PRS-T1 T1 screen compared to Kindle Touch

dr1ver · 12-19-2011, 01:40 AM

i couldn't decide btw the 2 so i bought both to compare.

i really like the screen of the kindle compared to the T1. the background on the kindle is noticeably lighter than the T1 and the text is darker and crisper than the T1 also. i'm not sure how well this can be seen in the pic, but i can certainly tell. i've tried all the fonts available on the T1 and they all look less defined and more "fuzzy" than the kindle's.

on the other hand, the T1 is noticeably lighter. an ounce really makes a difference after about 30 mins of holding it with 1 hand. i also like physical buttons for turning pages with 1 hand. also, the glossy bezel of the T1 doesn't bother me like i thought it would. however, i've only used it at night so i might change my mind outdoors.

i don't use the audio features, nor the browser so i don't care about those things. if i hadn't used the kindle touch, i'd think the T1's screen was fine. but unfortunately i have. so each time i use the T1, i can't help but think about how much better the kindle's screen is. i don't know which one to keep now

ThomasK · 12-19-2011, 05:19 AM

I've read somewhere that there is a different classes of eInk Pearl: A and B.
PRS-T1 has A class display and Kindle Touch B class. I have only Sony reader, so I can't compare those two. Maybe someone here knows better.

Ripplinger · 12-19-2011, 05:24 AM

From the pictures, it actually looks like the Sony has the lighter background. Did you try adjusting the brightness/contrast on the Sony? That will show a remarkable difference compared to default. Also change the default font to something better, I think generally Amasis is considered quite good by T1 users so far. Sony's default font isn't as good as Kindle's Caecilia font.

But the screens are identical e-ink. It's possible to get variations though between screens, even from the same manufacturer, it's just the luck of the draw. I have 2 PRS-350s and the 2nd one I bought is noticeably brighter with better contrast. Not that the first one isn't still a pure joy to read from, just the variations you can encounter. Someone else having both the 650 and T1 might have a brighter T1 compared to their Kindle.

rashkae · 12-19-2011, 08:47 AM

The contrast settings on the T1 won't really change the actual contrast of black and white. All you'll do to text is reduce the anti-aliasing and end up with text that has more visible jagged edges (and therefore appear less blurry) if you prefer to read that way.

Unfortunately, Sony released the T1 with a broken font rendering engine. Changing the default font (to Amasis for example, whcih does look very good) is a good way to ensure that text formatting (such as Italics) doesn't always (I find, often doesn't) work. To improve the visual rendering of ebooks on the Sony without glaring flaws, you pretty much have to embed the font in th epub.

lkkmaths · 12-19-2011, 08:55 AM

I've come across 350, T1 and K3.

I like 350 best because of its crisp fonts and most comfortable form factor.

But honestly I feel K3 has the sharpest contrast and is easiest to read, though 350 comes close.

Once my dream reader is a kindle with 350 form factor. It never comes true. (Once I install kindle fonts on 350. They just do not look the same.)

BlackVoid · 12-19-2011, 09:26 AM

The comparison is invalid, because you are not using the same font.

BlackVoid · 12-19-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rashkae

Unfortunately, Sony released the T1 with a broken font rendering engine.

Is that still the case with the latest firmware? Has Sony acknowledged this problem?

JoHunt · 12-19-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr1ver

i couldn't decide btw the 2 so i bought both to compare.

i really like the screen of the kindle compared to the T1. the background on the kindle is noticeably lighter than the T1 and the text is darker and crisper than the T1 also. i'm not sure how well this can be seen in the pic, but i can certainly tell. i've tried all the fonts available on the T1 and they all look less defined and more "fuzzy" than the kindle's.

In order to compare the screens accurately, you need to switch the positions of the readers while comparing. That is, compare them first with the Kindle on the left and then with the TI on the left.

Someone pointed out in another thread that a slight difference in light really makes a difference when doing such comparison.

As for which one to keep, I would base my decision solely on which one is better for reading. Maybe try the same book 10 minutes on each and see which is preferable.

Asawi · 12-19-2011, 09:51 AM

I don't think the screen is what makes most of the difference here, but rather the font. The Kindles I have played with use a very saturated font. To compare the screens, like it has been pointed out, you need to have the same font on both devices.
Some people think the very saturated Kindle font is great (it does make reading easier), others hate the look of it. Me, I'm somewhere in between, but I have put a more saturated font on my Sony 950 for better visibility (one of Georgia eInk fonts).

Pomtroll · 12-19-2011, 10:33 AM

I just compared my Kindle Touch to My T1. The background on my T1 is a bit (not much) darker than on my KT. The fonts on the KT are bolder than the fonts on the T1.

I guess I hadn't really payed any attention till OP brought it up.

Bookworm_Girl · 12-19-2011, 11:08 AM

There was a recent discussion on this topic with more image comparisons in this thread link.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156446

My opinion is that the T1 is the best of the 6 & 7" Sony models for readability. It is much improved from past models, and I am very pleased with it. I've had the 500, 505, 900 & 950. Text is darker, and I really like the font options. I have a K3 too, and it looks nice as well. However, I read more on my T1 than on my K3. If you visit the Kindle forums, several posters are upset with their K4's because they think the screen is not as nice as the K3. I think all that really matters is can you read comfortably on it and does it work for your eyes.

Lalilulelo · 12-19-2011, 11:14 AM

First time I read the background of the Kindle is whiter than that of the T1. All the reviews I've come across say different, some of which went thru the trouble of taking pictures, and using the eyedropper tool to measure the amount of light with photo editor programs. But then just like battery performance, this could differ from one reader to the next.

Ripplinger · 12-19-2011, 11:24 AM

Here's the most recent threads discussing the screen variations:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156446
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=155365&page=4 (Page 4 is where the screen variation comes up in this thread.)

DirkGently · 12-19-2011, 11:29 AM

PRS-T1 is my first reader and I can't compare with anything at all but annoyingly enough I find the screen quite dark. I have no idea how I'm going to get used to this.
Damn if only I had known about panel lottery in the devices beforehand.

feenix1363 · 12-19-2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirkGently

PRS-T1 is my first reader and I can't compare with anything at all but annoyingly enough I find the screen quite dark. I have no idea how I'm going to get used to this.
Damn if only I had known about panel lottery in the devices beforehand.

Pick yourself up a PRS600, use it for a month and you'll be happy with the T1 for the rest of your life.

12-19-2011, 01:40 AM	#1
dr1ver Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: NOOK STR	T1 screen compared to Kindle Touch i couldn't decide btw the 2 so i bought both to compare. i really like the screen of the kindle compared to the T1. the background on the kindle is noticeably lighter than the T1 and the text is darker and crisper than the T1 also. i'm not sure how well this can be seen in the pic, but i can certainly tell. i've tried all the fonts available on the T1 and they all look less defined and more "fuzzy" than the kindle's. on the other hand, the T1 is noticeably lighter. an ounce really makes a difference after about 30 mins of holding it with 1 hand. i also like physical buttons for turning pages with 1 hand. also, the glossy bezel of the T1 doesn't bother me like i thought it would. however, i've only used it at night so i might change my mind outdoors. i don't use the audio features, nor the browser so i don't care about those things. if i hadn't used the kindle touch, i'd think the T1's screen was fine. but unfortunately i have. so each time i use the T1, i can't help but think about how much better the kindle's screen is. i don't know which one to keep now Attached Thumbnails

12-19-2011, 09:51 AM	#9
Asawi Gadgetoholic Posts: 1,462 Karma: 2731820 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Libra2, Tolino Vision 6	I don't think the screen is what makes most of the difference here, but rather the font. The Kindles I have played with use a very saturated font. To compare the screens, like it has been pointed out, you need to have the same font on both devices. Some people think the very saturated Kindle font is great (it does make reading easier), others hate the look of it. Me, I'm somewhere in between, but I have put a more saturated font on my Sony 950 for better visibility (one of Georgia eInk fonts). Last edited by Asawi; 12-19-2011 at 09:53 AM.

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12-19-2011, 05:19 AM	#2
ThomasK Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	I've read somewhere that there is a different classes of eInk Pearl: A and B. PRS-T1 has A class display and Kindle Touch B class. I have only Sony reader, so I can't compare those two. Maybe someone here knows better.

12-19-2011, 05:24 AM	#3
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	From the pictures, it actually looks like the Sony has the lighter background. Did you try adjusting the brightness/contrast on the Sony? That will show a remarkable difference compared to default. Also change the default font to something better, I think generally Amasis is considered quite good by T1 users so far. Sony's default font isn't as good as Kindle's Caecilia font. But the screens are identical e-ink. It's possible to get variations though between screens, even from the same manufacturer, it's just the luck of the draw. I have 2 PRS-350s and the 2nd one I bought is noticeably brighter with better contrast. Not that the first one isn't still a pure joy to read from, just the variations you can encounter. Someone else having both the 650 and T1 might have a brighter T1 compared to their Kindle.

12-19-2011, 08:47 AM	#4
rashkae Wizard Posts: 1,147 Karma: 5061953 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD	The contrast settings on the T1 won't really change the actual contrast of black and white. All you'll do to text is reduce the anti-aliasing and end up with text that has more visible jagged edges (and therefore appear less blurry) if you prefer to read that way. Unfortunately, Sony released the T1 with a broken font rendering engine. Changing the default font (to Amasis for example, whcih does look very good) is a good way to ensure that text formatting (such as Italics) doesn't always (I find, often doesn't) work. To improve the visual rendering of ebooks on the Sony without glaring flaws, you pretty much have to embed the font in th epub.

12-19-2011, 08:55 AM	#5
lkkmaths Member Posts: 20 Karma: 17910 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle 3; PRS-350	I've come across 350, T1 and K3. I like 350 best because of its crisp fonts and most comfortable form factor. But honestly I feel K3 has the sharpest contrast and is easiest to read, though 350 comes close. Once my dream reader is a kindle with 350 form factor. It never comes true. (Once I install kindle fonts on 350. They just do not look the same.)

12-19-2011, 09:26 AM	#6
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	The comparison is invalid, because you are not using the same font.

12-19-2011, 10:33 AM	#10
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I just compared my Kindle Touch to My T1. The background on my T1 is a bit (not much) darker than on my KT. The fonts on the KT are bolder than the fonts on the T1. I guess I hadn't really payed any attention till OP brought it up.

12-19-2011, 11:08 AM	#11
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	There was a recent discussion on this topic with more image comparisons in this thread link. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156446 My opinion is that the T1 is the best of the 6 & 7" Sony models for readability. It is much improved from past models, and I am very pleased with it. I've had the 500, 505, 900 & 950. Text is darker, and I really like the font options. I have a K3 too, and it looks nice as well. However, I read more on my T1 than on my K3. If you visit the Kindle forums, several posters are upset with their K4's because they think the screen is not as nice as the K3. I think all that really matters is can you read comfortably on it and does it work for your eyes.

12-19-2011, 11:14 AM	#12
Lalilulelo Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7298 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Algeria Device: Sony PRS-T1	First time I read the background of the Kindle is whiter than that of the T1. All the reviews I've come across say different, some of which went thru the trouble of taking pictures, and using the eyedropper tool to measure the amount of light with photo editor programs. But then just like battery performance, this could differ from one reader to the next.

12-19-2011, 11:24 AM	#13
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Here's the most recent threads discussing the screen variations: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=156446 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=155365&page=4 (Page 4 is where the screen variation comes up in this thread.)

12-19-2011, 11:29 AM	#14
DirkGently Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1	PRS-T1 is my first reader and I can't compare with anything at all but annoyingly enough I find the screen quite dark. I have no idea how I'm going to get used to this. Damn if only I had known about panel lottery in the devices beforehand.

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