Will color tablets replace e-ink readers in the short term?

[lorenzoens]

Dualbook could be a good answer. If someone wants to hear it..

[ignacio ferrer]

Originally Posted by lorenzoens

Dualbook could be a good answer. If someone wants to hear it..

This answer disappeared already(Entourage).

It might be worth to revive this idea - better than all the experimenting ...

[monkeyluis]

Originally Posted by ignacio ferrer

This answer disappeared already(Entourage).

It might be worth to revive this idea - better than all the experimenting ...

That thing looked horrendous. Why 2 side by side screens. I just don't like it. I single sleek device will always win over. It's one or the other. I carry around my iPad & my kindle touch. That's how I prefer it.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by monkeyluis

That thing looked horrendous. Why 2 side by side screens. I just don't like it.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I suffered through two cracked Kindle screens, even though the device was properly protected. Yet my Kobo screen hasn't cracked yet, even though it is never protected. Something tells me that the case design is a huge factor here. Large, thin cases are prone to flexing so the screen will crack. The Kobo Touch also seems to have a rigid frame inside the case.

Shortly after buying my k79, I was reading in a restaurant while traveling. When I visited the rest room, I slipped the kindle inside a cloth napkin. When I returned to my table, I grabbed the napkin and flung the k79 face down onto a stone floor. My first thought was that I was glad I only paid $79 for it. I was surprised to discover that it survived.

[Barty]

Nope. My iPad and kindle are two different animals entirely.

I'd love to have a 10" eink device with high contrast and fast refresh rate. Even without colors, such a thing would be compelling enough for me to replace the iPad (provided it has 128 shades of grey or better). But that's not happening.

Eink seems to have stalled. The triton display looks pretty lame to me. The mirasol looks a few years away still. They have one underwhelming product on the market and can't even reach 6".

[BenJohnson]

If Mirasol can make an impact outside Asia with their colour e-ink I think it could shake up the market a bit. It has a fast enough response time to play video or games and yet has the advantage over LCD screens in daylight. With the right development I could foresee a low powered laptop which uses this sort of technology, the advantage of a much longer battery life would be attractive, some form of screen lighting for night working would make it practical for all day use and kinder on the eyes.

[CommonReader]

While there may currently be some market saturation for e-ink in the US, in continental Europe it is still in an initial phase and picking up steam. One year ago e-ink readers were a rare sight in the shops, now you can get them in the department and electronics stores.
For those customers who have already bought an e-ink reader there are almost no incentives to buy a new version, though. Why should I swap my PRS-650 for a T1? There is a distinctive lack of innovation, quite unlike the tablet and smartphone market. BTW, I am surprised that smartphones aren't mentioned as competitors for e-ink readers. Almost all the young people around here do own a smartphone and something like the Samsung Note is probably much attractive than a cheap tablet.

[BruceMcF]

Originally Posted by BenJohnson

... some form of screen lighting for night working would make it practical for all day use and kinder on the eyes.

FLEx claims their Edge Lighting system is thin enough that it will not interfere with a touchscreen, and can provide energy efficient frontlighting for either B&W or color reflective displays.

[BenJohnson]

Originally Posted by BruceMcF

FLEx claims their Edge Lighting system is thin enough that it will not interfere with a touchscreen, and can provide energy efficient frontlighting for either B&W or color reflective displays.

I hadn't heard of Flex, but that sounds like the perfect partner.