[jwrallie]

I’d really like a Linux laptop with an e-ink screen. I’m well aware of the downsides.

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.

[norman784]

This sounds like a good opportunity for a 3rd party e-ink screen for the framework laptops.

[larodi]

incredible, isn't it, that no single usable e-paper device is being sold. like no Mac with e-ink, no Surface with e-ink, no ASUS with e-ink, even though this is the best thing an operator can do to his tired eyes.

[ablob]

I'd wager that the whole modus operandi for desktop environments is not made with e-ink in mind. E-ink fits in a situation where only a few updates are ever required, and completely breaks down for anything requiring higher framerates.

The market might just not be big enough to warrant creating a product.

[axiolite]

> the whole modus operandi for desktop environments is not made with e-ink in mind

It used-to be in the DOS and terminal days, and it wouldn't take much to get us back there. Shut off all the eye-candy transition effects. Make your web browser, PDF viewer, etc., always scroll a full page at a time, instead of scrolling 1mm when you click on the button or use the mouse wheel. Just those few changes and you'll have something that'll work pretty well.

[larodi]

Besides, even during DOS days, and generally console days, software such as DB2, Oracle, and all the OS/360 offering, was doing absolutely okay. With all the UTF glyphs available to us now (not to mention the chat interface), I can totally imagine super useful and distraction-less TUIs to front business systems. And e-ink/e-paper would suffice most use-cases for the software which brings actual value to industries.

[nottorp]

The problem is, you can't doom scroll 1 minute videos on e-ink.

It's a feature of course, but most people don't realize it.

[folmar]

It's not usual for PC, but if you select "remove animation" on Android you're good on 2 fps. Many applications do like crap as the first placeholders are given little attention, but there are only big refreshes, and only handful of apps written so bad that they ignore the setting and make animated placeholder.

The only thing is that you need to stick to Page Up/Page Down for scrolling.

[shaky-carrousel]

But it was. 90s laptops had a refresh rate comparable to e-ink. That's why the windows mouse cursor can be configured to leave a trace.

[larodi]

well mine still does leave a trace, because you know - remote desktop glitters now and then, and particularly if you happen to self-host. also with multi-monitors and heavy window use it makes sense to have trails, than not to.

so the old is not so old, and the new is not dramatically new.

[fragmede]

https://shop.dasung.com/products/dasung-paperlike-103-the-wo...

This is that product. A 60 Hz eink monitor, for $340.

[nihiven]

I have one of these. It's only 'ok'. There is significant ghosting and it's not very good when the scene is dark, but it's much better than my BOOX tablet. I just got it so I'm still experimenting with different uses.

Here's a clip of it playing video: https://youtu.be/povlk3hKTVA

[danparsonson]

I had no idea such a thing existed, thanks - did you need to install anything to get it working or does it just plug and go like a normal monitor?

[nihiven]

It functions like a normal monitor. It connected to my Macbook air (M2) and Windows machine without installing anything. It has a USB-C video port, but an HDMI->USB-C converter works too. It has an 1872x1404 (4:3) resolution, which is why I used Miami Vice for the video. It would not connect to my PS5, which I think comes down to the PS5 only supporting 16:9/21:9.

[j_bum]

Wow that’s far more impressive than I expected. I want a laptop with this for programming…

[OtomotO]

On the product page "Linux is not supported"... What a bummer!

[dotancohen]

It's specifically says no Linux support. It seems to me that excludes a large portion of tinkerers and those willing to accept the downsides of bleeding edge technologies, which is probably also their target market. Such as me.

[anthk]

CWM or any light WM could perfectly fit. Once you either use terminal tools or ancient Motif applications (or QT with no animations at all), everything looks usable. Forget Gnome 4 or Plasma with all the bells and wistles on.

[jwrallie]

It could be sold without any dedicated software, and let the community come up with the interface. Just an LVDS display that fits a widely available Thinkpad would do it.

[baobun]

I think PineNote qualifies by now?

https://pine64.org/devices/pinenote/

Also https://usetrmnl.com/

[larodi]

indeed i should've said "save for some smart tablet offerings such as PineNote and Re:Markable". but these are not so useful for data operators, unless keyboard via bluetooth etc.

[shakna]

Whilst they're certainly not Apple, you can walk into most retailers, and out with one of Boox's offerings.

(Just be aware they're open GPL violators.)

[Zambyte]

I'm replying to this comment on a Daylight Computer.

[ryanckulp]

we (TRMNL) have a working demo, debating what to do with it.

unlisted: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qs7JeK11Cxc

[prmoustache]

Is it me or there is a lot of ghosting?

[gunalx]

There was this one thinkpad that had a eink screen as its keyboard.

Pretty cool, and you could use it as aregular display as well.

dunno how linux would react though.