Paperwhite Second Gen: First Impressions

[bounce]

After using f.lux so long on tablets and computers I find this blue tint screen on the Paperwhite 2 to be massively distracting. I've tried to get used to it for the past 25 days, but keep going back to Marvin on my Ipad (Jailbroken F.lux and Marvin's light warmth options) for a good reading experience. The silver blueness and sub par contrast keep my from getting in that reading zone. Will get the 69 Kindle and a light again and get used to not having features I liked like touch, pop-ups, etc.

[xendula]

My PW2 was pretty even, but lately, it has developed a greenish tint at the bottom of the screen, which is noticeable to me when I read in complete darkness at a low light level. It may be due to season related temperature differences, but I am a bit disappointed.

Sounds like you guys at least have the same amount of blue on the entire screen

[AniaR]

Hmmm, so far I don't have any blue/green on my screen and I really do hope that it stays that way!!!

[fearindex]

Originally Posted by xendula

My PW2 was pretty even, but lately, it has developed a greenish tint at the bottom of the screen, which is noticeable to me when I read in complete darkness at a low light level. It may be due to season related temperature differences, but I am a bit disappointed.

Sounds like you guys at least have the same amount of blue on the entire screen

I noticed some color splotching on my first PW2 and also some on my PW1, but on my replacement PW2 I haven't noticed significant color splotching, but there is some (much less than on the two previous devices mentioned) brightness unevenness of course. In the low light when the page seems quite blue, I don't see any other colors but there is some light unevenness even then. The splotching being a layer alignment/positioning/variance issue, maybe also affected by LED light variances, I can see how it could be different from unit to unit and depending on ambient circumstances.

Overall, the unevenness - whatever it is - in the replacement PW2 has crossed a mental threshold for me and even though I can see it when I want to, usually when I read I won't be bothered by it - unlike on the previous two units.

A much bigger problem with PW2 for me is the fact that it still looks like "one more screen in my day" as bounce so eloquently put it. Basic Kindles don't look like a screen, they look more like printed text.

[parkher]

Originally Posted by fearindex

much bigger problem with PW2 for me is the fact that it still looks like "one more screen in my day" as bounce so eloquently put it. Basic Kindles don't look like a screen, they look more like printed text.

So it is still not possible to turn the light off completely? Without a hack?
Or those two additional layers on top cause a visible deterioration?
Or is it a Carta thing?
Blue tint??

I have an opportunity to get a PW2, but I want a printed page, not a screen.

So far, I have only one reader with integrated light - 6.8" Kobo Aura HD.
I keep that light always off (thankfully, there is an on/off button) and I have to admit I don't feel the presence of that unnecessary layer - it feels just like Sony PRS-T2 - like printed text, not a screen. Oh, if only T3 were rooted!

[soulfuldog]

With the light at its lowest setting, and no it's not completely off at that setting, I think the screen looks absolutely fine in daylight or good indoor lighting. In low light conditions, I'm not so sure but then all I'm seeing is the blue tinge, which I am not completely sure all PW's have. The Carta screen helps with the clarity/contrast, it appears to be the combination of the capacitive screen and light guide that makes the fact you are reading on a screen more apparent - I personally think that's why the Aura HD looks good, whereas the Aura doesn't.

I'm going to try for a replacement. It was quite dull here today so I was able to test it in the exact conditions I wanted the lighted reader for, and just wasn't happy with the blue tinge. Initial e-mail support wasn't helpful, but after speaking to someone on the phone, I'll try a replacement. I really like the speed of the PW, but if the blue tinge is still there.... might just get the basic Kindle as I'd like something smaller than my K3 even if I can't get one with a light.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by l_macd

With the light at its lowest setting, and no it's not completely off at that setting, I think the screen looks absolutely fine in daylight or good indoor lighting. In low light conditions, I'm not so sure but then all I'm seeing is the blue tinge, which I am not completely sure all PW's have. The Carta screen helps with the clarity/contrast, it appears to be the combination of the capacitive screen and light guide that makes the fact you are reading on a screen more apparent - I personally think that's why the Aura HD looks good, whereas the Aura doesn't.

I'm going to try for a replacement. It was quite dull here today so I was able to test it in the exact conditions I wanted the lighted reader for, and just wasn't happy with the blue tinge. Initial e-mail support wasn't helpful, but after speaking to someone on the phone, I'll try a replacement. I really like the speed of the PW, but if the blue tinge is still there.... might just get the basic Kindle as I'd like something smaller than my K3 even if I can't get one with a light.

My PW1 does not have a blue tinged. If you set it to 3 you can see the eINK screen underneath so it's greenish but that is normal as a you bring the light down you are going to see normal eInk screen colors. I read with it at 8 or 5 and there is no weird colors at all so if yours has a blue tinged that's not normal.

l_macd, Mine is the opposite. In a well lit room with the PW2 light at about 12 the screen is quite obviously tinted blue. In a dimly lit room with the PW2 light at about 10 the screen is pee yellow. Text is cloudy and thin either way.

[soulfuldog]

Sounds like just about every one is different! To be honest, the fact the light on mine looks so good at higher levels (very even, nice white/yellow tone) and how it looks fine in good lighting with the light low makes me very wary of returning it in case I end up with one that's worse. The effect on the text is noticeable when the light starts to get brighter but with the light very low, I thought the text looked pretty good next to my K3.

I'll personally only ever use the light at fairly low levels though, and the more I tried to read on it today, the more I could see the blue tinge. Yesterday I only noticed it at 4/5 and below, today in dull conditions I felt I could still see it at 8/9. Perhaps I'm now being over-sensitive to the blue because I know it's there.

[sirmaru]

I keep my PW 2013 at a 15 of 24 light level and have never seen any blue anywhere. It appears some folks are just more able to see that blue tinge than others.

[fearindex]

Originally Posted by parkher

So it is still not possible to turn the light off completely? Without a hack?
Or those two additional layers on top cause a visible deterioration?

No, light can't be turned completely off, but it can be turned so down that it isn't an issue unless you are reading in absolute darkness (where you wouldn't see anything anyway were it turned off).

A much bigger issus is that the additional layers make the text appear beneath the surface, like on a screen. This, irrespective of the light level or ambient lighting.

One very easy way to notice the difference, in my experience, is dust on the screen. On non-lighted Kindles, like the $69 Kindle "4B", if there is dust on the screen, it looks like that dust is on the page of a book - like on printed text basically. Very similar to how dust would look were it on your page of a book. E-ink at its purest is very "magical", it generates e-ink particles right on top of the screen, like it were actually printed there.

On PWs, dust looks quite different. You don't see the PW touch and light layers (other than their slight fuzzying/less blackening effect) normally, but if you have dust on the screen or a pin-hole on top on the page, you probably immediately notice a big difference to basic Kindles - the dust is floating above the text, clearly and significantly above the text.

And that is one moment (there are others), where PW looses that e-ink magic and you look like you are looking at a window, instead of a page of a book.

[oecherprinte]

Hi Everyone,

I eventually got my PW2 3G. After reading all the negative reviews about faulty screens, I feel the need to say that my device has no screen faults.

Compared to my old Kindle Keyboard 3G it is a great device. Snappy fast and great to handle. However, I still like my old KK.

So not every device is faulty.

Cheers,

Jens

[krazy4katz]

Originally Posted by oecherprinte

Hi Everyone,

I eventually got my PW2 3G. After reading all the negative reviews about faulty screens, I feel the need to say that my device has no screen faults.

Compared to my old Kindle Keyboard 3G it is a great device. Snappy fast and great to handle. However, I still like my old KK.

So not every device is faulty.

Cheers,

Jens

Hi Jens,

Just out of curiosity, what do you still like about your KK? I have been considering upgrading from my KK but I keep wavering. I am not unhappy with it. I have an m-edge cover with the light which is still more convenient than a book. However the software on the PW2 intrigues me and, well, new devices are always fun!

Thanks,

k4k

[rhari79]

Can anyone help out?
I may have a chance to pick up a KPW. The seller claims this is the PW2.
I think PW1 has "Kindle" etched at the back, and PW2 has "amazon" instead (from youtube videos of the unboxings)

Is there any other way to physically identify a KPW, as KPW1 or KPW2..handled isolated?

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by rhari79

Can anyone help out?
I may have a chance to pick up a KPW. The seller claims this is the PW2.
I think PW1 has "Kindle" etched at the back, and PW2 has "amazon" instead (from youtube videos of the unboxings)

Is there any other way to physically identify a KPW, as KPW1 or KPW2..handled isolated?

No, they both look exactly the same, only difference is the PW1 says "Kindle" on the back while the PW2 has a glossy black "Amazon".