E-ink readers in 2015

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

That looked interesting until I saw it was still the Pearl screen. I wonder why they didn't go with the better Carta screen.

Onyx-Boox has developed a couple of models with a Carta screen, the D67 and i67, but does not seem willing to start production until somebody wants to make a large order. The D67 is available at the Alibaba B2B site for a minimum order of 2000 units (the entry also gives specs for the i67).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

whatever-the-Voyage-uses

The Voyage uses a Carta eInk display.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Voyage uses a Carta eInk display.

Then I probably should have said "the price differentials between eInk's various technologies and resolutions", to cover the Voyage.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by Hrafn

and/or stuck in pre-production (a 'rugged' eReader whose name I cannot remember).

That's the EARL that I'm waiting for.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by charmian

What are your predictions for e-ink readers in 2015?

What I'd like to see is a lightweight, waterproof, 6.8", 300dpi, mobius-based, front-lit Kindle.

But I expect we'll just see more of the same - minor improvements in new models from Kobo and Amazon, with B&N becoming irrelevant to EInk readers.

But there's an outside chance that we'll see a liquavista-based Kindle. Now that would be exciting!

[p38lightning]

"Borders will reopen will as a take-out pizza chain. A wrist-watch ebook reader will be given away free for all pizza orders over $50. Unfortunately, the wrist-watch will be the size of a paperback book and will fail to keep time. Borders will eventually declare bankruptcy again."

You forgot to mention that the manufacturer of Border's pizza dough will not allow the use of Border's coupons for discounting online pizza purchasing. Coupons can only be used for pizzas purchased in the store.

Excellent predictive scenario!

[leebase]

At the end of 2015 there will be fewer eInk reader options, fewer companies making them, and no advancement of the display tech.

[murg]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

That's the EARL that I'm waiting for.

That's the EARL that we're all waiting for.

[Phogg]

What I would like to see is an eight inch, Carta Screen, frontlit, 300dpi reader that handles .cbz and .cbz well.

Not sure there is a chance for that.

I do think Amazon will release a water resistant Kindle (to regain momentum taken by Kobo) the fourth quarter, but that it will be yet another iteration of a six inch reader.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

6.8" is more sweet then 6".

You've done this twice in the same thread. If you were from Finland I'd let it go but your profile says Massachusetts. Please watch and take note.
The Wire: Then versus Than: http://youtu.be/5-bnP2xGj_4

[jehane]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But this would be a dual screen tablet with eInk on one side and LCD on the other. No hinge. Just flip the tablet over to get the screen you want.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of being able to use both screens at once? If that's not the purpose of such a device, what is?

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by leebase

At the end of 2015 there will be fewer eInk reader options, fewer companies making them, and no advancement of the display tech.

Yup, the 6 inch tablet is going to kill off 6 inch e-ink devices.

[Fbone]

I believe there will be price reductions on ereading devices.

[Hrafn]

Originally Posted by Alohamora

Yup, the 6 inch tablet is going to kill off 6 inch e-ink devices.

I would question that assertion. I think there are sufficient people who use a mobile device purely for eReading that e-Ink eReaders will survive (being ideally suited to this one task), at least as a niche market. And I think 6" eReaders will continue to dominate that market, as they're small and light enough to read one-handed and fit into most jacket/coat pockets.

I think technology improvement will continue to be slow, as (i) fewer and fewer 'must-have' new features remain to be invented and (ii) the market is near saturation point, at which point the market moves from bringing in new buyers to buyers for replacements for broken/obsolescent units (reduced growth in turn reducing R&D budgets), but would not expect it to stop entirely.

[eschwartz]

There is a reason people still buy clocks/watches and other niche items that have been subsumed in multipurpose devices. The dedicated ereader will endure.