Why don't ePaper-devices do apps?

[Avoid9Pdf]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

 

[Paul]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

Special purpose devices, don't perform general purpose functions ?

Or stated another way, things that aren't computers, aren't computers.

An epaper device, places an emphasis on saving power, so it's
not intended as a replacement for some other small-form-factor
computer-like device. And the display technology is likely
selected as the lowest possible power using type. If the display
updated more rapidly, it would be an LCD, and it would gulp down
battery juice.

Paul

 

[Charlie+]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

I assume ePaper is the same as eInk? my Kindle does webpages etc -slowly
and small-ly but you can use it at a push!
C+

 

[Avoid9Pdf]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

Special purpose devices, don't perform general purpose functions ?

Or stated another way, things that aren't computers, aren't computers.

That's what IBM said in the 60's before the PC hit them.
And what PC-boys said before mobile devices hit them.

An epaper device, places an emphasis on saving power, so it's
not intended as a replacement for some other small-form-factor
computer-like device. And the display technology is likely
selected as the lowest possible power using type. If the display
updated more rapidly, it would be an LCD, and it would gulp down
battery juice.

Paul

Read again slowly: <we accept the slow update rate>,
and seek INOVATIVE methods to make it usable as a writer too.

Re. inet facilities: I spend an hour studying the text which
uses a 1 minute power-consumption-burst to d/l.

 

[John McGaw]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

They simply don't work well, or at least up to the standards that users
have come to expect. But that doesn't mean that is can't or hasn't been done.

http://lifehacker.com/5889158/turn-a-99-nook-into-a-fully-fledged-android-tablet-in-four-easy-steps

 

[Avoid9Pdf]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

They simply don't work well, or at least up to the
standards that users have come to expect.
But that doesn't mean that is can't or hasn't been done.

http://lifehacker.com/5889158/
turn-a-99-nook-into-a-fully-fledged-android-tablet-in-four-easy-steps

Wow! That 'reads' fantastic.
So then, why don't the manufacturers sell it in
an 'opened-form'; if it's got an android-engine?

The low-power to read, with short periods to inet,
makes it meet the OLPC's original intentions.

 

[Avoid9Pdf]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

I assume ePaper is the same as eInk? my Kindle does
webpages etc -slowly and small-ly but you can use
it at a push!
C+

But can you write and edit text?

==TIA.

 

[Michael Black]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

Special purpose devices, don't perform general purpose functions ?

Or stated another way, things that aren't computers, aren't computers.

An epaper device, places an emphasis on saving power, so it's
not intended as a replacement for some other small-form-factor
computer-like device. And the display technology is likely
selected as the lowest possible power using type. If the display
updated more rapidly, it would be an LCD, and it would gulp down
battery juice.

Yes.

I suddenly decided the price of ebook readers had dropped enough, to where
I was willing to spend the money. But then wham, they introduce ereaders
that are tablets. For less than a hundred dollars more, I can get a
tablet. I don't even know which function I want more, tablet or ereader,
but it makes sense to buy one that does both.

I ended up buying a Blackberry Playbook, just after they dropped to 199
here in Canada back in February. I would have bought an HP the summer
before, but I missed the 99.00 clearout.

Yes, it's a nice tablet. And unlike netbooks, it's a more practical
format for light work, for work away from a table. And it's decent as an
ereader, though I have read a relative few books, all out of copyright
books.

But the battery doesnt' last long between charges. Or rather, it takes
its time to reboot, so I leave it on standby, which gives a continuous
drain. Even under use, the battery needs relatively frequent charges, not
something you want with a book. It has everything, nice and bright and I
can do the internet so long as I find a wifi connection, but if I fall
asleep with it on, I'll have to recharge.

I'm not disappointed that I bought it, I'm glad to have the tablet.

But, if ebooks are really the future, I figure having the tablet out of my
ssytem, I will get an e-ink ereader at some point, specifically for books.
The more I would use an ereader, the more I'd want an e-ink reader.

Michael

 

[root]

But, if ebooks are really the future, I figure having the tablet out of my
ssytem, I will get an e-ink ereader at some point, specifically for books.
The more I would use an ereader, the more I'd want an e-ink reader.

Michael

I have several ereaders, both e-ink and backlit. For regular reading
the e-ink is far preferable, not the least for battery life. You
should know that most pdf files cannot be read on a 7" display.
epub and mobi files are fine because they can adjust the display.

For epub files I like my Kobo touch. For pdf files I use the
(no longer available) Kindle DX and my favorite reader the
Pocketbook Pro. It has a 10" display and reads all formats. The
contrast on the Pocketbook is less than that of the DX or Kobo,
but in every other respect the Pocketbook is better.

 

[Michael Black]

I have several ereaders, both e-ink and backlit. For regular reading
the e-ink is far preferable, not the least for battery life. You
should know that most pdf files cannot be read on a 7" display.
epub and mobi files are fine because they can adjust the display.

So I noticed. I wsa reading one book as a pdf and with the tablet held
like a book, the text was a tad fine. I could enlarge it, but it wasn't
readjusted to fit into the screen, so I'd have to scroll. Flipping the
tablet to "landscape", I didn't ahve to scroll sideways, but I had to
scroll as I read down the page.

I was sitting in the sun yesterday reading with it, and again noticed how
warm the back was getting. That's another minus thing of a tablet. 2
1GHz cores are nice for the things people do with computers, but it's
overkill for reading a book, which is so static. It's more than just
battery drain, it just seems overkill.

For epub files I like my Kobo touch. For pdf files I use the
(no longer available) Kindle DX and my favorite reader the
Pocketbook Pro. It has a 10" display and reads all formats. The
contrast on the Pocketbook is less than that of the DX or Kobo,
but in every other respect the Pocketbook is better.

If ebooks are going to replace books, I'm sure the prices of ereaders will
have to drop. So in the long run, I expect to get an erreader with eink
in a relatively short time that is only for books, but no more than fifty
dollars, and hopefully less.

Once I got the tablet, a lot of the "extras" are no longer needed in an
ereader, so they can be cheap, low power, and still good.

Michael

 

[ted]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

I assume ePaper is the same as eInk? my Kindle does webpages etc -slowly
and small-ly but you can use it at a push!
C+

The Kindle browser is certainly not perfect, but is useful for things like
bringing up google maps in a pinch, checking things you should have looked
up before you left the house and killing spam comments on your blog.

The kindle (not kindle fire, but regular kindles) is a linux device
and there are plenty of jailbreaks out there to get you into it. It's
easy to develop/port Linux API programs for it with Scratchbox or other
ARM linux cross compilers..

 

[ted]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

I assume ePaper is the same as eInk? my Kindle does
webpages etc -slowly and small-ly but you can use
it at a push!
C+

But can you write and edit text?

==TIA.

Sure. It helps if you have one of the models with an actual keyboard, of
course.

 

[Charlie+]

We know that epaper takes half a second to update its
screen, so it can't keep-up with keyed input.

But can't a method be found to buffer a [selectable]
number a chars, between screen updates. Or some
other solution.

And why shouldn't it have an email-client and a
'lynx-like' http-fetcher?

I assume ePaper is the same as eInk? my Kindle does
webpages etc -slowly and small-ly but you can use
it at a push!
C+

But can you write and edit text?

Yes but slowly, login to email, eBay etc is quite possible but v.
slowly! You wouldnt' use it if you had a faster option available -
mine is a Kindle 3 which also plays MP3 files for audiobooks etc. - a
facility I use really a lot. I Believe the later cheaper Kindles
perhaps dont do as much or have so much memory, but have advantage of
touch screen whereas mine has keypad. C+