[ekaser]

First, let me clarify that I am NOT arguing for the "death of eInk" displays. I enjoy reading from my device, it works well FOR WHAT IT DOES. What I was trying to argue was that there are perfectly valid reasons FOR SOME PEOPLE to want something different, also.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

1) and 2) True, but you can do a keyword search and go straight to a location. It does bother me every once in awhile, even so I've never found it to be a deal-breaker (or worth slicing the battery time by 90%).
3) True, but really, who cares?
4) True, but if that's what you need, get a multifunction device.

Sure you can do a keyword search, IF you know the keywords you're looking for, and maybe it's IMAGES that you're looking for. Quick visual scan offers functionality that text searching doesn't (and vice versa). Vive la difference.

And yes, "get a multifunction device" is exactly right. Some folks in the thread seem to be arguing from the stance that "eInk is the best thing since sliced bread, and why on earth would you want anything else?" I was trying to point out that FOR SOME PEOPLE there are perfectly valid reasons for wanting something besides eInk.

The point isn't that it's technically impossible. It's that if you want to make the best steak knife you can make, you won't include a corkscrew, a bottle opener, and a pair of scissors in the handle.

And my point is that yes, if you're eating steak, you want a really good steak knife, but for a lot of other things, you want to be carrying around a really good pocket knife.

The point, rather simply, is that as long as an epaper-type device happens to provide a superior reading experience, and as long as reading is an experience that involves a significant amount of time, epaper-driven devices will stick around and be useful. Separately, there is an assumption that all devices "must" be superseded and/or replaced by multifunction devices, which historically isn't the case.

I'm not arguing that at all. I AM arguing that a significant share of the e-reader market is GOING to be eaten up by multifunction devices (which may or may not be eInk devices, but they WILL be color, they WILL be fast, and their battery life WILL be shorter than a pure "eInk (or some successor) novel readers." Many people will be willing to make that trade-off. Many won't. Whether there will be enough that want something similar to the current eInk devices, long term, to support continued development of that type of market, only time will tell. But I'm convinced that the multifunction devices WILL survive, and will flourish.