I just got the most recent version of Kindle and really like using it. There are various reasons for it, but one of the best reasons, in my opinion, is the screen. When reading reviews on it, one of the biggest complaints is that you can’t read it in the dark. BUT, that is what makes it so great. Well not that, but the technology behind that minor shortfall.

Most people think of the Kindle as a small computer screen. In fact, it is not at ALL like a computer screen. Most computer screens are Backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). That means that there is light coming from the monitor to your eyes, carrying the colors with it that we see. This is a lot of light, which is why people who work in front of a monitor for long periods of time, esp. in dimmer light, can get eye fatigue or eye strain. The other issue is that other light sources, such a sunlight, can reflect off the screen, causing a “wash-out” effect, as that light isn’t reflecting back the LCD colors with any efficiency. This is a royal pain for me personally in the morning hours during summer when sunlight from my office window hits my screen.

Now, eInk, is VERY different. Think of it like the Magna-Doodle toy. With Magna-Doodle, you use a magnet to get small pieces of iron to stick to the front of the screen. In the case of e-Ink, small electrical charges trigger black and white pigments in micro-sized capsules to migrate. These create different shades of grey on a plastic sheet. There is no backlight, so you can only see the document when light reflects off of the plastic sheet, be it room lighting or sunlight. There is a MINOR glare in direct sunlight, but you can still read just fine. The other benefit is that it doesn’t gobble electricity from the battery, so battery life lasts much longer.

So, for those out there looking to read your Kindle in the dark, I’d suggest turning on a bedside light or a small reading lamp. It’ll cause less eyestrain than a backlit panel. Read more about eInk here.