Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Synamon

I couldn't get used to the change in font size, apparently I'm a creature of habit.

What change in font size are you referring to?

[jgsmith]

My PW2 arrived, and so far I'm impressed. Good quality, good contrast and I like the way it works with the sleep cover. This is my first eReader with a light, however, and I'm not sure about reading in a dim/dark room. Maybe it's something you get used to, but I find it difficult to get it lit enough that the screen isn't too dark as to cause eye strain, but not too bright that it...well...causes eye strain. I realize this is completely subjective, and the units may vary some, but if you read in a room that is very dim to dark, what are you setting the brightness to?

Jim

Originally Posted by jgsmith

My PW2 arrived, and so far I'm impressed. Good quality, good contrast and I like the way it works with the sleep cover. This is my first eReader with a light, however, and I'm not sure about reading in a dim/dark room. Maybe it's something you get used to, but I find it difficult to get it lit enough that the screen isn't too dark as to cause eye strain, but not too bright that it...well...causes eye strain. I realize this is completely subjective, and the units may vary some, but if you read in a room that is very dim to dark, what are you setting the brightness to?

Jim

I typically adjust the light level somewhere between 7 and 11 in dimly lit to dark rooms. I do occasionally change the level after reading a while. Perhaps because my eyes are adjusting over time. Not sure. I personally don't like reading in a totally dark room--too much eyestrain. So I use at least some ambient light other than the just the light on the PW2.

[Katsunami]

I've been reading in a totally dark room for some time to see if I can get used to it.

I start out at light level 11 or 12 just after I switch off the lamp, or the KPW1 is too dark. Then during the reading session of about an hour, the reader becomes too bright. I then drop the light to 10, 8, 6, and 5, sometimes even dropping to 4.

[evil_rock]

Wow, I didn't know that there were so many KP2 with screen problems. Maybe I should wait until amazon improve their quality control ...

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by evil_rock

Wow, I didn't know that there were so many KP2 with screen problems. Maybe I should wait until amazon improve their quality control ...

Don't wait. You cannot lose with Amazon's no questions asked guarantee. At the moment there are 491 five star reviews to only 30 one star reviews as shown here:

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Paperwh...owViewpoints=1

You will have to look far and wide on Amazon to get that ratio of 5 star to 1 star reviews: 16.37 to 1.

[FanciFreez]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I typically adjust the light level somewhere between 7 and 11 in dimly lit to dark rooms. I do occasionally change the level after reading a while. Perhaps because my eyes are adjusting over time. Not sure. I personally don't like reading in a totally dark room--too much eyestrain. So I use at least some ambient light other than the just the light on the PW2.

Good point.. I do exactly the same..

[Drew0020]

Originally Posted by evil_rock

Wow, I didn't know that there were so many KP2 with screen problems. Maybe I should wait until amazon improve their quality control ...

I'd say the quality control is terrible on the PW2 but that's an insult to quality control ha. It's really non-existant in my opinion.

[FacebookVirus]

Originally Posted by evil_rock

Wow, I didn't know that there were so many KP2 with screen problems. Maybe I should wait until amazon improve their quality control ...

I bought from a local retailer so I could do an immediate return if needed. Was prepared to go through several units but the first try was a charm.

Going through Amazon could significantly lengthen the process, but I recommend the PW2. It's seriously good.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What change in font size are you referring to?

The available font sizes on the Paperwhite do not match those of my Kindle Keyboard. I've been using the 3rd largest font which gives 4-5 words per line and allows me to sort of speed read. The same font option is a smaller font on the Paperwhite and gives me 6+ words per line and the next size up gives 3, neither of which are ideal for the way I read.

Originally Posted by Synamon

The available font sizes on the Paperwhite do not match those of my Kindle Keyboard. I've been using the 3rd largest font which gives 4-5 words per line and allows me to sort of speed read. The same font option is a smaller font on the Paperwhite and gives me 6+ words per line and the next size up gives 3, neither of which are ideal for the way I read.

The older Kindles, pre-Paperwhite models, and the current non-touchscreen Kindles have a screen resolution of 600 x 800 pixels for 167 ppi. The Paperwhite 1 and 2 have a screen resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels for 212 ppi. We noticed when the PW1 came out last year how the text/font sizes (height of fonts on the screen) no longer matched, and it is because of the different resolutions. I'm surprised HarryT didn't remember that.

[AnemicOak]

Question for PW2 owners.

When I briefly had a PW1 last year I had a problem where it felt like I was reading through glass (that's the best I can explain it). There were a few other who mentioned the same thing, but most folks didn't seem to notice it or it just didn't occur for them. I'm wondering if anyone who noticed that with the PW1 also notices it with the PW2? The PW1 is the only eInk reader I've ever noticed it on and I found it a bit distracting. I have the opportunity to get a discount on a PW2 if I buy soon and am considering it, but hoped to know an answer to this first.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Question for PW2 owners.

When I briefly had a PW1 last year I had a problem where it felt like I was reading through glass (that's the best I can explain it). There were a few other who mentioned the same thing, but most folks didn't seem to notice it or it just didn't occur for them. I'm wondering if anyone who noticed that with the PW1 also notices it with the PW2? The PW1 is the only eInk reader I've ever noticed it on and I found it a bit distracting. I have the opportunity to get a discount on a PW2 if I buy soon and am considering it, but hoped to know an answer to this first.

I felt that way with the pw1, and I feel that way with the pw2. I keep going back and forth on whether I actually like the pw2 or not.

The pw2 has more even lighting, no color blobs, yet oddly enough that doesn't make it more readable for me. I could read ok with helvetica on pw1, but not with any of the built in fonts in pw2, though they are the same fonts and the resolution is the same.

The only way to know is to buy one and see for yourself.

[sparklemotion]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Question for PW2 owners.

When I briefly had a PW1 last year I had a problem where it felt like I was reading through glass (that's the best I can explain it). There were a few other who mentioned the same thing, but most folks didn't seem to notice it or it just didn't occur for them. I'm wondering if anyone who noticed that with the PW1 also notices it with the PW2? The PW1 is the only eInk reader I've ever noticed it on and I found it a bit distracting. I have the opportunity to get a discount on a PW2 if I buy soon and am considering it, but hoped to know an answer to this first.

I don't experience this myself, but my friend does and she complained about it on both the 1 and 2. Are you able to maybe check one out in person at Best Buy?

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Question for PW2 owners.

When I briefly had a PW1 last year I had a problem where it felt like I was reading through glass (that's the best I can explain it). There were a few other who mentioned the same thing, but most folks didn't seem to notice it or it just didn't occur for them. I'm wondering if anyone who noticed that with the PW1 also notices it with the PW2? The PW1 is the only eInk reader I've ever noticed it on and I found it a bit distracting. I have the opportunity to get a discount on a PW2 if I buy soon and am considering it, but hoped to know an answer to this first.

I felt like that with my PW1, and I do not feel like that with PW2. The text seems much crisper to me.