Do you own more than 1 ereader?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Never had a 350, but I've only very recently removed my BeBook Mini from my bag... Battery life was worst than the cheapest tablet I've owned...

I picked up a PRS-350 on Shop Goodwill last week, that's supposed to ship tomorrow (today). I'm looking forward to trying it out. The one Kobo I would like to pick up (if I could get one at a "reasonable price" (i.e. cheap)) is a Kobo Mini. I would love to see a 5" Kindle.

EDIT: (I shouldn't say "the one Kobo," because I'm also thinking of picking up a Kobo Touch (more likely of the two). Whatever happened to the Kobo Touch 2? It seems like it came out and was gone in the same week.)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I picked up a PRS-350 on Shop Goodwill last week, that' supposed to ship tomorrow (today). I'm looking forward to trying it out. The one Kobo I would like to pick up (if I could get one at a "reasonable price" (i.e. cheap)) is a Kobo Mini. I would love to see a 5" Kindle.

I wouldn't get a Mini because I want a lighted screen. But if Kobo were to experiment with a Mini Edition 2 (with a lighted screen), I'd bite!

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I wouldn't get a Mini because I want a lighted screen. But if Kobo were to experiment with a Mini Edition 2 (with a lighted screen), I'd bite!

My eyes and front-lit eReaders are still having issues. (When I tried the GlowLight 3 at Barnes & Noble again, I had the same "can't quite focus" problem I've had with others.) It could just be aging. It might be that I'll have to look into reading glasses. But I don't have these issues with non-front-lit eReaders.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My eyes and front-lit eReaders are still having issues. (When I tried the GlowLight 3 at Barnes & Noble again, I had the same "can't quite focus" problem I've had with others.) It could just be aging. It might be that I'll have to look into reading glasses. But I don't have these issues with non-front-lit eReaders.

I sure hope it's not aging. I'm 77 now and I expect to begin aging any time.

Did you try dimming the light. I generally keep my light on my Kindle at about 11, 12 or 13. Usually 12. On my Glowlight 3 I find it most comfortable just a hair past the middle.

If I turn them up much higher than that the background gets brighter and the text gets lighter, making it hard to focus.

Barry

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My eyes and front-lit eReaders are still having issues. (When I tried the GlowLight 3 at Barnes & Noble again, I had the same "can't quite focus" problem I've had with others.) It could just be aging. It might be that I'll have to look into reading glasses. But I don't have these issues with non-front-lit eReaders.

It isn't age. I have problems with lit screens myself.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by barryem

I sure hope it's not aging. I'm 77 now and I expect to begin aging any time.

Did you try dimming the light. I generally keep my light on my Kindle at about 11, 12 or 13. Usually 12. On my Glowlight 3 I find it most comfortable just a hair past the middle.

If I turn them up much higher than that the background gets brighter and the text gets lighter, making it hard to focus.

My problem is I can't seem to find a "right" setting. Too bright and I have the same problem you mention (text fading out). Too dim and I find myself squinting. Somewhere in the middle is usually where I would go, but then I find myself continually having to refocus or move the reader closer or further. It's like the text is "floating" off the screen. It's irritating.

My Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight is not quite as bad for me, but after reading 20 to 30 minutes on that one it becomes a chore to keep my "focus" also. I have a lot less trouble during the day than at night with these, so it might have something to do with dark and light contrast and peripheral vision. I don't know. I've just about given up trying to figure it out.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

It isn't age. I have problems with lit screens myself.

I think you're right. It's got something to do with the way my eyes focus (or don't focus) when using front-lit readers. I could never get those weird patterned posters to turn into pictures either.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I think you're right. It's got something to do with the way my eyes focus (or don't focus) when using front-lit readers. I could never get those weird patterned posters to turn into pictures either.

I think your issue lies in the screen that is sunk in below the lightguide layer. Even on a flush screen (Voyage or Oasis are the only ones I have personally seen/owned) the eink screen itself is sunk in. About a half millimeter or so - enough that I can easily see the difference compared to the top of the black bezel. When having the front light off you can see the shadows from the light (like non-flush screens only smaller). This gives a good optical clue as to the difference in distance to focus. Turn on the front light and the shadows disappear removing any visual clue where to focus. The illusion that the text is same height as the bezel is created.

That normally is not a problem if you are able to refocus without turning eyes. Same principle applies to them magic pictures - you have to cross your eyes either in or out, focus behind or infront, then refocus on the picture.

Don't feel bad, your eyes are supposed to focus where they look.

[barryem]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight is not quite as bad for me, but after reading 20 to 30 minutes on that one it becomes a chore to keep my "focus" also.

I have problems similar to that reading on my phone. With my older LCD phone, a Nexus 5, 15 or 20 minutes was my limit. On my Samsung with it's AMOLED display it's more like 20 or 30 minutes. I've found that a very short break, a minute or two, and then I can read another 20 or 30 minutes and I'm fine. If I don't take that break I'm done reading for the day.

I have a lot less trouble during the day than at night with these, so it might have something to do with dark and light contrast and peripheral vision. I don't know. I've just about given up trying to figure it out.

In daytime the light doesn't really matter. I leave mine on when I read outside but I've experimented with leaving it off and I can't really tell the difference. In a bright room I can tell the difference but it's still very readable either way. I suspect the light has little effect in a bright place, good or bad. And the brighter the place the less effect the light has.

Barry

[HLS]

Originally Posted by rcentros

My eyes and front-lit eReaders are still having issues. (When I tried the GlowLight 3 at Barnes & Noble again, I had the same "can't quite focus" problem I've had with others.) It could just be aging. It might be that I'll have to look into reading glasses. But I don't have these issues with non-front-lit eReaders.

I have same issue without glasses. You probably need glasses LOL

[HLS]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I do that for Fires. Never thought of it for readers. They are more content based. So the Voyage is primarily current stuff like book clubs and library, one K3 devoted to cozies, one unit devoted to series, one unit now for magazines (like Asimov), the Nook ST is just for B&N cloud now, the Glo is a take-a-long as is the K8. I can still remember when I only had a single ereader (K3).

I like my fires for reading away like in a park or at work. If dopped or stolen no big deal. I hate to damage my $600 iPad or $270 kindle. The oasis cover and ipad smart cover really does not protect. They do not seem to make cases that covers the whole device.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I think your issue lies in the screen that is sunk in below the lightguide layer. Even on a flush screen (Voyage or Oasis are the only ones I have personally seen/owned) the eink screen itself is sunk in. About a half millimeter or so - enough that I can easily see the difference compared to the top of the black bezel. When having the front light off you can see the shadows from the light (like non-flush screens only smaller). This gives a good optical clue as to the difference in distance to focus. Turn on the front light and the shadows disappear removing any visual clue where to focus. The illusion that the text is same height as the bezel is created.

That normally is not a problem if you are able to refocus without turning eyes. Same principle applies to them magic pictures - you have to cross your eyes either in or out, focus behind or infront, then refocus on the picture.

Don't feel bad, your eyes are supposed to focus where they look.

Thanks for the explanation. I'm guessing this is probably closer to (if not right on) to any explanation than I've been able to figure out. But I'm not sure why it doesn't affect most others.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by barryem

I have problems similar to that reading on my phone. With my older LCD phone, a Nexus 5, 15 or 20 minutes was my limit. On my Samsung with it's AMOLED display it's more like 20 or 30 minutes. I've found that a very short break, a minute or two, and then I can read another 20 or 30 minutes and I'm fine. If I don't take that break I'm done reading for the day.

I don't have this problem with LCD screens. (I don't like them for other reasons, but focusing is not an issue.)

Originally Posted by barryem

In daytime the light doesn't really matter. I leave mine on when I read outside but I've experimented with leaving it off and I can't really tell the difference. In a bright room I can tell the difference but it's still very readable either way. I suspect the light has little effect in a bright place, good or bad. And the brighter the place the less effect the light has.

I leave the light on when using my ST w/GL because the screen is too "murky" with it off. At daytime I don't have the issues that I have at night with focusing – or at least these are not as noticeable.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

I have same issue without glasses. You probably need glasses LOL

But that wouldn't explain why non-front-lit e-Readers seem to work fine. If glasses are the "cure" for front-lit focus issue (and they could be), then I'll stick with non-front-lit e-Readers until they start getting blurry also. I don't like to do anything "close" with my glasses on.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by kcladyz

I like my fires for reading away like in a park or at work. If dopped or stolen no big deal. I hate to damage my $600 iPad or $270 kindle. The oasis cover and ipad smart cover really does not protect. They do not seem to make cases that covers the whole device.

Have you considered getting an inexpensive Kindle Touch or Non Touch? I would think they would be easier to read the sunlight than a Kindle Fire. And they are actually cheaper (at least on Woot now) than are the Fires.