Don’t let that picture fool you – this eBook reader is apparently a full-colour device. According to the specs it has a TFT colour screen with a 800 x 480 resolution. Oh, and it’s just $149.
The W95 will measure in at 149mm x 104mm x 10.6mm, has a 5-inch screen and plays back a wide range of music and video file types. It’s even got text to speech, and supports both landscape and portrait modes.
For $149, it seems like a pretty good deal, although you’ll still have to source your own eBooks, which is one of the biggest problems with third party readers. Also, considering it’s not actually an e-ink display, there’s the whole eye-strain argument as well.
Brendan
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:51 AMCould someone PLEASE point me towards a controlled study that suggests that reading on an e-ink screen causes any less eye strain than on a correctly setup lcd monitor?
And if it is the case, under what lighting circumstances is e-ink better?
I’ve heard many arguments in favour of e-ink. But I’ve not heard one supported by any qualifiable (or quantifiable) research. I’m all ears! :)
matt
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 11:13 AMwhy don’t you just look at one?
this is exactly what an ebook reader should be. cheap and open!
Brendan
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 12:26 PMI have looked at plenty. Even used a few. And I still don’t get it.
Just because something feels right doesn’t mean it is.
Just because something feels more relaxing to the eyes also doesn’t mean it is.
Just because something reflects the light around you rather than transmitting the light doesn’t make it easier to read. It may even be harder in some lighting circumstances.
I’m not saying they are not better. I’m saying I’ve yet to see / hear an argument for the use of e-ink that is supported by good research or a controlled study.
Brendan
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 12:27 PMoh – and this IS a TFT screen, not e-ink….
Cameron
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 11:56 AMIt really is up to personal preference. Some people are fine with staring at LCD screens reading tiny text for hours on end, others find it really hard and find the e-ink display more easy to read.
Personally I find the e-ink displays great, like your reading something that has been printed on plastic, not quite the same as paper, but very natural looking.
I would buy this for $149 though, not without the e-ink display. Main reason is the battery life. The real advantage of an ebook in my mind is taking hundreds of books with you whilst travelling, but that becomes less convenient when I need to be charging this up every 7-8 hours. That wont work on a long haul flight or train ride.
StevoTheDevo
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 2:03 PMI don’t have any research, but as Dean Mandareen says below, reading from a backlit display is like reading with a torch shining in your face..
Reading e-ink or any other, non-backlit surface is easier as a result.
finder
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 6:20 PMThere no need for any study or research. Every normal person knew that e-ink is best for reading. That’s the reason for Sony first to offer such devices. Sony and amazon are not stupid but many people continue to ask the same dumb question.
Dean Mandareen
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 1:09 PMI stare at a 26″ lcd at work all day every day (eg: 10 hrs per day) and i swear it burns my retinas! Then if i relax and just read a few books on the weekend, my eyes actually dont feel like they are bleeding. Eg e-ink is fooking awesome! I steal my wifes kindle every now and then, so much smoother text/font and not a damn torch light in your eyeballs!..just try them u will see what i mean
Bobby
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 2:52 PMI doubt there is a reliable way to study what people find more comfortable.
I use e-ink devices and they are simply better for me. Looking at LCD close up for long periods is uncomfortable to me. Focusing on small text feels like it’s making my eyes and brain work harder than they should. I find that when I read on LCD, be it a monitor, phone, or PDA, I tend to get ‘bored’ of what I’m reading very quickly (tl;dr). When I read on paper and e-ink I have a longer attention span.
A lot of people talk about how we all look at monitors all day and nobody is going blind, but this is a misdirection. When at work there are other distractions/you’re sitting away from the screen, etc. You’re generally not reading large blocks of text either.
If you’re lucky enough that you can read as well on LCD as on paper, then that’s great for you. It doesn’t mean everybody has the same experience.
FWIW I have normal vision and use computers all day.