Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by myself11

The photo was taken in total darkness with maximum brightness level.

It really doesn't matter what it looks like in total darkness and maximum brightness. What does it look like in the conditions in which you're actually going to be using it?

[Matches Malone]

My Kindle paperwhite 2 adventure.

My first paperwhite had a decent sized pinhole close to the middle of the screen. I contacted Amazon and they sent a replacement.

My second Paperwhite had a much more yellow screen compared to the first one with the pinhole. I contacted Amazon again and they sent another replacement.

My third Paperwhite had a much too greenish screen and uneven lighting toward the bottom. I lined all the kindles up side by side and asked three people to also inspect. They all agreed this one had a darker greener screen. Once again I contacted Amazon. This time they told me they would personally inspect the kindle they would ship me.

I received my fourth paperwhite. It’s perfect. No pinholes, no green or yellow lighting. Overall I’m very happy. It just took a while to get there.

Originally Posted by Matches Malone

My Kindle paperwhite 2 adventure.

My first paperwhite had a decent sized pinhole close to the middle of the screen. I contacted Amazon and they sent a replacement.

My second Paperwhite had a much more yellow screen compared to the first one with the pinhole. I contacted Amazon again and they sent another replacement.

My third Paperwhite had a much too greenish screen and uneven lighting toward the bottom. I lined all the kindles up side by side and asked three people to also inspect. They all agreed this one had a darker greener screen. Once again I contacted Amazon. This time they told me they would personally inspect the kindle they would ship me.

I received my fourth paperwhite. It’s perfect. No pinholes, no green or yellow lighting. Overall I’m very happy. It just took a while to get there.

Wow, I'm glad you finally got a keeper!

[Barty]

I think there is a flaw, either by design or limitation, with the pw2.

The screen is yellower, but the LEDs are white as in pw1. This means that in bright light, there is more ambient light reflected from the screen than emited from the LEDs, so the screen looks yellower / warmer. In low light or dark room, the light is predominantly from the LEDs, so the screen is less yellow / more blue / cooler. Practically speaking, what this means is the screen is warmer during the day and cooler at night. But this is just the opposite of optimal. What you want is a cooler screen during the day and warmer screen at night. There's a reason you don't install flourescent light in your bedroom. There is also evidence that there are health benefits of using warmer light at night.

What they need to do is make the screen neutral gray and coat the LEDs to make the light yellow. This way, during the day, the screen will look whiter and at night it will look warmer.

As it is, if you have an especially yellow screen, then at night, it will look nice and warm, but in the day it looks too yellow. If your screen is more beige, it looks fine for day but too blue and cool at night.

Also, I imagine it's easier to control the LEDs production to give you consistent color whereas the eink screen has too much variance. I've seen three pw2 and they are three noticeably different shades of yellow.

Ps: I realize I can make the screen whiter in daylight by cranking up the kindle light, but if I want to read on a glowing screen I'll just use my iPad.

[Stringer]

And they could use rgb LEDs, but I doubt they listen anyone here.

[gouni]

Yes the Pw2 screen is more yellow than the Pw1.

This is an advantage.

Why?

Our brain adapts quickly color dominante.

Watch the pw1 next to the pw2 will accentuate the blue and yellow effect of each.

The paper is not white white, manufacturers added a brightener.

You probably know in the usa the luxurious French edition 'Pleiades' that costs a lot of money, and many pages are slightly yellow.

The pw2 to use is the most relaxing reading light I know.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by myself11

I've received my international PW2 today. I haven't detected pinholes, but I see some "green" areas. It doesn't bother me too much and since is an international order, probably it won't be that easy to return it and get another one.

What do you think?



The photo was taken in total darkness with maximum brightness level.

If it's as bad as in the picture, and it bothers you at your normal lightness level and ambient light set-up, I would try a replacement, personally.

[Outrager]

Finally received my 3rd PW2 and it still has 2 pinholes on the bottom. If I leave the light on 10 or less I don't notice it and I don't see myself needing to go any brighter. I think I will keep it for now and I have a whole year to replace it if it gets annoying. Maybe wait a few months when they get some of these manufacturing defects worked out.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by Outrager

Finally received my 3rd PW2 and it still has 2 pinholes on the bottom. If I leave the light on 10 or less I don't notice it and I don't see myself needing to go any brighter. I think I will keep it for now and I have a whole year to replace it if it gets annoying. Maybe wait a few months when they get some of these manufacturing defects worked out.

You won't get a new device as a replacement in a few months: you'll get one of the ones that were returned, more likely, so maybe mine, or yours....

[jhempel24]

Well, it sounds like I'm going to put up my PW1 for sale soon

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by xendula

If it's as bad as in the picture, and it bothers you at your normal lightness level and ambient light set-up, I would try a replacement, personally.

You say "if it's as bad as the picture", but the picture looks absolutely fine to me. Personal perception is a huge factor in all this.

[cadele]

Originally Posted by myself11

I've received my international PW2 today. I haven't detected pinholes, but I see some "green" areas. It doesn't bother me too much and since is an international order, probably it won't be that easy to return it and get another one.

What do you think?



The photo was taken in total darkness with maximum brightness level.

Is that the normal level you use? If not, and the screen is acceptable at normal viewing levels then I would probably keep it.

If you really need the light maxed out and the colour bothers you then perhaps you could try for another (although you might risk getting another problem like the dreaded pinholes).

One last thought. Is the green colour just from artefacts from not having the screen refresh each page? The PW2 is the first Kindle where I haven't had to set it to refresh each page as I disliked the 'fuzziness' on the screen in the earlier versions.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by myself11

I've received my international PW2 today. I haven't detected pinholes, but I see some "green" areas. It doesn't bother me too much and since is an international order, probably it won't be that easy to return it and get another one.

What do you think?



The photo was taken in total darkness with maximum brightness level.

I would try to it at normal light setting for dark reading although my PW at those settings has no color issues like your pic.

Now my HDX is another matter. Folks my HDX has blotches!
Amazon is sending me another replacement. I have never seen a tablet with blotches! I didn't notice till I turn the light up to read in the living room and there they were. This was my first time reading on it. My previous HDX didn't have this issue at all.

These LEDs Amazon is using must be problematic first the PW and now the Kindle Fire which uses Blue LEDs

[Panda Rose]

Originally Posted by Matches Malone

My Kindle paperwhite 2 adventure.

My first paperwhite had a decent sized pinhole close to the middle of the screen. I contacted Amazon and they sent a replacement.

My second Paperwhite had a much more yellow screen compared to the first one with the pinhole. I contacted Amazon again and they sent another replacement.

My third Paperwhite had a much too greenish screen and uneven lighting toward the bottom. I lined all the kindles up side by side and asked three people to also inspect. They all agreed this one had a darker greener screen. Once again I contacted Amazon. This time they told me they would personally inspect the kindle they would ship me.

I received my fourth paperwhite. It’s perfect. No pinholes, no green or yellow lighting. Overall I’m very happy. It just took a while to get there.

Aha, Im about to receive my 3rd any day. I thought I was being very picky. but when i spend that money, I want it to be right. I joked with the CS guy that I would like him to check it before sending it out. He didnt get the joke!
He told me it would be impossible for him to do this. I got the impression he was in a different country, not just a different building.

[Drew0020]

I gave up on the wifi Paperwhite 2 after 6. I decided to try my luck on the 3G Paperwhite 2. I figured they might have a few of the kinks ironed out. My 3G unit is supposed to arrive today. I am crossing my fingers ha!