Where are the E-Ink Mobius readers?

[Hrafn]

It's been more than six months since e-Ink announced their "rugged, lightweight" Mobius technology, and I was wondering what's happened to the e-Readers based on it? And if they aren't coming (and I have heard that there's been more interest in it for signage than for eReaders), then what makes this technology unsuited to eReaders?

The Wexler Flex One piqued my curiosity when it came out (but was too expensive, and too little-known-about, for me to buy one last time I was in the market for an eReader), and I must admit that next time I'm in the market "rugged [and] lightweight" will be a bigger selling point for me than higher resolution and contrast (both of which are already more-than-adequate) or a front-light.

[HarryT]

There's one on the market - Sony's 13.3" device, which is currently only available in Japan.

[Nate the great]

There's also the Earl E-ink tablet, which should be in production in May.

[Hrafn]

Thanks. Both of them however seem to be fairly specialised (and in the Sony's case, expensive) devices -- supporting the suspicion that there may be something about Mobius that disqualifies it for general eReader usage.

[FantoM]

I think the only thing that disqualifies Mobius tech for e-reader usage is being too good and too recent. That's why it is so expensive and not very e-readers include it.

I guess that for normal reading, 6'' e-readers are already very light, so the manufacturers won't incorporate Mobius in new e-readers of that size (it seems Earl is an exception). So Mobius is only advantageous in e-readers of greater dimensions or in smaller technology, like smartwatches and smartphone covers. And you see it slowly coming to the market. With time it will get cheaper.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by FantoM

I guess that for normal reading, 6'' e-readers are already very light, so the manufacturers won't incorporate Mobius in new e-readers of that size (it seems Earl is an exception). So Mobius is only advantageous in e-readers of greater dimensions or in smaller technology, like smartwatches and smartphone covers. And you see it slowly coming to the market. With time it will get cheaper.

The average 6" e-reader still weighs more than the average paperback, and about twice as much as the Wexler Flex ONE, so I think there's still room for improvement there. And if not improving/competing on weight then on what? All other selling points (e.g. refresh rate, resolution, contrast, battery life) likewise seem 'good enough' and would appear to offer far less scope for dramatic further improvement. And if you cannot offer some dramatic improvement, consumers will have little reason to upgrade their e-readers before they physically wear out -- meaning far slower sales.

[FantoM]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

The average 6" e-reader still weighs more than the average paperback, and about twice as much as the Wexler Flex ONE, so I think there's still room for improvement there. And if not improving/competing on weight then on what? All other selling points (e.g. refresh rate, resolution, contrast, battery life) likewise seem 'good enough' and would appear to offer far less scope for dramatic further improvement. And if you cannot offer some dramatic improvement, consumers will have little reason to upgrade their e-readers before they physically wear out -- meaning far slower sales.

I don't think the average 6'' e-reader weighs more than an average book. They obviously can make lighter 6'' e-readers, but I don't think it would be sufficient for most people to rush on buying a new e-reader just because it weight less. One of the areas of real good improvement is the colour technology. That would be a good reason for buying a new one, specially if you read coloured comics or other texts. But no one seems to invest on it (Amazon may have some plans). All the other points, as you said, are good enough, already.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by FantoM

One of the areas of real good improvement is the colour technology. That would be a good reason for buying a new one, specially if you read coloured comics or other texts. But no one seems to invest on it (Amazon may have some plans). All the other points, as you said, are good enough, already.

I think the problem with colour e-Ink readers is:

1. Colour e-Ink (at least to date) tends to be far less vivid than LCD; and
2. Most media that makes most use of colour (comics, etc) are likely to need a considerably-larger-than-6" screen to be readable, let alone look good.

[FantoM]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

I think the problem with colour e-Ink readers is:

1. Colour e-Ink (at least to date) tends to be far less vivid than LCD; and
2. Most media that makes most use of colour (comics, etc) are likely to need a considerably-larger-than-6" screen to be readable, let alone look good.

Yes, maybe that's also the reason for the poor popularity of the already made colour e-readers.

[HarryT]

Have you seen a device with a Trident eInk screen? The colours are murky and unsaturated; it's just not a good reading experience. It's not even a genuine colour screen - it's just a colour mask on top of a normal black and white screen, the result of which is to halve the linear resolution.

I'm a little surprised by your statement that it's a "real good improvement"; I honest can't agree with you, I'm afraid.

[joblack]

I don't mind the weight and I don't mind missing colors either.

Just release some 13.3 inch e-ink reader which can be bought in Europe. That can't be that hard, can it?

[FantoM]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Have you seen a device with a Trident eInk screen? The colours are murky and unsaturated; it's just not a good reading experience. It's not even a genuine colour screen - it's just a colour mask on top of a normal black and white screen, the result of which is to halve the linear resolution.

I'm a little surprised by your statement that it's a "real good improvement"; I honest can't agree with you, I'm afraid.

I might have expressed myself wrong, as I'm not a native English speaker, but I meant just that: the colour technology is an area that has a lot to grow yet, I meant that it should be that the way to go for real improvement.

(and is Triton, not Trident xD)

[FantoM]

Originally Posted by joblack

I don't mind the weight and I don't mind missing colors either.

Just release some 13.3 inch e-ink reader which can be bought in Europe. That can't be that hard, can it?

Right now, colour is not the main issue for me either. I just said it would be a good way for improvement.

I read somewhere that Sony will put Digital Paper on sale on an international level next month. I have the impression that it means Europe and EUA, at least. So I hope they do that. And I also hope they allow "normal stores" to sell it.

[HarryT]

Where is "EUA"?

[FantoM]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Where is "EUA"?

In my language, EUA=USA, force of habit xD
But it's not very difficult, is it?