Electronic Ink Display for Ebook Readers: Going, Going… Gone?
The introduction of ebook reading devices such as the widely-used Amazon Kindle and its gradual acceptance into being a mainstream consumer device has also brought the electronic ink display or e-ink technology into prominence.
What makes this particular screen most suitable for handheld ebook readers is its ability to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper, minimizing the strain on the eyes that backlit LCD screens often bring about. Simply put, reading on an e-ink screen is as close to having a paperback in hand.
According to a PC world article however, the latest round of ebook reading devices unveiled at this year’s CES in Las Vegas last January included new electronic products that were classified as e-readers but were more of multi-function gadgets that could be used for a number of other purposes besides reading. In fact, many of them were of the mini notebook and tablet PC-type, sporting LCD screens rather than the usual electronic ink display associated with e-readers.
Would such devices fast outdate the current crop of ebook reading devices like the Kindle and the Sony Reader? And more importantly, has the era of the e-ink technology passed?
At a glance, it would seem that this is so, especially with the recent and much-talked about launch of the Apple iPad, which also comes with ebook reading capacity. And with Apple on the move, couldn’t others be far behind? But giving it more serious thought though, it would be foolhardy to dismiss electronic book readers using e-ink technology just yet.
Ebook readers after all, increased in popularity and usage mainly because they can actually substitute for reading a real book with the added convenience of portability and storage. While you can read for hours on end from an e-ink screen without causing any undue stress on your eyes, I doubt if you could say the same reading from an LCD screen.
In the world of consumer electronics, new technologies are sure to be introduced from time to time. But another thing’s quite certain as well: none of these will be able to replace the electronic ink display for long-form reading and for a more comfortable reading experience.
While the Kindle may not have a bright LCD screen, it does have all you would need in an ebook reader. Feel free to read our Kindle review to find out just why it continues to be the top e-reader in the market today.