PDAToday's Plastic Logic e-reader hands-on

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

I don't wanna buy a Pilot!, lol...
It'd be amazing if THE ebook format could be available;or if I could read LRF on this device.... Then I won't need to reconvert all my books,ifI wanted to buy it.

dobutful on the LRF Format, but
1. if you used some program to automatically go through all your files and convert them to LRF, You didnt gain anything by doing this because the formattings all the same. so it would be just as easy to do the same thing to another format, but this is kinda Silly to do since it just wastes space.

2. if you used book designer, and Created Chapter Titles, Tocs, Etc, you should Have Created a BD HTML0 file before doing a New book. that way you can just load up the HTML0 file, and import it to a new format.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by LucidDreams

For the love of God just release the dang thing. Even if it can only read/display 1 format it's miles above better then anything else out there. And with the size of the screen all it needs is PDF format.

The Plastic Logic eBook Reader was suppose to be released early this year, now we're talking 2010? Seems like this is more half baked then originally thought. Sure it's a great device with a working proto-type. But it doesn't take 1yr to bring to market when the prototype works so well.

I don't find it all that surprising, myself.

I'm remembering waaaaay back in spring of '06, when the original e-ink devices were scheduled to come out in May. Sony and iRex (I'm not sure about HanLin) had demo'd functional readers in various places. All three (including HanLin, I mean) were scheduled for ~May of '06 (I think Sony just said "spring"), and not a single one of them made it.

The closest was iRex, who let themselves be brow-beaten (mostly by us here ) into releasing as a sort of beta product in early June, a move which still smarts a bit, I'm sure, since the device clearly wasn't ready for prime-time just then. Sony didn't make its launch until October 1st, and HanLin never did launch one of the two models they were talking about.

Back then, it came down to the miserable, non-negotiable fact that brand-new technologies can't always be "scheduled" properly, curse them.


Plastic Logic's displays are something new all over again. Yes, they are visually very similar to e-ink, but they're not e-ink, so the new-tech slide-back effects are very much a factor.


That being said, I'm pretty interested by what I've seen so far, sure WinCE has its ... issues, but it also comes with some pretty wide-reaching compatibility built right in at the foundation. It's going to be interesting to watch this one play out.

[zelda_pinwheel]

yep, i don't even want a liseuse that big and i'm keeping a close eye on it too !

[TheRealBillc]

Natch, according to the Plastic Logic web site, "The reader incorporates E Ink technology for great readability and features low power consumption and long battery life." So this reader is e-ink, just without the glass substrate.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by TheRealBillc

Natch, according to the Plastic Logic web site, "The reader incorporates E Ink technology for great readability and features low power consumption and long battery life."

Why, so it does, thanks for pointing that out, TheRealBillc, I thought it was a different mechanism entirely.

Still, the different substrate, and the touch screen interface -- which seems to be rather different than what's on the PRS700 -- will impose some unpredictable sliding. Hopefully, the fact that they're using e-ink will help limit that though.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by TheRealBillc

Natch, according to the Plastic Logic web site, "The reader incorporates E Ink technology for great readability and features low power consumption and long battery life." So this reader is e-ink, just without the glass substrate.

Actually I think this year will see quite a few new displays without glass substrate and with touch screens. The new substrate will be a flexible plastic allowing much more rugged products to be produced. This design will likely start with the 9.7" screens when they are released and will trickle down to the 6" displays as well.

Dale

[ProDigit]

A tough plastic, would be nice indeed.
I like the PRS 505's looks. The light reflection (of eg: sun) is rather small.

I only fear plastic screens ill be prone to scratches.
It would be nice to see some salesperson selling plastic screen covers, and having a device with a removable plastic screen.

[myridom]

Looks like a Star Trek PADD.. I want one.

Myridom

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by myridom

Looks like a Star Trek PADD.. I want one.

Myridom

wait, what is that ??? is that colour e-ink or something else ? any info you could share about the device ??

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

wait, what is that ??? is that colour e-ink or something else ? any info you could share about the device ??

That is a prop from the 3rd season of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The screen doesn't work, Zelda.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

That is a prop from the 3rd season of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The screen doesn't work, Zelda.

aw, now see, you went and got my hopes up for nothing.

(geek credibility : minus 6 thousand four hundred and thirty-two, and falling...)

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

That is a prop from the 3rd season of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The screen doesn't work, Zelda.

[BookishDreamer]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

aw, now see, you went and got my hopes up for nothing.

(geek credibility : minus 6 thousand four hundred and thirty-two, and falling...)

Don't worry...we still love your enthusiastic innocence.

Dreamer

[yvanleterrible]

Well it could have been lcd. But it's still a little big.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by BookishDreamer

Don't worry...we still love your enthusiastic innocence.

Dreamer

thanks, that's a relief !