How imporant is a backlight to you?

NatCh · 09-19-2006, 03:35 PM

Hey, all,

We were discussing this over here and I so here's the poll!

yvanleterrible · 09-19-2006, 08:22 PM

I've never needed backlighting with paper before. Last time I tried putting a light behind a page it was a bloody mess, with all that backwards text shining through.

I guess putting a light behind my Sony won't help either.

Bob Russell · 09-19-2006, 08:37 PM

Good point... it's really front lighting we're talking about for e-ink devices, even if the light originates from the side!

But the poll basically still works. We just need to keep in mind that the point is whether or not a light source integrated into the device is important, so that ambiant light is not needed.

NatCh · 09-19-2006, 09:20 PM

Yeah, Bob, it is more of a built-in-I-don't-have-to-use-a-clip-on-or-a-lamp-to-read-in-the-dark type of thing we're getting at.

It sprang out of a discussion with da_Jane about how important that sort of feature was to prospective e-reader buyers.

It looks like we're deterimining that MobileReaders aren't that concerned 80% to 20% at the moment.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of results she gets from her site too.

All of this is completely unscientific, of course, but it's interesting!

Pride Of Lions · 09-20-2006, 12:47 AM

There's nothing like reading in bed with my GF asleep and not needing to turn on the room light.

da_jane · 09-20-2006, 11:47 AM

Sigh. Pride of Lions and I appear to be solidly in the minority! It will be interesting to see what the results of the poll are over at DA.

NatCh · 09-20-2006, 12:03 PM

Don't feel too bad, Jane -- all this shows is that the folks who frequent MobileRead are less interested in a backlight. And hey, it's not that many of us so far, anyway.

It will be interesting to see what you get on your site, too.

Bob Russell · 09-20-2006, 12:29 PM

I'm with you guys also... I really like to read at night without a light at night. But for a nice e-ink display, I don't mind turning on a light. Maybe it's not so much that people don't want a light, as the fact that e-ink is so nice it makes the desire for a light a very minor issue for most.

yvanleterrible · 09-20-2006, 02:26 PM

Is'nt a night light a tool to prevent bothering your partner with your reading?
Page turning bothers us much more, so we quit reading at the same time. Happily e-readers won't be bothersome unless the buttons click. If there is no noise maybe I'll read longer with lights out...

Bob Russell · 09-20-2006, 03:25 PM

Actually, I am alone in my bed <no rude or pity comments, please!>, so there's no issues of disturbing someone else. And yet it's still nice to read a backlit screen on my Treo. I enjoy the way the screen looks, and I like the brightness. But I also know that most people seem to hate the very brightness that I like so much, because people have said that it is an eyestrain for them.

But as much as I like reading with the backlight, the nicer display of an e-ink device pretty much trumps any considerations like back, side, or front lights.

exvaxman · 09-21-2006, 01:40 PM

I actually find the backlight in the reb1200's a little harsh at night with no other lighting. (However, during a power failure my wife did use it as a flashlight until I could get my hands on real ones).

The backlight was my biggest complaint about the ebookman units - it was not consistant across the screen.

I have several clip on LED lamps, as well as a pretty nifty slate of clear plastic that covers a hardcover and is side-lit.

NatCh · 09-21-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exvaxman

I have ... a pretty nifty slate of clear plastic that covers a hardcover and is side-lit.

Is it one of the LightWedge things, exvaxman? Or something else?

NatCh · 09-22-2006, 12:11 PM

Surely there are more that 23 of us with an opinion on this?

Hello?

Bueller?

Bueller?

yvanleterrible · 09-22-2006, 12:16 PM

Can I vote twice?

NatCh · 09-22-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Can I vote twice?

I was going to say something smart-aleck ... but I don't think I will.

View Poll Results: How important is backlighting to you in an electronic reader?
I won't buy one without it.	8	11.59%
I want it, but it's not absolutely vital.	15	21.74%
If the display, battery life and weight are good enough, I won't miss a backlight much.	22	31.88%
Backlights? We don't need no stinkin' Backlights!	24	34.78%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll

09-19-2006, 03:35 PM	#1
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	How imporant is a backlight to you? Hey, all, We were discussing this over here and I so here's the poll!

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09-19-2006, 08:22 PM	#2
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I've never needed backlighting with paper before. Last time I tried putting a light behind a page it was a bloody mess, with all that backwards text shining through. I guess putting a light behind my Sony won't help either.

09-19-2006, 08:37 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Good point... it's really front lighting we're talking about for e-ink devices, even if the light originates from the side! But the poll basically still works. We just need to keep in mind that the point is whether or not a light source integrated into the device is important, so that ambiant light is not needed.

09-19-2006, 09:20 PM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Yeah, Bob, it is more of a built-in-I-don't-have-to-use-a-clip-on-or-a-lamp-to-read-in-the-dark type of thing we're getting at. It sprang out of a discussion with da_Jane about how important that sort of feature was to prospective e-reader buyers. It looks like we're deterimining that MobileReaders aren't that concerned 80% to 20% at the moment. It'll be interesting to see what sort of results she gets from her site too. All of this is completely unscientific, of course, but it's interesting!

09-20-2006, 12:47 AM	#5
Pride Of Lions just kinda geeky Posts: 381 Karma: 30 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Oakland, California Device: iPhone	There's nothing like reading in bed with my GF asleep and not needing to turn on the room light.

09-20-2006, 11:47 AM	#6
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	Sigh. Pride of Lions and I appear to be solidly in the minority! It will be interesting to see what the results of the poll are over at DA.

09-20-2006, 12:03 PM	#7
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Don't feel too bad, Jane -- all this shows is that the folks who frequent MobileRead are less interested in a backlight. And hey, it's not that many of us so far, anyway. It will be interesting to see what you get on your site, too.

09-20-2006, 12:29 PM	#8
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I'm with you guys also... I really like to read at night without a light at night. But for a nice e-ink display, I don't mind turning on a light. Maybe it's not so much that people don't want a light, as the fact that e-ink is so nice it makes the desire for a light a very minor issue for most.

09-20-2006, 02:26 PM	#9
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Is'nt a night light a tool to prevent bothering your partner with your reading? Page turning bothers us much more, so we quit reading at the same time. Happily e-readers won't be bothersome unless the buttons click. If there is no noise maybe I'll read longer with lights out...

09-20-2006, 03:25 PM	#10
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Actually, I am alone in my bed <no rude or pity comments, please!>, so there's no issues of disturbing someone else. And yet it's still nice to read a backlit screen on my Treo. I enjoy the way the screen looks, and I like the brightness. But I also know that most people seem to hate the very brightness that I like so much, because people have said that it is an eyestrain for them. But as much as I like reading with the backlight, the nicer display of an e-ink device pretty much trumps any considerations like back, side, or front lights.

09-21-2006, 01:40 PM	#11
exvaxman Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 38 Join Date: Mar 2006	I actually find the backlight in the reb1200's a little harsh at night with no other lighting. (However, during a power failure my wife did use it as a flashlight until I could get my hands on real ones). The backlight was my biggest complaint about the ebookman units - it was not consistant across the screen. I have several clip on LED lamps, as well as a pretty nifty slate of clear plastic that covers a hardcover and is side-lit.

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09-22-2006, 12:11 PM	#13
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Surely there are more that 23 of us with an opinion on this? Hello? Bueller? Bueller?

09-22-2006, 12:16 PM	#14
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Can I vote twice?