legally blind reader

[brecklundin]

I might add a thought to consider it's not likely only a simply of text size.. The eink devices are not backlit and you likely need a high contrast screen. Since you won't have a light to help bring out the text, you might not have sufficient contrast on any current e-ink display.

My mom is legally blind due diabetic retinopathy and she cannot make out wording very well on the Sony 505. It uses the same display as the Kindle.

But the good news is if you do get a Kindle and can't read on it, it would likely sell on eBay for much more than you paid...or at least very very close by the time you get yours.

I would suggest if you have a Border's bookstore or some other retail outlet that carries the Sony devices call and see of they have a demo 505. If you can read that then you can read the Kindle. Or I should say if the contrast ratio is high enough for you.

[Utahcowboy]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

I might add a thought to consider it's not likely only a simply of text size.. The eink devices are not backlit and you likely need a high contrast screen. Since you won't have a light to help bring out the text, you might not have sufficient contrast on any current e-ink display.

My mom is legally blind due diabetic retinopathy and she cannot make out wording very well on the Sony 505. It uses the same display as the Kindle.

But the good news is if you do get a Kindle and can't read on it, it would likely sell on eBay for much more than you paid...or at least very very close by the time you get yours.

I would suggest if you have a Border's bookstore or some other retail outlet that carries the Sony devices call and see of they have a demo 505. If you can read that then you can read the Kindle. Or I should say if the contrast ratio is high enough for you.

This is a good point that you bring up, and is certainly one of my big concerns. However, I have already gone to a borders book store to look at sony's 505. The nice thing was that they had the demo hooked up right underneath a good light so I could see what it was like. I couldn't read the text even on the largest font size (which really isn't big at all) but I could easily see the difference between the text and the background. I also intend on only using it in well lit areas such as outside and in the classroom. But I guess I won't really know until I actually use one. I know that I won't be trying to use the thing at night in bed with a flashlight.

I intend on getting an ebook reader anyway and if it doesn't work out I will just send it back, but this could be really good information for other visually impaired people who would like to try something besides audio books to read from. When I decide on a device (I am leaning toward the Cybook because of its font size adjustment and text features) I will buy it, use it for a few days, and then post a review up about my findings that are specific for the visually impaired.

Thanks to everyone who gave me such good information and advice on this thread, it has been very helpful in helping me make a decision on a device!