I wanted an e-ink screen I could just plug-in. Versatile, big and cheap. Connection is via a VGA or HDMI. Works like an appliance. All automated. Wireless.
Specifications: 1024x768, 6fps, lag: ~1.2s, Connection: VGA or HDMI Specifications Single Screen: 1024x768, 5fps, lag: ~1.2s, Connection: VGA or HDMI
https://shop.dasung.com/products/dasung-25-3-e-ink-monitor-p...
I bought it two years ago for over $1800, and I have to say, it was worth every single dollar.
I can read on it, work on it, (kind of) watch youtube videos on it, play (some) RTS game on it. And mine only had 33hz refresh rate, not the latest 60hz.
There was no manual, and it had a closed source application to time or force refresh. Of course, being closed source it wouldn't work on a Pi (arm64), nor did I feel comfortable about unknown code, or it working in a few years on a newer version of Linux.
It was all exceptionally poorly done. Amazon says it was a Dasung E-Ink Paperlike 3 HD Front-Light and Touch 13.3" Monitor.
If the app had been OSS, or it had an open API via the cable, I could have scripted an auto-refresh upon scrolling in vi or some such. Or just hacked into something seeing change scope under X. Point is, I could have made it work for me.
The default modes were terrible.
I hope things are better, but no way will I install some weird closed source client.
I have a fairly new tablet, and it handles refresh incredibly well, but I'm sure that's with strong integration into the display stack. Which is fine, of course, but that doesn't help me with coding.
EDIT: one of the things which makes some of these e-ink tablets incredible for refresh, is partial, very well done sectional refresh. So if a small part of the screen changes, BAM!, it's refreshed instantly for ghosting.
Again, I suspect this is tied into the display stack. The monitors I've seen don't seem anywhere as good. I'd love to to be wrong on newer models.
It seems Android tablet with a keyboard or Windows laptop with double screen exist but to live with the limitations of such a screen, nothing would top having full control of the OS interface.
The market might just not be big enough to warrant creating a product.
This is that product. A 60 Hz eink monitor, for $340.
Here's a clip of it playing video: https://youtu.be/povlk3hKTVA
But an e-ink "terminal" would be nice, not an actual tty but something more like a tablet form factor that has a few buttons, little to no internal smarts and you can push images to it.
But now that they have a bigger version, with controls and a clear case...
I'm not sure that I should be thanking you for making me spend money!
Are the dedicated eink monitors (like Dasung) better in this regard?
One huge plus is that it isn't *just a monitor*. because of the VNC connection, I just pick up my tablet and roam around the office while reading something, even making tiny edits, It can be also used as a great drawpad. I use it to explain things to my coworkers, since drawing freehand diagrams, shapes and text isn't very easy with a mouse.
When writing a lot of LaTeX I wished I had an eink monitor. LaTeX already takes a moment to compile. I’d probably want vim on a conventional monitor.
Most of my work is reading rather than writing so when I want to read something I use the E-ink screen.
Dasung 13k color is workable-ish even on MacOS with no tweaks.
https://www.mydeepguide.com/daf-tool
Be aware that Boox runs Android apps. Many other brands do not.
As soon as they make larger, better 60hz panels I will 100% switch all my monitors over. I think making videos look worse is a positive. We don't need doomscrolling. We don't need 60fps react buttons with smooth gradients. We don't need to HDR the entire web. I primarily use text based sites anyways, so eink is perfect for me.
It is as crisp and clear as the day I got it.
Admittedly, I'm not trying to run video on it constantly and it doesn't get hot. But eInk seems remarkably durable.
But being serious, I personally have not seen a degraded e-ink display.
they seem pretty durable to me.