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Old 02-13-2009, 03:43 PM   #1
Alexander Turcic
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Why there isn't a perfect e-book reader (Gizmodo)

Matt of Gizmodo tells us why he believes there isn't a perfect e-book reader (yet). In short:
  • E-Ink is expensive, slow and "boring" ("No color, crummy contrast, crappy resolution")
  • Standard LCD requires too much power and isn't comfortable to the eye
  • Plastic Logic's reader, the "rosiest picture of the future of electronic paper displays", will require new fabs to produce it, it will be very expensive, and it will still be without color first
  • Pixel Qi's reflective LCD displays may even overtake E-Ink technology (full color, fast refresh, no new fabs required)

Full article: Link
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Old 02-13-2009, 03:46 PM   #2
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I think my Reader is perfect
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Old 02-13-2009, 03:55 PM   #3
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While there are some things there I agree with, "perfect is the enemy of good enough."

While I look forward to new advances, I enjoy reading with the technology as it exists now.
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Old 02-13-2009, 03:58 PM   #4
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Most books arent with pretty pictures anyway, so a better screen isnt really needed.. What is needed is more competition on the interface field.
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Old 02-13-2009, 04:13 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bwaldron View Post
While there are some things there I agree with, "perfect is the enemy of good enough."

While I look forward to new advances, I enjoy reading with the technology as it exists now.
I agree. I don't see the reader I really want being available for at least a few more years. Until that time, the Kindle adds enough to my reading life to make it worthwhile. By the time that mature device comes around, I'm sure it will have lived a long life and possibly have had a successor. I see no reason to deprive myself until that time.
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Old 02-13-2009, 04:16 PM   #6
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Most books arent with pretty pictures anyway, so a better screen isnt really needed.. What is needed is more competition on the interface field.
Current screens are fine for novels and such but many textbooks have useful pictures and a good color reader would be a natural for magazine content, blogs, etc. Both these markets are quite large. I would love to have a reader that would work well for all of those things.
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Old 02-13-2009, 04:23 PM   #7
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It's interesting, at least from the article's summary above, it seems that the author's opinion is that without color, ebooks are useless.

Of course, most of us here know the truth.

Seems like the majority of the pbooks I read don't have color -- and haven't had color since I was like 5 years old. What does this guy read?
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Old 02-13-2009, 04:27 PM   #8
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The mention of Pixel Qi makes me want to pull out my XO/OLPC (same screen) again and try to get some ebook software on there...
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Old 02-13-2009, 04:50 PM   #9
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Most cars aren't perfect. They burn petroleum based fuel, exhaust noxious gases, get scratched, need new tires and cost much too much.

I mean really, NOTHING in this world is perfect. If you sit on your ask-me-no questions waiting for the perfect "whatever" you will be waiting a long time. Either the readers are good enough for you, if so get one. Or there not, and stick with paper.

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Old 02-13-2009, 04:52 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by europas_ice View Post
It's interesting, at least from the article's summary above, it seems that the author's opinion is that without color, ebooks are useless.
While I think they're far from useless, I don't think we'll see mass adoption until they have color.
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Old 02-13-2009, 05:07 PM   #11
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Seems like the majority of the pbooks I read don't have color -- and haven't had color since I was like 5 years old. What does this guy read?
The same books you read when you were 5?

There are two groups of people here... The ones that read for fun (mostly novels, without any pictures in it) and the ones that read for work (mostly text books, with lots of pictures and graphs). The first group already has some very good tools (the current e-book readers) that might not be perfect, but most certainly adequate for the job. The second group will have to wait until there are bigger screens and, maybe even as important, colour screens.

As he only used the Kindle as reference, I think he was looking at the wrong group (the textbook reader, instead of the novel reader...)
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Old 02-13-2009, 05:12 PM   #12
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They talk about reflective LCD displays for E-reading, but doesn't the JetBook uses the same screen, although it's monochrome? Is there any difference? If it's so good, why then it's only used for JetBook, and the rest use EInk?
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Old 02-13-2009, 05:17 PM   #13
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I've read in B&W on a couple of Palm models, and in color on an Ipaq and Dell Axim, and now B&W again on a Sony PRS-700.

Color?
Couldn't care less. Haven't noticed the lack, even coming from a color Windows Mobile device.

Resolution? Contrast?
E-ink looks fantastic, and I consider it an upgrade (for reading) from the VGA display I had on the Axim.

I wouldn't say that an ereader sized computer would be BAD....but I'm sure enjoying having a dedicated reader that's comfortable to read on. I woulnd't mind seeing a couple of applications on the readers (crossword puzzles, Infocom-style text adventures come to mind), but I really wouldn't want to go back down in size to something iPhonish again.

I admit I drool a bit over the Plastic Logic specs.....I'd love to read comics on the larger screen. For travel though, the current ereaders are a great size.
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Old 02-13-2009, 05:17 PM   #14
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While I think they're far from useless, I don't think we'll see mass adoption until they have color.
Of course, many current ebooks do in fact contain color and will show up that way when read on a device that supports it.
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Old 02-13-2009, 05:18 PM   #15
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They talk about reflective LCD displays for E-reading, but doesn't the JetBook uses the same screen, although it's monochrome? Is there any difference? If it's so good, why then it's only used for JetBook, and the rest use EInk?
Power management. The LCD screen requires constant power to refresh it 60 times per second. eInk only needs power applied to display/change the current image. So, the Jetbook needs to be charged after about 20 hours of use, no matter how many pages you turn. The eInk devices will run much longer usage time wise. Also, the eInk screen does have a bit better contrast. The Vizplex sreen is a bit whiter than the gray Jetbook LDC screen.

Practically, if you are willing to charge the device every day or two it's not a big issue. The Jetbooks biggest two downfalls are 5inch size and format support.

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