07-26-2007, 04:58 PM | #46 | |
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The biggest issue in the case of modularity would be the creation of an I/O that all components would understand and could use... in other words, the same text output could be used by a color LCD screen and a B/W e-Ink screen. That is, I think, Hadrien's biggest concern, and in this age of proprietary SW, it's a valid one... but it's one that, I think, ought to be dealt with anyway. Universality is the sister of Harmony. And yes, LCDs (or any other display tech) won't last nearly as long as e-ink. But again, your typical usage might include regular opportunities to recharge the device, so LCD might be fine for you. Or if you're mostly outside, away from power outlets, use the e-Ink screen during the day, and save the LCD for evenings at home. |
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07-26-2007, 05:06 PM | #47 |
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Well, true...
But wireless would be a massive power drain, and the speed of data transfer would be highly limiting....
You'd also need a battery for the screen AND the processor AND the wireless microcontrollers to do the data transfer AND the controller chip and... Haha - I'm a embedded engineer. If I have enough time on the side, perhaps I might whip up something to make us all happy - that is, if life doesn't swamp me first. ...It's got a rather annoying capability to do that...-_-'. The only problem is that I looked at the eInk play kits - they're EXPENSIVE!!! Besides, I/O standards are beasts. |
07-26-2007, 10:31 PM | #48 | |
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I think the dumb screen idea has wider applications. When we attach a monitor to our PC, the OS figures out the available modes through a plug 'n play protocol. Wireless USB will give us the bandwidth to run a monitor with a not-too-outrageous power expenditure. If there were dumb screens available, they could come in different sizes and technologies. They could be flexible or not. They could have touch screens or not. They could be color or monochrome. They could work with pocket devices and desktop devices, and even switch back and forth. The eReader could come with a screen of its own, but give us the option of using a dumb screen accessory -- or not. When I add a component to my PC, I have a wide range of prices and technologies. That is why I run PCs, not Macs. That is the issue that killed the Amiga. Creating a world of modularity for eReaders can benefit us all. |
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07-27-2007, 03:20 AM | #49 |
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Well, to some extent...
Wireless modularity is pretty sweet. But then you hit another problem.
As an embedded engineer, you should realize that throwing more power after something isn't the 'best' way to solve it - you give it just what it needs, and a little more. It drives down both cost and power consumption. The biggest problem with wireless interconnectivity is that sitting there *still* expends power. In comparison, the biggest *draw* to eInk is that I can flip a screen today, flip it again tomorrow, and ten days from now still have pretty much enough juice to crank through 9,998 more pages...well, that's if the engineer's specs don't lie. =P Wasn't that the real selling point of e-Ink anyways? |
07-27-2007, 07:20 AM | #50 |
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I'd call that more of a fringe benefit... the primary selling point was that it was "more like paper" to the eye.
I'm not downplaying power drain, but if it's that important, add the option of connecting the device and the screen via a USB cable. Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 07-27-2007 at 07:38 AM. |
07-28-2007, 12:40 AM | #51 |
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When the Palm PDAs came out in color, they featured built-in rechargeable batteries. I haven't gone that route myself, though I have been tempted by the T|X. Customers seemed satisfied to keep the device on a charging cradle when it wasn't in use.
For those for whom long battery life is important, there would be USB eInk dumbscreens. For those who want backlit screens or wireless, there would be a charging cradle or more capacious batteries. Open standards, plug 'n play and modularity allow many devices to interoperate. It also drives down prices by tempting more manufacturers to participate in creating peripherals. We are also approaching the day when rapid-charge capacitor storage will be practical for handhelds, giving us practically instant recharges, long battery life and many more recharge cycles. Convergence is another factor that makes modularity more attractive. When your reader is also your handheld PDA and your desktop machine too, the ability to connect to different screens, keyboards, pointing devices, storage, network adapters and printers will be very useful. |
07-28-2007, 08:04 AM | #52 |
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What he said!
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07-28-2007, 08:51 AM | #53 |
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My perfect device would be my HP iPaq Pocket PC with a large, eInk screen. That would open up a huge range of different book-reading apps, including my favourite "uBook".
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07-28-2007, 10:00 AM | #54 | |
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The Perfect Mediccal eBook Reader...
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--ryan |
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07-28-2007, 10:17 AM | #55 | |
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--ryan |
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09-29-2007, 07:29 AM | #56 |
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|2eason,you just speak out what's in my mind.
I woudn't buy a ebook reader which's screen is smaller than 12"1. |
09-29-2007, 11:43 AM | #57 | |
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Really, if you have a chance to examine a Cybook, Sony PRS-500, Hanlin V3, NUUT, or iLiad, take it! Derek |
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10-01-2007, 12:10 PM | #58 | |
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Welcome to MobileRead, cdland!
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Your opinion is your own, of course, cdland, and I wouldn't try to deny it to you, but, egads! I wouldn't want a book that was 12.1" diagonal! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was plenty big enough at ~10", thank you! I'm quite content with my Sony Reader (the same 6" display as delphidb96's Cybook), it's not much smaller than a standard paperback, and that's plenty of text in a chunk for me. |
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10-04-2007, 07:50 AM | #59 |
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imo, ebook reader will be combined with laptop/pda/phone/media player
there will be devices that will have all those features |
10-04-2007, 07:55 AM | #60 | |
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The flexible, "roll out" plastic screens we should start seeing in a couple of years will probably make "converged" devices a lot more practical (eg a pocket sized bookreader with a roll-out screen), but as long as screens are rigid, there's a clear separate between devices you want to be very small (phones, music players) and those you want to be large (book readers, video players). |
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