Comments on: E-Ink vs. LCD: What’s The Difference?

By: Always Write

Always Write — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:06:07 +0000

Thank you for your comment and for sharing your thoughts & experiences. I have heard a relatively small percentage of people (like yourself) for whom eyestrain does not seem to be an issue on LCD screens. Speaking for myself, reading for longer periods on an LCD screen bothers my eyes, whereas reading on e-Ink does not. (I have heard many people say the same thing.) I suppose each person needs to try reading for a long period on LCD to see how it will affect their eyes.

I do agree the displays you mention—especially Mirasol—seem to be the best of both worlds. The color & video capabilities of LCD, with the battery life, visibility in bright light, and easy-on-the-eyes nature of e-Ink. Surely eventually we will have a color e-Ink/Mirasol technology that achieves that. But, sadly, it’s not ready yet.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:39:53 +0000

Eyestrain from backlit lcd displays is not the issue that manufacturers of e-ink readers would have us believe.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20021227-82.html

Surface reflection on shiny display surfaces is very, very irritating though. Reading on a tablet (in relatively bright environments) is improved immensely when applying a matte anti-glare screen protector to the screen face.
The 2 major advantages of e-ink over lcd displays are battery life, and visibility in very bright light. The e-ink display uses so little power that it can go for weeks without a charge. This alone gives the reader an experience more like reading a book. Books never need charging. My android tablet is great as a book reader most of the time. My android phone is even more convenient because it’s smaller, and can be carried in my pocket. I prefer the backlit lcd displays in low light over e-ink.

I do like the idea of not having to charge the reader very often, and being able to read in direct sun. I’ll probably buy an e-ink reader just for these two reasons. Charging a lithium ion battery less often also means that the battery won’t wear out as fast, and therefore won’t need replacement as soon.

These technologies seem to offer the best of both worlds:

http://www.pixelqi.com/products

http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/demo

By: bac24

bac24 — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:52:28 +0000

I have an iTouch and once i get a kindle i will be very satisfied witout and iPad (:

By: Always Write

Always Write — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:17:52 +0000

I agree with you. I just think they are two different devices aimed at two different uses. (Of course, some people own and use both for different things.) But the media seemed intent on comparing the two and calling the iPad a “Kindle killer,” as if only one could survive, which we know is silly. The iPad has a clock, but I haven’t thrown away my watch. =)

By: bac24

bac24 — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 02:15:11 +0000

People who prefer iPad, i think, are probably not book worms who enjoy sitting down to read for hours at a time. In my opinion, iPad just cannot compare.

By: Always Write

Always Write — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:06:53 +0000

I’m glad to hear it! And thanks for the kind words!

By: delia

delia — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:33:18 +0000

Thanks David! Great write-up. I love my kindle and my eyes have been thanking me for it!

By: Always Write

Always Write — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:05:17 +0000

Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.

I’ve read the article you linked, and was disappointed to see an optometrist claiming that LCD doesn’t cause any eyestrain. I know what hurts my eyes and what doesn’t. I’ve also seen persuasive reasons why e-Ink causes less eyestrain, including that it matches the ambient brightness of the room (think about it: how comfortable is staring into a headlight?).

While I’ve seen people online claim that reading on LCD doesn’t bother them, I don’t know of a single person in real life who prefers reading on LCD to e-Ink. Also, e-Ink’s battery life and reading in sunlight advantages are beyond dispute.

I’m thinking about doing a follow-up post with more scientific research — I’ve actually asked an optometrist friend of mine if she’d like to weigh in.

By: Naushad

Naushad — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:41:57 +0000

Nicely written. I am familiar with the e-ink technology and the readers for a few years now even before Kindle (Sony, I think brought it first). Intuitively, and from personal experince I always felt the e-ink devices are far superior than backlit devices for reading. I can’t read a single page of text on LCDs without straining my eyes.

But then there is this long debate on e-ink vs LCDs here
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-20021227-82.html

I read some of the comments and it looked many people think iPad is a better choice for reading because it has color and all the power. And then some science is posted to backup that LCD isn’t any bad at all. And I almost believed that it might be true that may be it is just a personal prefernce. Technically none of them are bad choices.

Then I tell myself, if you do not understand the science very well then trust your first hand experience and guts feeling. By that I have no doubt that e-ink devices are significantly superior than backlit devices for the sole purpose of reading.

By: Always Write

Always Write — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:43:27 +0000

I’m glad to hear a Nook owner’s thoughts on the new Nook Color — thanks for coming by. The consensus is definitely forming that the Nook Color will probably be good for magazines, cookbooks, enhanced e-books, and maybe textbooks for students. Some will use it as an “iPad Lite” or as a generic Android tablet computer. But I’d keep your Nook classic for serious fiction novel reading.