I always try to do my "due diligence" before purchasing most things, and that means I read the 1-star reviews. I am a little surprised at 13% 1-star reviews for this little light because I think it's terrific!
A while back I bought (on sale) the basic Kindle, with the gray screen. I'm gettin' up in years. I was reading in bed with the light on but that didn't thrill my long-suffering wife. I thought about getting a Paperwhite with its built-in light, but maybe a better alternative was a simple, lightweight LED book light. I settled on this one, and I love it.
In some of the 1-star reviews folks said the thing didn't work. Mine worked out of the box and continues to work. Some said the batteries don't last. Well, I guess that depends on how much you use it. I've been using mine rather a lot (since for me the gray screen in hard to see even in better light) and the batteries that came with are holding up fine, and replacements are available at Walgreens or Walmart, and they come in pairs. Someone said the light glares on the screen. Well, yes, it can, but it depends on the angle of the light and the screen. I really like the clamp! It is solid and padded with a strong spring that holds beautifully on my Kindle. Its gooseneck is totally adjustable, and sometimes a slight tilt of the Kindle is enough to kill the reflection. I keep my light a little off center to one side. It's not directly in my line of sight, and it's very easy to control the glare.
I heartily recommend the light. You hardly know it's there it's so light, and it really helps on the gray screen!
What I love about this light is that unlike the mighty bright (which I used for years), this one does not obscure the screen in any way. It fits the 6" basic kindle perfectly, clipping onto the top but not going beyond the edge. It stays in place, doesn't move and allows you to read the entire kindle screen, without having to attach it to a separate cover. As a comparison, the mighty bright had possibly (marginally) better light but if attached directly, the mighty bright would cover some of the screen which was a annoying, so I mostly used it with a cover. The mighty bright also had a nasty habit of snapping open/closed when removing it. This one doesn't need to be removed, it's a great fit.
I find the light itself to be more than adequate. Not sure if those complaints are about a larger kindle size.
I was so pleased with this light it just enabled me to read my basic e reader in a darker light, it is a good light source. It is neat and fits well onto the e-reader and you can move the arm to a position which suits you. Like other reviewers the simple button ton the top of the light is easily activated and if in a bag and pressed against anythng it will switch on. Best to secure it when packing it so nothing will contact it . I just rolled some bubble wrap around mine before slipping it into my handbag and it worked.
I bought my first Kindle in late November, I disregarded reviews and bought the Kindle Lighted Leather Cover. The light is horrible, bottom half of the screen isn't lit well at all! So, looking to get better lighting...I researched options on Amazon and saw Amazon Reviewer/Shopper Erin Cormier's video review of the Versa Clip-On Light. Her video showed all of the features and convinced me to buy the Versa Clip-on Light.
As Ms. Cormier's video shows, this light clips on the top or side without covering the screen. It is very flexible so I can shift it depending on where I am reading.
Two unexpected benefits. First, I can leave the light clipped to the Kindle and bend it across the top of the closed case...I don't have to take it on and off as I expected. Second, the light came with extra batteries!
There is a reason this light keeps selling out. Don't waste money on a lighted cover, get this light instead!
Sometimes I wake up at night and need to read something and allow myself to get sleepy again and fall asleep. But I don't want to turn on all my lights and wake fully up! Enter this nifty little reading light that softly illuminates the pages of a book or eReader without lighting up the whole room! I find it to be handy and effective for late night reading sessions without telling my brain that it is daytime.
It is also a great way to pass the time when sharing a room with someone who is ready to go to sleep when you are not ready. The light itself is perfect for the size of a page and the rest of the room remains dark.
This was originally purchased for use with my Kindle because I have the kind that is not backlit. But I soon found out that it can be used beyond the Kindle and now I wouldn't be without one of these.
Feature Product
- Bright, even LED light illuminates the screen without any "hot spots"
- Flexible neck adjusts to eliminate reflection or glare
- Clip designed for Kindle. Clip width and depth insure secure, stable connection to the Kindle without interfering with the screen
Description
Product Description
Verso Clip Light for E-Readers
By LightWedgeIf you’re an avid bedtime reader, you’re certainly well acquainted with Snoozy McSnoozerson. No matter what that person lying next to you is named during waking hours, when consciousness settles into its daily twilight, and you need a bedtime story to take that final edge off, Snoozy’s saying a silent prayer your bedside lamp will suddenly burn out…and if you’re lucky, that’s all.
The Verso Clip Light is the solution you need to keep Snoozy’s grumblings at bay. The LED light and optical-grade acrylic lens keeps the light off them while evenly illuminating your e-reader for minutes or (up to 15) hours of strain-free enjoyment. The flexible neck adjusts perfectly to eliminate unwanted glare or reflection, and the grippy wide clip ensures a stable connection to your e-reader without getting in the way.
The Clip Light is part of the Verso E-Reader Lights Collection
Squinting. Overhead lights on airplanes. Bad hotel-room lighting. Grumbly spouses who don't understand why we won't just close the book, shut off the light, and go to sleep. And, yes, aging. These are all major life challenges that our Verso line of e-reader lights can help with, and we offer three to unique versions to choose from.
About LightWedge
Starting with the LightWedge Original booklight in 2002, Boston-based LightWedge has kept its focus on the development of innovative and style-driven reading accessories. With its Verso line of e-reader and tablet accessories, LightWedge brings more than a decade of accessories experience to a whole new stage.
Other Verso Collections
- Artist Series Collection E-Reader Covers
- Prologue Collection E-Reader Covers
- New York Times Collection E-Reader Covers
- E-Reader Lights
Sharyn Sowell Cities
Prologue Tan
Versailles Scholar Darwin OMG! Pink OMG! Green
Sharyn Sowell Cities Say Yes Swedish Wonder
Prologue Tan Prologue Red Prologue MarbledBlue
Versailles Scholar Darwin OMG! Pink OMG! Green
Darwin Say Yes
Versailles
Prologue Tan Prologue Red Prologue MarbledBlue
Squinting. Overhead lights on airplanes. Bad hotel-room lighting. Grumbly spouses who don't understand why we won't just close the book, shut off the light, and go to sleep. And, yes, aging. These are all major life challenges that our Verso line of e-reader lights can help with, and we offer three unique versions to choose from.
All models fit the Kindle Touch, Kindle and Kindle Keyboard.
Verso Arc Light Verso Clip Light Verso Wrap Light
I've ordered two different reading lights for the Kindle before, and I was disappointed with both. One, I couldn't get into the battery compartment to even try using it. The other, it'd be okay when I first flipped the switch but dimmed quickly (brand new, it shouldn't have had battery problems). I ordered this one used, because I didn't want to throw away more cash on products that wouldn't work. I also wanted to make it easier for me to not pass out with lights on, since it's a lot easier to push a button to turn off lights than it is to get up and switch them off when you're ready to pass out.
This thing is *bright*. It's brighter to read in the dark with it on than if I'd use a lamp/overhead lights in my apartment. There's a single, push to use button on top of the light to turn it on and off. It's also incredibly flexible, so I can pin it to the top of my Kindle and contort it to whatever position is best for how I'm laying reading (to minimize glare). I use it was an old Kindle Keyboard, and it's helped get rid of the desire to buy the Paperwhite. Why bother when this works so well?
A few things you may want to know - given how bright this is, it probably wouldn't work to read with while someone's trying to sleep next to you. If the person can't sleep with normal lighting on, this is definitely too much. Also, the flexibility of the light can mean it doesn't stay in the position you twist it to exactly. I'll get it just right, decide I need to turn to my other side to get comfy and read, and then notice that the angle's adjusted from me moving. I don't really mind it personally (otherwise I wouldn't give it 5 stars), but I guess it could be irritating to some.
I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend this to my friends. And, should mine stop working and this still be available for purchase, I'll probably buy another one. At the very least, I'll stick with this company.
I purchased this clip on light because I purchased the $89 Kindle with no back-light and I needed some sort of way to read at night while my baby is sleeping and the light is off so not to disturb her. I had the opportunity to get the Kindle that was thirty dollars more with the back-light, the Paperwhite, but I figured I didn't want to spend that much on it before I knew if I liked the Kindle or not so I opted to get the cheaper one and get a light (still costed less than the Paperwhite).
It arrived today and as soon as I got the batteries in and turned it on the light came on and no less than 5 seconds later started to dim until it looked like it was not on. I took the batteries out and put them back in thinking maybe it was the placement of the batteries and tried again and it did the same, only the light came on dimmer than the first time and then fizzed out. I don't know if this is due to faulty batteries and I can't get to the store until morning but for a first time out of the package experience I would say this product is off to a lousy start. I am going to get some battery's (C2032, annoying that it doesn't use a more convenient battery) and try again. Nevertheless, I am not too happy with being out of a light tonight and in light of this (no pun intended, ha!) I may just spring for the more expensive Kindle with the back-light, send this back, get my refund and put it towards more books. I will report back tomorrow as to what happened with the new batteries but as it stands this is a 1 star product.
*Edit January 3, 2013* I purchased 2 new C2032 batteries and put them in and the light does work, looks like the batteries were dead. Looks like this will fit its purpose and so I am moving my review from a 1 to a 4. I say 4 because it would almost be more convenient to not include batteries and just recommend to buy them so that it works on the first day and not delay because you find you need to buy more merchandise to make it work. I would first recommend just getting the Paperwhite but if you are like me and would like to save a few pennies then the non lit Kindle and this light will do. I will update again once these batteries die to attest to the length of the batteries.
*Edit January 26, 2013* I have been using this light and I find that while the batteries, since I replaced them out of the box, have yet to die on me the light is way too bright. Entirely too bright. It illuminates the room for the most part and is very distracting to my daughter who sleeps in a crib in my bedroom. I am going to keep this as a backup in case I need it, but for my typical needs of reading at night I purchased the Kindle case with a light attached to use. The case clips the Kindle in and the light draws the power from the Kindle. No batteries to purchase and it's bright enough to read but does not light the room. I recommend if you would like to read at night and either live alone or sleep in a separate room or have a mate that doesn't mind the light. However, if the light is going to be in their face anyway, why not just use the light in your room?
Summer 2016 Update: A lot has changed since I bought this to use with my first Kindle. That first Kindle has since been retired in favor of newer Kindle Fire models, but this reading light is still working well and going strong with its original battery. It has been re-purposed for camping trips. It works well for a tent light and the clip makes it great for attaching to many surfaces (including a baseball hat). I definitely feel I have gotten my money's worth out of this item.
Original Review:
Durable, handy Kindle Add-on: This is a great light for use on Kindle models that don't have back-lighting. I bought two, gave one as a gift and kept the other. I have had mine since 2011 and have never need to change the bulb. The illumination is not harsh and works well for me.
I am very impressed with the way this simple lamp is designed and the way it seems integral to my Kindal when it's attached. Mostly I like the electrical design, which has two miniature round batteries back-to-back with a very bright LED. There is virtually no wiring in this lamp; it is made like a flashlight I think. With no wires in the flexible neck to cause trouble. Using it every morning (early) for about an hour to read Reuters news with it makes the near perfect Kindle Touch even nicer now that reading under a table lamp is no longer necessary.
The light from this little lamp naturally fades a little between the top of the page and the bottom of the page. This is only a minor issue and then only as the battery life begins to wane. If that becomes an issue, the lamp can be clipped to one side of the Kindle for more even distribution of its light. Frankly this is not an issue for me so I did not discredit the lamp for it.
My wife struggled with numerous lamp models for her Kindle long before I became interested in the reader myself. Her Kindle lamps had two things in common: 1) All had cords that ran to a plug-in power supply. 2) All became defective in under a year of regular use - either temporarily when the incandescent bulb burned out or permanently when the wiring developed an open circuit somewhere down inside unaccessable plastic enclosures. The lamp that is the subject of this review is way better than any of the older ones. And, because it uses an LED and almost no wiring it should last a long time.
One of my smartest purchases of the year is my Verso Clip-On Reading Light for Kindle (Graphite)! I had been using an alkaline battery powered light that simply wore out. . .the stem just gave up. This light was difficult to focus properly. It would either create a "bright spot" on the face of the Kindle, or shine into my eyes. At any rate, it was not satisfactory. When I purchased the Verso I was hoping for a stronger stem. What I got was a solution to all of my problems.
First, the clip on is far superior to the one that slid into a slit in the cover and was not at all useful without the cover. The clip on works with or without a cover. That is very positive since I take my Kindle everywhere and need my light to be totally useful.
Second the battery is small and easy to change. While the battery is more expensive, it lasts longer and provides more power. This is a major selling point for me.
Third, the clip on is easy to focus and does not create a bright spot nor shine into my eyes but sheds light evenly on the entire face of my Kindle.
The only draw back that I can see is that it takes a moment or two to unclip and straighten in order to carry it easily in my purse. . .and remember, my Kindle goes EVERYWHERE! But, this is minimal. . .and probably not even worth mentioning.
As another plus, my grandson was visiting and when he saw my clip on he commented that he could use that for reading in bed. I ordered him one that night and he had it in two days much to his surprise and delight. As a high school student with AP classes he has MUCH reading, and this makes it convenient for him.
So, I sum up that this is the best purchase of my year!
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