It sounds like you've already answered your own question. The tech for color ink isn't ready for prime time, so people are concentrating on a realistic option in the meantime.
As for backlighting, I think most people have only ever seen backlit displays. The Kindle is the only e-ink device I'm aware of, and even I (living in the Silicon Valley) haven't actually seen one in person.
If anyone is going to popularize a color e-ink display, it's going to be Amazon. And if they say it's still several years off, then there you have it. In the meantime, most people will be more willing to buy a device that doesn't just read books. So even if Amazon does come out with a color Kindle, they'll still have a long way to go to catch up with Apple's app selection.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-02-10 12:27 am (UTC)As for backlighting, I think most people have only ever seen backlit displays. The Kindle is the only e-ink device I'm aware of, and even I (living in the Silicon Valley) haven't actually seen one in person.
If anyone is going to popularize a color e-ink display, it's going to be Amazon. And if they say it's still several years off, then there you have it. In the meantime, most people will be more willing to buy a device that doesn't just read books. So even if Amazon does come out with a color Kindle, they'll still have a long way to go to catch up with Apple's app selection.