Quote:
Originally Posted by jobin007007
How long does it take for a Ebook reader company to adapt to a new technology and come out with their own model?
The reason I am asking is that I know that Epson and Nemptronix(spelled wrong)
have come out with new technology for EINK that has really fast page refresh+other stuff. I think i read somewhere that they are going to provide samples(or atleast epson) to manufacturer companies in June or July.
How long would this take to came around to production?
How long did it take Iliad to come out after the EINK reader samples became available? How about SONY reader and CYGEN?
Can anybody clarify? Anybody know the answer to this one?
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It can be a very "indefinite" process. First, Epson has to make the 'samples' delivery date of June (or July - see, we've already built in a minimum of one month of "wiggle" time). Then those companies receiving the samples have to figure out how to get them to work with the hardware. (Oops! A fumble-fingered idiot just "toasted" one company's sample and Epson, not realizing this would happen, doesn't expect to have further samples ready for another three-to-six months.) And then we must add in design delays caused by the potential need for a new controller chip - one which doesn't fit the current SBC (single-board computer) that all the major players use - which means going *back* to the SBC manufacturer and having a *NEW* SBC designed that replaces the old with the new. (That could take between a month and half-a-year.) BTW, did we mention that - just to simulate reality - the controller chips from the first two runs had a small, but significant, flaw which means waiting another two months for the revised controller chip?
Then there's the fact that even with all these bugs eliminated, Epson hasn't managed to ramp up production - so the device manufacturers won't have enough supply for more than a few thousand ebook readers at a time? This might last for another year.
And to add to all that, the software has to be updated to take advantage of the new features. Can you say "firmware updates"? I knew you could.
During all this time, Sony, Bookeen, Astak, iRex and Amazon have to keep selling current-generation readers in order to generate revenue - they can't be laying off staff because their money ran out - so that means only a few people can be dedicated to the new generation reader.
It might take as long as two years for the new e-paper to reach the market. Or as little as 6 months. I'd not want to have to cover a bet on the 6-month end.
Derek