text very crisp and clear. I actually find the text clearer and easier to read on the Nexus as opposed to the Sony PRS-350 that I previously owned. However, I wonder how tablets with high pixel density stack up against some of the newer lighted e-reader like the Aura HD and the new Paperwhite. Which one is better for reading in bed in the dark. Which provides an overall better reading experience? Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 09-06-2013 at 09:11 AM. Reason: moved to frontpage

09-05-2013, 02:07 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Depends what I'm reading. Fiction: PW Non-fiction/PDFs: iPad For reading in bright light, an eInk screen wins hands-down, of course. My iPad is great for indoor reading (it's what I read all my academic PDFs on) but it's hopeless in sunlight. The PW is great in sunlight. Last edited by HarryT; 09-05-2013 at 02:51 AM.

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09-05-2013, 12:12 AM	#3
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	I agree with Julius C: I much prefer my Paperwhite screen and lighting to my iPad and Nexus, because tablets give me eye strain when in complete darkness ( that's how I like to read at night) and when they are close to my face.

09-05-2013, 12:27 AM	#4
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	I love both. I use my Tablet for reading PDFs for game manuals and media heavy books (In PDF format). For epubs I use my Kobo glo. They both do a great job for the tasks I use them for.

09-05-2013, 03:42 AM	#8
Jdschi Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 109342 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Germany Device: Nexus 7.2, PW2	I'm interested in that too. For the longest time I didn't even consider a tablet as a device to read my ebooks on because I had read and heard so often that the backlit screen causes too much eye strain. Then my (not lighted) eReader broke and I had to continue reading on my smartphone. Surprisingly, that was easier on my eyes than the eReader, presumably because of the higher contrast between background and writing and the much higher resolution. So for me at least, the backlighting does not seem to be a problem at all. I have ordered the new Kindle PW to finally try a lighted reader for myself, but I don't think it will replace my tablet (new Nexus 7 here too) as my main reading device.

09-05-2013, 03:58 AM	#9
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	Since I got my Nexus 7 (2013), I have been using it as my primary reader. It was completely unexpected, because previous tablets and LCD displays felt less comfortable and after reading I'd see a dark "ghost image" of the display for a while. It's entirely different with the Nexus 7. The brightness can be lowered to below 0%, and at night in a dark room it is more comfortable to read on than on my two lighted e-ink readers. In broad daylight, the brightness can be turned so high that the text is readable, unlike on my iPad. An e-ink device is better for reading in sunlight. But for a backlit device, the Nexus does really well. The extreme crispness of the text, paired with a very lightly paper-patterned, grey background (a Moon+ feature), is an absolute joy. The device is also extremely responsive and quick, much better than any e-ink reader. The reading apps offer more costumization and generally better features (there is certainly more choice). The ability to use colors for highlighting text and making notes is also superior -- and any images inside books are actually clearly visible and sharp as a razor. The only downside is the battery life. I can read all day on a charge, but not for weeks like you can with an e-ink reader. But it's not an issue for me since I also use the device as my electronic notepad, to-do list, contact list, alarm clock, etc, so I charge it every night anyway. And well, a personal downside is the ease of checking mail or forum on it does distract from reading. The display is really spectacular. It's unlike anything I had seen before. I realize I keep gushing over the Nexus 7, but... it's just so good.

09-05-2013, 04:15 AM	#11
Mivo Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 3531054 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Germany Device: In use: Pocketbook InkPad 3, Kobo Glo, iPad Air 2	The device's brightness setting goes to -50%!

09-05-2013, 05:33 AM	#14
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	There is also the weight factor although the latest Nexus 7 weighs only 290 g.