(Not the real thing)
Asus spoke to the Sunday Times, and said that their contribution to the e-book reader dogpile will be full-color, touchable, and equipped with speakers, a mic, and a webcam. Okay, sounds ridiculous already, but according to the Sunday Times (though they credit no one), Asus is said to be aiming at a price point of around £100. That’s less than $200, people.
Think it’s impossible? So do I. But until last year I didn’t think people would buy $300 laptops. At any rate, Asus will be showing this thing at CES, so maybe we’ll get world’s-first-hands-on with it like I did with the Eee keyboard.
[via Wired]
Impossible? No. Pointless? Yes.
The ebook reader, as so very well executed by Sony and Amazon, needs not two screens, webcam, IM client and 3D graphics chip. All that just detracts from the purpose of an ebook reader, which has but one task; to read books. Everything else is gilding the lily, and any company that doesn’t understand that will never be successful in that market, though they may very well create the most complex, pointless netbook ever created in the process.
Actually…..I always thought e-book readers were just a stepping stone to more condensed and versitile “Portable Office and Library” type technology.
And that the kindle looked like something my aunt would be using about 10 years ago. Something although sharp and functional, is ultimately outdated the moment you take it out of the box. (And no, the siren song of e-ink doesn’t sway me.)
And the fact it is going to be feature laden AND cheaper than a dedicated reader means I’d easily be more inclined to purchase it.
As they sometimes sorta say… “I’d buy that for a dollar!” (or 200).
The Sony readers always put me off due to their price. Same (but lessened somewhat) thing for the Kindle. This will be interesting…
FU Kindle with your B&W, poorly designed (aesthetically), over priced BS. I want this.
Waiting for a color ebook reader for comics and magazine subscriptions
This is the idea that would make it a perfect product, to be able to carry all my reading at once. Color would be essential for my Astronomy magazine, for example. But the real problem is: how is the magazine going to get to the reader?
Seems like they are not using e-ink… So what’s the main advantage comparing with a smart-/netbook? Altough it has a dual screen and other smart-/netbook functions… I rather have an ebook reader with e-ink…
they could be using color e-ink. it’s out there, just more expensive than this. maybe they got a bargain somewhere.
In the meantime ASUS get good market for his product and I think book reader also get success in the market.
Just a thought. Why not the reader on one side and a browser (Wi-Fi, 3G ) connectivity on the other side ? For example, reading Grapes of Wrath (for school obviously) and being able to research online the symbolism, notes, analysis, whatever on the other page. May seem lame for the layman but the education sector would benefit tremendously. Another thought would be an electronic notepad on page 2 to scribble your notes as you read for research for that final report ?!!!
hella good ideas. call em up.
Displays black/white only! So it dies for me. Too bad, ASUS!
A webcam? Why? This seems pretty useless, it also looks heavy like a laptop which isn’t why people switched to ebooks in the first place, I’ll stick with my kindle 2 that I got here: http://www.computersncs.com/rd_p?p=191614&t=9544&a=27619-skindle&gift=27619
I’m Spannish and i’ve read the notice! I think is a great kick-in-the-ass to other companies that are making their own business with those gadgets. What if it were true?
Could it be a danger for the editors? How could the books’ world change?
On the other side, i just think it’ a good way to get the culture to the masses. Double touchable screen? Full coloured? Are they serious?
Excuse me, plz! I forgot a question: what ’bout the batteries?Are they rechargable?2.5v. ? :-P :-D
wish it were true! Hoping to get one inmediately!