Amazon Kindle 4 Leather Cover with Built-In Reading Light: A 2011 Hands-On Review
Update: The original post shown below is from 2011. Back then, there were no illuminated eBook readers, so reading lights and covers with integrated LED lighting were a practical and useful option for reading with an eReader in poor lighting conditions.
But now, everything is quite different. Today, nearly all eBook readers priced above 100 euros come with built-in front lighting. An invisible plastic film illuminates the screen from the front. This feature works so well now that with the current models from Amazon, Tolino, and Kobo, you can hardly make a bad purchase.
You can find a comprehensive buying guide (and a quick summary if you’re in a hurry) on the new illuminated models in our eBook reader section.
Also interesting in this context is the solar charging of eReaders. In this article, we have taken a brief look at various DIY solutions and a solar cover for the Kindle 4.
Original report: One of the few drawbacks of eInk displays is the lack of the ability to backlight the screen, making it difficult to read in the dark. The major eReader manufacturers have therefore included cases in their range that come with reading lights.
The cases are particularly practical because they also provide some level of protection to the reader. Engadget grabbed the Kindle 4 cover and conducted a short test run.
The Kindle 4 leather cover is available in four colors: black, light brown, violet, and green. Engadget describes the workmanship as good – which you would expect at a price of 55 euros. The inside is lined with a soft, velour-like material to ensure that the surface and the reader’s display do not get scratched.
The lighting design is particularly ingenious. When the Kindle 4 is slotted into the cover, the two contacts on the back provide the necessary power for the reading light. So, no extra batteries are needed to operate the light. This saves a good deal of money in the long run. The LED is located on an arm on the top of the cover and is activated by simply pulling it out.
It all sounds very good, but there are also a few disadvantages: Firstly, there’s the already mentioned high price. At 55 euros, it costs more than 50% of the reader itself. Secondly, the leather cover also weighs quite a bit, namely 136 grams. This adds 80% of the original reader’s weight, which literally makes reading less enjoyable. Thirdly, the LED reduces the reader’s overall battery life. Since the Kindle 4 already comes with a relatively small battery, more frequent charging can ultimately become quite annoying.
So, the question is whether purchasing such a cover is really worth it, or whether you might be better off just turning on a small reading light on your nightstand. However, you have plenty of time to decide: The cover will not be released until November 23. Here are the hands-on pictures at Engadget.
