wow e-ink technology is soo bad compared to ipad screen

[Amazing Iceman]

I got a kindle for christmas and its cool and everything but e-ink is the most annoying thing i have ever experienced. the screen flashes every time you turn the page or scroll. i thought there was something wrong with mine, or a setting. no. it says on the welcome screen the flashing you see is the ink technology. its ab noxious. its like having a 500ms response time. (standard lcd is 5ms)

lastly, you cant hardley see it. its like black ink against a grey background. i have 2 lights in the center of my room and the room is 8 x 10 and its still hard to read because there isnt enough light. if your used to reading websites and articles online with a standard white background you wont like this. great for outside i suppose. but so far really hard to read. enlarging text on pdf is a nightmare as well. everything jumps from normal to huge so no matter what if you change the size even at its smallest adjustment you have to scroll.

there is no way my eyes could get used to that flashing every page turn or scroll. bye bye kindle your going back. knew i should have just got an ipad.

LOL... If you knew the difference between an LCD display and ePaper you wouldn't be complaining. ePaper refreshes ONLY when you turn a page of something changes on the screen. That's why the batteries last so long.
So don't expect to be able to play a game or watch a movie on an eReader any time soon.
LCDs refresh several times per second, currently between 60 to 240 times per second depending on the display.

The Kindle is like holding a regular piece of paper; if there's not enough light, you won't be able to read it.

Good thing I didn't get an eReader. I didn't like their limited display capabilities either. I do most of my reading on my iPad, and couldn't be happier.

 

[Dumbledorelives]

Yet apple fails to have it act like real paper.

The flash is a side effect of the tech but once it is one there eink is by far closer to real paper than the iPad.

Most people read books and do not have all that extra color stuff. Color eink I have read is coming but still have a little ways to go.
Apple did its eye candy to emulated a page turn but LCD tech can not emulated tech on a page.

But why should you give up one of the biggest advantages a digital reader has over a book - a lighted screen? You shouldn't have to buy a separate case for more money to be able to do something on your device that should have been built in in the first place?

 

[azstinger]

I use both, as they both have advantages and disadvantages

Kindle:
Traditional Novels

iPad:
image based books (i.e. I Am America and So Can You!)
Comic Books
Magazines
and I would imagine interactive kids books (not being a parent only guessing)


That being said my for reading i would say i use my kindle (with lighted case) about 60-75% of the time. This is just because I use it on flights and like to read traditional novels more. The flashing on the kindle really is a non issue imho just as the battery life on ipad is. They are just pros/cons of each respective system. I do however find reading on my kindle in bright light or with the lighted case to be much easier on my eyes however than the LCD of the iPad in extended periods of time but that is just my opinion.

I find that when flying in my mil aircraft at night even at its dimmist setting the iPad display is far too bright, thus the kindle having an extremely large advantage and getting a lot of use. This has bled over to low light conditions in general, the iPad just seems to emit to harsh of a light for my personal tastes.

 

[appleguy123]

I use both, as they both have advantages and disadvantages

Kindle:
Traditional Novels

iPad:
image based books (i.e. I Am America and So Can You!)
Comic Books
Magazines
and I would imagine interactive kids books (not being a parent only guessing)


That being said my for reading i would say i use my kindle (with lighted case) about 60-75% of the time. This is just because I use it on flights and like to read traditional novels more. The flashing on the kindle really is a non issue imho just as the battery life on ipad is. They are just pros/cons of each respective system. I do however find reading on my kindle in bright light or with the lighted case to be much easier on my eyes however than the LCD of the iPad in extended periods of time but that is just my opinion.

I find that when flying in my mil aircraft at night even at its dimmist setting the iPad display is far too bright, thus the kindle having an extremely large advantage and getting a lot of use. This has bled over to low light conditions in general, the iPad just seems to emit to harsh of a light for my personal tastes.

I agree with all of this. If I had to only keep one device, it would obviously be iPad, but the Kindle to me is just better at reading plain books.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

But why should you give up one of the biggest advantages a digital reader has over a book - a lighted screen? You shouldn't have to buy a separate case for more money to be able to do something on your device that should have been built in in the first place?

but in the LCD you are getting direct lighting hitting your eyes instead of indirect reflected light. Direct lighting is harder on your eyes.

Also I find there are very few times that I even would need a some type lighted screen. I could think of when I am in the car at night and I could see if I had someone sleeping next to me it would be nice but other wise it is the same as anything else.

Like it has been pointed out before the point of eink was to emulated print as close as possible. LCD can not do that.

I agree with all of this. If I had to only keep one device, it would obviously be iPad, but the Kindle to me is just better at reading plain books.

I think you hit it on the head. If you just want an ereader kindle wins for most people. Now if you want the other stuff as well in one device yeah I could see iPad only but I also noticed most people do not carry an iPad with them everywhere they go they tend to stay at home for most people. Kindles mostly tend to stay at home as well. I know my kindle most days will not go with me to school. I might throw it in on lab days if know I am going to need to kill an hour or so but most of the time I just use my iPod touch for that.

 

[PhoneI]

Direct lighting is harder on your eyes.

I guess I have magical eyes. No eyestrain here at all.

 

[Dumbledorelives]

but in the LCD you are getting direct lighting hitting your eyes instead of indirect reflected light. Direct lighting is harder on your eyes.

Also I find there are very few times that I even would need a some type lighted screen. I could think of when I am in the car at night and I could see if I had someone sleeping next to me it would be nice but other wise it is the same as anything else.

Like it has been pointed out before the point of eink was to emulated print as close as possible. LCD can not do that.

A simple solution someone else pointed out to me - side lights with an on off switch. For those of you who have some sort of issue against light - don't turn it on. For those of us who enjoy the ability to read without a flashlight - incredibly convenient. I didn't say it had to be LED, I just said it needed light. I think. That's what I was thinking, if that wasn't what I typed.

 

[GaresTaylan]

Couldnt disagree more. My fiancee has a nook. Id rather read on that any day of the week and twice on sunday.

While its nice to have the lights off with the ipad and not have to worry about a snap on light or something like she does with the nook, my eyes strain with the ipad after awhile.

It also only took me one time trying to read on the ipad outside in the sun then trying to read on the nook.

Apples to oranges really - different uses. I would never use her nook for web browsing for example.

 

[Cloysterpeteuk]

I don't find the lack of a light on a Kindle to be much of an issue after all I read loads of paper books without a problem, I just switch on a lamp when I run out of daylight. I would like the screen to be lighter so it's better on overcast days but presently it's the closest screen to real paper which is what I am trying to emulate.

With kindle I can forget I'm reading on an electronic device at all, the page turns are less than a second so don't bother me, as for iPad I do feel that im on a computer and reading from a backlit LCD screen, it's just not as pleasant experience for me, I usually read paperbacks so it feels unnatural reading for hours on end a big heavy slab of a device. Kindle I can forget about, don't need to think about battery but best of all I can laze about with it, hold it and read with one hand if I want, I can hold it anyway I want as it has no weight to it, just want you need for long reading sessions.

As for the eye-strain issue, I have terrible eye sight always have since I was young, the iPad screen is far, far better than my pc screen but still makes my eyes a bit tired after 2-3 hours, I don't know if it's contrast, the backlight or what, I understand lots of people who have better eyes won't notice this at all but please don't try and make out that it isn't an issue for some people. With Kindle it's so similar to real ink that I can read for 4-5 hours on a lazy afternoon with no issues at all.

Where my iPad comes up trumps though is in comics and magazines, I think it's the best device on the market for these, I only download the freebie mags but those that are properly made for the device are superb, check the free igizmo mag, proper digital content full of video content, text made for screen size, interactive elements like 3d rotating views of the products etc, it's how a mag should be made for iPad, not some idiot scanning a paper mag in and sticking it on iPad as a crummy PDF. None of this is possible with ink and besides the Kindle screen is too small for such content.

Same goes with comics, can you even imagine trying to view comics in greyscale on a Kindle?, I can't as the device is made for books not images. But the iPad is close to perfect for comics, so many different comic apps out there which are improving all the time, easy to load on a couple of hundred comics on and watch them come up as little colourful little covers in your virtual bookshelf, great experience and it's got me back into reading comics again which I haven't done since my childhood.

 

[NebulaClash]

As I keep saying, there is no right answer for everyone. Each person must decide what technology is right for themselves. I have read more than 100 novels on my iPad and I love it. I would never use anything else because for me the iPad is the perfect ereader.

Obviously a lot of folks think otherwise and prefer a Kindle. My opinion is that today's Kindle will be outdated very quickly as eInk gets color and better refresh rates. Then all those people who swear they prefer the black-and-white screens will turn around and extol the beautiful color Kindles. And the iPad will have retina-like displays eventually and be even more beautiful to look at.

The true reality here is that electronic book technology is about to leap forward in functionality. The idea of a static book that looks like paper is about to become old-fashioned. Soon we will have books that naturally incorporate multimedia where it makes sense, and kids learning on those books will scorn at what we call books. The iPad is ready for that future right now, but the Kindle will be left behind.

None of the above matters to you if you love the Kindle screen. If you are one of those, enjoy it. But each person must decide for themselves, because what works for your eyes does not work for my eyes. We are NOT all alike.

 

[Dr McKay]

I think the E-ink screen is perfectly suited for what its designed for.

 

[Dragoro]

Kindle is not going to be left behind no matter how many times you repeat that it is.

 

[nixiemaiden]

I read quite a few books on my iPad but then got the Kindle 3 in October and now don't really read on the iPad.

For me, the Kindle is a lot easier to read. Text looks a lot clearer and I can read for hours without getting a headache.

My iPad stays at home and my Kindle goes everywhere with me because it is small enough to fit in my purse. It is also very rugged feeling and feels like it can be thrown around where with the iPad I'm paranoid about the glass breaking.

The page flash thing I noticed for a little bit when I first got it, but now I don't even notice it.

 

[NebulaClash]

Kindle is not going to be left behind no matter how many times you repeat that it is.

This version of it will, the one people are raving about as being perfect for reading. It will be left behind and seen as hopelessly outdated, and soon.

That's how technology works.

 

[ancorder]

Cloysterpeteuk hints at the big difference for me. I've read on iPad, computer screens (glossy and matte), iPhone screen, and various kindles, and I always come back to my kindle for most reading.

But the main reason isn't eye strain (though that is a factor for me), sunlight, battery power, or any of those. It's the mindset. Like many other people, I spend most of my working day staring at a computer screen. But reading is a love thing for me, not work, so when I read books on an iPad or such, it doesn't feel right. I find myself subtly stressed out because I'm in work mode. And also because there's the temptation to multitask. (Maybe that's a personal shortcoming of not having the mental fortitude to control my attention span.) But reading on a kindle isn't like that for me. With the kindle I still get the feeling of escape that I get when I read physical books. I focus better, I'm more relaxed, and it feels more natural.

Of course, I also don't use my kindle for all my reading. I teach writing, so I am often marking up books in pen and find the kindle's notetaking abilities extremely limited. So if I'm reading for analysis, I'll read a physical book. If I read for work, I use the computer/iPad/iPhone. If for pleasure, the kindle. It's kind of like how I used to watch movies on my computer monitor, but now I use the television, even though it's old and not very big and the picture's not as great. Even though I have devices that will do all the different things (and, really, do them pretty darn well), I still feel like there's something emotionally freeing about using devices for specific purposes.

Scientific evidence? Of course not. Totally anecdotal. But I wonder if some other people have had similar experiences.

To each their own, yes?

 

[Dragoro]

This version of it will, the one people are raving about as being perfect for reading. It will be left behind and seen as hopelessly outdated, and soon.

That's how technology works.

No faster then the iPad will.

 

[NebulaClash]

No faster then the iPad will.

Duh. All technology does this, so of course the iPad will be outdated. I've repeatedly said here that the 2020 version of the iPad will blow the 2010 version away just as the current iPod touch makes the 2001 original iPod look old-fashioned.

However, you are wrong that the iPad will left behind as fast as the Kindle will be (and thank you for accidentally agreeing with me when you tried to change the subject away from the Kindle to the iPad). The current Kindle will look old-fashioned more quickly than the iPad because a) it is limited in functionality whereas the iPad is not; and b) it is black-and-white for now, but not for long, whereas the iPad is already beautifully in color.

 

[vincenz]

I'm not a big fan of the e-ink screens, but I can see how they work out better for novels.

 

[Muscleflex]

sheezz.... only got to reading the first page and i've realized..... you guys bore me!

 

[kutsushita]

The bicycle also lacked heating, ac, and a cd player!

Now I just need some ac components and I'm set!

 

[Dragoro]

Duh. All technology does this, so of course the iPad will be outdated. I've repeatedly said here that the 2020 version of the iPad will blow the 2010 version away just as the current iPod touch makes the 2001 original iPod look old-fashioned.

However, you are wrong that the iPad will left behind as fast as the Kindle will be (and thank you for accidentally agreeing with me when you tried to change the subject away from the Kindle to the iPad). The current Kindle will look old-fashioned more quickly than the iPad because a) it is limited in functionality whereas the iPad is not; and b) it is black-and-white for now, but not for long, whereas the iPad is already beautifully in color.

Color is meaningless for novels. Kindles arent going anywhere for a long time. Yes I mean the black and white ones,

 

[NebulaClash]

Color is meaningless for novels. Kindles arent going anywhere for a long time. Yes I mean the black and white ones,

Color wins.

OK, you've made your prediction and I've made mine. Let time prove the winner.

 

[Night Spring]

Color is meaningless for novels. Kindles arent going anywhere for a long time. Yes I mean the black and white ones,

But people don't just read novels. They read childrens books, photography books, art books, cookbooks, technical manuals, textbooks, magazines, comic books...

So you are saying the kindle is not only a single function device, but it is only good for a particular type of book.

 

[PhoneI]

But people don't just read novels. They read childrens books, photography books, art books, cookbooks, technical manuals, textbooks, magazines, comic books...

So you are saying the kindle is not only a single function device, but it is only good for a particular type of book.

My point exactly!!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

But people don't just read novels. They read childrens books, photography books, art books, cookbooks, technical manuals, textbooks, magazines, comic books...

So you are saying the kindle is not only a single function device, but it is only good for a particular type of book.

which a vast majority of book that people who like to read are.

Go to a book store and look around. You will noticed most of the books are just plain black text on white paper like it has been for very long time.

Now of that list things that I would find an Ereader useful for is maybe the technical manuals and magazines

Childerns books I will still want the book form. Photography, art books still going to want books. College text books like hell will I give up the textbook form. Yes ereader would be lighter but it would not be as nice due to the fact that I make notes in my text books and often times I will be jumping between several sections of the book at one time. Something Ereaders just not good at. I normally have extra pens marking each area to make it easy to jump between when i am working.

Now novels ereaders like the kindle rule. Like I said I have boxes full of books. Hell I had a few boxes plus a book shelf full of books I have read. My comic books I will not give up a book form for. Now the plain black on white paper ones I am fine giving up the book for an ereader form.


Sum it up. People are not really going to willings to just go to an ereader (iPad or kindle) for anything but the plain black text on white paper which is what almost all heavy readers read any how. In that area the kindle wins.