MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - E Ink forecasts loss as ebook device demand falls

Atunah · 03-31-2014, 04:03 PM

Every time I read stories about e-ink or its readers like this, I go into a emotional temporary non rational melt down. I go into moments of panic, I try to figure out how I could possibly stock up on kindle readers, without compromising batteries. I imagine 5 years from now when I might come to a point where my joy of reading ends because of inability to have a device I can use to do so.

I go into these panic modes because for me there are no other options. I always read about how if you just try this tablet or that tablet, you'll see how better they are than e-ink. Well, not for me and I am guessing many others. I cannot read fiction on a tablet, period. Doesn't matter the brand, or if its retina or whatever new fangled name they come up with. I have a fire HD and cannot read a book on it. I know, I will be told its the "wrong" tablet, it must be a nexus, or a ipad mini retina. I tried that too, the mini that is. Its exactly the same for me, I cannot read on a back lit device like that. I get dizzy, my eyes start watering and I get a headache. I can read no more than 30 minutes at a time on it and I don't enjoy it.

I don't even totally enjoy reading on my PW1. The lighting layer distorts the font enough to be noticeable for me. I actually went and bought the kindle basic and the joy finally came back to me. My eyes just relax and glide over the letters on it. I can read for hours if I have the time and not have any issues with my eyes. I did not read much of anything until I got my first kindle in 2008. It was like the flood gates opened for me. I could read again and totally enjoy it. Paperback font was getting a bit hard for me to read at the time.

All I can hope for is that there are enough people like me out there to at least support one e-ink device in the future, in case production will only go to tablet like LED/LCD devices for the rest of the population. But if e-ink as a company can't survive, what do I do then. I don't even want to think about that.

So for me going to the basic was actually an upgrade from the PW1. I guess one can use a dedicated e-reader much longer than one can use a fancy tablet before it has to be replaced? It does what it needs to do well so there isn't a need to keep buying a new one each year.

03-31-2014, 04:03 PM	#29
Atunah Wizard Posts: 1,817 Karma: 23400001 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Device: K1/K3/BasicK Voyage/Oasis1/Oasis3	Every time I read stories about e-ink or its readers like this, I go into a emotional temporary non rational melt down. I go into moments of panic, I try to figure out how I could possibly stock up on kindle readers, without compromising batteries. I imagine 5 years from now when I might come to a point where my joy of reading ends because of inability to have a device I can use to do so. I go into these panic modes because for me there are no other options. I always read about how if you just try this tablet or that tablet, you'll see how better they are than e-ink. Well, not for me and I am guessing many others. I cannot read fiction on a tablet, period. Doesn't matter the brand, or if its retina or whatever new fangled name they come up with. I have a fire HD and cannot read a book on it. I know, I will be told its the "wrong" tablet, it must be a nexus, or a ipad mini retina. I tried that too, the mini that is. Its exactly the same for me, I cannot read on a back lit device like that. I get dizzy, my eyes start watering and I get a headache. I can read no more than 30 minutes at a time on it and I don't enjoy it. I don't even totally enjoy reading on my PW1. The lighting layer distorts the font enough to be noticeable for me. I actually went and bought the kindle basic and the joy finally came back to me. My eyes just relax and glide over the letters on it. I can read for hours if I have the time and not have any issues with my eyes. I did not read much of anything until I got my first kindle in 2008. It was like the flood gates opened for me. I could read again and totally enjoy it. Paperback font was getting a bit hard for me to read at the time. All I can hope for is that there are enough people like me out there to at least support one e-ink device in the future, in case production will only go to tablet like LED/LCD devices for the rest of the population. But if e-ink as a company can't survive, what do I do then. I don't even want to think about that. So for me going to the basic was actually an upgrade from the PW1. I guess one can use a dedicated e-reader much longer than one can use a fancy tablet before it has to be replaced? It does what it needs to do well so there isn't a need to keep buying a new one each year.