Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
I guess I should just steer clear of all you LCD-haters!  I'll just add that you can get eyestrain reading anything (check out my photos sometime), and drop it (like a hot potato!).
So, back to topic: Personally, the "fold-up" part of the concept doesn't do anything for me... it's an extravagance, really, that just adds extra cost due to extra technological complication. If the idea is to make this device as cheaply as possible, it's better off having only 1 screen, and a simple interface surface... like a laptop, or even a tablet. I have to wonder what research, exactly, leads Negroponte to say that "the book experience is key." It would be nice if we at MR could be privy to this data... |
Steve,
One LCD user here...and I have been well on the side of eink is not a panacea just yet. Of course I love the low energy aspect of eink as well as the wonderful ability to ready easily outside. I can read on my nx73v but it's not perfect still, I can do it for a while as though it's an antique it does have a transreflective display.
Personally I think that prototype concept image of the OLPC with dual display's is the ideal device...seriously. And fold-up is not any sort of tech overhead that does not already exist in Windows aas well as other OS's. All major commercial OS's support both extended and multiple display's. There might be some development overhead on the driver and software side, but really that is trivial and could be done in weeks if not days.
Notice on the OLPC dual display prototype images there is almost no gap between the display's when fully open so one could do things such as display diagrams/schematics or even larger aspects of software development. If you add something like bluetooth for an external and very portable folding keyboard one could do some amazing work on the road. Maybe we have become too married to the integrated keyboard in laptops and portable devices. I know if I had a device with wacom or simply touch screen with stylus input I would do a majority of my work w/o even touching a keyboard.
And the obvious benefit is also a dual display fits for technical and art books. Many books literially depend on being able to view two pages at the same time to convey the information it contains.
So, I am all for the idea of even just eink systems in their current state. Or even using the new displays with LED backlighting vs. the current florescent backlights which draw so very much power. LED backlighting might be the way to bridge the gap to low light reading on eink. Eventually tech will come along to make something like eink the standard and able to be read in the dark.
Anyway, I think we could easily have low energy, well made dual foldup display devices tomorrow if any company really put some effort into it...and all using existing tech. Heck, I even see a variation of a built-in keyboard that actually can stay in place for use when opened and operating in single display mode or removed for use as a BT keyboard in dual display mode.
As you might note, I have two LCD devices. I have them because I love to read in bed at night, I can read w/o bothering the better half even though she snores like a lumberjack loud enough to put a chain saw to shame so I can't sleep some nights. Not to worry she never reads this place, she will never know...hehehehe...and it is exactly that issue which keeps me from buying an eink reader. Well that and the whole contrast aspect.
Just know you are not alone in prefering LCD over eink...
