I think this is the most pertinent point - e-readers are toasters. They are specific to one task only, and yes, I'm sure a lot of them do it well. But would you really spend hundreds of dollars to avoid carrying round a newspaper, for goodness sake? It's got to be heavier than or as heavy as a newspaper, doesn't fold up and it matters if it gets damaged. Yes, you can have multiple newspapers on it, but honestly, $500 - $700 for a newspaper replacement????
A kindle-type thing - one designed to replace normal books is perhaps more relevant - carrying a lot of books can be heavy and bulky, but again - it's very specific. Isn't there more utility in an approximately similarly sized device that allows you to read books, read newspapers, listen to music, surf the web, send and receive emails, watch movies, play games, catch up with 'social media' and produce documents???
Granted not everyone wants or needs all of that, and for those that just want to reduce the weight in their luggage for when they want to go on holiday the Sony eReader or Kindle are just great.
Me, I'm an 'everything in one package' kind of guy - and a techno-geek, lol - so I'm all up for an Apple uber-mega-slate-tastic device. Plus, you absolutely KNOW it's going to be very very cool.
Battery life is major differentiator. I don't want to carry another device that has less than 8 hour battery life when used. I am ok with Phone+MacBook combo, where both can serve as reader. Don't need another tablet to "sit in the middle". But if the battery life is substantially better, I might consider it, even if it is mostly "read only" device. Some of these eReaders offer really great display, fantastic battery life and even limited interactivity.
Actually, the Skiff product looks like a credible replacement for Kindle. If Amazon opens up for all e-book readers, it could be a winner. I don't anticipate it will compete with Apple's future plans, but it would be great for subscribers to newspapers (as a free incentive from the publisher for their customers to give up their print edition).
All these wannabees should just cut their loses and move on. Mark my words: the final showdown will be between Apple's iSlate and Microsoft's Courier which is shown in the video below:
Normally, as an avid Apple fan, I would go Apple all the way, but the Courier has really peaked my interest.
The problem is that the Courier is just a concept. You never see actual products that are even remotely similar to those concepts. All those cool concept cars we've been seeing for years, but you've never been able to buy them. I once saw a concept video of Windows Vista, before any code had been produced. It was very cool, and of course completely different than the eventually shipping Vista. There will not be a shipping Courier GUI that even looks remotely like that concept video. After all, Ballmer has never even seen this video, you can bet Microsoft is not actively working on this product, let alone making it their next big thing, or the CEO would know.
p.s.: I mean, look at the Apple Knowledge Navigator concept video from the 80's. Apart from the fact that it's still not here 20 years later, I doubt the forthcoming Apple tablet's GUI will be remotely similar.
Comments
I think this is the most pertinent point - e-readers are toasters. They are specific to one task only, and yes, I'm sure a lot of them do it well. But would you really spend hundreds of dollars to avoid carrying round a newspaper, for goodness sake? It's got to be heavier than or as heavy as a newspaper, doesn't fold up and it matters if it gets damaged. Yes, you can have multiple newspapers on it, but honestly, $500 - $700 for a newspaper replacement????
A kindle-type thing - one designed to replace normal books is perhaps more relevant - carrying a lot of books can be heavy and bulky, but again - it's very specific. Isn't there more utility in an approximately similarly sized device that allows you to read books, read newspapers, listen to music, surf the web, send and receive emails, watch movies, play games, catch up with 'social media' and produce documents???
Granted not everyone wants or needs all of that, and for those that just want to reduce the weight in their luggage for when they want to go on holiday the Sony eReader or Kindle are just great.
Me, I'm an 'everything in one package' kind of guy - and a techno-geek, lol - so I'm all up for an Apple uber-mega-slate-tastic device. Plus, you absolutely KNOW it's going to be very very cool.
Battery life is major differentiator. I don't want to carry another device that has less than 8 hour battery life when used. I am ok with Phone+MacBook combo, where both can serve as reader. Don't need another tablet to "sit in the middle". But if the battery life is substantially better, I might consider it, even if it is mostly "read only" device. Some of these eReaders offer really great display, fantastic battery life and even limited interactivity.
All these wannabees should just cut their loses and move on. Mark my words: the final showdown will be between Apple's iSlate and Microsoft's Courier which is shown in the video below:
http://www.alltabletnews.com/2009/12...-nice-concept/
Normally, as an avid Apple fan, I would go Apple all the way, but the Courier has really peaked my interest.
The problem is that the Courier is just a concept. You never see actual products that are even remotely similar to those concepts. All those cool concept cars we've been seeing for years, but you've never been able to buy them. I once saw a concept video of Windows Vista, before any code had been produced. It was very cool, and of course completely different than the eventually shipping Vista. There will not be a shipping Courier GUI that even looks remotely like that concept video. After all, Ballmer has never even seen this video, you can bet Microsoft is not actively working on this product, let alone making it their next big thing, or the CEO would know.
p.s.: I mean, look at the Apple Knowledge Navigator concept video from the 80's. Apart from the fact that it's still not here 20 years later, I doubt the forthcoming Apple tablet's GUI will be remotely similar.