Color Ereaders - An issue for though

jbcohen · 01-16-2011, 02:31 PM

What do you think is the effect of the introduction of color screen electronic readers on the market as a whole?

Pelesz · 01-16-2011, 03:31 PM

Hopefully cheaper B&W ereaders. I know, it's just a dream, but still...

teadonkey · 01-16-2011, 03:35 PM

That's me, too. I just got my eReader, but I'm hoping that if tablets keep becoming popular, by the time I'm reading to buy a new eReader, the black and white eInk ones will be muuuch cheaper due to their color screen counterparts.

MikeFromHC · 01-16-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelesz

Hopefully cheaper B&W ereaders. I know, it's just a dream, but still...

Unlikely. You can always read B&W on a color screen (although I prefer a colored background) but you can't see color on a B&W screen.

Photography, movies, TV, computers, cell phones moved to color as soon as it was available and for good reason.
Even in the pre-GUI days of DOS color was superior in any apps over green, orange, or black and white.

As soon as an energy efficient color screen becomes available B&W will disappear or become more expensive because of the lack of demand.

Dedicated e-readers may be maintained by disabling "tablet" features and they will be added for product proliferation. (A condition where you have several models separated by small price differences. The difference in price is much greater than the actual cost.)

LaurieGator · 01-16-2011, 04:37 PM

Right now, I think the color e-reader market is really a niche market. Most readers tend to read fiction without lots of pictures. For these folks there is no need to upgrade to color.

Those of us who read lots of non-fiction or graphic novels really appreciate having the choice of color. I am hoping the tablets and iPad type devices will open up the e-reader populace from primarily hard-core readers to some of the more casual readers. If it introduces more folks to e-books it can do nothing but help the e-book market :-)

WillysJeepMan · 01-16-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What do you think is the effect of the introduction of color screen electronic readers on the market as a whole?

I don't think that there will be many dedicated function color screen ereaders... they're going to be touchscreen color tablets that can be used as readers. With THAT, expect the demise of B&W dedicated ereaders. There isn't going to be a large enough market for the device at the price they will need to charge. The choice for consumers will be.... $150 for a color touchscreen tablet or $100 for a B&W ereader. They will overwhelmingly choose the $150 color device.

The Terminator · 01-16-2011, 07:14 PM

Colour (color for those in USA) E-ink screens sounded neat at first but really I would barely use it (as I don't read magazines on my reader) and with the processors being slower than LCD you couldn't really watch movies. But then again you could maybe surf the net better. In my opinion for colour to be that great it would have to have a extremely fast and then surfing the net would work better. So colour could be awsome or a bust.

SameOldStory · 01-16-2011, 09:11 PM

This comes up over and over again. That's not a criticism.

More, it's a reflection of our different wants and needs.

I have a need for a quality 5-6 inch reader. Something I can carry around easily. In that category color is unimportant. But if it had a good screen, cost no more than an e-ink type screen, plus a battery life longer than 12 hours I would probably go with color even if I used it mostly for black & white reading.

But I also have a need for something that is larger and has color. Eight inches would probably be the absolute minimum. Ten inches would be best. Those are my needs, other peoples may varry.

Prices will come down. In the early '70s a pocket calculator cost around $125 (probably about $200-$225 in today’s money). And that was for a very basic calculator! You can get the same functions in a grocery store for les than $5 today.

Monochrome ereaders will still be around in the future, but I think that color will become cheep enough that it will predominate.

MikeFromHC · 01-16-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TERMINATOR

Colour (color for those in USA) E-ink screens sounded neat at first but really I would barely use it (as I don't read magazines on my reader) and with the processors being slower than LCD you couldn't really watch movies. But then again you could maybe surf the net better. In my opinion for colour to be that great it would have to have a extremely fast and then surfing the net would work better. So colour could be awsome or a bust.

Most of the current processors are capable of streaming video, even my sluggish, for everything else, Asus netbook does OK.
Same for my PanDigital reader.

There is already at least one, still in the lab, color e-ink fast enough to stream video.

Nate the great · 01-16-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

I don't think that there will be many dedicated function color screen ereaders... they're going to be touchscreen color tablets that can be used as readers. With THAT, expect the demise of B&W dedicated ereaders. There isn't going to be a large enough market for the device at the price they will need to charge. The choice for consumers will be.... $150 for a color touchscreen tablet or $100 for a B&W ereader. They will overwhelmingly choose the $150 color device.

You have your numbers backwards, actually. A basic e-reader with an LCD screen costs less than one with an e-ink screen. I have a couple on my desk right now that I think are decent alternatives to E-ink based e-readers.

The Terminator · 01-17-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeFromHC

Most of the current processors are capable of streaming video, even my sluggish, for everything else, Asus netbook does OK.
Same for my PanDigital reader.

There is already at least one, still in the lab, color e-ink fast enough to stream video.

An E-reader that streams video would be cool. But keep in mind the processor in a laptop is faster than a E-reader, and the pandigital is LCD isn't it?

bearmeat · 01-17-2011, 02:21 AM

The Literate by Sharper Image is color but I sent mine back as it was cool and only 99 bucks with a 7 inch screen and is wireless but the battery only last 6 hours before charging is needed. That did it for me. I would rather have the battery life.I have found only bad reviews about it,, too bad I did not read the reviews first but it was an Xmas gift.

david_e · 01-17-2011, 09:34 AM

I would love to see Sony add color to their current range of devices. The 650 is absolutely perfect for my needs but the addition of color would really be exciting, even if only to see the book cover art in color. I don't want to see them become some type of do-it-all tablet computer, which seems to be the direction other companies are going, but continue to be devices dedicated to reading.

GeoffC · 01-17-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_e

I would love to see Sony add color to their current range of devices. The 650 is absolutely perfect for my needs but the addition of color would really be exciting, even if only to see the book cover art in color. I don't want to see them become some type of do-it-all tablet computer, which seems to be the direction other companies are going, but continue to be devices dedicated to reading.

mcooke66 · 01-17-2011, 11:22 AM

I purchased a Nook Classic right before the Color came out and I have no regrets because it was 100 dollars cheaper and I read mostly novels. However if it was a 50 dollar differnce I would have a NookColor. The only downside to the color devices as I see it today is battery life and price point.

Please no eye strain arguments, if you cannot read on an LCD tablet then pray for newer technology or very cheap eInk devices in order for you continue to get what you need.

I am always fascinated by the eInk debate, I think it is simple. The number of consumers who are really willing to stay black and white when comparably priced more capable color devices exist is IMO very small.

The Color tablets are going to get better and better if they can crack 20 hours of battery life and do not weigh much more than its all over for B&W unless we see sub $50 eInk readers. The only market left will be the hard core B&W only crowd (very small) and the novel reader that can easily justify the trade off in functionality because of price point.

01-16-2011, 02:31 PM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Color Ereaders - An issue for though What do you think is the effect of the introduction of color screen electronic readers on the market as a whole?

01-16-2011, 09:11 PM	#8
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	This comes up over and over again. That's not a criticism. More, it's a reflection of our different wants and needs. I have a need for a quality 5-6 inch reader. Something I can carry around easily. In that category color is unimportant. But if it had a good screen, cost no more than an e-ink type screen, plus a battery life longer than 12 hours I would probably go with color even if I used it mostly for black & white reading. But I also have a need for something that is larger and has color. Eight inches would probably be the absolute minimum. Ten inches would be best. Those are my needs, other peoples may varry. Prices will come down. In the early '70s a pocket calculator cost around $125 (probably about $200-$225 in today’s money). And that was for a very basic calculator! You can get the same functions in a grocery store for les than $5 today. Monochrome ereaders will still be around in the future, but I think that color will become cheep enough that it will predominate. Last edited by SameOldStory; 01-16-2011 at 09:15 PM.

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01-16-2011, 03:31 PM	#2
Pelesz Member Posts: 11 Karma: 26 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Transdanubia Meridianus Device: Pocketbook Verse Pro	Hopefully cheaper B&W ereaders. I know, it's just a dream, but still...

01-16-2011, 03:35 PM	#3
teadonkey Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 2179008 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi	That's me, too. I just got my eReader, but I'm hoping that if tablets keep becoming popular, by the time I'm reading to buy a new eReader, the black and white eInk ones will be muuuch cheaper due to their color screen counterparts.

01-16-2011, 04:37 PM	#5
LaurieGator Crazy Cat Lady Posts: 96 Karma: 13662 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Arizona Device: Kindle 2i, Nook Color (Rooted)	Right now, I think the color e-reader market is really a niche market. Most readers tend to read fiction without lots of pictures. For these folks there is no need to upgrade to color. Those of us who read lots of non-fiction or graphic novels really appreciate having the choice of color. I am hoping the tablets and iPad type devices will open up the e-reader populace from primarily hard-core readers to some of the more casual readers. If it introduces more folks to e-books it can do nothing but help the e-book market :-)

01-16-2011, 07:14 PM	#7
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Colour (color for those in USA) E-ink screens sounded neat at first but really I would barely use it (as I don't read magazines on my reader) and with the processors being slower than LCD you couldn't really watch movies. But then again you could maybe surf the net better. In my opinion for colour to be that great it would have to have a extremely fast and then surfing the net would work better. So colour could be awsome or a bust.

01-17-2011, 02:21 AM	#12
bearmeat Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3	The Literate by Sharper Image is color but I sent mine back as it was cool and only 99 bucks with a 7 inch screen and is wireless but the battery only last 6 hours before charging is needed. That did it for me. I would rather have the battery life.I have found only bad reviews about it,, too bad I did not read the reviews first but it was an Xmas gift.

01-17-2011, 09:34 AM	#13
david_e Seriously? Posts: 529 Karma: 3347562 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Mini, iWhatever	I would love to see Sony add color to their current range of devices. The 650 is absolutely perfect for my needs but the addition of color would really be exciting, even if only to see the book cover art in color. I don't want to see them become some type of do-it-all tablet computer, which seems to be the direction other companies are going, but continue to be devices dedicated to reading.

01-17-2011, 11:22 AM	#15
mcooke66 Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 19504 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado US Device: Nook ST - Nook 1st Gen	I purchased a Nook Classic right before the Color came out and I have no regrets because it was 100 dollars cheaper and I read mostly novels. However if it was a 50 dollar differnce I would have a NookColor. The only downside to the color devices as I see it today is battery life and price point. Please no eye strain arguments, if you cannot read on an LCD tablet then pray for newer technology or very cheap eInk devices in order for you continue to get what you need. I am always fascinated by the eInk debate, I think it is simple. The number of consumers who are really willing to stay black and white when comparably priced more capable color devices exist is IMO very small. The Color tablets are going to get better and better if they can crack 20 hours of battery life and do not weigh much more than its all over for B&W unless we see sub $50 eInk readers. The only market left will be the hard core B&W only crowd (very small) and the novel reader that can easily justify the trade off in functionality because of price point.

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