Quote:
Originally Posted by DaleDe
E Ink is certainly working on a color screen. I suspect it is that screen and is a couple of years away for production.
Dale
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Then again, announcing a color display will cost sales today as people will wait. Why buy dim gray background displays with marginal contrast ratios today when crisper color will be out soon? This is where current pricing also harms device sales. If gray scale devices were priced where they should be, even knowing color will be out in say a year, many would not be reluctant to buy now then buy again in a year or two. But at $300-$800 the smart and frugal will wait because,
in reality, few truly need an ebook reader now. I am fine on my old PDA until a device comes out that betters it's price point and ease of reading. I have felt that this has long been a reason more readers have not sold, device makers and suppliers constantly announce and promise things which are never delivered. Too many products and too few actual devices most of which are just cookie-cutter devices with a different logo silk screened across the front.
Of course there will eventually be color displays, any dolt with half a wit can figure that much. So unless the product will be out at the same time there is likely a negative sales impact and also diminished brand reputation to announce color only to dangle it like a carrot to get the jackasses to follow it. Problem with such marginal marketing slight of hand, it WILL costs sales today and perhaps even more in the long run as people lose faith in those constantly misleading announcements of products that never materialize.
And I do no mind my PDA's battery life as I can carry 3-4 batteries and get days of use without need to recharge. Plus I have color (transreflective) and web access over wifi if need be, as well as email. All in a 2.5"x5"x3/4" form factor supporting up to 2gb CF cards and all of it for well about $150. Granted that was used but I have it now and today.
But that is why I am following the Astak devices so closely. For some reason I have faith they will deliver as promised this year. Robertb does come across as a reasonably honest marketing person (a long time buddy is president of marketing for a medium size corp and, well, he is a snake I would not trust with a flat tire, but still a super person, if THAT makes any sense
) Robertb is saying the right things so and putting in the work to keep people here informed. I like that. but fail on any of the key selling points for me and there are going to be 50+ other devices out in the next couple years. And yes, that includes color in all screen sizes. Maybe not eink, but still low power displays what might give days of use just not the weeks of use eink offers.
Sorry for going way OT there but I thought I should offer what I am seeing as a potential customer for the bleeding edge of color devices. If it's not then then give me a real incentive to buy now if color is not realistic for a year after the gray scale devices come out this year.