Ask HN: Why isn't there a foldable e-ink book reader?

7 points by nitin-pai 2 years ago | 7 comments

It has been 15 years since Amazon introduced the Kindle and we're still stuck with a single page tablet. Why isn't there a folding or hinged screen ebook reader, so that we can read books the way we've read them for ages?

latexr 2 years ago |

https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/10/21361545/folding-e-ink-re...

schwartzworld 2 years ago |

What would be the point? Books have the shape they do because paper is two-sided, and they are optimized for information density. There's no inherent value to seeing one page next to another, and even less in having a fold.

squigz 2 years ago |

I've been using a Kindle for many, many years - after reading paper books for many, many years - and I've never wanted this, personally. One of the great things about an ereader is its incredible portability. Even if adding a second half was a negligible size change, I wouldn't want to bother folding and unfolding the thing every time.

simne 2 years ago |

For same reason, why e-ink not become secondary screen on mobiles - I've seen few examples, and all just not sold good enough to be considered as persistent solution.

Possible, this is because LCD/OLED screens are cheap and good enough for most cases, so too tiny market left for e-ink.

suvan 2 years ago |

Portability is probably a big thing, the fact that Kindles are advertised as being significantly thinner than a paper book. There is also just a large lack of innovation in that area, due to the fact that Kindles sell no matter what. Very few improvements are made but new Kindles always perform well.

GianFabien 2 years ago |

Perhaps it could be a KickStarter project? As long as it allows you to read all current eBook formats. I wouldn't mind if it could also be used as a tablet.

beardyw 2 years ago |

There are hinged paper versions which still work well.