Does the current crop of e-ink cut it ?

yvanleterrible · 10-19-2006, 09:48 AM

I'm still waiting for a serious e-ink tool to surface. E-ink is essential to my eyes. Everything I've tried so far has me crying like a ninny in less time than I'd care for. It's hard to do serious work when you keep fighting tears until everything is just a blur.

A laptop does'nt cut it. Even tablets are too bulky for what I do. The LCD I use on my PC now, barely passes and I have to turn my eyes away often, even as the refresh is set to the best setting possible. Give me a paper text of some kind and I'll read till I fall asleep.

Computing power has been overkill for a long time specially since what I do uses mostly static display. The old Mac of yesteryear still cuts it. The PC I'm writing on does all the Cad, picture retouch, web creation and presentation (like my site) I need. A PDA's computing power now is more than adequate but the size is not and the display is worse. Why not a B&W or color PDA with e-ink? That would be a killer!

As for books, I have enough paper material to last the rest of my life. We have the chance around here to have a very special outfit that teaches illiterate people the marvels of reading. They have a unique way of funding. They take donations of book via a 24 hour round bin, and resell the books in a shop they have for a ridiculous price; like 2% of their original value. Last time I went there I came out with 80 very good paperbacks for $10.50. That is 6 months reading for me. When I'm done I just bring them back to the bin. A "novels only" reader is a luxury that is doomed. A reader to survive has to be able to do much much more.

Irex was on the right track from the start, if it could only get out of beta! And color next year is their best bet yet...

Sony has a computer market to protect. I can understand. It's present approach is with a limited luxury market that may work but will certainly not greet the masses.

I hope I'm not alone feeling this way.

I'm still hopeful that an A4 color e-ink with input will come out next year. "Only for geeks" they say? Bloody right they are!

slayda · 10-19-2006, 10:00 AM

I understand the tears. Me too.

Bob Russell · 10-19-2006, 10:39 AM

I share your pain.

When will we see a display technology at a reasonable price that is fast enough for use on a tablet pc, easy on the eyes and great in the sun like e-ink, back/front/side lightable?

We see steps forward, but the first comprehensive display solution for computing and reading is still no more than a concept at best. So until then, we have gradually improving LCD displays for computers, and e-ink for reading devices, and maybe some other specialty alternatives like OLED.

Laser displays (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...?threadid=8126) are a possibility, but I wouldn't look for that in the near future.

Until then, we can all cry together.

But the Sony Reader and iLiad definitely take away much of the pain for those of us that mostly read novels.

Laurens · 10-19-2006, 10:43 AM

I think an A4-sized device would be too bulky and heavy to hold for extended periods of time. The Sony's weight and dimensions are just about right, IMO. Display contrast under low-light conditions definitely needs to improve, though. Also, the UI is too sluggish. And add a speaker so that we can hear button clicks like on an iPod.

NatCh · 10-19-2006, 10:55 AM

You know, I wasn't having any problems looking at my monitor until I read yvan's description of his own -- now my eyes are burning and watering!

Laurens, I (for one

) like the absence of an audible feedback on my Reader! The button action is crisp enough that I get a tactile "click" from it, I don't want actual sound coming at me!

I already have way too stinkin' many things beeping and plonking and buzzing at me as it is.

Leaping Gnome · 10-19-2006, 11:42 AM

That's why the keyword is optional. You can turn off the clicks on the iPod if you want.

It sounds to me yvan like you want a tablet pc with a better display. I think the best bet is for LCD manufacturers to continue to improve their product, instead of trying to morph e-Ink into something that it's not. But who knows what will happen, there is still tons of room for technological growth in the display arena.

yvanleterrible · 10-19-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaping Gnome

That's why the keyword is optional. You can turn off the clicks on the iPod if you want.

It sounds to me yvan like you want a tablet pc with a better display. I think the best bet is for LCD manufacturers to continue to improve their product, instead of trying to morph e-Ink into something that it's not. But who knows what will happen, there is still tons of room for technological growth in the display arena.

You got it! It does'nt have to be fancy, just e-ink for static applications. No video, no powerpoint, no flash...

I will buy the Sony because I like novels and also as a means of funding R&D, because if we don't buy it, readers will die...again.

Laurens · 10-19-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Laurens, I (for one

) like the absence of an audible feedback on my Reader! The button action is crisp enough that I get a tactile "click" from it, I don't want actual sound coming at me!

Well, sometimes it's unclear whether a button press has actually registered because it takes so long to render the next page, especially with relatively complex PDFs, so an (optional) audible click would help here.

NatCh · 10-19-2006, 01:01 PM

I can see that point, I just value the silence more.

If it could be turned off, I wouldn't see any problem with it.

yvanleterrible · 10-20-2006, 09:37 AM

If we forget the fact that the Iliad and the PRS use e-ink as a display interface, what good is their computing power compared to present day PDAs ?

10-19-2006, 09:48 AM	#1
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Does the current crop of e-ink cut it ? I'm still waiting for a serious e-ink tool to surface. E-ink is essential to my eyes. Everything I've tried so far has me crying like a ninny in less time than I'd care for. It's hard to do serious work when you keep fighting tears until everything is just a blur. A laptop does'nt cut it. Even tablets are too bulky for what I do. The LCD I use on my PC now, barely passes and I have to turn my eyes away often, even as the refresh is set to the best setting possible. Give me a paper text of some kind and I'll read till I fall asleep. Computing power has been overkill for a long time specially since what I do uses mostly static display. The old Mac of yesteryear still cuts it. The PC I'm writing on does all the Cad, picture retouch, web creation and presentation (like my site) I need. A PDA's computing power now is more than adequate but the size is not and the display is worse. Why not a B&W or color PDA with e-ink? That would be a killer! As for books, I have enough paper material to last the rest of my life. We have the chance around here to have a very special outfit that teaches illiterate people the marvels of reading. They have a unique way of funding. They take donations of book via a 24 hour round bin, and resell the books in a shop they have for a ridiculous price; like 2% of their original value. Last time I went there I came out with 80 very good paperbacks for $10.50. That is 6 months reading for me. When I'm done I just bring them back to the bin. A "novels only" reader is a luxury that is doomed. A reader to survive has to be able to do much much more. Irex was on the right track from the start, if it could only get out of beta! And color next year is their best bet yet... Sony has a computer market to protect. I can understand. It's present approach is with a limited luxury market that may work but will certainly not greet the masses. I hope I'm not alone feeling this way. I'm still hopeful that an A4 color e-ink with input will come out next year. "Only for geeks" they say? Bloody right they are!

10-19-2006, 10:55 AM	#5
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	You know, I wasn't having any problems looking at my monitor until I read yvan's description of his own -- now my eyes are burning and watering! Laurens, I (for one ) like the absence of an audible feedback on my Reader! The button action is crisp enough that I get a tactile "click" from it, I don't want actual sound coming at me! I already have way too stinkin' many things beeping and plonking and buzzing at me as it is. Last edited by NatCh; 10-19-2006 at 10:56 AM. Reason: typo

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10-19-2006, 10:00 AM	#2
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	I understand the tears. Me too.

10-19-2006, 10:39 AM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	I share your pain. When will we see a display technology at a reasonable price that is fast enough for use on a tablet pc, easy on the eyes and great in the sun like e-ink, back/front/side lightable? We see steps forward, but the first comprehensive display solution for computing and reading is still no more than a concept at best. So until then, we have gradually improving LCD displays for computers, and e-ink for reading devices, and maybe some other specialty alternatives like OLED. Laser displays (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...?threadid=8126) are a possibility, but I wouldn't look for that in the near future. Until then, we can all cry together. But the Sony Reader and iLiad definitely take away much of the pain for those of us that mostly read novels.

10-19-2006, 10:43 AM	#4
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	I think an A4-sized device would be too bulky and heavy to hold for extended periods of time. The Sony's weight and dimensions are just about right, IMO. Display contrast under low-light conditions definitely needs to improve, though. Also, the UI is too sluggish. And add a speaker so that we can hear button clicks like on an iPod.

10-19-2006, 11:42 AM	#6
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	That's why the keyword is optional. You can turn off the clicks on the iPod if you want. It sounds to me yvan like you want a tablet pc with a better display. I think the best bet is for LCD manufacturers to continue to improve their product, instead of trying to morph e-Ink into something that it's not. But who knows what will happen, there is still tons of room for technological growth in the display arena.

10-19-2006, 01:01 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I can see that point, I just value the silence more. If it could be turned off, I wouldn't see any problem with it.

10-20-2006, 09:37 AM	#10
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	If we forget the fact that the Iliad and the PRS use e-ink as a display interface, what good is their computing power compared to present day PDAs ?