Once again, over on YouTube, the very pervasive Linux Media Group channel, Short Circuit, did a review on an Andoid based eInk tablet. They don’t seem to understand or care what this device is actually for, and they treat it like a faulty phone that can’t make calls, and like a bad tablet that can’t play video right. LMG have done the same treatment to similar products going back at least three years.
What An eInk Tablet Is
Most folks have at least seen a Kindle Paperwhite. The Kindle Paperwhite has been incredibly popular for 18 years. It is an eInk tablet device that has WiFi but is primarily only for connecting to Amazon’s ebook store. It does not run Android, and thus cannot do anything other than buy Amazon ebooks, and view them. Some versions do have a single web browser, but not a very good one. These things are pretty cheap. As little as US$110, new, but Amazon most prominently points to the latest US$140 model.
This was NOT the first eInk to market, but it was the first to integrate an ebook store infrastructure with a device that was more convenient than paper books.
Why eInk Though?
Part of the sales pitch for all eInk devices is that they are easier on the eyes than an active display. They can be seen without the need for a constant backlight, although, now, most do have an option for turning a backlight on. Folks who read a lot, really like the way these things feel. Again, the Kindle itself continues to be popular, despite the fact that almost everyone has a smart-phone, too.
So, Why So Expensive?
First, they aren’t actually that expensive.
Since the Kindle, competitors have arrived.
The eBook store, Kobo, sells the Clara for US$120.
Like the Paperwhite, the Clara can only be used with the Kobo
ebook store.
One decent choice is the Barnes and Noble Nook with a bit more ability
to run things OTHER THAN THEIR OWN EBOOK STORE. This means one could buy
a Nook, and install the Kindle and Kobo Android app, too. The Nook
store is not removable, and a Nook login is required, but it’s a step in the
right direction. The Nook Glowlight 4 Plus is also around US$140.
These OTHER eInk devices cost $350 to $500
So, back to Kindle. They have a color eInk display model, the Kindle ColorSoft, US$190. It shows an add any time it goes to sleep. Those ads and the ebook store lock-in are paying for this price.
Oh, but wait, the Kindle Color eInk Tablet that also lets a user take notes on the device is now available, hmm, that one is US$680. I’ve seen no news on how locked down this one is, so I can’t comment.
I can say though, that the cheap eInk reader champions also make a very expensive eInk tablet.
By Not Highlighting It’s Purpose, It Misleads Everyone
Any eInk tablet is primarily a book reading device. Some sell themselves as fancy notepads for gadget people, and most eInk vendors in the space also have these features, because it doesn’t cost much.
So, by not showing the device flipping pages in a book across various ebook store apps, and the built-in epub reader they all come with, the few people who are in the market won’t be able to see the one thing that would help them decide, and anyone else who doesn’t understand what it’s for thinks they are looking at a stupid product that isn’t good at anything at all.
I think this does a huge disservice to everyone.
Final Note
If someone from Onyx or Bigme reads this, I want to be very clear. If either of you made a ~7inch color eInk with a recent Snapdragon, 16GB RAM and real storage (1TB or better), I would pay $800-$1100 for that. Do not try to sell that in an 11 inch form factor, I won’t touch it because I won’t be able to hold it for hours at a time.
Sometimes a rant just has to get out.