How imporant is a backlight to you? - Page 2

NatCh · 09-25-2006, 12:10 PM

Hey, da_jane, I was looking at the results of your poll, which seem to be pretty much what you expected them to be, while the ones here are pretty much what I anticipated.

So it looks like we were right that it seems to come down to a demographic difference between your readers and the ones here.

It's nice to have the mystery solved!

That was fun, maybe we can play the concurrent poll game again sometime.

yvanleterrible · 09-25-2006, 03:02 PM

I have an issue with polls conducted in the thread pages. Occasional surfers of this site will never see them. They should be at the top of the main page

Alexander Turcic · 09-25-2006, 03:06 PM

yvan, thanks for the suggestion - it will be there soon among other site changes.

yvanleterrible · 09-25-2006, 03:07 PM

Thanks Alex. Feels good to be heard!

da_jane · 09-25-2006, 03:31 PM

NatCh - I think that many romance readers are women who, for various and sundry reasons, only get to read at night. They generally read while in bed. Often someone is beside them in that bed complaining about the light. Just saying.

NatCh · 09-25-2006, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da_jane

NatCh - I think that many romance readers are women who, for various and sundry reasons, only get to read at night. They generally read while in bed. Often someone is beside them in that bed complaining about the light. Just saying.

That makes good sense to me, da_jane.

I'm not one of those who is especially bothered by light when I'm trying to sleep, but I know others are.

DHer · 09-26-2006, 01:08 PM

I think there are enough point light sources to illuminate your eInk reader without bothering your significant other too much.

On the other hand, i fall asleep quite often with the halogen lamp in my room still burning, until the timer kicks in. (45 minute timer to be switched on when you lay down to read. if you fall asleep - no problem, if you don't fall asleep you know it's time to stop when the light goes out)

Greg G · 09-28-2006, 10:25 PM

I do a lot of reading in bed before going to sleep and my wife goes to sleep before me so I need a lights out solution. Being a PDA reader for many years I'm used to this not being a problem. I'm getting one of those clip on lights and hoping it works out.

kahm · 11-14-2006, 02:20 AM

I kind of think that people who want backlights are kind of missing the point of E-Ink.

ddoyle777 · 11-14-2006, 01:30 PM

I've changed my mind regarding backlights.

I was very disappointed when I found the Sony Reader wouldn't have one. It almost kept me from purchasing it. I was so taken by the quality of the screen that I bought it anyway. Now, I'm happy it doesn't have one.

Why? I've been reading ebooks for about 7 years (my first ebook purchase was from PeanutPress in 3/99!) so I've got a few hours under my belt. My preferred device was a Palm. What I've found is that the more I read (especially at night with no room lights) the worse the headache and eye-ache in the morning. I even found a program to lower the Palm backlight to next to nothing. It helped some.

About a week ago I got a Sony Reader and now read it with my bedside table lamp on for the same amount of time as I used the Palm. But no headache in the morning.

That's a pretty big plus for me. I'm planning to try one of those clip on lights as well. But for now no backlight means no headache.

Jack B Nimble · 11-14-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddoyle777

... now read it with my bedside table lamp on for the same amount of time as I used the Palm. But no headache in the morning.

That's a pretty big plus for me. I'm planning to try one of those clip on lights as well. But for now no backlight means no headache.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahm

I kind of think that people who want backlights are kind of missing the point of E-Ink.

About 40% of my reading is outside the house, and another 40% in bed. Depending on what I am reading, I use a Zaurus, Tapwave Zodiac, or an iBook -- all backlit. I am lucky enough that this does not cause me any headaches, and the lack of an overhead light helps keep my marriage up to snuff.

I don't really see why wanting a built-in light (backlight, frontlight, whatever) is missing the point. As I said, I read outside the house quite a lot, sometimes in the dark, and I do not really want to carry around lots of extra accessories.

I nearly bought a Sony when they first hit the shelves. As I have said elsewhere, the main thing that stopped me was the lack of Mac support. As I have been more conscious of my reading habits (my use of lighting, the search function - even in fiction, et cetera), I am glad I did not buy yet, and I will wait for a future solution.

Why couldn't one of the newly announced Jinkes include a light?

Jack

Jadon · 11-14-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack B Nimble

I don't really see why wanting a built-in light (backlight, frontlight, whatever) is missing the point.

It depends on what one sees the point of e-ink as, I suppose. I see it as generally higher resolution, much lower power use, and sunlight readability. Frankly none of that has anything to do with integral device lighting. While the non-transparent nature of e-ink prevents backlighting, it's solely lack of design imagination that hasn't yet made a device with lightwedge-like integral sidelighting.

emonti8384 · 12-27-2008, 03:56 PM

Okay, so I was thinking about checking these things out, but I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! I don't want to spend alot of $ and then be p*ssed off that I don't like it. Soooooo....what does everyone else suggest? I don't mind spending the $, but only if it's worth it. The only thing I'll do is read with it anywayz

lilac_jive · 12-27-2008, 03:57 PM

I don't need no stinkin' backlight!

I have a Book Owl Light for when I need it, but that is not often.

View Poll Results: How important is backlighting to you in an electronic reader?
I won't buy one without it.	8	11.59%
I want it, but it's not absolutely vital.	15	21.74%
If the display, battery life and weight are good enough, I won't miss a backlight much.	22	31.88%
Backlights? We don't need no stinkin' Backlights!	24	34.78%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll

11-14-2006, 01:30 PM	#25
ddoyle777 Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Concord, NH Device: iPad, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch	Changed My Mind I've changed my mind regarding backlights. I was very disappointed when I found the Sony Reader wouldn't have one. It almost kept me from purchasing it. I was so taken by the quality of the screen that I bought it anyway. Now, I'm happy it doesn't have one. Why? I've been reading ebooks for about 7 years (my first ebook purchase was from PeanutPress in 3/99!) so I've got a few hours under my belt. My preferred device was a Palm. What I've found is that the more I read (especially at night with no room lights) the worse the headache and eye-ache in the morning. I even found a program to lower the Palm backlight to next to nothing. It helped some. About a week ago I got a Sony Reader and now read it with my bedside table lamp on for the same amount of time as I used the Palm. But no headache in the morning. That's a pretty big plus for me. I'm planning to try one of those clip on lights as well. But for now no backlight means no headache.

12-27-2008, 03:56 PM	#28
emonti8384 browneyedgurl Posts: 523 Karma: 356470 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Warren, OH Device: PRS-505/950x2, PRS-600 silver, Galaxy III purple, T2 black	That's what I'm trying to figure out! Okay, so I was thinking about checking these things out, but I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! I don't want to spend alot of $ and then be p*ssed off that I don't like it. Soooooo....what does everyone else suggest? I don't mind spending the $, but only if it's worth it. The only thing I'll do is read with it anywayz

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PRS-300 Does this have a Backlight????	k0077	Sony Reader	4	08-14-2010 07:34 AM
eReaders with backlight	turtle	General Discussions	8	06-11-2010 03:13 AM
Backlight alternatives	Bob Russell	Sony Reader	151	01-30-2009 11:47 AM
The Emperor has no backlight...	john peer	Which one should I buy?	54	04-08-2008 11:28 PM
So there's no backlight at all?	gamoses	Which one should I buy?	6	01-22-2007 03:19 PM

09-25-2006, 12:10 PM	#16
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Hey, da_jane, I was looking at the results of your poll, which seem to be pretty much what you expected them to be, while the ones here are pretty much what I anticipated. So it looks like we were right that it seems to come down to a demographic difference between your readers and the ones here. It's nice to have the mystery solved! That was fun, maybe we can play the concurrent poll game again sometime.

09-25-2006, 03:02 PM	#17
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I have an issue with polls conducted in the thread pages. Occasional surfers of this site will never see them. They should be at the top of the main page

09-25-2006, 03:06 PM	#18
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	yvan, thanks for the suggestion - it will be there soon among other site changes.

09-25-2006, 03:07 PM	#19
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Thanks Alex. Feels good to be heard!

09-25-2006, 03:31 PM	#20
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	NatCh - I think that many romance readers are women who, for various and sundry reasons, only get to read at night. They generally read while in bed. Often someone is beside them in that bed complaining about the light. Just saying.

09-26-2006, 01:08 PM	#22
DHer Addict Posts: 261 Karma: 156 Join Date: Jul 2006 Device: iliad	I think there are enough point light sources to illuminate your eInk reader without bothering your significant other too much. On the other hand, i fall asleep quite often with the halogen lamp in my room still burning, until the timer kicks in. (45 minute timer to be switched on when you lay down to read. if you fall asleep - no problem, if you don't fall asleep you know it's time to stop when the light goes out)

09-28-2006, 10:25 PM	#23
Greg G Groupie Posts: 181 Karma: 66 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NJ Device: Kindle Papwerwhite	I do a lot of reading in bed before going to sleep and my wife goes to sleep before me so I need a lights out solution. Being a PDA reader for many years I'm used to this not being a problem. I'm getting one of those clip on lights and hoping it works out.

11-14-2006, 02:20 AM	#24
kahm Member Posts: 18 Karma: 54 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Device: 505/Librie/Zaurus/iPhone	I kind of think that people who want backlights are kind of missing the point of E-Ink.

12-27-2008, 03:57 PM	#29
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I don't need no stinkin' backlight! I have a Book Owl Light for when I need it, but that is not often.