So, Ive recently gotten back into writing and been thinking about how much more fun it would be to write Outside. Problem is, the sun hates screens. I have an Alphawrite Neo, of course, but I’ve always been insecure about lugging a weird educational device around with me in public. So I started looking into Eink tablets that could be used with a keyboard and

Jesus H. Christ, that price tag!

I just want something to type on something. Apparently thats strange, so maybe there will be something cheaper as just a word processor. It seems that the only reasonable offering here is the Freewrite Traveler, though, so I look it up and

WHY‽ It’s the same price!

Okay, maybe I could just get a Raspberry Pi 400 and attach an eInk monitor to it. Apparently, this is not the usual use-case for E-ink, but there are in fact e-ink monitors out there! Most were around a thousand dollars for some reason, but here is the cheapest one I could find:

That’s around the price point of a Boox Go, for reference, which has a really slow screen refresh rate.

Why is there no affordable e-paper products that arent a pain to use? I am aware of cheaper ones, but the ones ive seen reviews if aren’t able to keep up with typing in a way that seems responsive. And I’m aware that you can find eink displays (as in the component) for as low as $30, so they should be able to be cheaper than this!

    • Lv_InSaNe_vL@lemmy.world
      2·
      12 days ago

      That’s only 800x480 though. The BOOX ultra has a screen resolution of like 1900x2400 IIRC.

      plus it has other nice features like it’s already made and it’s much thinner than your rpi version, and runs a custom android ROM so you can just install android apps.

      • Grimy@lemmy.world
        3·
        11 days ago

        Op wanted something cheap, not the best option. You also dont need HD quality for a portable e-ink writer.

        It is thinner but the raspi pi isnt exactly thick, and your android apps aren’t an advantage over a linux OS which you have full control over.

        It’s also funner to build your own.

  • CommissarVulpin@lemmy.world
    111·
    12 days ago

    Allow me to suggest the humble typewriter. There are dozens of us (dozens!) who enjoy the tactile feeling of hammering out a few pages with no electronics or distractions of any kind.

  • RedditAdminsSuckIt@lemmy.world
    5·
    12 days ago

    I take my alphasmart anywhere I’m planning on writing. The only looks I’ve ever gotten were followed up with “what is that?”

    It may have been an educational device but it’s a fabulous distraction free portable writing tool.

    • cfi@lemmy.world
      3·
      12 days ago

      I was one of the few AlphaSmart kids in my district growing up, and I still occasionally miss them for writing

    • Chee_Koala@lemmy.world
      5·
      12 days ago

      Hahaha, damn. I think I’d raise my eyebrows too if I saw you typing on that in the train. But hey, if it works, it works!

      I like typing on my Surface Pro 7 on the go, how can a flabby shallow keyboard like that even be comfortable? I don’t know, but it is. I have a ducky one 3 keyboard with blue switches at home to compare with. I like typing on both of them :-)

  • ohulancutash@feddit.ukEnglish
    6·
    12 days ago

    Eink charge around $30 for their lowest-spec screen. Device builders have to price that in, along with the niche market, and the fact that those who want to use Eink are unlikely to be replacing it for several years.

  • Zombiepirate@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    12 days ago

    I’ve been wanting the exact same thing: an e-ink device for writing, and there’s just nothing remotely worth considering.

    • starlinguk@lemmy.world
      22·
      12 days ago

      Pen and paper.

      Touch typing course if you want to transfer it to the computer. Or scan it.

  • Sunsofold@lemmings.world
    12·
    12 days ago

    E-ink in general is expensive from what I’ve seen. I was pricing out building a little project and found even the tiny displays (a few centimeters on the diagonal) were ~US$50. If you look for anything big enough to be more than a low power always on display, it gets quite expensive quite quickly. Add on the cost of development for completely unique software because the off-the-shelf stuff is mostly not compatible, and the other general hardware costs for making it a product instead of a project, and the pricepoint is not that wild. Hopefully they come down over time.

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    11·
    12 days ago

    If you can live with a reflective LCD display, there are various word processors with small reflective LCD displays that are inexpensive. They’re also usable in bright light, like e-ink.

    https://www.amazon.com/Neo2-Alphasmart-Processor-Keyboard-Calculator/dp/B00T0ZG06O

    That’s $220 for the device with a keyboard; runs on 3 AA batteries.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/eink/comments/186x55r/good_eink_writing_device_with_a_keyboard/

    Good e-ink writing device with a keyboard?

    The Meebook M7 supports bluetooth, and I have connected bluetooth keyboards to it, but I usually connect a mechanical keyboard via OTG cable. It is 6.8 inches, though, so you might want something a bit bigger. Refresh rate is okay, definitley sufficient. I like to have it in normal or fast mode, depending on my mood.

    eBay has Meebook M7s (no longer the current model) for $200 as of this writing. That’s an Android device and will need a keyboard.

    EDIT: I think that the problem you’re going to run into is if you want a large e-ink display. Most e-ink use is for reading books, and most people want fairly small displays for that, so there’s not going to be a lot of volume.

    EDIT2: One other option you might consider is use of a laptop hood, if you don’t specifically want e-ink. I spent a while working by a window, which was really obnoxious, because sun would shine in from the side and highlight all the dust particles on the screen and create glare. I wound up using a monitor hood, which worked well for that. That wasn’t a laptop, but there are a variety of devices that will cover the top and sides of a laptop so that the area surrounding the screen is dark.

    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=laptop+hood

    Makes for more setup and teardown, of course, and it won’t help if the sunlight is coming from behind you. But if you already have a laptop that you’re otherwise happy with, it might help.

    EDIT3: Oh, sorry, somehow I missed you mentioning that you already have the mentioned word processor at the top of your post.

    • Wugmeister@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      3·
      12 days ago

      I actually already have the Alphasmart Neo. I just have baggage about taking it outside to write since I was given it when I was in 5th grade, so my bad self talk likes to remind me that “this is a device for children to do their English assignments on” whenever I take it out as an adult

      • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
        1·
        12 days ago

        There are a couple of devices here, but most of them run into one constraint you have or another:

        https://kadavy.net/distraction-free-writing-devices/

        • Physical typewriter: I think that electronic devices have put the era of correction fluid behind us.

        • Alphasmart word processor: Lacks prestige.

        • BYOK: Just a Kickstarter project.

        • Freewrite: Whole line of similar devices. Some of these wonlt meet price constraints. Some might work. There’s a $350 Freewrite Alpha.

        • Pomera: Doesn’t meet price constraints new. A used one might work; I see these on eBay for $100. Japanese-market-oriented, but E-ink and can clearly do English.

        • Boox: As you mention, doesn’t meet price constraints. Maybe maybe do a used one. I see someone selling a used Palma on eBay for $72, and this guy used his as a writing platform.

        • Solarwriter: Mobile software designed to link an e-reader, keyboard, and iOS or Android device into an outdoor writing system. Could work!

        • Remarkable: Won’t meet price constraints new, but there are used ones on eBay going for around $200-$250 without keyboard.

        • Kobowriter: open-source project to link a Kobo e-reader to a keyboard. The Kobo cannot power a keyboard, so some sort of external power source for USB is required. This specifically aims to be a cheaper alternative to the Pomera and Freewrite. Sounds like it requires some tweaking for different keyboard layouts and devices. I would not do this unless one is comfortable with this from a technical standpoint.

  • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
    3·
    12 days ago

    Being used to drive Porsche’s all the time, you could ask why are these Lamborghini’s so unaffordable?

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    17·
    12 days ago

    Rumor has it they’re expensive to manufacture. Add to that a small market and some patents and you get elevated prices.

    Amazon might sell Kindles below cost because it drives book sales on their platform, but it’s hard for anyone but Amazon to make that model work.

  • recklessengagement@lemmy.world
    35·
    12 days ago

    They’re expensive but not really overpriced. Boox tablets are essentially Android tablets with highly specialized screens.

    Eink screens (particularly high refresh rate screens, like what you’re looking for) are still a relatively new tech and don’t have the cost benefits of more matured technology like LED/LCD. The cheap eink screens you see have very slow refresh rates and don’t offer the same pixel density, with harsher gradients.

    I’d reccomend getting one used, or waiting for a seasonal sale. I’ve had one for a while and I love it.

    • DashboTreeFrog@discuss.onlineEnglish
      13·
      12 days ago

      Boox tablets are essentially Android tablets with highly specialized screens.

      Yes, didn’t realize this when I got mine years ago just looking for a Kindle replacement I could also take notes on. Being able to install Android apps opened up a whole lot of possibilities, like reading Manga with Mihon, work stuff with Google Suite, etc. Now I’m even looking to upgrade to a colored screen model. Honestly, worth the price IMO

  • Luffy@lemmy.ml
    12·
    12 days ago
    1. Its niche to want such a device
    2. E-Ink is currently only made by a single company.
  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
    20·
    12 days ago

    Well, the refresh rate is due to the e-ink technology. There is still a mechanical component to it, so what you can experience today is actually blazingly fast.

    The other part is that having the display glass itself is not enough. You’ll need a driver chip. And one that drives an e-ink display fast is neither easy nor cheap.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
    4·
    12 days ago

    I went and looked at the TCL Nextpaper at Verizon, price wise it’s not terrible, but it’s not proper eInk either:

    https://www.verizon.com/tablets/tcl-tab-10-nxtpaper-5g/

    https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-gave-away-my-kindle-and-ipad-within-hours-of-testing-this-tablet/

    I PERSONALLY didn’t care for the glare and thought it wasn’t bright enough, so a “no” from me, but check your local Verizon stores and see what you think, it’s exclusive to them.