Dedicated E-Readers: They're History

[BenLee]

I have no doubt that as soon as a superior screen technology becomes easy to manufacture and economically reasonable to mass produce, that technology will replace e-ink. This could be transflective LCD, reflective LCD or whatever. It will become the new "e-ink". E-ink will be reduced to being used only for cheap eReader devices and the technology will effectively be "over".

So what? Does that mean that dedicated devices will be history? Hardly.

New tablets will use this new screen technology, and so will dedicated readers. Multifunctional devices will be priced significantly higher than ereaders and there will still be room in the market for two types of devices.

In the end, nobody loses, the world keeps turning and we the consumers win because we get a better device with a superior screen. Nothing wrong with that.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

How can anyone not be an "e-ink fan"? This is a serious question! The difference between reading for longer than a few minutes on e-ink vs. normal computer screen is huge. In fact there is no comparison.

Short answer: Your opinion, reading material and eyesight are different from others'.

[mdmorrissey]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

eInk has many advantages, but it clearly also has disadvantages, lets not be silly about it.
- Low contrast
- Slooow refresh rates
- Grayscale only
- Can't read in low light (vs can't read in bright light for LCD)

How much the advantages and disadvantages outweigh each other will depend both on personal preference and the material you are trying to read.

I have a PRS505 and loved it, but not because it had an eInk screen, but because the eInk screen gave it great battery life. Give me workable battery life on an LCD screen, which suitable for more applications, and I'm just as happy.

I'm relatively new to ereaders, and I am still trying to get mine to work properly (won't mention any names), but if and when it does work properly (i.e. normally, according to what other users say), there is no comparison. The e-ink is far superior to the LCD screen for sustained reading.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

The e-ink is far superior to the LCD screen for sustained reading.

Because you say so? All that matters is that you find a device you like and use it. For me, LCD is a better read than e-ink.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

I'm relatively new to ereaders, and I am still trying to get mine to work properly (won't mention any names), but if and when it does work properly (i.e. normally, according to what other users say), there is no comparison. The e-ink is far superior to the LCD screen for sustained reading.

I don't really think so at all. If I have my e-ink reader and my desktop monitor both handy, I much prefer reading my novels on the desktop monitor. I tolerate my E-Ink device, but mostly just for portability and battery life.

[John F]

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

I don't really think so at all. If I have my e-ink reader and my desktop monitor both handy, I much prefer reading my novels on the desktop monitor. I tolerate my E-Ink device, but mostly just for portability and battery life.

I disagree. I prefer reading on my E-Ink device over LCD. I very, very seldom read on LCD. Given the choice of LCD (desktop, iPad, PDA) or EInk, I pick EInk.

[DJHARKAVY]

Originally Posted by John F

I disagree. I prefer reading on my E-Ink device over LCD. I very, very seldom read on LCD. Given the choice of LCD (desktop, iPad, PDA) or EInk, I pick EInk.

And such differences make the world go round.

I wouldn't trade my reflective LCD for an eInk without a substantial reason. But that is me. You like your eInk, more power to you... Someone else might like a backlit LCD and someone else a CRT.

[ppw]

Why people keep going back to argue which is better reading tech as if it is the only factor that determine the fate of a device?

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by John F

I disagree. I prefer reading on my E-Ink device over LCD. I very, very seldom read on LCD. Given the choice of LCD (desktop, iPad, PDA) or EInk, I pick EInk.

I think you missed something. I disagreed with an absolute statement, not with a personally expressed opinion.

Go ahead and prefer E-Ink. I've no beef with people that do. My standards are too high for it, however. I simply disagree with matter-of-fact claims that E-Ink is "far superior" to backlit LCD, and that there's no comparison.

[stargazertony]

Originally Posted by mdmorrissey

I'm relatively new to ereaders, and I am still trying to get mine to work properly (won't mention any names), but if and when it does work properly (i.e. normally, according to what other users say), there is no comparison. The e-ink is far superior to the LCD screen for sustained reading.

Don't really understand "won't mention any names" particularly when your profile indicates the PocketBook 360. If you do decide to mention names, this forum offers a myriad of help with virtually any e-reader.

[BenLee]

Originally Posted by ppw

Why people keep going back to argue which is better reading tech as if it is the only factor that determine the fate of a device?

I agree that the reading tech is not the only factor that determines who comes out on top. There's a slew of factors.

But I think whoever thinks that LCD is superior to e-ink for the purpose of reading (and reading alone) will find it very hard to make a compelling argument. E-ink is simply better to the mechanics of reading, not for games, or apps, or anything else....for just reading. And I think that most people would agree with this. Your eyes feel more comfortable reading e-ink for a sustained period of hours than it does an LCD screen. I work on a computer all day and I can't wait to stare at something with no glare like a Kindle. Aside from wanting color, I see very little reason why LCD would be superior for reading purposes. Can someone explain?

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by BenLee

I agree that the reading tech is not the only factor that determines who comes out on top. There's a slew of factors.

But I think whoever thinks that LCD is superior to e-ink for the purpose of reading (and reading alone) will find it very hard to make a compelling argument. E-ink is simply better to the mechanics of reading, not for games, or apps, or anything else....for just reading. And I think that most people would agree with this. Your eyes feel more comfortable reading e-ink for a sustained period of hours than it does an LCD screen. I work on a computer all day and I can't wait to stare at something with no glare like a Kindle. Aside from wanting color, I see very little reason why LCD would be superior for reading purposes. Can someone explain?

I don't have problems reading on LCD for sustained periods. I can edit all day on computer and read for additional hours online for leisure; I used to read Gutenberg books on netbook after work, for instance.

The only appeal of e-ink for me was portability. I have that now with iPad, which also allows me to read news across the entire Web. With my nonfiction reading, I can easily view maps and other images as well.

I also prefer an adjustable white or sepia screen, instead of the fixed muddy gray of e-ink. iPad lets me read without a booklight (or any other light); I hated Mighty Brights with e-ink. You had to find your sweet spot to avoid glare, yet get even coverage. Then you'd be back at it if you accidentally knocked the light out of place.

Some e-ink fans rave about reading in full sun. I grew up in the tropics and have never wanted to read in full sun.

I don't play games, social network or watch movies on iPad. I bought it for e-books, e-mail and Internet. If the e-book function did not meet my needs, I would've resold the iPad at hundreds over retail, because my primary interest was e-books. It turns out I love the reading flexibility, plus lots else.

I might not stick with Apple, but I'm not going back to e-ink now that tablets have arrived.

[DJHARKAVY]

Originally Posted by BenLee

I agree that the reading tech is not the only factor that determines who comes out on top. There's a slew of factors.

But I think whoever thinks that LCD is superior to e-ink for the purpose of reading (and reading alone) will find it very hard to make a compelling argument. E-ink is simply better to the mechanics of reading, not for games, or apps, or anything else....for just reading. And I think that most people would agree with this. Your eyes feel more comfortable reading e-ink for a sustained period of hours than it does an LCD screen. I work on a computer all day and I can't wait to stare at something with no glare like a Kindle. Aside from wanting color, I see very little reason why LCD would be superior for reading purposes. Can someone explain?

Well, for one, not all LCD is like your computer monitor. Reflective LCD has no backlight and has similar (measurements say superior) contrast to e-ink. And it is the backlit display that tires your eyes.

YMMV.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by BenLee

I agree that the reading tech is not the only factor that determines who comes out on top. There's a slew of factors.

But I think whoever thinks that LCD is superior to e-ink for the purpose of reading (and reading alone) will find it very hard to make a compelling argument. E-ink is simply better to the mechanics of reading, not for games, or apps, or anything else....for just reading. And I think that most people would agree with this. Your eyes feel more comfortable reading e-ink for a sustained period of hours than it does an LCD screen. I work on a computer all day and I can't wait to stare at something with no glare like a Kindle. Aside from wanting color, I see very little reason why LCD would be superior for reading purposes. Can someone explain?

E-Ink is too slow to read effectively for some people. Better driving will improve speed, but I have not seen any devices with adequate speed for book navigation yet.
E-Ink's contrast is too low (hopefully will be remedied somewhat in the near future), and the pixel grid is not supplemented by subpixels, so the ultimate resolution is not exceptionally high either.

Backlighting is a blessing in many situations just as a reflective backplane is in some others.

You make statements about E-Ink being "simply better" for mechanics of reading, but those are not statements of fact. You may feel that way, and you may want to justify your Kindle by saying that "most" people agree on the matter, but you're in a niche forum with a bunch of people who seem to spend an impressive proportion of their time here high-fiving each other for supporting E-Ink or related niche products. I, for one, would prefer to read for several hours on a good backlit desktop LCD than on an EPD, unless I'm outside. Your viewing habits are much more likely at fault for your bias against LCDs. That or past experience with poor LCDs and poor font rendering, which could very well be discouraging to almost anyone. I'm not terribly fond of reading for long periods of time on a lower-resolution Mac, for instance, largely due to Quartz or whatever their font rendering was called.

There are areas of superiority that both technologies have, and neither can claim to be wholly superior to the other for "reading", outside of marketing.

There are many LCDs I would not read on, but the difference at the moment is that there are at least a few LCDs I'm happy reading on, while I do not like any E-Ink screen.

Originally Posted by DJHARKAVY

And it is the backlit display that tires your eyes.

It does not tire your eyes unless it is seriously imbalanced with the ambient lighting. The light bouncing off a screen is not somehow more soft or gentle--light doesn't work like that.

[BenLee]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I don't have problems reading on LCD for sustained periods. I can edit all day on computer and read for additional hours online for leisure; I used to read Gutenberg books on netbook after work, for instance.

The only appeal of e-ink for me was portability. I have that now with iPad, which also allows me to read news across the entire Web. With my nonfiction reading, I can easily view maps and other images as well.

I also prefer an adjustable white or sepia screen, instead of the fixed muddy gray of e-ink. iPad lets me read without a booklight (or any other light); I hated Mighty Brights with e-ink. You had to find your sweet spot to avoid glare, yet get even coverage. Then you'd be back at it if you accidentally knocked the light out of place.

Some e-ink fans rave about reading in full sun. I grew up in the tropics and have never wanted to read in full sun.

I don't play games, social network or watch movies on iPad. I bought it for e-books, e-mail and Internet. If the e-book function did not meet my needs, I would've resold the iPad at hundreds over retail, because my primary interest was e-books. It turns out I love the reading flexibility, plus lots else.

I might not stick with Apple, but I'm not going back to e-ink now that tablets have arrived.

I think it's great that you can read for sustained periods with LCD screens.

I don't think you're in the majority however. Many people complained about NOT reading ebooks a few years ago because they don't like staring at a computer. LCD screens haven't changed much. They still wear your eyes out.

I like iPads too, but I'm not going to deny that e-ink is superior for looking at for long periods of time.