Sony Digital Paper DPT-S1 Owner's Thread

[ManDay]

Originally Posted by setasai

I also considered waiting. The problem is you lose out on the time you could be using the Sony device by waiting. Also consider that it may not come out at all. The Sony is a great device. It does one thing and does it well. Read FULLSIZED PDFs and "annotate" those PDFs. If that is all you want to do, then it's a no-brainer in my opinion

It's still a ridiculous price, at those $999. Getting one of those into Germany, even more expensive. Buying it based upon these arguments means I'd totaly disregard the price, to the effect that they could be selling it at $2000 a piece, it wouldn't make it considerably worse than it already is.

It's a kind of "they won this" feeling if I'd give in to the urge to own one of those now. As in, they're trying to rip me off, and I fell for it, when I bought it (no offense, to each their own opinion!). As in, if I buy this now, I'm probably as stupid as to have bought it for $2000, and that just bothers me. If you know what I mean...

I think building one of those yourself isn't too difficult, though it surely costs a lot of time. Though just keeping that thought comforts me sufficiently so I don't feel coerced to purchase this for a grand.

[setasai]

Definitely do NOT disregard the price. I agree it is overpriced. The problem is that it is a niche product. It may or may not come down in price. Other companies, may or may not make a device like this or better. If it were $2000, I'd have a much much more difficult time swallowing and probably would not have gotten it. If you don't need one now, maybe you dont really need one at all. I "ate" the price of $1000 because i've been wanting one for a long time and now that I have one, I use it daily so it is slowly becoming worth the cost.

If you can figure out how to make one cheaper, definitely do it. Depending on how much work it becomes and how much it costs, I'd be interested in building it as well. What would you use as the backbone software?

[ManDay]

Originally Posted by setasai

If you can figure out how to make one cheaper, definitely do it. Depending on how much work it becomes and how much it costs, I'd be interested in building it as well. What would you use as the backbone software?

As a Linux person I'd tend to using Linux, but that would probably require me to write a proper display driver (something, that's long been needed, for Wayland anyway) for the mobius. I guess most People would want Android, though, because it has a wider choice of touch-enabled software.

PS: I don't necessarily agree with your opinion that it's a niche product. In my opinion, it's the price and Sony's inept public relations which make it so. There are many people out there which read documents which only make sense to read on DIN A4 or larger, on a daily basis. Particularly education, business, and technical industries are full of them. Many, many would appreciate such a device at a somewhat reasonable rate (which might be around $200 at most, I admit, but we have to thank E-Ink for that, selling the Mobius at a premium only).

[fgdas]

Originally Posted by ManDay

...we have to thank E-Ink for that, selling the Mobius at a premium only.

If you know where on this planet you could buy Mobius please let us know.

I have just learned there could be some competition for E-Ink aka Prime View International. OEDtech.com can also make lightweight flexible 12inch electronic paper!

OED successfully defended itself against the patent infringement suit filed by E-Ink/PVI in 2012 in Germany.

[ManDay]

Originally Posted by fgdas

If you know where on this planet you could buy Mobius please let us know.

That's an easy one. You can negoitate a deal with E-Ink Holding or buy one directly here: http://beck-oled-lcd-tft-display.de/...ash=369a63687e (as pointed out earlier in this thread)

[fgdas]

Originally Posted by ManDay

That's an easy one. You can negoitate a deal with E-Ink Holding or buy one directly here.

1. E Ink offers $1500 prototyping kits to assist product developers in the development of new products.
2. E Ink will talk to you if you are ready to buy 1000 units and more.
3. Beck announced the news 26.1.2015 and not replied since with the pricing and availability.
4. E Ink's Mobius 13.3inch display (announced May 2013 but shown already in 2010) is not been seen anywhere except Sony's DPT-S1. Device which is available only in USA and Japan.

Large screen (12 inch and above) electronic paper market is just stuck. E Ink aka PVI has its own monopoly: did buy most of their competitors and is busy filling the lawsuits against new competitors.

[setasai]

Originally Posted by ManDay

As a Linux person I'd tend to using Linux, but that would probably require me to write a proper display driver (something, that's long been needed, for Wayland anyway) for the mobius. I guess most People would want Android, though, because it has a wider choice of touch-enabled software.

PS: I don't necessarily agree with your opinion that it's a niche product. In my opinion, it's the price and Sony's inept public relations which make it so. There are many people out there which read documents which only make sense to read on DIN A4 or larger, on a daily basis. Particularly education, business, and technical industries are full of them. Many, many would appreciate such a device at a somewhat reasonable rate (which might be around $200 at most, I admit, but we have to thank E-Ink for that, selling the Mobius at a premium only).

Linux works. I actually prefer linux for devices like this. Just because there are more touch-enabled software doesn't mean it'll work well for this kind of device.

I'm calling it a niche product because I think that even if the price were to drop to around $500, most consumers in education, business, technical industries would probably still invest in an iPad or something similar over a limited function eInk device. I don't doubt that there are many people who could benefit from a device like this... I just think that most of them wouldnt buy one regardless. At $200 I might think differently since that would fall into a normal ereader (kindle, nook) type of price point but I don't see that happening unfortunately.

Something I've been thinking about lately since I've been reading more textbooks... I wouldnt mind a device that is even larger than the Sony. Maybe another inch or so diagonal would be sufficient. Some of these textbooks are larger than the standard letter size.

[Atticus-1970]

Hey, folks! Thanks for all of the great info on this thread!

My use for the Sony Digital Paper would be as a reader for large collection of role-play game PDFs.

Do folks think the Digital Paper would be good for reading RPG books like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, 13th Age, et al.? These books are often full color, feature color borders, and lots of graphics.

I am particularly concerned about page-turn times.

Thanks for any input!

[FelisNiveus]

Goodereader.com has several videos attached to their reviews of the Digital Paper. Some of them show the D&D Monster Manual.

http://goodereader.com/blog/electron...l-paper-dpt-s1

[ManDay]

Since the Japan version can be purchased at notably better conditions, I'd like to know whether it's possible to flash a Japan Version to the US version? Does anyone know?

[rpv]

Originally Posted by ManDay

Since the Japan version can be purchased at notably better conditions, I'd like to know whether it's possible to flash a Japan Version to the US version? Does anyone know?

Can you elaborate notably better conditions. There is a SONY store nearby at Palo Alto and I could ask their reps if they know if Iknow the differences

[ManDay]

Originally Posted by rpv

Can you elaborate notably better conditions. There is a SONY store nearby at Palo Alto and I could ask their reps if they know if Iknow the differences

I meant buying one, in Germany. Ordering one from the US is close to impossible. As has been mentioned Sony refuses to ship to adresses known to be forwarding services. That, and the additional 20% on top of the seller's price due to taxes etc. Ebay seems like a much better choice, but they mostly have Japan models there. I don't speak/read Japanese, so I would like to know whether a Japan version can be flashed into an English version.

[setasai]

Originally Posted by Atticus-1970

Hey, folks! Thanks for all of the great info on this thread!

My use for the Sony Digital Paper would be as a reader for large collection of role-play game PDFs.

Do folks think the Digital Paper would be good for reading RPG books like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, 13th Age, et al.? These books are often full color, feature color borders, and lots of graphics.

I am particularly concerned about page-turn times.

Thanks for any input!

Honestly if I were you I would look for a large screen color tablet. The graphics in those books are a huge part of the experience so the black and white may not be ideal. I use it for large textbooks with a lot of pictures and the detail is largely lacking. Page turns are "ok". It's really not that fast and if I were reading comics with more pictures than words, I would definitely go with a 13inch tablet or something similar.

[FelisNiveus]

I have to agree with setasai. I've loaded up some comics and the page turns are not bad, but color documents are going to look better on a regular tablet.

[rem736]

i broke down and purchased one from sony's website. at least the price has gone down about 10% from initial release. i have been waiting for a full A4 size e-ink reader for 2 years for use primarily with pdfs, so this will serve its purpose.

but i was wondering if it's at all possible to root/jailbreak and install an epub reader along with the stock software?