Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor • Hacker News Board

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#21

Post by mcny » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:47 PM UTC

Version467 wrote: post #15

chrisco255 wrote: post #5

Why make this for a desktop? E-ink is mostly useful for wireless applications and anywhere power is limited or there's a need for always on, static display.

To relieve eye strain. Reading on an e-ink screen is so much more comfortable than on any emissive monitor. With current tech the downside is of course reduced refresh rate as well as low color contrast. Depending on the workload, that might be a worthy trade off. I tried coding on a grayscale eink display for a while and noticed a big difference in eye strain and overall concentration levels after a long session. Bu…

> To relieve eye strain.

I think this will expose another, possibly larger, problem. My room is too poorly lit other than the screen.

If there is no light coming from the screen, I am forced to turn on a light to read the screen. Maybe that's a good thing, I am not sure.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#22

Post by ZiiS » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:48 PM UTC

bovermyer wrote: post #4

I'm curious about the refresh rate. From the video, it appears to be fast for an e-ink display. However, it still seems to be slower than what I'd be comfortable watching a video with. The other thing I'm curious about is the manufacturer. They seem to have a black-and-white version already available. Has anyone ever tried it?

Dasung have managed watchable video on their monochrome devices (unlike most of their competitors). The fast modes loose effective resolution, and contrast, and build up artifacts that need clearing. These compromises are very hard to bare at the sticker price.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#23

Post by shortrounddev2 » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:48 PM UTC

creatlv wrote: post #13

cbeach wrote: post #7

Very impressive tech demo, but in practice, the lack of contrast and the slow (but impressive for e-ink) refresh rate would be a dealbreaker. Also, as others have said, what's the benefit of e-ink on the desktop where mains power is readily available?

You could put it outside and enjoy glare-free outdoor computer work?

I would love this for a laptop but I feel like the tech is too new to be that compact

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#24

Post by kojiromike » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #5

Why make this for a desktop? E-ink is mostly useful for wireless applications and anywhere power is limited or there's a need for always on, static display.

I have a Dasung e-ink monitor (by the power of grayscale). I find a lot of interesting reading on my work computer, but getting those links onto e-ink devices like my Boox has been irksome. Reading on the e-ink monitor was _almost_ worth the price. Ultimately, however, I retired it because the desktop real-estate, macOS's limited multi-monitor capabilities, and if I'm going to buckle down and read something long form I need to get away from my desk anyway.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#25

Post by no_wizard » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

Pet_Ant wrote: post #9

bovermyer wrote: post #4

I'm curious about the refresh rate. From the video, it appears to be fast for an e-ink display. However, it still seems to be slower than what I'd be comfortable watching a video with. The other thing I'm curious about is the manufacturer. They seem to have a black-and-white version already available. Has anyone ever tried it?

I don't think eInk will ever be capable of video-like refresh rates. It's had plenty of benefits, but refresh rates may never catch up. I have a secondary monitor dedicated to Slack, Teams, and Outlook. That would be perfect for this as it doesn't update often and the content is mostly static.

I don’t know that there is any technical reason why e-ink can’t develop a better refresh rate to match what we are used to, at least theoretically. I don’t think its refresh rates are capped in that way.

The real problem is cost of course. Part of that is e-ink is still governed under a patent you must license and pay royalties to if I recall correctly

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#26

Post by asoneth » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #5

Why make this for a desktop? E-ink is mostly useful for wireless applications and anywhere power is limited or there's a need for always on, static display.

Many folks in my office have an ancillary monitor or two to the side of their main monitors, often in portrait mode, just for keeping docs, diagrams, and other reference material. But having so many backlit monitors in your field of view can become a little fatiguing.

An e-ink display with sharp text and without a backlight could be useful for such a use case.

But agreed that mobile contexts seem more broadly useful.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#27

Post by shortrounddev2 » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

Pet_Ant wrote: post #9

bovermyer wrote: post #4

I'm curious about the refresh rate. From the video, it appears to be fast for an e-ink display. However, it still seems to be slower than what I'd be comfortable watching a video with. The other thing I'm curious about is the manufacturer. They seem to have a black-and-white version already available. Has anyone ever tried it?

I don't think eInk will ever be capable of video-like refresh rates. It's had plenty of benefits, but refresh rates may never catch up. I have a secondary monitor dedicated to Slack, Teams, and Outlook. That would be perfect for this as it doesn't update often and the content is mostly static.

This monochrome output claims to have a 60hz refresh rate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds38T8wVuDg

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#28

Post by ajdude » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #5

Why make this for a desktop? E-ink is mostly useful for wireless applications and anywhere power is limited or there's a need for always on, static display.

It's also easier on the eyes and can be used in sunny conditions.

With that being said, I would love to see one in a smart phone or laptop.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#29

Post by ZiiS » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

cbeach wrote: post #7

Very impressive tech demo, but in practice, the lack of contrast and the slow (but impressive for e-ink) refresh rate would be a dealbreaker. Also, as others have said, what's the benefit of e-ink on the desktop where mains power is readily available?

If they can get them well calibrated then the is a market for prepress designers who wouldn't even look at the price.

Re: Paperlike Color: Color E-Ink Monitor

#30

Post by stronglikedan » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 1:52 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #5

Why make this for a desktop? E-ink is mostly useful for wireless applications and anywhere power is limited or there's a need for always on, static display.

I print everything to read it (if it's more than a couple of pages) because I have a hard time reading with a backlight, so I'm seriously considering backing this, if for nothing else than to reduce my paper consumption (even though I do religiously recycle).