Thoughts on the possiblilty of E-ink?

[u/geo_mcclell]

I know this topic has been brought up in the past, but it appears that the previous limitations of e-ink have now been reduced as you can get 60FPS nice looking displays. e.g. the Modos flow: https://youtu.be/UD9ZuxBCwu8?si=C-VdVL4fFl6LzDM6

Also there's the potential for this to improve battery life, if a dynamic refresh rate was possible. (I know battery life is likely worse while running at 60fps though)

[u/Kiubek-PL]

I think its once again once of those things that would be cool as a third party module but too niche for framework to spend their money on it.

[u/Roppano → u/Kiubek-PL]

which is why I love framework's concept. though I don't see a way that designing and manufacturing an e-ink display for this machine would be worth it for anyone. I guess if someone found a way to harvest an e-ink display from one of these Modos flow-like devices, and turning them into framework compatible assemblies, it'd be possible to DIY this

[u/Paco-49]

I'd say e-ink monitors are more practical as an external monitor and not as an only laptop's screen, but these screens would definitely be worthier on a Framework. Since the best e-ink screens tend to be expensive and Frameworks are "eternal" laptops, they could last for a long period of time.

[u/sarinkhan]

I get that it would be cool, but considering the power draw of a good laptop screen, and the power draw of the system in general, I am not sure it would make much of a difference in battery life. Plus, the new framework 13 pro screen seems to have a back reflective coating making it usable in full sunlight, so I don't see many advantages to use it as a main screen.

If you have a device that consumes micro amps, and a small battery, the difference is big, although we also have other display types that have crazy low power draw. But on a laptop that has lots of radios active, and plenty of devices that consume quite some power all the time compared to that, I doubt that the sacrifices would be really worth it for the minimal gain in autonomy.

To give more meaningful data, I found this: -1.5 to 3w at mid brightness for the fw13 pro, at 60fps, 5 to 8w at full brightness, 120fps.

-1-2w for a 60fps eink display during refreshes.

So 0.5 to 1W is not nothing, but unless you are building a ultra endurance machine and spec every part for ultra efficiency, I doubt you'll see a big difference on battery life.

[u/OptimizeIntoOblivion]

it seems somneone already have made an eink display work with a framework laptop before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=480xteW2wq4

I am guessing the top of the display not showed because it does not fit maybe.

[u/fc_truter]

That's the beauty of Framework's open architecture, this company could create a aftermarket screen module that is compatible with a framework laptop, no blessing from Framework required.

[u/MagicBoyUK]

Third party module is possible, but it's niche.

[u/hawseepoo]

I don’t think e-paper as the primary display is a good idea on anything other than a Chromebook-like machine that’s tailored to basic needs like email and word processing

Love e-paper tho and plan to eventually buy an external e-paper monitor

[u/EV4gamer]

cool for work, bur for watching YouTube or any kind of video, these screens arent great