I plan on buying an ebook reader next winter when I think the tech will be a bit more mature and less expensive, and the universal book format will have all kinds of open source editing utilities.
But the question I have is whether or not these ereaders are backlit or not. I have no use for an ereader that isn’t backlit.
Could you please tell me whether backlighting is available on these readers?
No.
The technology is called ‘e-ink’ and they replicate almost exactly a printed paper page.
The idea of a backlit screen is bad - and it’s what the cause for most eye strain issues come from in the first place.
ALL of the current marketed e-readers use the same technology and you would require a normal reading light. The best thing about them so far (I’ve played with the Sony, the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX so far) they can all be used in bright sunlight.
I have a “Lifedrive” PDA as well - and it’s a computer LCD screen. I’ve used both for reading and am severely eye strained after an hour of reading on the PDA (small screen) whereas I’ve spent several hours on a plane recently reading the Kindle without the same problem.
Note that an e-reader is “an electronic device” and they have to be turned off for take off and landing. That’s the only thing I don’t like about them (whereas a book, you can continue to read).