3 ms·

These characteristics are also annoying, but not "product-killingly annoying", for e-readers. So if they're going to be fixed, I'd expect them to be fixed in th

These characteristics are also annoying, but not "product-killingly annoying", for e-readers. So if they're going to be fixed, I'd expect them to be fixed in the e-reader space first, and then applied to laptops. Putting out an e-ink laptop before the tech is ready would just be throwing money in a hole. I just wouldn't expect what's going to be essentially a mid-'80s word processor (Xerox Memorywriter, not WordPerfect) style user experience, complete with the screen with the really low refresh rate, is something that would sell.

dalbasal 9y ago
Why would the software be bad? The display is the only thing thats different in terms of hardware. Besides that, circa 2000 hardware specs are embedded in £40 devices these days, even ereaders. Word processing has been fine for a long time. No need for bleeding edge performance, or even somewhat sharp.
- bunderbunder 9y ago
  So the only analogue I know of for a device that was designed for that kind of task, and used a display with those kinds of limitations, was word processing appliances like the Xerox Memorywriter. And I also know that nobody actually liked working on those things; they just put up with them because because, at the time, an actual computer set up to do the same task could easily cost something upward of US$5,000 in today's dollars.
  - dalbasal 9y ago
    Idk how fair that comparison is... The specs will be way better than anything consumer grade in the 80s. These would also be general purpose PCs, in the same sense that a phone is. They'd just be built with certain use cases in mind, like phones. I think your first point on ereaders being a sufficient platform for iteration and working out kinks is accurate though. Scrolling and mousing we can work around. Typing, no. If the refresh is not fast enough for a nice typing experience... there is no workaround for that. I still hope someone will make this. I really want one.

dalbasal 9y ago

Why would the software be bad? The display is the only thing thats different in terms of hardware. Besides that, circa 2000 hardware specs are embedded in £40 devices these days, even ereaders. Word processing has been fine for a long time. No need for bleeding edge performance, or even somewhat sharp.

bunderbunder 9y ago
So the only analogue I know of for a device that was designed for that kind of task, and used a display with those kinds of limitations, was word processing appliances like the Xerox Memorywriter. And I also know that nobody actually liked working on those things; they just put up with them because because, at the time, an actual computer set up to do the same task could easily cost something upward of US$5,000 in today's dollars.
- dalbasal 9y ago
  Idk how fair that comparison is... The specs will be way better than anything consumer grade in the 80s. These would also be general purpose PCs, in the same sense that a phone is. They'd just be built with certain use cases in mind, like phones. I think your first point on ereaders being a sufficient platform for iteration and working out kinks is accurate though. Scrolling and mousing we can work around. Typing, no. If the refresh is not fast enough for a nice typing experience... there is no workaround for that. I still hope someone will make this. I really want one.