MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Will color tablets replace e-ink readers in the short term?

azazel1024 · 03-09-2012, 03:33 PM

Meh, unlikely. How many people still buy vinyl? But they keep making record players. I think within reason, the "cat is out of the bag" when it comes to eInk readers. Now I don't think that means it is impossible for eInk to disappear. I think what it will require is a similar ultra low power display technology that doesn't potentially introduce eye strain among some people. Mirasol MIGHT, I emphasis, MIGHT replace eInk at some point. It is still higher power drain and IIRC is NOT stable without an induced current...the current required is just incredibly tiny, but they will not create devices with 1+ month battery lives with cell phone sized batteries reading an hour or two per day. More like battery lives of maybe a week or two reading an hour or two a day.

I think it is the combination of no induced eye strain (which most people have with LCD screens, even if it takes hours to induce eye strain) as well as extremely low power use which are the winners for eInk when it comes to a "reading platform". If another display technology offers that at the same or lower price and/or has some other advantages than yes, eInk will die away. At the moment, LCD technology cannot do that. The Pixel Qi also cannot do this. Mirasol might be a good step in the right direction, but is not stable and is still higher power draw (if still a lot lower than LCD displays).

Now down the road if tablets/LCDs get good enough and potentially low enough in price, eInk or similar dedicated eReaders might just about disappear. However, you are probably still going to have at least one or two niche companies producing them in limited quanities, even if it means your eReader is $300 and they only sell 20,000 units a year.

03-09-2012, 03:33 PM	#28
azazel1024 Groupie Posts: 182 Karma: 346596 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ellicott City, MD Device: Nook simple touch, iPad 2	Meh, unlikely. How many people still buy vinyl? But they keep making record players. I think within reason, the "cat is out of the bag" when it comes to eInk readers. Now I don't think that means it is impossible for eInk to disappear. I think what it will require is a similar ultra low power display technology that doesn't potentially introduce eye strain among some people. Mirasol MIGHT, I emphasis, MIGHT replace eInk at some point. It is still higher power drain and IIRC is NOT stable without an induced current...the current required is just incredibly tiny, but they will not create devices with 1+ month battery lives with cell phone sized batteries reading an hour or two per day. More like battery lives of maybe a week or two reading an hour or two a day. I think it is the combination of no induced eye strain (which most people have with LCD screens, even if it takes hours to induce eye strain) as well as extremely low power use which are the winners for eInk when it comes to a "reading platform". If another display technology offers that at the same or lower price and/or has some other advantages than yes, eInk will die away. At the moment, LCD technology cannot do that. The Pixel Qi also cannot do this. Mirasol might be a good step in the right direction, but is not stable and is still higher power draw (if still a lot lower than LCD displays). Now down the road if tablets/LCDs get good enough and potentially low enough in price, eInk or similar dedicated eReaders might just about disappear. However, you are probably still going to have at least one or two niche companies producing them in limited quanities, even if it means your eReader is $300 and they only sell 20,000 units a year.