What is the best color ereader tat is not crazy expensive?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Of courseA lit Boox Tab Mini C screen is the best 7.8 inch I've ever seen, but not only because of the picture quality but mainly because of the Super Refresh technology - and 7.8 inches with this technology are only available in C.

And I don't give a damn about the $2 yearly overhead for lighting

It's not about the cost of electricity. It's that if you need to use the light even in good outwards lighting, the screen is too dark.

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not about the cost of electricity. It's that if you need to use the light even in good outwards lighting, the screen is too dark.

And Jon lobs it back ...

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's not about the cost of electricity. It's that if you need to use the light even in good outwards lighting, the screen is too dark.

Best screen is more important to me than ambient light component, but if worse screen under normal light is more important to you, then that's up to you.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Best screen is more important to me than ambient light component, but if worse screen under normal light is more important to you, then that's up to you.

Best screen is the B&W Carta 1200 (currently).

[cellaris]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

While it may be the best color eInk Reader, it's a lot overpriced and it's not good at B&W without the light being on.

I find this far more interesting than comparing a colour e-reader with a tablet. Personally, I think that focusing the discussion on the comparison between e-readers is the way forward and the way to address the real questions that the user of an e-reader will ask. And this is where the preferences of each user are really decisive. I formulate a few questions that I find particularly interesting (others will surely have others) and then leave my answers:

1.- Does a comic book look better on a colour e-reader or on a non-colour one?

2.- Is it better to read a novel that does not need colour on an e-reader with or without colour?

3.- How does the screen of a colour e-reader look like in comparison to a non-colour e-reader?

4.- Is it worth paying a premium for a colour e-reader?

I would like to say that I have unequivocal answers to these questions, but the truth is that I do not. I don't know whether I'm envious or discouraged by the emphatic way in which some people express themselves when it comes to evaluating an e-reader. Sometimes I think I would like to be as clear as others are, and sometimes I think, thank goodness I'm not so closed-minded and obtuse.

The only colour e-reader I had ever held in my hands was the Pocketbook InkPad Color and I didn't like it at all, perhaps influenced by the fact that I'm not a user who reads a lot of comics. I found its screen unbearably blue and dark. It was not an e-reader for me, although I have always recognised its usefulness for a certain type of user.

But now I have to say that the Tab Mini C has changed my perception and assessment of colour e-readers (making it clear that not all colour e-readers are the same). My opinion is that this device can be used by a much wider range of users than the typical comic book reader.

I, unlike those who compare a colour e-reader with a tablet, have never doubted its usefulness for comics. I believe that any colour e-reader (even older technology) displays comics better than a non-colour e-reader. I know there are people who prefer to see them in black and white, but that's not my case. Colour, however "pastel" it may be, seems to me to add value.

But what really surprised me about the Tab Mini C is how good it looks for reading books without colour. Its (illuminated) screen is really good. The colour temperature adjustment and the increased colour resolution have done it a lot of good. And its homogeneous illumination is really fantastic. Personally I have no problem reading any kind of book on this device. I'm not going to "theorise" about its contrast levels. I think it is one of the best (illuminated) screens you can currently find in the 8" segment.

Where it really loses out is when compared to a non-illuminated screen of any other e-reader. There is no argument here. It is much darker, and I don't find it pleasant to use without illumination. Of course there are always nuances. In direct sunlight the differences are not so obvious and, in my opinion, a comic book still looks better in this particular situation than on a colourless e-reader. But in the shade I personally don't like the way the screen looks. So a user who does not regularly use the illumination of his or her e-reader is bound to be disappointed. Fortunately, I am not that kind of user. I always use the illumination on my e-readers and I love the Tab Mini C's (illuminated) display.

So, in conclusion, is it worth paying that extra money? Honestly, I think that for the average user (if it's even possible to talk about this kind of user) it's not worth it. But for the user who is interested in a specific feature of this device or simply wants to have a multi-purpose device, I think it is a really good option.

All this reflection is just a personal opinion and I hope it can be useful to other people. I have no desire to polemicise with anyone.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Best screen is the B&W Carta 1200 (currently).

You don't know the Tab Mini screen - especially not the Super Refresh technology, which is only available in color in 7.8 inches.
And it really doesn't matter whether I switch on the light when the ambient brightness is average or whether it only has to be done at dusk

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by cellaris

1.- Does a comic book look better on a colour e-reader or on a non-colour one?

2.- Is it better to read a novel that does not need colour on an e-reader with or without colour?

3.- How does the screen of a colour e-reader look like in comparison to a non-colour e-reader?

4.- Is it worth paying a premium for a colour e-reader?

1. Most colour comic will look better, but Teenage Mutant Hero turtles "works" in mono. There are plenty of mono comics/manga. Also for eink vs LCD/OLED the poor colours don't matter as most comics are copying style of limited 1930s on pulp.

2. All colour eink are lower resolution than 300 dpi and darker. Compare Kindle K2 and DX or early Sony with a PW3. It's terrible. The first Kindle K1 and earliest Sony only had 4 levels, not 16 so they are worse than colour eink. A Triton is worst. The RGB striped Kaleido will be better than the patterned Kaleido 3 for text at one orientation, if there is subpixel addressing (100 x 300 dpi vs 150 x 150 dpi).

3. Blurry and not usable with lights suitable for paperback or Carta or Carta1200 without front light on. Probably the Pearl is brighter in ambient light and even some of them might be sharper.

4. Is it worth paying a premium? There are no cheap colour eink. If you read a lot of comics and have €400 to €600 to spare then it's worth while. Pointless for novels. There is no doubt even the €300 tablet and many laptops have a poor screen compared to some €300 desktop monitors. Too shiny surface, because that's cheaper.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by Quoth

.....

Interesting - you don't know the device, but you write about it

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by cellaris

I find this far more interesting than comparing a colour e-reader with a tablet.
snip

So, in conclusion, is it worth paying that extra money? Honestly, I think that for the average user (if it's even possible to talk about this kind of user) it's not worth it. But for the user who is interested in a specific feature of this device or simply wants to have a multi-purpose device, I think it is a really good option.

All this reflection is just a personal opinion and I hope it can be useful to other people. I have no desire to polemicise with anyone.

This is a fair review and comment.

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Interesting - you don't know the device, but you write about it

I know many eink screens to use.
I've read your and cellaris's comments, the maker's page and I'm conversant with physics, optics, electronics and device ergnomics and lighting, with having technical qualifications, BBC technical training and years of R&D on handheld devices and devices with displays.

I'd agree with almost all, if not all, of cellaris's comments.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

Interesting - you don't know the device, but you write about it

It's got the same inherent flaws as other color eInk.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's got the same inherent flaws as other color eInk.

A reader is not a picture frame that hangs unchanged on the wall - nor is it an unchangeable book page.
Something is happening on it.
It is controlled completely differently - and that's what matters; not that the screen is darker when unlit; it can be lit.
But how the screen content changes, that ghosting disappears in a very short time, etc. etc. - and that is unique in the 7.8 inch range or in the Boox Tab devices; in such a way that I no longer like to use other devices - even in the b/w area

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ottischwenk

A reader is not a picture frame that hangs unchanged on the wall - nor is it an unchangeable book page.
Something is happening on it.
It is controlled completely differently - and that's what matters; not that the screen is darker when unlit; it can be lit.
But how the screen content changes, that ghosting disappears in a very short time, etc. etc. - and that is unique in the 7.8 inch range or in the Boox Tab devices; in such a way that I no longer like to use other devices - even in the b/w area

It's darker. It thus uses more battery because you need more light. Not a good design to make the user waste battery. Face it, the Tab Mini C is just a poor design because (for now) color eInk is a poor design and nothing will change that.

[ottischwenk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's darker. It thus uses more battery because you need more light. Not a good design to make the user waste battery. Face it, the Tab Mini C is just a poor design because (for now) color eInk is a poor design and nothing will change that.

Again very clearly - maybe you will understand it then:
I don't give a damn how dark the screen is when it's not lit; I use no device unlit, even if the ambient light is still really bright.
Illuminated, it's superior to anything I can compare to - even as an unchanging still image.
But I don't use it as such - on my devices, the screen content changes as soon as I use it; and the way it's done makes it the kind of device in the 7.8 inch class that I wouldn't want to use any other (and I have quite a few) anymore.

I didn't buy it because of the color but because of the Super Refresh Technology (in 7.8 there is only C available, in 10.3 only C with 300 ppi).
But I discovered, the color is just further information compared to the 16 shades of gray (there is neither white nor black).

For other devices, I would probably advise against color.

[tomsem]

FWIW PocketBook InkPad Color 2 is now $295 (USD) - only $40 more than the InkPad 4 with the same screen dimensions. It has a faster CPU and more storage than the IP4.

Yes, it is not Kaleido 3, and thus a non starter for some.

For me, it is more of a sweet spot than Tab Mini C, which is not only $150 more, but has features I place no value in (note taking, Android). And I like PocketBook platform. I think the display would be good enough for me.

But I'm not really in the market to get anything in this class right now.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The solution is you don't buy a color eInk screen. You buy an eInk Reader with a good screen and color eInk is not it.

Or...you buy the product that fits your wants and needs, and let others do the same. I know that I sound like a broken record, but your opinions are not equal to facts, and some people value other things than you do.

Shari