MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Project: E-Paper Tablet (touch-typable!)

andrewed · 11-30-2011, 08:05 AM

Hi,

Thanks, everyone, for your many replies and suggestions! My responses are in order below. In post #11, shark_scott raised the consideration of a larger screen size. I responded to it at length and expanded further in the next post about Specifications, and wonder what you think.

I made some changes to the original post to reflect all your suggestions and comments. I kept the feature list compatible with Strategy #1: Hack Hardware. "Noted" in the following responses means your suggestion is in the new Specifications list. The list is in following post. These specs are more for if we resurrect the Crystalfontz device or make a new one from scratch (Strategies #2 and 3).

Responses:

2. @beachwanderer
1) You are right, the device’s configuration was not clear. By touch-typable, I did not mean it would have its own built-in keyboard, just that it can work with an external keyboard
2) I have not seen what the Cybook Odyssey can do yet. I will check it out. Thanks for the links.

3. @teh603
(1,2,3) OS-on-removable-flash, multi-bootable ROM BIOS/EFI, bootable USB port: all these ideas make sense to me. Noted. Thank you for such details!
(4) I only planned on supporting USB external keyboards (including folding ones) out of the box. My reasons are in my "plea"; see link at end of my original post). Presumably someone could make what you suggested for bluetooth users.

4. @kamizase
I stopped waiting for Pocketbook, a company I view as unreliable, a year ago. PB was actually the addressee of my "plea"; see link at end of my original post.

5. @Belfaborac
Thanks for your big vote

and your ideas. Your seconding of a bootable USB port and especially OS-on-removable-flash; and your suggestion of an accessible and widely available battery all make sense to me. Noted.

6. @murraypaul
Thank you for helping me sharpen my argument (see Ergonomic Rationale in original post).

7. @Sil_liS
Please see my reply to kamizase, #4 above

8. @mbovenka
Your seconding of Belfaborac’s battery suggestions, #5 above, noted. Thank you for your specific battery suggestions.

9. @Hellmark
I love the idea of hacking existing devices. Once rooted, can the Sony or Nook host, or be made to host, a USB external keyboard?

That's interesting about using it as a terminal through the serial port. I would like the device to be useful to IT professionals like you, so I'm noting the idea. Thank you.

10. @Namekuseijin
I agree. It is the worst idea ever--for achieving future market dominance and making a killing. But not for serving the present needs of the few and making a living. Which is my goal.

11. @shark_scott
I sympathize with the strange situation of scholars with respect to textbooks and e-paper devices. A 9.7” device with reference manager compatibility and full PDF functionality for academia makes perfect sense to me. Noted.

I have leaned toward a smaller device for the first generation round. But if we build the device from scratch (vs hacking an existing device), then I think 9.7” is worth consideration as a first device. It could also become the primary monitor for desktops and laptops.

Myself, I like the 7” size of the sadly discontinued Sony Daily. It had XGA (1024x768) resolution, which is the standard size for the web and just wide enough to display full-width PDFs in landscape. 6” is good for the reflowable text of e-books--and not much else.

What do others have to say about the screen size?

13. @The Terminator
No, your vote was correct. $150 is a possible retail price.

14. @thebestjeter
Your second of shark_scott's idea noted. Please see my response to him, #11 above.

15. @JSWolf
It's true. But please see my response to Hellmark, #9 above.

16. @Giggleton
Very cool. However, I was not clear about the configuration. Please see my response to beachwanderer, #2 above.

17. @guyanonymous
Yeah, I remember. I felt luck to not be materially involved. Please see my response to kamizase, #4 above.

19. @HansTWN
Please see my response to Namekuseijin, #10 above, and my edits of the Ergonomics section. I agree with you about 6". Please see what I wrote in post #21 below in the specs.

Sincerely,
Andrew

11-30-2011, 08:05 AM	#20
andrewed typist Posts: 47 Karma: 139812 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Device: Kindle 3	Response to all replies Hi, Thanks, everyone, for your many replies and suggestions! My responses are in order below. In post #11, shark_scott raised the consideration of a larger screen size. I responded to it at length and expanded further in the next post about Specifications, and wonder what you think. I made some changes to the original post to reflect all your suggestions and comments. I kept the feature list compatible with Strategy #1: Hack Hardware. "Noted" in the following responses means your suggestion is in the new Specifications list. The list is in following post. These specs are more for if we resurrect the Crystalfontz device or make a new one from scratch (Strategies #2 and 3). Responses: 2. @beachwanderer 1) You are right, the device’s configuration was not clear. By touch-typable, I did not mean it would have its own built-in keyboard, just that it can work with an external keyboard 2) I have not seen what the Cybook Odyssey can do yet. I will check it out. Thanks for the links. 3. @teh603 (1,2,3) OS-on-removable-flash, multi-bootable ROM BIOS/EFI, bootable USB port: all these ideas make sense to me. Noted. Thank you for such details! (4) I only planned on supporting USB external keyboards (including folding ones) out of the box. My reasons are in my "plea"; see link at end of my original post). Presumably someone could make what you suggested for bluetooth users. 4. @kamizase I stopped waiting for Pocketbook, a company I view as unreliable, a year ago. PB was actually the addressee of my "plea"; see link at end of my original post. 5. @Belfaborac Thanks for your big vote and your ideas. Your seconding of a bootable USB port and especially OS-on-removable-flash; and your suggestion of an accessible and widely available battery all make sense to me. Noted. 6. @murraypaul Thank you for helping me sharpen my argument (see Ergonomic Rationale in original post). 7. @Sil_liS Please see my reply to kamizase, #4 above 8. @mbovenka Your seconding of Belfaborac’s battery suggestions, #5 above, noted. Thank you for your specific battery suggestions. 9. @Hellmark I love the idea of hacking existing devices. Once rooted, can the Sony or Nook host, or be made to host, a USB external keyboard? That's interesting about using it as a terminal through the serial port. I would like the device to be useful to IT professionals like you, so I'm noting the idea. Thank you. 10. @Namekuseijin I agree. It is the worst idea ever--for achieving future market dominance and making a killing. But not for serving the present needs of the few and making a living. Which is my goal. 11. @shark_scott I sympathize with the strange situation of scholars with respect to textbooks and e-paper devices. A 9.7” device with reference manager compatibility and full PDF functionality for academia makes perfect sense to me. Noted. I have leaned toward a smaller device for the first generation round. But if we build the device from scratch (vs hacking an existing device), then I think 9.7” is worth consideration as a first device. It could also become the primary monitor for desktops and laptops. Myself, I like the 7” size of the sadly discontinued Sony Daily. It had XGA (1024x768) resolution, which is the standard size for the web and just wide enough to display full-width PDFs in landscape. 6” is good for the reflowable text of e-books--and not much else. What do others have to say about the screen size? 13. @The Terminator No, your vote was correct. $150 is a possible retail price. 14. @thebestjeter Your second of shark_scott's idea noted. Please see my response to him, #11 above. 15. @JSWolf It's true. But please see my response to Hellmark, #9 above. 16. @Giggleton Very cool. However, I was not clear about the configuration. Please see my response to beachwanderer, #2 above. 17. @guyanonymous Yeah, I remember. I felt luck to not be materially involved. Please see my response to kamizase, #4 above. 19. @HansTWN Please see my response to Namekuseijin, #10 above, and my edits of the Ergonomics section. I agree with you about 6". Please see what I wrote in post #21 below in the specs. Sincerely, Andrew Last edited by andrewed; 11-30-2011 at 08:14 AM.