tldr:
* I installed console-only Debian on an old laptop (no desktop OS at all)
* I added some packages to make it work better for writing:
* network-manager for connecting to hotspots while I'm away
* kmscon for custom fonts and more than 16 colors in the tty
* tmux for a nice status
Oh yeah those E-inks have like a 10 second refresh timem they are meant for static art, images, signage, etc…
That is why for clocks and dashboards, I think RLCDs like the https://www.waveshare.com/esp32-s3-rlcd-4.2.htm which is an older tech, but nowadays much better reflection to be closer to e-paper, 60Hz and none of the epaper downsides, but much higher power use.
Yeah, I’ve got mine showing current temperature, forecast and our Google calendar, so it probably refreshes 40-50x per day. The bigger power draw is firing up the WiFi module to check for new information once every 5 minutes. Last battery charge ran about 2 weeks.