New Basic Kindle arrived today

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

Just received my basic Kindle today. I love that I can read outside, but I didn't realize in the house, in the evening I would need an external light.

Now I realize the difference between it and the Paperwhite.

How many here use the frontlight feature and what do you think of it?

Amy

What I think of it?

If you can still return this Basic Kindle and swap it for a Paperwhite, I'd do so ASAP. After having an ereader with a front-light, I'd hate to use one without it.

While you can read in complete darkness, or very, very dim light, I do not really like that. If you do that and use the Kindle as the only (or main) light source, there is not much difference between the Kindle Paperwhite or a tablet. As I hate using a laptop or tablet in complete darkness (or watch TV in a completely dark room), I don't use my Kindle as such.

However, where the Paperwhite shines (literally) is in between the "just too dim to read a normal book comfortably (but could, if you tried)" and "normal" to "moderately bright" lighting conditions. In these conditions, you can use the front-light to brighten the Kindle up to a point where the front-light blends nicely with the ambient light, but without it being so bright that the Kindle looks like an LCD-screen. It's bright as can be, *without* looking illuminated by artifical means. That's where the Kindle's front-light sweet spot is, for me.

It's very easy: just turn the front-light to 0, and then slide it upward, stopping *just* before the Kindle starts to look illuminated and "LCD-ish". You'll see what I mean. The required front-light level can be different in different circumstances.

When you achieve the right setting, the device looks like a white, very high quality piece of paper, especially when you use a good dark font. I've gotten so used to this that I go like: "How could I ever have read on something like *this*?! It's so dark and yellowish grey. Blergh!" when I see the Kindle Touch of one of my friends....

So... as I said above: I'd switch your Basic to a Paperwhite. It'll blow your socks off. (And there will be people telling you to hold off, because *some* people are unlucky and get a Kindle with a severely uneven or discolored screen, but I still believe that this is a minority.)

[caleb72]

Love the front-light. I wouldn't go back.

However, I know that people have really had some issues with this. It seems to be not only a matter of inconsistency in the device itself, but also a factor of the sensitivity of the owner. I have a feeling if some tried to read with my PW they would scream about how disgraceful the screen is - and they may well be right. But I might be less sensitive to any lighting inconsistencies that exist.

Another thing I would mention is that I love my PW in low light conditions. However, I'm not quite as fond of it in complete darkness. I still use it often in bed to avoid the complaints of the significant other, but even setting the device at very low light settings I find the experience a bit weird with the screen being eerily luminescent. It actually helps a little if I increase my font size, but sometimes I just read on my Galaxy Note instead with its white writing on black screen.

[alexonay]

The Paperwhite is Awesome, I Love it. And the front light makes it very easy to read in the dark and also in the shinning sunlight. It's great.

[gal_amy]

Originally Posted by jswinden

All the PWs I had sucked. I'll never buy another eInk reader with ANY kind of additional layer that sits on top of the eInk screen. I prefer an iPhone or iPad for low light reading. IMO, eInk screens were never designed for nor intended for low light reading, and any attempt to modify them for that is going to result in a diminished quality of reading.

Since this is my first Kindle, I didn't want to spend so much money even for the basic one. I am hoping it will restart my desire to read something more than email or browse the Internet forums. (Which is my passion)

*-~*Amy

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

[...] browse the Internet forums. (Which is my passion)

And you've joined MobileRead? You're doomed....

[JLeighs]

The only reason I wanted the Paperwhite was because of the front-lit screen. I absolutely love the fact that I no longer need to rely on outside light sources to read. One of my favorite summer pastimes is to read outside in the evening. I used to go outside and wave my arm to activate the security lights so that I could read. Doing that every 5 minutes got a bit tiresome (and I'm quite sure my neighbors thought I was a bit deranged...). I discovered lots of other things I love about the PW once I got it, but it was the light that prompted me to get it. Otherwise I would still be happily reading on my K3.

[gal_amy]

Originally Posted by JLeighs

The only reason I bought the Paperwhite was because of the front-lit screen. I absolutely love the fact that I no longer need to rely on outside light sources to read. y it. Otherwise I would still be happily reading on my K3.

I went to best buy today to see the difference. I had my Kindle 4 NT with me. You are right about the screen being so much brighter
But I felt the touch screen was hard to turn, but then I am used to the super sensitive iPad

*~*Amy

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

I went to best buy today to see the difference. I had my Kindle 4 NT with me. You are right about the screen being so much brighter
But I felt the touch screen was hard to turn, but then I am used to the super sensitive iPad

*~*Amy

It's not. The screen probably needed cleaning. PW is really sensitive when the screen is clean.

[twobob]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's not. The screen probably needed cleaning. PW is really sensitive when the screen is clean.

Have to second that. The lightest of taps does the job

[JLeighs]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

I went to best buy today to see the difference. I had my Kindle 4 NT with me. You are right about the screen being so much brighter
But I felt the touch screen was hard to turn, but then I am used to the super sensitive iPad

*~*Amy

I can't compare it to the iPad since I don't have one, but the touch screen on my PW is very responsive.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's not. The screen probably needed cleaning. PW is really sensitive when the screen is clean.

It's actually so sensitive that I often see the page turning just before I feel the screen itself.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

It's actually so sensitive that I often see the page turning just before I feel the screen itself.

Yeah me too. I often accidentally turn the page even with cold fingers. It's more responsive than my other tablets.

[forsooth]

Originally Posted by gal_amy

Just received my basic Kindle today. I love that I can read outside, but I didn't realize in the house, in the evening I would need an external light.

Now I realize the difference between it and the Paperwhite.

How many here use the frontlight feature and what do you think of it?

Amy

use candle lantern down in mine

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Blossom

It's not. The screen probably needed cleaning. PW is really sensitive when the screen is clean.

I concur with the clean screen but I've also found my hands need to be washed sometimes before I read. They aren't particularly dirty but I think a little grease or oil is a problem.

I always give extra consideration to people who buy Apple products. It's pity.

[Panda Rose]

I bought the lighted case for this reason. My next kindle will be a paperwhite, but I dont actually need one yet. I have got an iPad mini, but we havent had any sunlight here yet to try it outside.