Quote:
Originally Posted by rgeorg
Hi griffinwing,
I really enjoy your posts on the Astak thread! "Used to be a problem" is debatable since everyone with an eink reader currently has this problem (should I say "feature?"  ).
The Epson controller does sound promising as far as reducing flash goes (the "non-problem" that the manufacturers are scrambling to cure!) - but I don't think the devices are available yet? Has Robertb posted a video of the new page-turn rate? I think it's only a claim for now. At this point in time it's "6 of one and half-dozen of another" regarding eyestrain LCD vs flashing of eink - a draw(IMHO). How long one reads at a sitting is also relevant - I read <1hour in general. For lucky others who have hours-and-hours to read at a sitting, eink may make more sense.
Other issues being more-or-less even as you point out, and we are left with expensive, breakable and single-purpose. I'm referring to the $200-$500 offerings, although prices seem to be dropping fast. I'm just pointing out that:
1. It's not necessarily true (and definitely not proven) that "many more" people use/prefer - and are willing to pay the premium for - eink over LCD.
2. The perceived advantages of eink over LCD are not clear (at least not to me), and certainly not trouble/issue-free. I grant you that this is a debatable issue - OK? 
3. Ebook readers in general are relatively expensive when compared to other PMP devices (such as mp3 players). This must change.
This is an interesting discussion that is probably a waste of time as new models and technology are expected to be available in the coming 6-12 months which will totally change the discussion parameters. |
Dear rgeorg and Griffonwing:
Today's post by Griffonwing is really a gem. Well written and very informative.
The situation that Griffonwing was referring to was that at the start of E-Ink PVI went to numerous Controller Companies and tried to get them to build a controller for eBook Readers. As there was no installed base, they got no takers. PVI built an Apollo Controller to do the job. It did work but was slow in turning pages and loading eBooks.
Epson finally stepped forward about 9 months ago and offered a new controller specifically made for eBook Readers. No, I have NOT had a chance yet to do a video of the result. This is because we only have two PROTOTYPES of the Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO and both have Chinese names and Chinese characters. When I do a video I at least want it to say Astak on it so people can relate to it.
ALL I can do is tell you what I am seeing... the Epson has turned the Pocket PRO into a speed demon on page turns. I now get 11.5 (almost twelve) page turns in ten seconds. I just counted about 6.5 page turns in ten seconds on the EZ Reader (which was not exactly slow anyway). So, there are some statistics until I can get a video up. To me this is good. I never minded the lag time before... but now I have no lag time and that is some tangible improvement.
What I can enter my two cents upon is eyestrain. I used to read paperback books on airplanes before I even knew what an eBook Reader was. Then I read word documents and emails on my Blackberry with a backlight. E-Ink is far easier on the eyes. My eyes before could get me maybe 30 minutes before I would switch to music listening. With my E-Ink EZ Reader I can go 2-3 hours before I get bored and grab some shut-eye. I noticed that my eyes do not water as they always did before.
E-Ink panels in 6 inch cost the manufacturer about $70. LCD panels cost the manufacturer about $20. So, there is no denying that LCD is going to be about $60-$65 less on the market. However, IF you can get the faster page turns, far longer battery charge life, Text-To-Speech, Adobe Digital Editions with reflow, AND it comes in colors AND it costs $199 or so versus $169 for the LCD without those features... THAT is where the LCD argument becomes less viable. I maybe buy 300 eBooks in three years... and if it costs me a 10 cents per book to get more features and be comfortable while I read... I think the Pocket PRO stands out as a very clear choice.