Hacker News Reader

Comment by konschubert | Hacker News Reader

The competition is still pretty expensive. The e-paper display I am using in my digital calendar is not from eink (as far as I’m aware), but still costs about 50 Euro if you buy a single one: https://www.waveshare.com/7.5inch-e-paper-hat.htm

It’s the main cost driver of my calendar, it basically forces the price point: https://shop.invisible-computers.com/products/invisible-cale...

View on HN

I was about to buy one of these until I saw it relies on a backend service that you provide.

Any thoughts/plans on allowing a customer to self-host the backend? Or would you publish specs so someone could build their own?

I love the idea of this, and we would love to have one of these in our house, I've just been burned too many times with fully functional physical products bricking because the company behind it goes away.

I know you say you plan to support it for a long time, but everyone says that. :-(

It’s on the roadmap, but to be frank, other items are before it. It’s complicated and while I had a few people ask for it, I don’t think it’s something that most people need.

I know everyone says they’ll support their hardware for a long time and then they don’t. And of course I cannot give a guarantee.

But I have no masters to report to. No VCs and no Directors or CFOs.

So if I want to keep the backend running, I can just keep paying 20 Euro a month to Hetzner and keep the server updated.

For what it's worth, I've been following your project here and on Instagram for a year or two, keeping an eye out for the day there is local API support. I haven't bothered to even request it until now, since I see at least one person request it in what feels like every thread. Inkplate seems to be the only thing close to competition right now.

It's a nice sentiment, doesn't solve the bus factor though. I'd also be keen once there is an open source backend. I might still pay for you to host it, but I want the option to not turn it to ewaste if you don't look before crossing the road.

Totally fair answer! Thank you...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com