Returned kindle 2 for low text contrast - Page 2

JSWolf · 03-04-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

Then why does E-ink corp. list the Vizplex screen as having 3 bit grayscale when we know the K2 has 4 bit?

Quote:

According to Sriram K. Peruvemba, Vice President, Marketing, E Ink Corp., the Kindle 2 has been launched with the E Ink Vizplex display.

So unless E Ink Corp is lying to us, it is a Vizplex screen.

pshrynk · 03-04-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Well if you mean by the same "company", same "brand", sure, but it's a different model. It's like saying the iPhone and the iPhone 3G are the "same" phone.

Edit: You know it's difficult having an argument with someone with your avatar...

Inconceiveable!

Nate the great · 03-04-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So unless E Ink Corp is lying to us, it is a Vizplex screen.

?linky?

JSWolf · 03-04-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

?linky?

Here is a link to the e-ink's website that does say that Vizplex has 4-bit Grayscale Capability http://www.e-ink.com/products/matrix/High_Res.html

Also, the quote was taken from http://www.ciol.com/Semicon/Product-...10209115844/0/

Ian · 03-04-2009, 01:08 PM

OK, so it seems to be the same screen - thanks for the update...

...so why is the text not as sharp as it has been -- and could be?

What is the liklihood for a firmware upgrade to fix this?

Any ideas?

Thanks-

-Ian

JSWolf · 03-04-2009, 01:10 PM

Well there is a 2.0.1 firmware out that has no accompanying info about.

pshrynk · 03-04-2009, 02:49 PM

My K2 is 2.0 and I don't have any problems with the contrast. It is better than the K1, actually.

Bookathon · 03-04-2009, 02:53 PM

I had installed 2.0.1 firmware before I sent it off but it made no difference at all. Now reading this discussion I am confused as to why this new 16 bit gray scale screen is inferior to 4 bit screen on kindle1 for text reading.

I admit pictures are definitely sharper but who looks at pictures, kindle is a reading device, we want to read on it most of the time.

This is same as sony has done to prs 700 from 505, what a step back.

TallMomof2 · 03-04-2009, 03:24 PM

For text there appears to be a slight difference in contrast between the K1 and the K2. My K1 is a year old and well used. The K2 seems to have a slightly darker background. Pictures are much better on the K2, I can see the difference in having more gray scale.

I wonder if it's a difference in production runs since it is the same screen?

FWIW, I'm running 2.0.1. Amazon must have pushed it out.

AnemicOak · 03-04-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshrynk

My K2 is 2.0 and I don't have any problems with the contrast. It is better than the K1, actually.

No contrast problems here either. No K1 to compare it to, but I did a side by side with the Sony 505 and it's the same as far as I can see. It did take a bit to get used to the K2 font when I was so used to the Sony's.

Mr. Goodbar · 03-04-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

No contrast problems here either. No K1 to compare it to, but I did a side by side with the Sony 505 and it's the same as far as I can see. It did take a bit to get used to the K2 font when I was so used to the Sony's.

The fonts can make a big difference. To my eyes it seems the k2 font is a little less bold when compared to the k1 and certainly so when compared to the Sony.

KindleMan · 03-04-2009, 07:51 PM

I found my first Kindle 2's screen contrast dark also. Enough so that I called Customer Service and they sent a second one. (It bugged me enuf that I was seriously considering returning the Kindle 2 and going back to my Sony PRS-505) The second Kindle 2's screen color appears the same, but the letters are a bit darker making enough of a difference that I've decided to keep the Kindle 2. The screen color is the same as my Sony PRS-505 but the contrast is not as good on the Kindle 2 as the Sony's. It appears to me that Amazon is not using the darkest color they can with the regular text so that they can use the darkest text in Bold letter applications. Hopefully in the future there will be a setting to change the darkness of the letters.

humblemumble · 03-04-2009, 08:33 PM

I thought that the kindle 2 had a better screen than original???

alphabet55 · 03-04-2009, 08:49 PM

Hmm... low contrast may be a problem for me. I may just have to wait and see if Amazon fixes this before I buy one. D:

susan_cassidy · 03-04-2009, 08:51 PM

I saw a post somewhere where the poster said that they had talked to Kindle Support and that the K2 used dark gray one level down from the darkest for regular text, and the darkest for bold. Instead of using darkest for all text like K1. I think it was on the Amazon forum, and who knows if KS was right.

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03-04-2009, 01:08 PM	#20
Ian Member Posts: 17 Karma: 34 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle	OK, so it seems to be the same screen - thanks for the update... ...so why is the text not as sharp as it has been -- and could be? What is the liklihood for a firmware upgrade to fix this? Any ideas? Thanks- -Ian

03-04-2009, 01:10 PM	#21
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,894 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Well there is a 2.0.1 firmware out that has no accompanying info about.

03-04-2009, 02:49 PM	#22
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	My K2 is 2.0 and I don't have any problems with the contrast. It is better than the K1, actually.

03-04-2009, 02:53 PM	#23
Bookathon Bookaholic Posts: 72 Karma: 142 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: Kindle 1, 3, Ipad	I had installed 2.0.1 firmware before I sent it off but it made no difference at all. Now reading this discussion I am confused as to why this new 16 bit gray scale screen is inferior to 4 bit screen on kindle1 for text reading. I admit pictures are definitely sharper but who looks at pictures, kindle is a reading device, we want to read on it most of the time. This is same as sony has done to prs 700 from 505, what a step back.

03-04-2009, 03:24 PM	#24
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	For text there appears to be a slight difference in contrast between the K1 and the K2. My K1 is a year old and well used. The K2 seems to have a slightly darker background. Pictures are much better on the K2, I can see the difference in having more gray scale. I wonder if it's a difference in production runs since it is the same screen? FWIW, I'm running 2.0.1. Amazon must have pushed it out.

03-04-2009, 07:51 PM	#27
KindleMan Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 22 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Kindle	I found my first Kindle 2's screen contrast dark also. Enough so that I called Customer Service and they sent a second one. (It bugged me enuf that I was seriously considering returning the Kindle 2 and going back to my Sony PRS-505) The second Kindle 2's screen color appears the same, but the letters are a bit darker making enough of a difference that I've decided to keep the Kindle 2. The screen color is the same as my Sony PRS-505 but the contrast is not as good on the Kindle 2 as the Sony's. It appears to me that Amazon is not using the darkest color they can with the regular text so that they can use the darkest text in Bold letter applications. Hopefully in the future there will be a setting to change the darkness of the letters.

03-04-2009, 08:33 PM	#28
humblemumble Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2	I thought that the kindle 2 had a better screen than original???

03-04-2009, 08:49 PM	#29
alphabet55 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Possibly a Kindle 2	Hmm... low contrast may be a problem for me. I may just have to wait and see if Amazon fixes this before I buy one. D:

03-04-2009, 08:51 PM	#30
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I saw a post somewhere where the poster said that they had talked to Kindle Support and that the K2 used dark gray one level down from the darkest for regular text, and the darkest for bold. Instead of using darkest for all text like K1. I think it was on the Amazon forum, and who knows if KS was right.

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