Electronic Paper

Ever since seeing an early prototype at Xerox PARC in 2000, I have found the idea of electronic paper fascinating. Something that's low power, reads well in sunlight, doesn't tire the eyes... sounds great. Now the first devices are finally starting to hit the market, and for once I'm inclined to be a frontrunner in the gadget race.

iRex iLiad

Yes, they're using the stupid iCapitalization, but their product looks very interesting:

• The 8.1-inch (diagonal) monochrome Electronic Paper display with 1024 x 768 pixels and 16 levels of grey (160 dpi).
• USB type A connector for USB memory stick.
• CF type II slot for memory extension or other applications.
• 3.5mm stereo audio jack for headset.
• WIFI 802.11g wireless LAN.
• 10/100MB wired LAN.
• Touch sensor input using stylus.
• Dimensions (wxhxd): 155x216x16 mm.
• Weight: 390 grams.
• About 20 hours of battery life (reading time).

Probably too thin to put a proper harddisk in, or this would be my perfect device for laptopping, browsing and storing photos on the go. They claim to have a consumer model on the way (this one is mostly for B2B) which might be different. However, there seems to be nothing happening on their website for half a year, so I'm starting to look for vapor trails.

It doesn't seem to be on the market yet, but rumours state a price of 650 euro, not exactly cheap, but not ungodly bad either.

Sony Reader

Proprietary junk.

-- LarsClausen - 25 Jun 2006
to top