Black or White e-reader?

zerodB · 07-14-2016, 09:31 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm really keen to get a Paperwhite. I know the Kindles have some disadvantages in being locked into Amazon's ecosystem, but I'm happy to play around with Calibre to convert ebooks purchased from non-Amazon stores, and I'm reasonably tech-savvy, so I'm happy to jailbreak to get some of those handy extra features. Plus the books on Amazon seem to be ever so slightly cheaper than on some of the other stores.

But I can't decide on which colour to get!!! Black or white? I know it just comes down to personal preference at the end of the day, and it won't effect the functionality of the reader in any way - but, you know, I still have to look at it!

I read that a black bezel makes the text background visually appear whiter, where as the white bezel makes the background seem more grey. But I suspect the difference is pretty marginal, especially with the backlight system on today's Kindles.

I also read that white bezel appears more like a "real book," because the white bezel is akin to the margins of a printed page, and you can therefore set narrower margins for the text on the screen itself.

I'm leaning towards the white one - as I say, personal preference at the end of the day, but I was wondering what you all thought! Do you prefer a black, or a white e-reader, and why?

eschwartz · 07-15-2016, 01:01 AM

I don't see an option for "the blue one next to the fish"....

Well, my Kindle is black. But it was the only model they had.

AnemicOak · 07-15-2016, 01:07 AM

I say grab whatever looks good to you. I've had white, silver, dark gray/gunmetal, dark brown and black and it's all good to me.

You don't list a country in you info, but I know in the US at least some retailers are carrying both colors so if that's an option you could always do a quick test drive to see if one works better for you than the other in person.

Sweetpea · 07-15-2016, 03:05 AM

Black. I personally find white device look cheap...

Julius Caesar · 07-15-2016, 03:27 AM

It would be interesting to see an owner of two identical Kindles, one with a black bezel and the other with a white bezel, comparing the two side by side and seeing which one looked better.

rraod · 07-15-2016, 04:09 AM

I would prefer a black color (or dark blue! is it true most men prefer this color?) for my devices, whether it is a eReader, cellphone or digital camera. Even metallic colors are also OK.

Sometimes white color devices loses their whiteness, becoming either yellow or grey, or get stained.

Cinisajoy · 07-15-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julius Caesar

It would be interesting to see an owner of two identical Kindles, one with a black bezel and the other with a white bezel, comparing the two side by side and seeing which one looked better.

Am I inside or outside?

booklover6 · 07-15-2016, 02:46 PM

I voted for white. If I was buying a PW I would get the white. I like my white Kobo.

Phogg · 07-15-2016, 06:43 PM

I get skins from Decalgirl or Skinit for my devices. Generally I either buy the cheapest one, or the darkest one as it would hide scratches that pierced the covering better.

JSWolf · 07-15-2016, 06:46 PM

Get the blue one next to the fish.

barryem · 07-16-2016, 01:34 PM

I have a black Paperwhite and a white Nook Glowlight Plus. Ignoring the interface differences when I put them side by side I think I like the white better. When I'm reading I never notice the difference.

I say pick the one you like and if you can't decide toss a coin and let fate decide.

Barry

JSWolf · 07-16-2016, 04:45 PM

If this wasn't a Kindle, I'd say go for white because then you could have the text closer to the bezel. But as it's a Kindle and you don't get text that close, go for the one you like best.

Julius Caesar · 07-17-2016, 05:01 AM

One thing you might want to consider is white e-reader is less likely to overheat while reading on a hot weather. White reflects heat while black absorbs it. The Kindle will shut itself down if it gets overheat due to hot weather.

pdurrant · 07-17-2016, 08:59 AM

I went for white. My current eReader is black, as have been most of my others. It would be interesting to try a white one next time.

nausica · 07-17-2016, 02:11 PM

Black, don't like white devices...

View Poll Results: Black or White?
Black	44	83.02%
White	9	16.98%
Voters: 53. You may not vote on this poll

07-14-2016, 09:31 PM	#1
zerodB Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2016 Device: None	Black or White e-reader? Hi everyone, I'm really keen to get a Paperwhite. I know the Kindles have some disadvantages in being locked into Amazon's ecosystem, but I'm happy to play around with Calibre to convert ebooks purchased from non-Amazon stores, and I'm reasonably tech-savvy, so I'm happy to jailbreak to get some of those handy extra features. Plus the books on Amazon seem to be ever so slightly cheaper than on some of the other stores. But I can't decide on which colour to get!!! Black or white? I know it just comes down to personal preference at the end of the day, and it won't effect the functionality of the reader in any way - but, you know, I still have to look at it! I read that a black bezel makes the text background visually appear whiter, where as the white bezel makes the background seem more grey. But I suspect the difference is pretty marginal, especially with the backlight system on today's Kindles. I also read that white bezel appears more like a "real book," because the white bezel is akin to the margins of a printed page, and you can therefore set narrower margins for the text on the screen itself. I'm leaning towards the white one - as I say, personal preference at the end of the day, but I was wondering what you all thought! Do you prefer a black, or a white e-reader, and why?

07-15-2016, 03:27 AM	#5
Julius Caesar Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1244808 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	It would be interesting to see an owner of two identical Kindles, one with a black bezel and the other with a white bezel, comparing the two side by side and seeing which one looked better. Last edited by Julius Caesar; 07-15-2016 at 03:41 AM.

07-15-2016, 04:09 AM	#6
rraod Bibliophile Posts: 59 Karma: 2017058 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle of the desert. Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I would prefer a black color (or dark blue! is it true most men prefer this color?) for my devices, whether it is a eReader, cellphone or digital camera. Even metallic colors are also OK. Sometimes white color devices loses their whiteness, becoming either yellow or grey, or get stained. Last edited by rraod; 07-15-2016 at 04:59 AM.

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07-15-2016, 01:01 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	I don't see an option for "the blue one next to the fish".... Well, my Kindle is black. But it was the only model they had.

07-15-2016, 01:07 AM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I say grab whatever looks good to you. I've had white, silver, dark gray/gunmetal, dark brown and black and it's all good to me. You don't list a country in you info, but I know in the US at least some retailers are carrying both colors so if that's an option you could always do a quick test drive to see if one works better for you than the other in person.

07-15-2016, 03:05 AM	#4
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Black. I personally find white device look cheap...

07-15-2016, 02:46 PM	#8
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I voted for white. If I was buying a PW I would get the white. I like my white Kobo.

07-15-2016, 06:43 PM	#9
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I get skins from Decalgirl or Skinit for my devices. Generally I either buy the cheapest one, or the darkest one as it would hide scratches that pierced the covering better.

07-15-2016, 06:46 PM	#10
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Get the blue one next to the fish.

07-16-2016, 01:34 PM	#11
barryem Wizard Posts: 2,459 Karma: 68781975 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Arkansas Device: Paperwhite 4	I have a black Paperwhite and a white Nook Glowlight Plus. Ignoring the interface differences when I put them side by side I think I like the white better. When I'm reading I never notice the difference. I say pick the one you like and if you can't decide toss a coin and let fate decide. Barry

07-16-2016, 04:45 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If this wasn't a Kindle, I'd say go for white because then you could have the text closer to the bezel. But as it's a Kindle and you don't get text that close, go for the one you like best.

07-17-2016, 05:01 AM	#13
Julius Caesar Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1244808 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	One thing you might want to consider is white e-reader is less likely to overheat while reading on a hot weather. White reflects heat while black absorbs it. The Kindle will shut itself down if it gets overheat due to hot weather.

07-17-2016, 08:59 AM	#14
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,496 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	I went for white. My current eReader is black, as have been most of my others. It would be interesting to try a white one next time.

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07-17-2016, 02:11 PM	#15
nausica Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 99878 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Italy Device: Energy Reader Pro	Black, don't like white devices...