As I recently reported in Kindle DX vs Kindle Wi-Fi, I found my best ebook reader, the Kindle DX. Those who bought themselves Sony Reader, which besides other things is equipped with backlight, they keep asking me on kindle backlight. On its absence to be precise – how can I use Kindle with no backlight?
Does Kindle have a backlight?
Well so far so good. Kindle uses e-ink electronic paper, designed to mimic regular paper. It isn’t a marketing trick – the idea of e-paper is that we trained to read printed text, and our eyes get less tired when reading text on a paper, comparing with reading on computer monitor, especially so widespread cheap TN matrix LCD panels. As you probably noticed, regular paper rarely has backlight, and again, out eyes trained to read on a paper with external light.
Unlike Sony Reader with its touch screen and backlight, Kindle tends to follow the KISS principle (Keep It Simple S…) and to hold the original idea of e-ink e-readers – make an electronic reader allowing for most natural conditions for eyes during reading – make it easier, not fancier.
Instead of adding fancy features that make device more versatile, but reduce quality of actual reading experience by making the screen more reflective, Kindle invested in its e-paper technology. Latest generation improved Kindle screen contrast and achieved lighter background of e-paper screen, so now it’s even more readable then before. And just as with any regular newspaper, a book, or a printed document, an external source of light is necessary – and this is what eyes are trained for.
Last but not the least, any backlight would directly affect Kindle battery life, thickness of the e-reader, its weight, and of course the price tag.
In my opinion, not having kindle backlight is an advantage, not the opposite.
You Asked:
- kindle touch backlight
- is there a backlight on a kindle
