Glowlight/Paperwhite harder on the eyes?

[rcentros]

This may be inexperience talking, but last night I tried comparing reading on my Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight and Kindle Touch with a lighted case. I may not have had the brightness set properly (though I tried several levels) but it seemed to me that the NST Glowlight caused the same type of eye strain (though not to the same degree) that reading on tablets and smartphones causes. Some of the reasons they give for eye strain in tablets (high contrast between dark and light, eyes always adjusting from ambient to back light) seems to be similar to the NST Glowlight's "front light." I also find the letters "washed out" on the NST Glowlight -- where on the Touch or Nook with LED, there is still a dark contrast. (But that's probably not as a big of an issue with the Paperwhite.)

At any rate, am I crazy? or has someone else had the same experience that I seem to be having here? Right now I'm just not big on the Glowlight -- but, admittedly, I haven't given it a very thorough test. And I know the NST Glowlight two (or three?) year old technology. I've come close to buying a new Paperwhite, but I have to get this settled in my head first.

[Jack Torrance]

That's why I didn't buy a Kindle PW and chose a DX. It looked too much like a computer screen in daylight and I imagine in a dark room would be worse. I just use a small light myself.

[Kaysclie]

but it seemed to me that the NST Glowlight caused the same type of eye strain (though not to the same degree) that reading on tablets and smartphones causes.
I also find the letters "washed out" on the NST Glowlight .[/QUOTE]


I don't find this at all. As a matter of fact I find no eyestrain when reading on my NST with Glowlight. And the letters look pretty sharp to me...not at all washed out. All in all I have to say I do enjoy the reading experience on my NST Glowlight. But of course I do use a larger font, which maybe makes a viewing difference.

[soulfuldog]

Some people do find this to be the case, so you are not alone. It is not the same or as severe as the eye strain you'd get from reading a computer/tablet LCD screen, but there are some people who do find some eye strain when reading on front-lit e-ink ereaders. I do think you have to give your eyes some time to get used to it and then it might not be so noticeable, however there are a few people who just prefer to stick with their non-lighted ereaders and use a lighted cover/clip on light, even if the evenness of the light over the screen isn't as good.

There is an additional layer on the screens of ereader with in-built lighting compared to those without (like your Kindle Touch), some people don't notice it at all, others find it very apparent. Personally, I can see it a little, I'm aware of it but it doesn't really bother me. I find it only has a very slight impact on the contrast of the screen & sharpness of the text, and that is by far negated by the overall clarity of the screen and even lighting.

Most people buy a lighted ereader and would never want to go back to reading on a non-lighted one, but they are not for everyone.

[jscarbo]

I read on a PW1 and I'm bothered by the screen lighting if I read in a totally dark room. As a result, when I read in bed I always leave a small nightlight on. Even though I obviously don't need an external light source to read the screen, I find it eliminates my eyestrain problem.

[dordale]

I'm another one that does notice some eyestrain when reading on my PW in a dark room. It's not horrible, and much better than reading on an LCD screen, but I frequently use an external book light along with my PW when reading in bed. If my hubby is trying to get to sleep beside me, I forgo the external book light, but probably don't read for as long a period of time as I otherwise would. I feel the same as jscarbo--the external book light eliminates the eyestrain.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

That's why I didn't buy a Kindle PW and chose a DX. It looked too much like a computer screen in daylight and I imagine in a dark room would be worse. I just use a small light myself.

Yeah, I'm definitely leaning that way. I found out that M-Edge E-Luminator lights work much better if you don't stick them in the side slots designed for them. They won't stay twisted in the right position and it's a constant irritant to straighten them out. But, since they're also designed to attach to book pages, I found that -- when I have the front flap of my case flipped over to the back (in reading position) -- I can attach the E-Luminator to that flap and that allows it to be used "straight on." (Also allows me to use it on my Kindle "hard" case.) No more twisting it back into shape every three minutes. E-Luminators have gotten cheap on eBay -- even stores like Half Price Books ($4 each) or Big Lots ($2.50 each, but probably on clearance at the time). On eBay you can find them for under $5 including shipping. (Rambling again. Sorry.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Kaysclie

I don't find this at all. As a matter of fact I find no eyestrain when reading on my NST with Glowlight. And the letters look pretty sharp to me...not at all washed out. All in all I have to say I do enjoy the reading experience on my NST Glowlight. But of course I do use a larger font, which maybe makes a viewing difference.

It's not horrible -- just not as sharp as a regular NST screen. But I do read in the dark -- not low light -- quite a bit, and the glowlight does seem more uncomfortable for me. The problem might be that I often read in "gulps" of five or six or seven hours. (I do like the fact that the M-Edge E-Luminator does start blinking after an hour to let you know it's time stand up and walk around and rest and your eyes for a bit. That's a nice feature.)

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by soulfuldog

Most people buy a lighted ereader and would never want to go back to reading on a non-lighted one, but they are not for everyone.

I'm beginning to figure this out. I do think I could experiment with the light level and probably make it a bit more comfortable for me -- so it looks to be a little bit of a learning curve. I actually like the glowlight better in the light than in the dark (at this point anyhow).

Thanks.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by jscarbo

I read on a PW1 and I'm bothered by the screen lighting if I read in a totally dark room. As a result, when I read in bed I always leave a small nightlight on. Even though I obviously don't need an external light source to read the screen, I find it eliminates my eyestrain problem.

I usually read in a dark room -- I think I need to try the NST with Glowlight in a more "normal" setup -- a dim room. I bet it wouldn't bother me as much. But, I've got a feeling, I'll be happier with lighted cases or my E-Luminator.

Thanks.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by dordale

I feel the same as jscarbo--the external book light eliminates the eyestrain.

That's been my experience. I've read a lot in the dark on my NST and Kindle (Non-Touch) with an E-Luminator light and never had eyestrain -- but I just tried the NST w/ Glowlight for a couple hours and it was definitely noticeable. I guess I'm not crazy. Now I'm kind of happy I bought a used Kindle Touch instead of a new Paperwhite.

Thanks.

[mystika1]

The kindle basic may be a better choice for you or you could try turning your light so of the way down and using a book light instead.

Penny

[NickyWithNook]

I have both the newer Nook Glowlight and the Kindle Paperwhite and they seem equally easy on the eyes to me.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Looking at any kind of light in a dark room is going to be hard on your eyes no matter what kind of light it is.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by mystika1

The kindle basic may be a better choice for you or you could try turning your light so of the way down and using a book light instead.

If I did that I might as well use the NST (without Glowlight). I'm still experimenting with light levels, though. For some reason I just didn't expect the glowlight to be a little harder on the eyes, at least on MY eyes. And I do own a Kindle "Basic" (I wish Amazon would give it an official name) -- it has worked well for me with E-Luminator, lots of night time reading. Actually the Kindle Basics are really good, solid eReaders, in my opinion.