Survey of Current

E-ReadersLiza DalyKeith Fahlgren

Three ways to segment e-readers:

e-ink

e-ink

iLiad

What is e-ink?

Electronic ink is made up of very tiny capsules

of electrically-charged pigments.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iliahi/2606645766/

100,000 of these capsules fit in a

single square inch, providing high

resolution.

Full-size image of Amazon Kindle screen

Amazon Kindle Sony Reader PRS-505

Amazon Kindle ECTACO jetBook

Amazon Kindle Apple iPhone

Electronic ink refresh

Electronic ink refresh

Electronic ink refresh

Electronic ink requires power only during these page turns.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_a_dickinson/2981053795/

Electronic ink requires power only during these page turns.

This translates to long battery life, especially

relative to color PDAs and phones.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_a_dickinson/2981053795/

ReadabilityBattery life

High costSlow refreshBlack & white

+

Specialty device

What’s it like to buy an ebook?

vs.

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3a

1 2 3

1 2 3

321

3211

32111

3111 ?

??111“Secure Mobipocket?”

???

???!!!

+ =

My ideal e-reader

Stanza

Bookworm

Fictionwise

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3!

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

2 31 2 3

Yay!

HardwareShow & Tell

Plastic Logic

Thanks!Liza Dalyliza@threepress.org

Keith Fahlgrenkeith@oreilly.com