E Ink forecasts loss as ebook device demand falls

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Don't blame the machine for your lack of discipline. It's amazing how many people just forget that machines are here to serve us at our convenience, NOT the other way around.

Isn't that like telling an alcoholic they should be able to drink and control themselves?

If someone does want a dedicated e-reader for the imposed limitations, why is that more suspect than their buying an exercise bike or choosing not to keep sugar in the house?

Sure, I thought my writer friend's insistence on using a decade-old computer was a tad eccentric, but that was what he needed to do to churn out his novels. At least his fetish sprang from his way of working and wasn't an attempt at retro cred.

Remember that period in the late '90s when friends suddenly bought old typewriters and insisted on writing on paper before transcribing their work to computer? I've never heard of the late adoption of the practice resulting in work comparable to that of the writers who inspired the interest. You either connected to the typewriter at a decisive age or you didn't, which is why everyone eventually shrugged and went back to their laptop.

The e-ink e-reader is different. It's a solution that caters to people's old habits but adds modern ergonomics and advantages.

But if people need conscious limitations, it's perfectly fine to cling to devices that help them to accomplish their ends.

One advantage to the e-ink e-reader for me: I find it far easier to fall asleep reading on my Aura HD than playing with my Nexus 7. The Aura forces me to read, which I have to do to write, but it also helps me to fall asleep and therefore keep a regular schedule.

[MrPLD]

If they bring out a 13~15" eInk PC display at ~100dpi ( even if it's just an auxillary USB unit ) I think they could get themselves a fairly reasonable take up on the market.

People like my wife who are writers but cannot handle looking at a LCD/CRT/transmissive type display for more than a few minutes are desperate for an eInk display to work their trade on ( yes, eInk refresh is a bit slow, but believe me, compared to typewriters or hand written notes an eInk display is a leap ahead ).

There was/is an indigogo project to produce an external eInk display, but it's still more of a hack job than a turnkey solution.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

If they bring out a 13~15" eInk PC display at ~100dpi ( even if it's just an auxillary USB unit ) I think they could get themselves a fairly reasonable take up on the market.

People like my wife who are writers but cannot handle looking at a LCD/CRT/transmissive type display for more than a few minutes are desperate for an eInk display to work their trade on ( yes, eInk refresh is a bit slow, but believe me, compared to typewriters or hand written notes an eInk display is a leap ahead ).

There was also the Pixel Qi screen replacement for the Samsung N130 and Lenovo S 10-2 in 2012 (though not with the resolution you favor). I contemplated it myself before noticing how quickly users seemed to tire of it. There was even a Pixel-Qi-modded N130 for sale on MR.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by MrPLD

If they bring out a 13~15" eInk PC display at ~100dpi ( even if it's just an auxillary USB unit ) I think they could get themselves a fairly reasonable take up on the market.

People like my wife who are writers but cannot handle looking at a LCD/CRT/transmissive type display for more than a few minutes are desperate for an eInk display to work their trade on ( yes, eInk refresh is a bit slow, but believe me, compared to typewriters or hand written notes an eInk display is a leap ahead ).

There was/is an indigogo project to produce an external eInk display, but it's still more of a hack job than a turnkey solution.

Somebody showed video playing at reasonable frame rate on an eink display. I don't know what it took to do that, but it showed what is possible.

[ebusinesstutor]

I think that e-ink readers are to tablets what PDAs were to smartphones - transitional devices that eventually became eclipsed.

PDAs were hot sellers for many years, but eventually smart phones took over their functions and people didn't want to carry two devices when one could do.

Similarly a tablet or smart phone can easily be an ebook reader. The advantages of the e-ink reader (easier to read on screen and longer battery life) are not enough for many people like me to carry a second device for just ebook reading - especially when the tablet and smart phone can also be used for many other purposes. And, as the screens and battery life improve, the e-ink reader's advantage is further eroded.

The last time PDA's outsold smartphones in North America was 2006. 5 years later you couldn't buy a new PDA.

I think the same thing may happen to e-ink readers. E-ink may still have a future on other devices, but for e-book reading, I think they are done.

[crossi]

I really hope not because I have a real dislike of any tablet I've tried from ipads I've tried in stores to the Fire I bought but never use. I even far prefer landline phones to any cellphone or smartphone (their screens are too small and hard to read and I prefer the landline's simplicity just pick up the handset and dial no 40 page user manual needed). The kindles ease of use, lightness, better screen for reading and simplicity of use makes it much better for reading. All tablets are not improved versions of eink readers, they are limited, inferior but portable versions of a computer useful only when you need access while away from your home computer.

[QuantumIguana]

The problem with the PDA analogy is that PDAs didn't have any advantages over smart phones, thus when you could have both functions in one device, the PDA no longer made sense. It's fine to say that the advantages of e-ink aren't important to people like you, but you should remember that not everyone is like you.

LCD has a long way to go to match the readability of e-ink, and even farther to go to match the battery life if e-ink. If batteries were improved to increase the battery life of an LCD tablet, new e-ink readers would also have these improved batteries. So perhaps you could improve the battery life of LCD tablets to a couple days, but that same improvement would add weeks to the battery life of an e-ink reader.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by ebusinesstutor

I think that e-ink readers are to tablets what PDAs were to smartphones - transitional devices that eventually became eclipsed.

PDAs were hot sellers for many years, but eventually smart phones took over their functions and people didn't want to carry two devices when one could do.

Similarly a tablet or smart phone can easily be an ebook reader. The advantages of the e-ink reader (easier to read on screen and longer battery life) are not enough for many people like me to carry a second device for just ebook reading - especially when the tablet and smart phone can also be used for many other purposes. And, as the screens and battery life improve, the e-ink reader's advantage is further eroded.

The last time PDA's outsold smartphones in North America was 2006. 5 years later you couldn't buy a new PDA.

I think the same thing may happen to e-ink readers. E-ink may still have a future on other devices, but for e-book reading, I think they are done.

I spend more time reading than talking on the phone.

I actually don't want to talk on the phone while on the bus, in a store, waiting for an appointment etc. I do want to read while on the bus or waiting for an appointment. My late Kobo mini or my previous Sony 350 were as compact as many smart phones while being much more comfortable to read on, and they never beeped or rang at me. Ereaders are pretty polite and non intrusive. Plus they are one step reading. Turn on and off you go. Smart phone, turn on/find app, squint at smaller screen with (for me) eyestrain.

If I am going out and project time waiting/riding it is worth the few ounces and small amount of pocket/backpack space to bring reader.

At home it is no contest. Same advantages, but more so. Whether reading in bed, or on my glassed in balcony I have no need to have a phone or tablet in my hands. I don't even want a phone in my bedroom most of the time. Let them call me in the morning when I am awake, or leave a message. Especially those pesky telemarketers. The world hasn't ended yet because I did not answer the phone.

Helen

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

I spend more time reading than talking on the phone.

I actually don't want to talk on the phone while on the bus, in a store, waiting for an appointment etc. I do want to read while on the bus or waiting for an appointment. My late Kobo mini or my previous Sony 350 were as compact as many smart phones while being much more comfortable to read on, and they never beeped or rang at me. Ereaders are pretty polite and non intrusive. Plus they are one step reading. Turn on and off you go. Smart phone, turn on/find app, squint at smaller screen with (for me) eyestrain.

If I am going out and project time waiting/riding it is worth the few ounces and small amount of pocket/backpack space to bring reader.

At home it is no contest. Same advantages, but more so. Whether reading in bed, or on my glassed in balcony I have no need to have a phone or tablet in my hands. I don't even want a phone in my bedroom most of the time. Let them call me in the morning when I am awake, or leave a message. Especially those pesky telemarketers. The world hasn't ended yet because I did not answer the phone.

Helen

Maybe some of this is generational. I grew up in the days of rotary dial phones fastened to the wall. I just don't feel the need to be on the phone all the time while I'm doing errands, and especially not while driving.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

The problem with the PDA analogy is that PDAs didn't have any advantages over smart phones, thus when you could have both functions in one device, the PDA no longer made sense. It's fine to say that the advantages of e-ink aren't important to people like you, but you should remember that not everyone is like you.

LCD has a long way to go to match the readability of e-ink, and even farther to go to match the battery life if e-ink. If batteries were improved to increase the battery life of an LCD tablet, new e-ink readers would also have these improved batteries. So perhaps you could improve the battery life of LCD tablets to a couple days, but that same improvement would add weeks to the battery life of an e-ink reader.

Yes exactly. Smartphones were essentially better PDAs with no downsides at all. So of course PDAs died out. But the ereader has significant advantages over a smartphone so I don't think the analogy works at all.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Maybe some of this is generational. I grew up in the days of rotary dial phones fastened to the wall. I just don't feel the need to be on the phone all the time while I'm doing errands, and especially not while driving.

Precisely, I got the Note 2 so that I would have phone capability on the rare occasion that I need to make a call. But the main purpose that I got it for is to have a smaller more portable reader that easily slips into any of my pockets. The fact that it can also play my music and make phone calls is a bonus.

[speakingtohe]

We actually had a party line phone where you dialed by turning a small crank on the side of the phone at one time. Think one ringy dingy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uINRNwq_TXQ

Helen

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

Yes exactly. Smartphones were essentially better PDAs with no downsides at all.

Battery run time.

[user743]

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

We actually had a party line phone where you dialed by turning a small crank on the side of the phone at one time. Think one ringy dingy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uINRNwq_TXQ

Helen

never saw that before. it should be added to the history classes

[Katsunami]

I've often said it: I'm not married to my kindle. I'd rather read double page landscape on an 11 inch tablet. Why don't i?

1. Glare and insufficient brightness outside.
2. Battery life.
3. Don't like the backlight, not even on low settings.

As soon as there's a tablet that combines current e-reader and tablet screen advantages and provide a two week battery life, the dedicated e-reader is history.