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Reading Tablet

S

siluro

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
336
I'm looking for an android based color screen tablet that will be good for reading. People seem to always prefer e-ink displays saying that it's easier on the eyes.

However, I'm wondering if either waiting out for a higher resolution display, or OLED screens such as in the upcoming Toshiba tablet would make any difference in comparison to current tablets on the market. Would this be 'easier' on the eyes or any better for reading?
 
Once you read a book on e-ink and on a regular LCD youll never want to read a book on an LCD.
 
Depending on the size of reader and what is being read (as in technical manuals with lots of pictures and graphs or just general text reading), a lot of people are using eink and tablets interchangeably now. A few years back it made a big difference but now...not so much.

However this is mainly when comparing to the big players in reading tablets: Kindle Fire, Nook, and the Ipad (most of which are more than a standard eink but contain more functions). Off brand tablet resolution can range from "okay" to " wow, almost as bad as a kitchen timer" even though they all say how they are the best on the market.

Superior resolution (retina display or better) is very important if you are reading fine diagrams and prints and can't enlarge or reading with the font set very small. For most general reading (fiction, novels, steamy romance novels featuring glittering vampire unicorns with gray suits and ties), the standard three tablets are fine.

Einks big selling point now is how long it last without recharging (days of constant use) compared to tablets (usually after a few hours of constant use) and the fact it is lighter (much) and can be used pretty much anywhere, indoors or out.

My reading currently is on a Kindle keyboard, Fire and 1st gen Ipad. All work well though I would never willing read tech documents on the KK (due to format) or Fire (due to size). Most educational materials or history books read I will convert and read on the Ipad for the size and have no problem with the resolution on a device 3 gens old.

If you can, compare them yourself by hitting up a someplace like Barnes and Noble and see them in person. The final judge of what is acceptable is you and you might find that your needs change once you see them in person. If you can't see them first, most of the majors have a good return policy so there is minimal risk to just jumping in and trying it.
 
Reading isn't the main priority for me in the tablet, but something I wanted that would work well. I just wanted to know why people had a thing for e-ink over tablets in general and I guess it sounds to be like it's the unclarity of the screen resolution. Thanks for the input and I'll consider this when buying, right now I'm eyeing the upcoming Toshiba 7.7" tablet with the OLED display, that should hopefully be a solid all around device.
 
If you have a Barnes and Noble anywhere near you (or possibly a Best Buy), you can go and test both an e-Ink reader versus a regular LCD.

I greatly prefer reading on e-Ink and have a Nook Simple Touch that I'm happy with. I can also read on my Blackberry Playbook (a 7" tablet) but it's not as enjoyable. That is partly due to a lack of awesome eReader software, but the e-Ink is easier on the eyes.

But if reading isn't your priority then it probably doesn't matter much -- you'll be able to sort out a method to read on pretty much any tablet, and one LCD is much like another for that purpose (from what I've seen). Hope the Toshiba works out!

Edit: Doesn't the new Samsung Galaxy tab have OLED too? The 7" or 8" version? Maybe you can compare reading on that to e-Ink as well if you can make it by a store that has all of them.
 
Well as far as testing out at a local store, I always come back home with another opinion once I'm sitting down and using a product, I'm sure others out there can relate. I was only trying to get a sense of people's opinions and if it's at all changed since some of the first tablets that were released.

As for the Samsung 7.7, it has OLED, but since it's using I think LTE or 4G, the price is nearly $700 vs $500 from Toshiba's wi-fi only.
 
As for reading on a tablet, OrangeWolf is right. It is extremely dependent on the reader software. You will go through several before you find one that you like. It makes all the difference.
 
Well with that being said, any recommendations as to which software I should try? Also along with that any specific settings?
 
I generally use Aikido and Stanza (though Stanza is a bit hard to get now since they were bought up). They work well for me because they have tintable backgrounds and good control of screen use. Even the standard Kindle program for Android and OS really isn't that bad on a tablet.

Background control is important because most people (that I know of) actually like turning the contrast down a bit. Something like black lettering on a sepia background. Makes reading easier on the eyes and less like reading off of a TV. Some also use "night mode" which switches to a white lettering on black background.

Not directly related the the reader itself but handy is getting a screen dimmer if whatever tablet you get can have one. While reading inside during the evening or the winter when light is a bit lower you'll find dimming the screen some will also make reading more pleasant.
 
That's great advice, yeah one of the primary concerns I had with the display was eye fatigue and all... Basically wanting to eliminate that the most I possibly can so I can continue not needing to wear glasses/contacts/pay for laser eye...
 
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