Pixel Qi introduces tablet-ready screens, we go hands-on (video)
By Joanna Stern 
posted June 2nd 2010 4:50AM
posted June 2nd 2010 4:50AM
Much to our delight, we were able to handle a number of different tablets and netbooks infused with the new screens earlier today. The one pictured above is actually an Intel Atom Moorestown-powered 10-inch slate with a capacitive touch 3Qi screen; there's a button on the right edge that turns the backlight on and off. Another on display had a Wacom digitizer for taking notes in Windows 7 Home Premium. In the short time we spent with the tablets and mock-ups, we discovered pen and finger input to be very responsive in both LCD modes. We were similarly impressed with the wideview screen on the netbooks -- a movie trailer was viewable when the screen was tilted off axis as well as from the sides. So, that's the good news, but where the heck are the real devices? You know, the ones we can buy? We wanted to know the same thing, and CEO Mary Lou Jepsen assured us that they are currently working with major manufacturers. We hope so, Mary Lou. We hope so. Hit the gallery for tons of shots (the screen is a photographer's dream!) and a video demo after the break.
Awesome technology! I can't wait to see it on a store shelf.
@Michael Scrip gray scale is back!
@Michael Scrip Cool! Now we just need some decent hardware and we are set.
@Michael Scrip
This technology will be good if, and only if, the compromise for being able to see the screen effectively outdoors doesn't reduce the quality of the screen indoors.
What I mean is, given that the majority of usage will take place indoors, I hope the colours / contrast / depth is comparable to competitor products using LCD / OLED. If it isn't, these will fail to become mainstream and will only serve the niche market.
I see these being excellent screens to use in e-readers though as I'd personally much rather have the faster screen updating and colour screen with a slight trade off in battery. You're still gonna get fanastic battery life outdoors so Qi could spell the end of E-Ink? Perhaps?
@Michael Scrip I'll put my money where Pixel Qi is
@Michael Scrip
I cannot believe this...NO GLARE!!!! HUZZAH!!!!
@Michael Scrip
WANT
@GmanC It depends on what you buy the screen for. Many will buy the screen to read on and use the monochrome mode ie.. reading mode a lot I suspect. I know I'd love to have this on my iPad. I'd love to be able to switch back and forth and I'd rarely use the device outside.
Hello Steve Jobs.....this needs to be part of the next iPad OK???
@GmanC
Have you seen how bad modern laptop screens are? What I mean to say is, a) the bar isn't set very high for Pixel Qi and b) even if Pixel Qi's contrast and gamut are not that great, it'll probably sell just fine. As for me, I don't expect any kind of decent color rendition on a laptop (except maybe the very few with RGB-LED backlights) and if Pixel Qi is a little worse than the average, but gives me the option to turn off the backlight? Great! And when I get home, I'll just plug into my nice wide-gamut monitor.
20hr battery life here we come :)
@buoy just won't look so great that unicorn on the rainbow...
Lookin good! But no deal with lack of price...
That's some seriously nice looking hardware.
OK, put it on the Notion Ink's ADAM, please!
@NewBie It has it already.
Do want.
Looks like they have capacitive and resistive covered. I'd love to see them extend their "replace your screen" program to tablets and slates as well as netbooks/notebooks.
@mlayer
did they mention resistive? i notice wacom's active digitizer mentioned, but nothing about resistive.
I also want to add, I hope they allow "variable" backlighting that can adjust itself, like we do with brightness on conventional LCDs.
@buoy
its basically the same thing, just that you are able to turn the backlight off entirely, so yes, you will have the ability to dim the backlight
really cool, but if they're not able to produce this fast and in masses for a good and reasonable price => niche
@shizzledmg
they are able to, it's produced in the same way standard lcds are. so i guess launch sales will determine their fate.
@shizzledmg - there was a pretty good article about PixelQi in Wired magazine a while back, covering how the got going and what their goals were... At that time, months ago, they were already in full high volume production of some standard screens that were to be used in a few products, so I really don't think manufacturing is going to be an issue...
Any real product announcements yet?
@user47alpha
the notion ink adam is announced and uses this technology.
The Notion Ink Adam doesn't actually exist yet. hasn't even been priced. I would actually put money on the Adam being the next crunchpad at this point.
This screen with an active digitizer in the iPad would be my dream. But just a dream.
@HectorUmbra
Well since they ( PixelQi ) currently offer retrofit kits for laptops, maybe your dream could come true in the future if you're up for pulling your iPad apart and swapping out screens?
@HectorUmbra
I second that. To really work a tablet needs to replace something. That's what made the iPhone so successful. It replaced many things. No more need to carry calculators, dictionaries, guitar tuners, portable gaming consoles, mp3 players, ...
With the iPad, it just adds something, with no real convergence (with the possible exception of e-readers, though I think they mainly fall into the same category as the iPad - really cool things we play with for a week or two and then tend to notice it just sits on the shelf a lot.
BUT - give me this screen with an active digitizer and capacitive touch (yes, a little thicker, but we're talking an extra mm), then we're set. Why? Because it gives us that funky cool world of smooth touch, and it would let us replace all those notepads we carry around for jotting notes, diagramming, sketching, etc.
After all, that's why 98.9% of comments about the Courrier were something along the lines of "HOLY SHIPS I NEED IT!" May he rest in peace.
@HectorUmbra
I concur, with the stipulation that the color screen be as nice as the one already on the iPad.
It's a compromise on both world.
At F-ing last!
The additional year really did pay off.
so much hype, so few products. That's for tablets in general, and pixelqi in particular
Beside the screen technology, which is awesome:
Anti-reflection glass? Want!
Wooden box? Makes aluminum magic look dull.
Cylindrical shape? A solid classic, unlike the shape of an almost used up bar of soap.
These people do have taste.
@earthling2
Someone needs to make a tablet casing with carbon fiber. Durable and strong as hell, and light as hell.
@Luffy yeah and carbon fiber also has a shitload of downside like... oh wait... why the hell has nobody done that?
Seriously, can somebody explain? Bad heat dissipation maybe?
@bnutzinger
It's expensive?
Seems perfect for something like the courier... :'( *sob*
A little waxer waits.
They posted a screen comparison outdoors between the iPad and a notebook with PixelQi technology a couple days ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NotK4TVQ-6E&feature=player_embedded#
@gerrrg
Where's the comparison of them indoors?
Just to add some balance, y'know...
@gerrrg The Pixel Qi wins with a "no contest" verdict, outdoors...
But indoors, for the life of me I can't find a comparison with AMOLED, or IPS.... I think outdoor visibility is tremendously important, but if IPS/AMOLED win indoor with a landslide as well, well then I'll stop cheering for Pixel Qi...
I love PixelQi
Anyone who is interested in a tablet that uses PixelQi, I recommend you check out the Notion INK.
I love Pixel Qi and I love Notion Ink, take your time guys and get it right. The window for tablets is three years wide so don't rush it.
@engadget
Could you guys rotate one of those screen to portrait mode and make sure there's no "TN" gradient effects on the screen? thanks!
if they pair a decent 12' slate device with an optional keyboard dock with ion2 optimus, this screen, wacom digitizer and a touch layer with an HDMI out, and a decent processor for about $550-$700 then I am all in.
YOU HEAR ME ASUS?? MSI?
@buzz86us also if it isn't too much to ask 10+ hour battery would be NICE!
That tablet with the Wacom digitizer looks amazing, I can't wait for these things to start coming out.
I think a simple Android 7" slate device with pixel Qi can single-handedly defeat all the ebook readers AND cost the same!