Dim or light?

Everybody has seen Kindle’s commercial showing off Kindle’s benefits under direct sunlight conditions compared to iPad. 

This morning a SmokingApples saying the opposite post struck me: “The Kindle may put the iPad to shame in bright sunlight, but for me a time convenient for reading is usually found in a dimly-lit surrounding” .

I’ve checked my apps in all my iOS devices: iBooks, Kindle app, Stanza and guess what? All of them are adapted to low light conditions! Sepia background or even white fonts over black background:

That’s iBooks with Sepia (always) on.

This is Kindle app, white fonts, low contrast.

Stanza – same white fonts, low contrast.

I may be biased here, but which is the most probable time of the day you people usually read? Is it in the morning, afternoon, evening, at night? For me it’s 90% at night (although I’d say news reading is a morning activity).

Another reasonable question is where are you usually staying while reading? I’d say it’s either in bed or at the desk, under the low light of a lamp, isn’t it? I’ve been doing this since childhood. But what if you could just turn off that lamp?! I’m telling you this: it’ll be the most immersive reading experience ever! 

No matter it’s literature or professional reading, having a self illuminated device carrying your books is just the ultimate reading experience.

Say you’re not a college person having to study for a next day exam, but you’re reading an Agatha Cristie crime novel. How would you feel when you’re spouse wakes up at 2 AM saying the lamp light is too strong and she / he cannot sleep? 

Now imagine what a magical device iPad would had been for you as a kid! Wouldn’t you want this experience to be shared by your own kids?

I’m not saying iPad is a better reading tool than Kindle in tech terms, but the iPad is more of a fertile, immersive tool than Kindle is.