Is the iPad killing the e-paper based e-Reader? It might be the case. Many companies are abandoning their projects to bring e-Paper based eReaders to the market, at least high-end ones.

A couple weeks ago, Plastic Logic cancelled the launch of its pricy – but much anticipated - Que eReader. More recently, Samsung announced that it ditched its e-Paper tech efforts, although retaining e-publishing plans. Introduced at CES 2009, the Papyrus, later renamed “E6″, that prototype was going to be a significant challenger for the Kindle.

First, over the last few months, ePaper-based eReaders have been marginalized by the iPad, pushing them to niche markets. Secondly, many low-end, sub-$200 ePaper devices have appeared, making pricy – and very dedicated  - devices more marginal.  As a consequence, even Amazon is rumored to be investigating alternative technologies to its very popular Kindle, although under under the $200 price bar… But current prototypes don’t look very sexy.