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Can some help me out with how the PixelQi screen compares to E Ink? So far, the reviews I have read have stated that the screen is pretty bad for indoor reading without specifying how bad. Apart from PixelQi, I guess the Xoom is a far better tablet than Adam though obviously more expensive (rumored). If the PixelQi screen is as bad as the reviews state it to be, I guess the wait for the best PDF e-reader continues.
Secondly, I wonder why none of the big companies have taken a liking so far to PixelQi. Hopefully, the Lattice Innoversal will come out soon and provide a second glimpse of PixelQi in action on a tablet.
Someone posted a video of it in action and it looked good to me. It requires light on the screen to reflect back the picture, so it may need more than an ereader.
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
As I have a pixelQi enabled adam in my lap right now, I can state that while the pixelQi in the adam is /not/ a perfect replacement to e-ink
(The extra glossy glass layer added to the top of the pixelQi display removes some of it's benefit, sadly, as light has to travel further to hit the actual pixelqi display, so it doesn't diffuse right, if I'm thinking of the right word)
It is, however, pretty awesome if you've got the right lighting. I work in a very well lit office, and actually prefer reading off the kindle app with the pixelQi mode enabled (backlight off) and it works ok. However, under normal lamp light, it's not as good as the kindle is.
I wonder how out would work under airplane light. Also, is it only greyscale our is there color with just the pixel qi screen on?
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
I am guessing that is one of the reasons why it has not been adopted by any major player...most of them seem more interested in Mirasol. My question was rather related to flights - I wonder how easy it is to read on flights with Adam.
If this is the case, I wonder why there is so much enthusiasm over Adam. It has terrible support if not for XDA folks and the hardware is similar to Xoom. I guess that's what happens when a bunch of engineers try and run a company. I guess I will have a bunch of Solomon Adamites running wild on me for my comments but most of my words come from experience with startups. Adam for the present is just acting as a stop gap solution to the non iPad tablet market. It has potential but they better hire a business guy.
Again, the PixelQi screen is still pretty great, it just seems the glass layer ontop of it from the adam is a bit too thick to use it to its full potential.
Unfortunately, I cannot say as far as airplane light, as my next flight won't be until march. If you mean as in light from the windows, yes, that will be more than bright enough to light it up for great visibility. If you mean the dinky little overhead lamp you push in to turn on when the rest of the plane is dark, I'm not sure.
As far as enthusiasm over the adam, I agree, so far there has been a bunch of missteps from the company, with them having blog posts about finding matte glass, then it ending up as a matte screen protector, a bunch of shipping debacles and misinformation about dates, and other issues. However, I can say the hardware itself is quite solid. If you ignore the eden UI (which, when working is pretty great), the pure android experience is great.
If you consider that the adam has the identical hardware to the xoom (with possibly a different/unique/betterdependingonopinion screen), and the fact the Xoom is currently looking to be launched at $800 after contract, the adam is a /waaay/ better deal for the cash.
I of course can only speak from my experience, but so far I'm really enjoying the adam. Only real complaint I've had is that the GPS is either not working or somehow calibrated wrong, as it thinks I'm in China.
Edit: Sirchuk, to answer your question, depending on the light, there is still some color to be visible. We're talking /slight/ color, as far as I can tell, but it's there. If you don't have enough light you'll really only see white/grey, as far as I can tell.
The original CES video showed that with direct sunlight the screen was full color to the point of almost HD quality. I don't think that is the case anymore.
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
I also think one of the reasons NI can afford to price it so less is because they don't have to worry about Service, Support, Marketing, Legal, etc.,
The Matte and Glossy goof up is unforgivable. I was seriously hoping that NI would solve my PDF e-reader problem but I guess I will need to wait
The Xoom and the Adam don't have the same hardware -- they just have the same SoC. While it does make the similar, they are not the same. It's the same comparison with the ViewSonic G-Tab... same SoC != Same Hardware. There's a number of other things to consider...
(Storage, Screen, RAM, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G/2G, Materials, Build Quality, Support, etc, etc.)
True, they aren't the same, but should deliver the same/similar functionality. Sure, the Adam doesn't have as high a resolution LCD (close) but it's also about half the price.
$425 shipped for the base model Adam, vs a rumored $800 shipped for the Xoom? I think Verizon will sell it for $700 after a subsidy, but that's still a steep price difference.
Honestly, I was set on a Xoom, until I compared the two and judged that the differences weren't worth almost twice the price.
Yep, I guess even am going in for the Adam mainly for the hardware but the FCC pics did look scary
Sirchuk said:
True, they aren't the same, but should deliver the same/similar functionality. Sure, the Adam doesn't have as high a resolution LCD (close) but it's also about half the price.
$425 shipped for the base model Adam, vs a rumored $800 shipped for the Xoom? I think Verizon will sell it for $700 after a subsidy, but that's still a steep price difference.
Honestly, I was set on a Xoom, until I compared the two and judged that the differences weren't worth almost twice the price.
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Click to collapse
Like joshua.lyon said, the viewsonic g tablet has the "same" (similar) hardware. It is available at your local Kmart or Sears, so no waiting and it's about half the price of the xoom at $399. It already has hacker/developer support, etc..
But then again that "same" (similar), isn't similar enough... IMHO Xoom<Adam just because it's 1 or 2 hardware differences, mainly the option of PQi, lack of USB Host (both rather huge differences)..
Shoot, you want really cheap "similar" hardware, eLocity A7...
-CC
Comparables: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacom...&id5=2577&id6=2747&id7=2290&id8=2291&id9=2609
clockcycle said:
Like joshua.lyon said, the viewsonic g tablet has the "same" (similar) hardware. It is available at your local Kmart or Sears, so no waiting and it's about half the price of the xoom at $399. It already has hacker/developer support, etc..
But then again that "same" (similar), isn't similar enough... IMHO Xoom<Adam just because it's 1 or 2 hardware differences, mainly the option of PQi, lack of USB Host (both rather huge differences)..
Shoot, you want really cheap "similar" hardware, eLocity A7...
-CC
Comparables: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacom...&id5=2577&id6=2747&id7=2290&id8=2291&id9=2609
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Click to collapse
I don't know, I'm hearing mixed reviews of the PQi display. Granted, USB host is pretty nice. The Xoom does have twice the memory though and higher resolution. I still don't see how they think they can price it at $800 though.
My main concern is the longevity of the Adam. I don't even know if it has a warranty. It's open though, and that counts for something.
The thing that sealed the deal for me was watching the video of full HDMI output. Phones don't even do that, and it's a feature I will take advantage of.
Hulu, YouTube, Netflix (soon) and anything else online or offline output to my TV? heck yeah...
Sirchuk said:
I don't know, I'm hearing mixed reviews of the PQi display. Granted, USB host is pretty nice. The Xoom does have twice the memory though and higher resolution. I still don't see how they think they can price it at $800 though.
My main concern is the longevity of the Adam. I don't even know if it has a warranty. It's open though, and that counts for something.
The thing that sealed the deal for me was watching the video of full HDMI output. Phones don't even do that, and it's a feature I will take advantage of.
Hulu, YouTube, Netflix (soon) and anything else online or offline output to my TV? heck yeah...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 DVDs, self made recordings, Anime, HUGE eReader... endless options, heck yeah!
Eujin said:
As I have a pixelQi enabled adam in my lap right now, I can state that while the pixelQi in the adam is /not/ a perfect replacement to e-ink
(The extra glossy glass layer added to the top of the pixelQi display removes some of it's benefit, sadly, as light has to travel further to hit the actual pixelqi display, so it doesn't diffuse right, if I'm thinking of the right word)
It is, however, pretty awesome if you've got the right lighting. I work in a very well lit office, and actually prefer reading off the kindle app with the pixelQi mode enabled (backlight off) and it works ok. However, under normal lamp light, it's not as good as the kindle is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in the Adam for reading lots of PDF files during the day in an office environment. Can you give some more details on what type of lighting that works well with the backlight off mode of Adam? Do you with normal lamp light mean for example a 60W bulb in a desktop office lamp with the light source positioned about 1 meter from the Adam screen. Would that not be good enough lighting for a good reading experience on Adam?
A second question to anyone with an Adam, since there's also been some talk about HDMI output here. Is there some HDMI to VGA adapter that works with the Adam? Most projectors at my work are still VGA only and I'm very interested in using Adam for powerpoint-like output.
joshua.lyon said:
The Xoom and the Adam don't have the same hardware -- they just have the same SoC. While it does make the similar, they are not the same. It's the same comparison with the ViewSonic G-Tab... same SoC != Same Hardware. There's a number of other things to consider...
(Storage, Screen, RAM, GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G/2G, Materials, Build Quality, Support, etc, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must also take into consideration the adams abundance of ports, the XOOM only offers one micro usb, one micro hdmi, and a 3.5mm jack. so you have to either get them from Motorola or get some adapters. that mean no thumb drives or normall usb powered devices.
Tomorrow ill make a full review of it in all conditions
Sent from my Adam using XDA App
LeviathanPT said:
Tomorrow ill make a full review of it in all conditions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. The best video of the e-reader capacity of Adam that I have so far found is by the goodereader team (google "Notion Ink Adam vs. Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle" to find it; my user account don't allow posting direct links yet)
That video still has a few problems that I hope some other video review will avoid:
1. doesn't say if the have applied the matte screen sheet or not. And if there are any drawbacks to using the matte screen sheet?
2. does not show what types of background light they have and does not compare different background lights
3. moves around the camera and/or Adam to much to quickly for the viewer. To shoot it with a fixed camera for 10+ seconds at a time and then change zoom mode and/or lighting and repeat the 10+ second shot, making sure to let it focus before counting, would be much more useful.
4. the reviewer hasn't actually done much reading on the device, e.g. tried reading a few book chapters in various use enviroments -- at an office table in sunlit indoors environment, outside, at night with an office table lamp, at night with a bedside lamp. Is it really important to position the lightsource just right to avoid reading-worsening reflection?
5. isn't shot in 720p or 1080p
My Adam has not arrived yet (I am a 5.31% factionalist)
but I use a Pixel Qi screen daily and have for the last six months. I can give you some insight into it's use on a laptop.
All screens reflect strong light to some extent. Your laptop does it. What do you do? You turn it to an angle that does not reflect light or reflects as little light as possible. You will do the same thing with the tablet. Many people are showing videos and photos that show how much light the Adam reflects, not how little light you can get it to reflect by just changing the angle a bit like you do now with your laptop. Your laptop screen is probably more reflective than the Adam screen and you wouldn't send it back because of it.
I am sure the contrast of the Adam Pixel Qi screen is not going to be as dramatic as your dedicated e-reader, but it is perfectly acceptable and has the advantage of being more of a full service device. I use mine to read in full sunlight by the pool for hours at a time frequently. The advantage of being able to watch videos, surf the web, read books, RSS, and emails and use thousands of programs (spelled Angry Birds) over weighs a greater degree of contrast on the screen. The only downside is that the black parts get too hot to hold. Don't even think about touching the touch pad! We need a terricloth Adam case please!
E-ink is probably better if all you are going to do is read books and documents. If you are living in the real world and do not want multiple devices, you need a Pixel Qi tablet or laptop. You can buy a laptop from ebay, and buy and install a Pixel Qi screen for less than a top of the line Adam.
The Pixel Qi screen needs different color correction profiles to enhance it's view-ability. I have three different profiles that change brightness, gama and contrast that can be employed with one click depending on the environment I am in. I hope we will have that capability on the Adam. Usually this would not be a big deal in Android, but with the Pixel Qi it is.
To get a nice white/black screen in reflective mode you need to use one profile. For full saturation in a dark room in transmissive you need another. Transflective mode is variable, and so can use a profile of it's own to your taste. This screen is not the old on/off you are used to. It will take some getting used to, but then you will never look back.
Hope this helps!
johnboatcat: thanks, very useful feedback.
I plan to read a lot on the device I end the end buy. But mostly PDF files with graphics or text that can't be easily reflowed. I am under the impression that Kindle type devices don't support that very well. I also have need for quickly jumping back and forth between pages while reading the PDF documents and the slowness of Kindle refresh rules it out.
So I am definitely waiting for an Adam-like device with decent e-ink-type screen mode, fast refresh and that also can fits common netbook use cases: emailing, writing shorter texts, browsing and so on.
Adam seems the most promising candidate at present. But the glossy glass above the screen looks worrying to me. From the videos I've seen it looks much more glossy than any laptop I have owned. So I'm awaiting more videos I guess. When you do receive you Adam please post some new feedback on this topic. With your experience with a PQ screen in another device you'll be in a very good position to judge just how much the Adam glass sheet changes the reading experience.
I should also say that I plan to do my reading on it mostly indoors: at an office desk and in bed. So positioning it to avoid distracting light source reflections might be much easier in those situations.
Hello everybody,
I would like know opinions from users about Adam as an e-book reader.
I've seen all the videos in the archive about that, and i've seen that the screen looks pretty poor as an ereader vs a true e-paper, so my question is:
I would use it for academic books in pdf or djvu that i need for my university exams and academic papers.
considering that Adam is a tablet and can do a lot more than an ebook reader, i could be satisfied with a poor e-reading experience,
so i would like to know from whom of u who already owns it if u would suggest it or not for my pourpose.
In other words, if i have to spend about 400 € for good ereader, but i can have an adam for 500 € considering that i would use it for a lot more thing than studying, if the pixel qi technology is quite satisfieing i would chose an adam..
Here is a review from a site that does nothing but talk about and review ereaders, it is a bit long but it probably has the info you are looking for:
hxxp://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-slates/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-review/
Thank u, i've already seen that, but i would like to hear some user opinion since that review doesn't speak in terms of e-reading experiece but more of powersaving possibilities with the pixel qi.
I don't want a tablet, i want an e-reader, but for those prices, since i need it for reading big pdfs of scanned books (and i would need a 9" expensive e-reader for a sporadic use) i would like to understand if Adam could do the trick of giving me a decent e-reading experience.
In that case i would justify the price paid since i would use it for more much things than only studying and reading academic papers.
No one out there does use it for reading manuals and academic books that they can't afford to print?
Thanks
First, I haven't yet ordered an adam, due to the Mastercard issues, but when I finally do, I plan on getting one with the Pixel Qi screen, and one of it's uses will be as an ereader. I don't plan to do all my reading in the Pixel Qi mode, but there are many situations where a standard LCD just won't cut it for me, so I need the option.
Here is my take on it judging by what reviews are out there in reference to the Pixel Qi and the experience viewing documents on my 4" android phone...
Software:
Will the adam work as a good e-reader? Sure, there are many apps available for android that provide for a pleasant reading experience. There are apps to view just about any format you want (many of them free), so you can choose to convert it to the best format, instead of possibly settling for another because of limited support. Combine that with a 10.1" screen, fairly low weight, and ergonomic weight distribution (concentrated on one side as opposed to spread out evenly, which makes it feel lighter) and it will make a great reader.
Hardware:
Is Pixel Qi as good as e-ink? No, not quite. In the 'e-ink' type mode, it is a reflective grey-scale lcd screen, and doesn't have as good of a contrast ratio as you will see on the newest e-ink screens, and therefore not as crisp. Is the Pixel Qi as good as a regular LCD? Again, not quite. It isn't as bright as a normal LCD screen, and again the contrast ratio is also a little lower, but it isn't that bad either. There are people looking into tweaking the display settings (like gamma and such) like you can in Windows, to optimize the experience. Also, while good, and with the software needing further tweaking to make it better, the battery life won't be as good a dedicated e-ink reader.
The pro's of this are that it is still an LCD screen, and while in transmissive/transflective mode, is full color, and can be taken out into the bright sunlight and still be read clearly (although with loss of color). Also, as you said, the adam is a tablet which can do a lot more than a dedicated ebook reader.
I mostly read novels, so these are some comments for a few paper-back sized readers, not for text books, but maybe there's some useful information here anyway.
Kindle3 (6"):
Good for reading outside. Super high resolution. Put it under a microscope and it looks like it was laser printed. Not so good if there is not a lot of ambient light. Expect to need a nice bright light nearby when using it indoors. This is my current book reader of choice for use outside. I pretty much hate the GUI. Anything beyond read, turn page, read, is an exercise in patience and frustration.
Dell Streak (5"):
Good for inside and under most lighting conditions. Nearly ideal size for reading novels. Very sharp text and great contrast. This is my current book reader of choice for anything but outside in direct sunlight. Great battery life you can read forever in airplane mode.
iPhone 4:
Similar experience to Streak. Even sharper text. You have to turn the page a lot. Not really a problem.
iPhone 3Gs:
Similar to iPhone 4, but text is a little blurry in side-by-side comparisons with the others. Still O.K. though. I read on one of these for 5 hours straight NY to LA and liked it, but it did need recharging for some reason.
I haven't used either the iPad or Adam PQi for much reading yet, but i did play with them side by side (my son has the Adam), and think I would prefer all of the above to either for extended reading. In fact a Kindle + Streak combo is still smaller, lighter and more readable than an iPad or Adam.
So maybe the take home message is 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'
Additional notes.
iPad:
Hard to hold. Too big and heavy for long reading sessions. If you keep it out of direct light, i.e., in your shadow its just as good as the PQi. Inside it is way better owing to greater contrast and seemingly higher resolution.
Adam PQi:
That rounded handle makes it way easier to hold than in iPad. Not so thrilled with the stability of the software so far. PQi in direct sunlight is better than iPad, but still no fun to read. It's not even close to e-ink for direct sunlight.
Other notes on the PQi:
I think people have been way too kind in describing how much of a compromise the PQi display really is. For somewhat better outdoor performance, you get the poorest LCD display quality I've ever seen.
The text looks more pixelated than I've have noticed on other 10.1" displays or the iPad. I expect this is because every other row of the LCD is dedicated to the reflective elements. I put it under a microscope and every other row of pixels is off in LCD mode, so I think that explains it. It probably also explains the lame contrast. In PQi mode it looks a little sharper, but still pixellated. I have a PQi Adam on the way and kind of wish it was an LCD version.
i don't mind lightness as i won't be using it for reading novels. Actually here in Italy e-books are almost nonexistent. I read novels on paper mostly because of that and also because i don't think reading on 4" backlit display is a good experience (i've a Nexus One)
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
And no, i don't want to buy a book on the cost of 50€ for using it 2 months of my life for a specific exam. Yes i could lend it from a library and that's the way i go for now, but a lot of texts aren't available, not for speaking of manuals regarding things like digital art or photography, in which i'm involved but that are impossible to get in italian libraries near where i live.
I think th PQi is a good compromise on that since in the transreflective mode on indoor good lightining conditions i could get good non-eye-tiring reading. (Am i right?)
And i don't really mind a sharp display or with intense colors since i would use it for surfing the web, reading news, socials, mails, and leave to my laptop the multimedia things.
Actually i'm almost convinced that it will be a good choice for my pourpose.
ptok said:
Adam PQi:
That rounded handle makes it way easier to hold than in iPad. Not so thrilled with the stability of the software so far. PQi in direct sunlight is better than iPad, but still no fun to read. It's not even close to e-ink for direct sunlight.
Other notes on the PQi:
I think people have been way too kind in describing how much of a compromise the PQi display really is. For somewhat better outdoor performance, you get the poorest LCD display quality I've ever seen.
The text looks more pixelated than I've have noticed on other 10.1" displays or the iPad. I expect this is because every other row of the LCD is dedicated to the reflective elements. I put it under a microscope and every other row of pixels is off in LCD mode, so I think that explains it. It probably also explains the lame contrast. In PQi mode it looks a little sharper, but still pixellated. I have a PQi Adam on the way and kind of wish it was an LCD version.
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Click to collapse
What are you basing this analysis on? You don't have an Adam PQi as of yet, did you get hands on someone else's to make this determination?
-CC
clockcycle said:
What are you basing this analysis on? You don't have an Adam PQi as of yet, did you get hands on someone else's to make this determination?
-CC
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Click to collapse
My son got his in the last batch. Mine is on the way. I get to play with it in the few moments when he is not using it.
zanzabros said:
i don't mind lightness as i won't be using it for reading novels. Actually here in Italy e-books are almost nonexistent. I read novels on paper mostly because of that and also because i don't think reading on 4" backlit display is a good experience (i've a Nexus One)
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
And no, i don't want to buy a book on the cost of 50€ for using it 2 months of my life for a specific exam. Yes i could lend it from a library and that's the way i go for now, but a lot of texts aren't available, not for speaking of manuals regarding things like digital art or photography, in which i'm involved but that are impossible to get in italian libraries near where i live.
I think th PQi is a good compromise on that since in the transreflective mode on indoor good lightining conditions i could get good non-eye-tiring reading. (Am i right?)
And i don't really mind a sharp display or with intense colors since i would use it for surfing the web, reading news, socials, mails, and leave to my laptop the multimedia things.
Actually i'm almost convinced that it will be a good choice for my pourpose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I look at an LCD all day long, It doesn't bother me.
The Kindle can zoom on a PDF but it's limited and frustrating. Like I said, turn page, read, turn page, read, that's what it's good for.
I don't think the PQi display is right for me, but it may be for you. I think the only way to really find out is to try it.
zanzabros said:
I would read pdf scans and that is a thing u can't do with a kindle3 because as i've read it is not possible to zoom if i am right...
My concerns are only about studying sessions on backlitted displays, i don't want an exploding headache after 4 hours reading on an LCD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to use the device fir a paper replacement while studying, you definitely need a tablet instead of an ereader.
Speed (searching and page turning) and possibility to annotate make a tablet a very good paper replacement.
Transflective display means you can use the tablet under more circumstances (especially in Italy where you DO have sun ;-D).
Re eye strain I tend to agree with tpok. LCD is not too bad on the eyes
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Up Close and Personal With the Pixel Qi Display
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/01/the-pixel-qi-display/
QI looks great the brighter the sun shines
Hi!
With Kindle-reading-mode ADAM's QI display looks very crisp, while you're reading in bright sun.
Compared to the iPad the LCD-Mode inside is not that good, but this is definitely better if you turn off the automatic-light-dimming. I use ADAM at 80% of it's available Backlight-power, then inside, sometimes it's already too bright for me.
QI is way better than iPad for outside-usability!! Also in the shaded areas iPad suffers already any contrast where ADAM looks much more crisp, but already without any regardable colour. In the sun, where I want to use a tablet-PC very often, there is nothing compareable, it's very nice to see and with "Kindle"-Mode books are very good to read, they weight of ADAM is not more than a big paperback and with it's curved edge it's good to hold. I wish the rubberized surface of the batterie-cover would be allover ADAM's backside, this would increase the good handling of ADAM.
I'm waiting for a solution to fix it to my bike, so there will be an readable(!) navigation for exploring "the wilderness" with my bike by using GPS-tracks
With honeycomb I think ADAM's lack of performance in some apps will be history...
best regards, Stefan
bestmichels said:
Hi!
I'm waiting for a solution to fix it to my bike, so there will be an readable(!) navigation for exploring "the wilderness" with my bike by using GPS-tracks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man that's crazy! and if u fall say goodbye to ur adam!
I use my desire for music and MyTracks for GPS Stats by i put it in a safe place in my backpack
Good e-reader
zanzabros said:
Hello everybody,
I would like know opinions from users about Adam as an e-book reader.
I've seen all the videos in the archive about that, and i've seen that the screen looks pretty poor as an ereader vs a true e-paper, so my question is:
I would use it for academic books in pdf or djvu that i need for my university exams and academic papers.
considering that Adam is a tablet and can do a lot more than an ebook reader, i could be satisfied with a poor e-reading experience,
so i would like to know from whom of u who already owns it if u would suggest it or not for my pourpose.
In other words, if i have to spend about 400 € for good ereader, but i can have an adam for 500 € considering that i would use it for a lot more thing than studying, if the pixel qi technology is quite satisfieing i would chose an adam..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the plain LCD model with a Skinomi screen protector (get rid of the matte protector it distorts) with FBReader and like it. My partner likes me reading in bed with night mode. I've used Kindle and Kobo and it isn't straightforward comparing them. Without going into great detail, I buy books from Amazon and get to read books as e-pubs on these devices. The Kobo is light and book-like, but the Adam is different ... I can read while I listen to digital radio (TuneIn) or music (3 by Fillipe Abrantes is a great player) via BT Jabra stereo headset. I need two devices if I try this with a Kobo or Kindle ... My N1 plus Kobo. As I stated earlier, the comparison is not straightforward .... In short, I am happy, and I am hard to please!
How are those Skinomi screen protectors?
DOEBeats said:
How are those Skinomi screen protectors?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wondering about that too, because the original one really sucks :-D Removed it within the first 24 hours of application..
So I went to bestbuy today to officially make a decision on a tablet. I was seriously considering the Flyer, 10.1, Touchpad, Xoom (especially with the price drop), and and the iPad 2.
Long story short, after playing with everything for like an hour, I walked out with a xoom. I had almost written it off because of everything I had read about the screen. With all the terrible things being said about it I was almost expecting a dim misery of an LCD ala the Velocity Cruz.
But I must say after using it at bestbuy I was really surprised. The screen is very clear, more than bright enough, even at bestbuy, and the colors are fine. I then spent some time with the 10.1, and had my eyes blown out. The colors where WAY over-saturated and blown out. I can see why people like it, but the colors aren't accurate. I think this is same syndrome people have when the see super amoled screens, and why they leave their tv's on "dynamic" Just because the colors are more saturated doesn't mean they're better. The xoom looked much more natural to me with its warmer display and more muted colors.
And now that I have it home, im very happy with my choice. It feels so well built. I didn't need the thinness and lightness of the 10.1, I like having the build quality. The screen has ZERO backlight bleed (take that apple!), and I can't find any dead pixels, dust, or anything like that. Im not trying to "justify" my purchase here, like im sure some will say. I could have easily bought a 10.1 or an iPad 2 if I wanted. But I just liked the xoom the best, screen and all.
So does anyone else actually like this screen, or is it just me?
I'm perfectly satisfied with my Xoom's screen, too.
I've read that there are 2 screen parts used and that one is not as good. Glad I got the good one.
I am happy with my Xoom's display as well. I often watch HD movies on it, and it looks great. It doesn't seem to "pop" like some samsung screens, or some amoled screens I've seen on a few htc devices, but it is by no means faulty. I personally love the vivid popping colors on the previously mentioned devices, but, again, I am happy with my Xoom as well.
Also, I find a lot of people complain about things such as this out of jealousy(they are mad because they don't have said device, so make up excuses to justify it) or fanboyism(Htc is the best ever. Moto screens suck!!), or some other various reason that holds no merit.
Lastly, the people who are satisfied generally aren't as vocal, so you don't see as many threads started by them. However, when someone finds the smallest problem such as one miniscule dust particle, viewed only by microscope, under the glass of their device, the obvious step is to all caps rage on the forums, demand justice, expect a free replacement of a far superior device, etc.
ZanshinG1 said:
I'm perfectly satisfied with my Xoom's screen, too.
I've read that there are 2 screen parts used and that one is not as good. Glad I got the good one.
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I love my Xoom screen too. Especially at sixty percent to full brightness, the Xoom screen is plenty saturated and true. I'm a painter, and I use my Xoom as my portfolio, so it has to be good.
I also am very satisfied with the screen quality and its warm colors. The brightness isn't as high as some other tablets but its enough to satisfy my needs. I usually have it set to auto brightness anyways, save for when watching shows or movies. As mentioned, I too really appreciate the build quality of the xoom and the weight did not bother me at all. Although now that I have an otterbox defender on it, the weight pretty much doubled and not to mention how beastly thick it is with it on.
Sent from my MZ604 using XDA Premium App
I'm also satisfied with my screen. My only issue is that the Auto brightness is too dark - that might be the reason why most people seeing a Xoom for the first time think the screen look washed out, without having checked how brightness was adjusted.
Regarding the mention there might be two different screen - any facts to support this? If so, any way to distinguish the two manufacturers?
Humans are more fond towards colors that pop and are bright even if they aren't accurate.
The xoom screen is fine and well worth the price at the new price point @ $500.
RMerlin said:
I'm also satisfied with my screen. My only issue is that the Auto brightness is too dark - that might be the reason why most people seeing a Xoom for the first time think the screen look washed out, without having checked how brightness was adjusted.
Regarding the mention there might be two different screen - any facts to support this? If so, any way to distinguish the two manufacturers?
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There are a lot of topics here about the two different screens, search. You can find out what screen you have by typing "dmesg" in terminal and look for line that contains lcd. I have a Sharp screen. A Xoom that i returned because of toutch screen problems had a AUO screen.
poisike said:
... You can find out what screen you have by typing "dmesg" in terminal and look for line that contains lcd....
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Can you please translate it for dummies?
Thanks
NikosPx said:
Can you please translate it for dummies?
Thanks
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I believe terminal here means either command prompt from your pc while connected to your Xoom in debug mode or using the Terminal emulator app.
I suppose to test it, just download Terminal Emulator from the market and run it. Then type dmesg on the dos-like blue screen that appears. A whole bunch of text will appear and you just look for a line that describes lcd.
This should be familiar to you if you know how to use DT a2sd.
AWWW
I have AUO, I still think the screen is fine though. My screen has zero light bleed what so ever so I guess that is good.
Thank you musashiken, I 'll try it out.
Sent from my MZ601 using XDA Premium App
i like the screen very much too. just hate the fingerprints
musashiken said:
I believe terminal here means either command prompt from your pc while connected to your Xoom in debug mode or using the Terminal emulator app.
I suppose to test it, just download Terminal Emulator from the market and run it. Then type dmesg on the dos-like blue screen that appears. A whole bunch of text will appear and you just look for a line that describes lcd.
This should be familiar to you if you know how to use DT a2sd.
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Click to collapse
Yes, use Terminal emulator from Market.
It's a good idea to restart your Xoom before you type dmesg (you will get a lot of text if you don't restart and it's possible you will not find the line you are looking for).
andr0id23 said:
I am happy with my Xoom's display as well. I often watch HD movies on it, and it looks great. It doesn't seem to "pop" like some samsung screens, or some amoled screens I've seen on a few htc devices, but it is by no means faulty. I personally love the vivid popping colors on the previously mentioned devices, but, again, I am happy with my Xoom as well.
Also, I find a lot of people complain about things such as this out of jealousy(they are mad because they don't have said device, so make up excuses to justify it) or fanboyism(Htc is the best ever. Moto screens suck!!), or some other various reason that holds no merit.
Lastly, the people who are satisfied generally aren't as vocal, so you don't see as many threads started by them. However, when someone finds the smallest problem such as one miniscule dust particle, viewed only by microscope, under the glass of their device, the obvious step is to all caps rage on the forums, demand justice, expect a free replacement of a far superior device, etc.
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Click to collapse
I'm currently playing with Thrive, xoom, and tab 10.1. Im comparing the display side by side and tab 10.1 looks better and sharper, no matter what you say. The speaker quality on tab 10.1 blows away both of them. Other than those extra connector found on xoom and more on thrive, tab 10.1 win hands down in rest of the other departments. Also, the display of Toshiba thrive is better than xoom and speakers sound decent to. Its not about jealousy. If you try them side by side then you better understand what's beat for you. I know its not possible all the time but at least sometimes when there are $500 - $600 involved and return policy without restocking fee is available, go for it and take your decision based on that.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Hmmm. Well it seems I have the AUO screen as well. What kind of problems are they having? Mine looks pretty good, like I sad no light bleed or anything. The only thing I can see is a slight scanline affect that you can sometimes see on cheaper lcd's, i'v seen it on cheap laptops before.
Not sure that justifies a return but has anyone else noticed it?
i just sold mine i am buying the tab10.1 today
Did some searching. Looks like the sharp screen had better color and contrast but also has a massive amount of backlight bleed, where as the AUO has worse contrast and color but has zero backlight bleed. I have a feeling the one on display at bestbuy was a sharp, but the bleed was invisible due to the overhead lights.
I use mine in the dark allot so I cant stand bleed, I have no interest in trying to get a sharp screen. It looks like AUO also makes screens for cheap laptops, witch would explain why I can see the scanlines you see on cheap laptops lol. I have 14 days to see if ill be satisfied the AUO screen. If not I guess I can always trade for the oversaturated Samsung
poisike said:
There are a lot of topics here about the two different screens, search.
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I apologize for not hitting the Search button every single time I read a statement in a thread that is about the stated topic, in case it might have come up in the past and I might still have missed it in my daily visits to this forum.
NikosPx said:
Thank you musashiken, I 'll try it out.
Sent from my MZ601 using XDA Premium App
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Oh and to really make your life easier, type "dmesg | grep lcd".
This will extract text that contain "lcd" and you don't have to scroll through all the text to look for it.
And seems like I got the AUO screen.. well I'm fairly satisfied with it but seeing that I'm not american and I imported my Xoom, I'll have to live with it no matter what.
I have a SGT 7.7, it has a 7.7 inch SuperAmoled display and is running ICS. When I read on it I always read white on black. For epubs I currently use Aldiko and for pdfs I use RepligoReader. I recently started to read a lot again and was thinking of getting a dedicated reading device.
Main reason being the e-ink screen to ensure I don't get eye cancer too soon. Second being the battery life, so I dont waste the battery on my 7.7 just staring at text for hours. Third I don't like (physical) books, because they are heavy, get dirty, bend and stuff.
I'm from Germany, I can get the Glow for about 150€ on eBay and the NST for like 120 AUD (I'm stil in Australia till next Wednesday ).
Does the B&N store work in Germany?, if it doesn't where can I buy books from?
I own a SGT 7.0 myself, and still use my NST. Mine is not a glow. Those have some apparent issues with light "hotspots" developing, so I'm waiting until those are resolved. The NST has several advantages:
1. The eInk screen is very easy on the eyes, and is quite usable outdoors, even in sunlight. If you do not have good lighting, it won't work without some light, or you opt for the Glow version. It is far easier to read outdoors than a color glossy screen, even in the shade. Contrast is excellent.
2. The NST is very light, and easy to handle for an extended period without the hand cramping up. My SGT 7.0 is significantly lighter and smaller than the NOOK Color or Tablet, so this isn't so big a deal. I'm not sure how the 7.7 compares.
3. The NST is cheap, or at least cheap enough that I'm not scared to take it with me to the beach, or outdoors. Obviously, it's not waterproof, and I do put it in a case outdoors, but it's not the end of the world if it is killed, whereas my SGT is much more important to me.
4. Battery life on the NST is phenomenal. I don't get anywhere near the "2 months" that B&N advertises, but I'm easily good for a week to 10 days of regular use. It also charges quickly from any USB power source, so there are no big wall adapter concerns. YMMV, of course.
5. Once rooted, the NST does many of the key things my SGT and my laptop do. I can check email, calendar, todo list, travel plans and even some light web browsing on it with few problems. It's not as nice to use as a bigger color device, but it works well enough that I can take it along as my sole device where a bigger device would be awkward.
From everything I'm reading at the B&N forums, you can only purchase books from B&N if you have a credit card with a US billing address. This seems to change from time to time, but a lot of Canadian buyers are upset. However, this needn't matter to you. Root the thing, and you can use the reader of your choice and just shop for ebooks where they're cheapest. I much prefer Mantano Reader myself, since it handles both epub and PDF formats well. B&N's library is famous for losing shelving (organization) data.
I find the NST a useful complement to my SGT. I wouldn't call it an essential, but it is definitely nice to have.
I own a tablet (HP Touchpad CM9) and a large-screen smartphone (Galaxy S3).
I prefer reading on my rooted Nook Glowlight.
It's thin. It's light. I can read it in sunlight. I can read it in the dark. It lasts a LONG time on a charge. It acts as a low-end Android Tablet in a pinch (for web searches, etc).
The glowlight LED "flashlighting" effects at the top of the screen are minimal. The light zones are neatly negated when using a reader like Cool Reader that places the reader status bar on the upper portion of the screen.
I only have 2 complaints:
1. Sometimes the lighting changes slightly in intensity when you have it at the lower-end of its brightness settings and you do something like turn a page.
2. Until you get used to it, holding it can be a problem. Your thumb may hit the screen. (Solution? Turn off touch-zones in whatever reader program you use.)
If you root your Nook and use Calibre to de-DRM and convert your books, you can read anything you buy anywhere.
Back in Germany, about to order a Nook. Looking at the prices on eBay I can get the NST for 79€ and the Glowlight for 139€. Getting a LED clip on light for 8 bucks should also do the job, right. It would save me 50 bucks to get NST + LED-light instead of the Glowlight.
{Diemex} said:
Back in Germany, about to order a Nook. Looking at the prices on eBay I can get the NST for 79€ and the Glowlight for 139€. Getting a LED clip on light for 8 bucks should also do the job, right. It would save me 50 bucks to get NST + LED-light instead of the Glowlight.
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Over on the B&N forum, there have been a number of reports of early NSTG screens developing "bright spots", not all of which are due to scratches or dents. Apparently, there's some concern about the manufacturing process causing some separation between the "screen protector" and the screen itself. Others have reported significant screen contrast issues, or banding.
Personally, I'm waiting for B&N to perfect the process of building the NSTG before buying one. I'd also like to be able to fully utilize Nook Touch Tools capabilities on it. For this reason, I'm sticking with a NST (non-glow) for now. The Glow is awesome and lighter, but I don't want to worry about return issues, even living near a B&N store. I honestly don't find myself reading in the dark that often, and when I do, my Samsung tablet is better anyhow.
I read the NST only has only 250mb availible for sideloaded books, can one unlock the remaining 750mb somehow?
Does anyone know the Sony PRS T1? It runs Android aswell and can be rooted too. Its only 15€ more, at least in my case.
This is a similar dilema that I went through recently. I have a Galaxy Tab 8.9 with the same screen as the 7.7.
I have read nothing but ebooks going back to about 2005, first on windows mobile then moving to Android in 2010. I chose the 8.9 because I thought it would be better than a 10" screen for book reading. I was not disappointed, it still works great.
I was planning a beach vacation for this summer, and was worried about outdoor reading on the 8.9. I bought a matte finish screen protector to help with outdoor glare, and while it was an improvement, it was not a cure. Looking into ereaders, I knew I did not want the Kindle, because I get my book from alternate sources, not Amazon. Came across the NST GL, found you could sideload books, and it has the back lighting. I have read the reports about the hotspotting, but there is no contest to the flexibility of a backlit e-ink screen. Since the first e-ink readers, I always stood up for LCDs, because of available active back lighting and continuously variable brightness. I could always find a comfortable and pleasant contrast level, in bright or dark areas.
The NST GL is on another level. The wonderful contrast, good (not perfect) back lighting and light weight make it a winner. All of the add-on lights for Kindles are a poor substitute for true back lighting. I am not sure a regular e-ink screen would have worked for me, but I am converted. I will keep the 8.9 as I use it for many other things, but when I really want to read, the NST GL is all but perfect.
B
The sad thing about ergonomics done well is that nobody notices! Whereas, if you screw something up so that a product is unusable, everyone notices. So I thought I'd sing the praises of the bezel design of the Nook HD+, which just struck me the other day.
See, I had read some (non-mainstream) review of the HD+ where the reviewer was griping because he didn't like the looks of the raised bezel around the screen on the Nook HD+. He thought the glass should extend across the face, like it does on my Galaxy Tab 2.
But have you noticed that, when you're holding the HD+ in your hand, that you aren't sending false touches to the screen? I've read that Apple had to put some software in the iPad to mitigate this. Others in the Android world (like, with the Galaxy Tab 3, simply gripe that they can't hold their Tablets in portrait mode without constantly causing a page flip due to a false touch.
But that raised bezel on the HD+ is subtle. It keeps your fingers away from the screen just enough so that there are no false touches!
Doesn't require any software. Doesn't require any leaning (how to hold the tablet.) Brilliant!
Yeah I like it too.
The only thing is it does not allow slide in gesture. Though that doesn't seem to be something that's used in android (it is used plenty in ios)
Unfortunately, b&n is so poorly run and their market share so small they're not going to get much props or respect for what they get right.
well done b&n, indeed.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using xda app-developers app
Now imagine if you will, this device with a genuine Tablet UI. Near Nirvana until Google decided to do us all a favor.
Yes the bezel does help in holding the tablet...though I am scared of gripping it too hard!
Excellent industrial design overall...at the current selling price, I would rate it better than any other tablet (based on price/performance or price/features ratio)...more so after installing CM11
.....A light sensor and a front camera would have killed the competition (at negligible cost to manufacture)
barth2 said:
Unfortunately, b&n is so poorly run and their market share so small they're not going to get much props or respect for what they get right.
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Their loss, our gain. I bought my HD+ (CPO) for $120 a few weeks ago from Fry's Elec. Before that, I was hankering for an HP Slate 8 Pro, with it's 4:3 aspect ratio screen. But HP wants almost 3 times as much for their 8 Pro, and it has a fatal flaw!
I wish I had bought a HD+ for $99 on Black Friday, but the xda developers (and the CM developers) weren't as far along with ROM development as they are now. There was the brick bug problem with TRIM and it didn't seem like it would work. But now that all that's behind us, if prices dip again, I might buy a second one. I don't know that anyone is ever going to make a 3:2 screen again, even tho it's close to the "golden ratio" and arguably the best AR for tablets. (Okay, the guy says Apple got it right with 1.6. But for moving maps in airplanes, 1.5 is better. )
barth2 said:
The only thing is it does not allow slide in gesture. Though that doesn't seem to be something that's used in android (it is used plenty in ios)
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I'm confused. In Google Play, I can come from the left outside, off the bezel, and "slide in" to open the left slide out menu. Is that a "slide in" gesture? Or is a "slide in" gesture something else? I've never used iOS, so I don't know.
PMikeP said:
I'm confused. In Google Play, I can come from the left outside, off the bezel, and "slide in" to open the left slide out menu. Is that a "slide in" gesture? Or is a "slide in" gesture something else? I've never used iOS, so I don't know.
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You're right. A flat bezel does make the slide in gesture a bit easier. But I think nook makes the right trade-off.
I also think the curved edge makes the nook more comfortable to hold. In the tech review game, however, it's all about looking cool and how many mm thick you can get down to, so nook loses again.
I only wish that B&N had also gone off the beaten path w.r.t. aspect ratio and picked 4:3 instead of 16:10. I think 4:3 is a lot better for web, email, reading, and even games (on small screen). That's 80-90% of what I do with a tablet. The only thing wide screen is good for is watching tv/movies. But that's what I have my big screen tv for.
barth2 said:
You're right. A flat bezel does make the slide in gesture a bit easier. But I think nook makes the right trade-off.
I also think the curved edge makes the nook more comfortable to hold. In the tech review game, however, it's all about looking cool and how many mm thick you can get down to, so nook loses again.
I only wish that B&N had also gone off the beaten path w.r.t. aspect ratio and picked 4:3 instead of 16:10. I think 4:3 is a lot better for web, email, reading, and even games (on small screen). That's 80-90% of what I do with a tablet. The only thing wide screen is good for is watching tv/movies. But that's what I have my big screen tv for.
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Not to nitpick but this is 3:2 ratio. At least the HD+ is.
I do agree that for pretty much ANYTHING other than media consumption 4:3 is the way to go. Even then, 16:9 shows aren't too bad.
Sent from my Nook HD+ using xda app-developers app
I get "false touches" on my HD+ a lot. So much so that sometimes I have to turn the screen off and back on to get it to register a real touch. I think it has to do with the metal sides conducting bioelectricity. So the bezel may be great, but it certainly doesn't serve much purpose aside from comfort in holding the device.
JeauxAdam said:
Not to nitpick but this is 3:2 ratio. At least the HD+ is.
I do agree that for pretty much ANYTHING other than media consumption 4:3 is the way to go. Even then, 16:9 shows aren't too bad.
Sent from my Nook HD+ using xda app-developers app
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Agreed, 4:3 seems to me to be the best form factor for a tablet overall. I've actually always been curious about this. Is there any consensus out there on why Android manufacturers mostly go with 16:10 instead? Do they just want to be purposefully different to the iPad, or are they making an educated assumption of some sort that a majority of users will use their tablets mostly for watching video?
episode96 said:
Agreed, 4:3 seems to me to be the best form factor for a tablet overall. I've actually always been curious about this. Is there any consensus out there on why Android manufacturers mostly go with 16:10 instead? Do they just want to be purposefully different to the iPad, or are they making an educated assumption of some sort that a majority of users will use their tablets mostly for watching video?
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I think maybe originally it was just to be different from apple. But this was one thing Steve Jobs got right.
to me a lot of apps just feel better in 4:3. Take gmail. Pretty much the same app on ios and android in term of basic layout and functionality. But it looks more proportionally pleasing on my ipad than the nook. The message list is less cramped vertically, with right amount of white space. The message pane feels right, not too wide and short. Probably has something to do with the golden ratio and all that.
I can't find any 4:3 android tablet that isn't from a no name Chinese manufacturer. ditto Windows metro. The whole widescreen thing started when movie makers wanted to differentiate from tv. then HDTV came along and wanted to more closely resemble the movies (and differentiate from SD). They should've thought twice about replicating widescreen in a small multi-purpose hand held device.