New E-Ink

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Of course, high end e-ink will be replaced by a suitable color technology (perhaps even color e-ink) in the next few years. But the reader for $50 with gray scale screen will be swamping the novel reader markets. And e-ink is taking over some other usages, for signs and inventory tags, for example. Signs that only need power when the message changes. You can have a separate device that is attached only when you want to change.

Yeap, I think that's more that way it's going. There is room to improve e-ink.
Main think i'm wating for right now is more contrast.

[bob1xxx]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Of course, high end e-ink will be replaced by a suitable color technology (perhaps even color e-ink) in the next few years. But the reader for $50 with gray scale screen will be swamping the novel reader markets. And e-ink is taking over some other usages, for signs and inventory tags, for example. Signs that only need power when the message changes. You can have a separate device that is attached only when you want to change.

Really? e ink screens are more expensive in every size due to lower production volumes compared to tens of millions of lcd screens produced every year . If I had found a decent e ink for 160.00 I would have bought it. I still think e ink e readers will mostly vanish in the next 12 to 18 months due cost to performance ratios.

[HansTWN]

At the moment production quantities are going through the roof. So there is no reason to lower prices. But isn't Sony's 300 being offered for $139 or something like that? Might be good enough, depending on your needs. The 50 USD I am talking about is 2-3 years down the road. For straight novel reading, who needs color? A really cheap reader could knock out paperbacks and sell in the 10s of millions. A 10 fold increase in production will drive costs down that far easily. That is one direction I believe it will take.

For high-end versions new technologies will take over. Of course, LCD/LED won't last much longer, either. But a great color screen for magazines and reading is at least 2 years away. Sure you can wait it out, the question is what you will do in the mean time.

[McKGrif]

I have had two eInk ereaders; Cool-er and now nook. Both displays already great.

I will not buy another greyscale eInk, I will wait for color.

[denodan]

With advances in Techology, it's only a matter of time when they will have colour E-ink good enough to replace LCD tv screens. It will eventually happen as there is no need for backlighting, better contrast and will work even be seen even if it's very sunny.

Remember the first LCD screens where no where as good as todays ones. E-ink is still pretty new, don't underestimate what techology will do. TV screens, and computer screens using E-ink will use a lot less power to run.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by denodan

With advances in Techology, it's only a matter of time when they will have colour E-ink good enough to replace LCD tv screens. It will eventually happen as there is no need for backlighting, better contrast and will work even be seen even if it's very sunny.

Remember the first LCD screens where no where as good as todays ones. E-ink is still pretty new, don't underestimate what techology will do. TV screens, and computer screens using E-ink will use a lot less power to run.

There are reflective and transflective display technologies with much more potential than EPD. E-Ink is a brand of EPD.

I think it is extraordinarily unlikely that EPDs would replace LCDs for any active-refresh application. Making a TV with an EPD would be a bit like making a building out of toast. Perhaps doable, but not exactly ideal. Just because there's room for improvement doesn't mean that laws of physics don't apply or that the technology has unlimited potential.

There's nothing that says LCDs will have to be replaced by anything anytime soon. Liquavista sorta has that goal in mind, and when their EWDs are mature and EFDs start getting demonstrated as EWDs are now, it may be a good secondary technology, but there are hundreds of different display technologies being developed, and there is no single candidate for absolutely replacing LCD.

[darylbrayman]

Originally Posted by bob1xxx

Really? e ink screens are more expensive in every size due to lower production volumes compared to tens of millions of lcd screens produced every year . If I had found a decent e ink for 160.00 I would have bought it. I still think e ink e readers will mostly vanish in the next 12 to 18 months due cost to performance ratios.

Kobo's new 6" e-ink reader is $149.99 Canadian.

Regards, Daryl

[Jumpn Jack Flash]

Originally Posted by denodan

With advances in Techology, it's only a matter of time when they will have colour E-ink good enough to replace LCD tv screens. It will eventually happen as there is no need for backlighting, better contrast and will work even be seen even if it's very sunny.

Remember the first LCD screens where no where as good as todays ones. E-ink is still pretty new, don't underestimate what techology will do. TV screens, and computer screens using E-ink will use a lot less power to run.

It is unlikely that E-Ink will ever replace LCD, the refresh rate will never make that happen due to the tech used.
What was meant to replace LCD is OLED which may still happen in the next couple of years.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

Because not everyone uses devices slowly. Try flipping through a 20-page range of text to find a quote. To that end, E-Ink is rubbish. Try quickly skimming through a dozens or even hundreds of pages of a PDF document to find a page with a certain chart. Again, E-Ink is not really sufficient for the task. These are just a couple of simple examples based on reading, without any discussion of other types of media.

E-Ink's speed is a horrible turn-off when considering e-paper devices for academic reading or research. Sure it's understandable that some people have slow reading habits. They won't need speed. But is it really so hard to understand that some people have higher standards?

Dear All:


E-Ink screens catch some criticism where the real culprit is the processor and controller (particularly the controller). If we are talking about page turns and bringing up a book... having the new 400MHz processor is pretty essential. BUT... the controller is what does the searching for the info and then brings it up. The main controller on the market was designed about 6 years ago when PVI (a screen manufacturer) first envisioned eBook Readers. No controller company wanted to design one as there was no installed base. PVI designed their own and (while it was stable) it was pretty slow. THAT is what you are noticing when you judge the speed of turning a page. About 10 months ago Epson finally designed a new eBook controller. A few manufacturers have made the switch (Astak being one) and the difference is amazing. I am not trying to "sell" here... only to state the case for the real culprit and to let you know there is a faster alternative already on the market!

I work for Astak; and mean no offense to any other eBook Reader manufacturer and certainly no offense to PVI whose controller did stand the test of time.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:


E-Ink screens catch some criticism where the real culprit is the processor and controller (particularly the controller). If we are talking about page turns and bringing up a book... having the new 400MHz processor is pretty essential. BUT... the controller is what does the searching for the info and then brings it up. The main controller on the market was designed about 6 years ago when PVI (a screen manufacturer) first envisioned eBook Readers. No controller company wanted to design one as there was no installed base. PVI designed their own and (while it was stable) it was pretty slow. THAT is what you are noticing when you judge the speed of turning a page. About 10 months ago Epson finally designed a new eBook controller. A few manufacturers have made the switch (Astak being one) and the difference is amazing. I am not trying to "sell" here... only to state the case for the real culprit and to let you know there is a faster alternative already on the market!

I work for Astak; and mean no offense to any other eBook Reader manufacturer and certainly no offense to PVI whose controller did stand the test of time.

Even the fastest current E-Ink readers are still far too slow. The PRS-505 is not my only point of reference.

[Magnesus]

Mirasol is the only reflective colour screen that looks fast enough to compete with LCD for tablets and even computer monitors. But for TV and watching movies emitting light is necessary (OLED will probably be the winner here).

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by Magnesus

Mirasol is the only reflective colour screen that looks fast enough to compete with LCD for tablets and even computer monitors. But for TV and watching movies emitting light is necessary (OLED will probably be the winner here).

That's where Liquavista intends to come in later on. Right now they're still demonstrating reflective stuff, but they will be able to do fully transflective and transmissive displays in the future.

[grndslm]

Originally Posted by Magnesus

Mirasol is the only reflective colour screen that looks fast enough to compete with LCD for tablets and even computer monitors. But for TV and watching movies emitting light is necessary (OLED will probably be the winner here).

Let me introduce you to a gorgeous LCD screen that actually looks like e-Ink...

Pixel Qi 3Qi LCD

I'd be willing to buy that in a second.

And that lady is turning me on with her words. I love it when she talks 'nerdy'.

[Magnesus]

Yeah, I know about Pixel Qi and wait for it too. It's black and white in reflective mode though, Mirasol is not.

[Frankr]

Does any one have any idea when we will start see these new and improved displays on 6 or 7 inch ereaders?