E-readers make terrible second monitors, and that’s exactly why I use one for work
Working at a computer all day can be more tiresome than you’d think. The light from the screen wears you down, and it can sometimes be hard to focus when you have access to the whole internet at your fingertips. Sometimes, less is more, and that’s why I love ePaper (or E Ink) displays. I’ve been using ePaper tablets such as the ReMarkable or the Boox Go to write down ideas for some time now, because writing on them helps me stay focused on that task. But when you have an e-reader that also runs Android like the Boox Go, you can go even further and use it as a second screen for your PC to help you focus on all kinds of work.
When worse is better
ePaper helps you focus
Using an e-reader as a second screen may seem like a terrible idea, but it’s actually great if your goal is to focus. ePaper displays are known for two things: readability without a backlight, and a very low refresh rate, and both of these can actually be a benefit. A screen that’s easily readable without needing a backlight is a huge deal because, as I’ve already mentioned, the backlight on your regular screen is bad for you. It can make it harder for you to sleep at night, wear down your vision more quickly, and simply make you feel tired after a full day of work. ePaper’s lack of backlight gives it the appearance of paper, which is far easier on the eyes over long periods and helps you have a healthier digital life. But even the low refresh and lack of color rate is a major positive for this kind of screen. The smooth refresh rates of typical displays are what make them so appealing for everything. You can watch videos, scroll social media, read news, and so on. But when you’re working, that becomes a trap, because it’s so easy to quickly switch to those distractions and not realize how much time they’re taking away from your day.
The slow refresh rate of an e-reader screen makes the process of switching between windows and apps feel far more tedious, so you’re less likely to even try to do it. When you’re working, you’re that much more inclined to stay focused on that work, because shifting your attention to something else would feel like an even bigger waste of time. Distractions are often the result of your brain seeking constant activity, so slowing things down makes them less viable in that way.
Related
5 ways an E Ink tablet may be better for you than an iPad
You need to use the right tool for the job
Using a tablet as a monitor
It’s not as easy as it should be
The frustrating aspect of using an e-reader as a second screen for my PC is that it’s not nearly as easy as I’d like it to be. It’s certainly doable, but it requires a bit of research, since most tablets aren’t really made with this use case in mind. Some brands, like Samsung and Apple, have made second screen functionality a core capability of their tablets, but those brands don’t make any ePaper displays. Thankfully, I did find a solution in an app called SpaceDesk. It’s available for Windows PCs and Android tablets like the Boox Go 10.3, and it allows me to use the tablet as a second screen for my laptop, either via a wireless connection or through USB-C. It works about as well as you’d expect it to. You do need to prevent the tablet from going to sleep, since the app doesn’t keep it awake, but for writing articles such as this one, it’s incredibly helpful. There’s an extra bit of lag from using the wireless connection, which can actually make it a bit difficult to use the mouse, but you can see that as an even bigger benefit if you don’t want distractions. It makes it that much harder to switch to a different app or interact with anything other than writing. Of course, if that’s too much, the USB connection is more reliable so you have a more usable experience.
Related
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It’s a big investment, but it might be worth it
I wish E Ink monitors were more common
A dedicated display would be perfect
While this solution is great, it also leaves me wanting something even more tailor-made for this purpose. An e-reader like the Boox Go has a relatively small display overall, so it makes it less than ideal for writing and I find myself hunching over a lot to read things clearly.
What I’d love to see is more dedicated E Ink or ePaper displays for PCs. They do exist, but as far as I could find them available for sale, there’s only one brand called Bigme selling them on Amazon, and Boox seems to have its own offering in the Mira lineup, but they’re listed as unavailable on the company’s website. Even then, these products are listed at over $1,500 for relatively small sizes, which makes them a hard sell. I just wish there were more options, and cheaper ones at that. I remember a few years ago Philips also launched a monitor that included a built-in E Ink side panel, and that idea was intriguing. Unfortunately, it’s only a business product, so there’s no easy to way to get one for myself. Considering this is a market where it’s somewhat hard to innovate, I’m surprised E Ink displays aren’t more prominent, even just as portable monitors that might be cheaper to produce.
Related
I started using an E Ink display as my second monitor
It may not be a “true” second monitor, but it looks great on my desk and helps keep me on track better than an actual second monitor would.
ePaper displays deserve more attention
As it stands, if I want to work in a way that helps me focus more, I need to keep using my e-reader as a second monitor. While it’s a great solution to have, I’ll keep wishing for more options to be available with the specific purpose of being a PC monitor. But if you have an e-reader that runs Android, I definitely recommend giving Spacedesk a go and seeing how it changes your workflow.
8/10
Resolution
2480×1860
Storage
64GB
Screen Size
10.3 inches
Processor
Octa-core processor
The Boox is a note-taking tablet and e-reader running a full version of Android, meaning it can be used as a second screen.
Diterbitkan : 2026-06-07 15:00:00
sumber : www.xda-developers.com
