Microsoft Courier and Asus tablet 'e-readers'

Khelbiros · 10-01-2009, 10:27 PM

According to this Gizmondo report, Microsoft is working on a new tablet style gadget that is an 'infinite journal' - and can read PDFs, 'Courier file' documents and Powerpoints.

Asus are also developing a tablet-style reader, that opens out like a book that may be cheaper than the Kindle at launch.

However, both gadgets appear to use LCD screens, which means shorter battery life than comparable ereaders. Do you think that these tablets will edge out the market on ereaders rather than Kindle-esque e-ink devices? I'm still hanging out for shots of Apple's rumoured tablet gadget as well.

dmaul1114 · 10-01-2009, 10:42 PM

The Courier concept video looks amazing.

I don't think those type of things will replace e-ink devices for the hard core readers on this site.

But they would be fantastic once they can do all that for a decent price for those of us with academic jobs etc. that need something with big color screens, mark up capability, and would love internet, e-mail, pda functions etc. all intergrated in a device that we can use to read and mark up academic books/articles, grade and markup student papers electronically etc.

I'm fine with LCD and shorter battery life for these devices. I seldom read more than an hour or two in any one stretch anyway. But again, they aren't for avid readers who read their e-ink devices for hours on end day in and day out. There's room for both types of devices in the market. Though I do think multi-purpose devices will hurt dedicated reader sales some as less hard core readers opt for them over dedicated readers.

wodin · 10-01-2009, 10:50 PM

I want one of those Couriers, I hope they think up a better name for it though!

Xerxes · 10-01-2009, 11:42 PM

For a device like that, it has to be ready for full day use. I don't see it.

dmaul1114 · 10-01-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxes

For a device like that, it has to be ready for full day use. I don't see it.

Once it gets to 6-8 hours I'd be fine. I'm be using in the office etc. near an outlet most of the time. Easy to plug it in after a long meeting or something when I'm back to using the PC.

fugazied · 10-02-2009, 12:12 AM

The courier concept video looks incredible, however Microsoft is somewhat adept at screwing up concepts. The courier file format would no doubt be proprietary, so I wonder how well you could share information with other platforms. From MS's track record they would lock it down so companies need to buy 10 courier devices to share data and that data can only go across to other MS devices.

I think the ASUS device would be more promising because any software would probably be linux based and very open, easily transferring data into other formats.

Also there have been more Apple tablet rumors, apparently Apple has been talking with newspapers and magazines recently eg. the new york times. They have no other reason for talking to those guys other than a forthcoming tablet afaik. Rumors still abound on sites like cnet/wired but they are talking somewhere before Jan 2010.

dmaul1114 · 10-02-2009, 12:15 AM

Yep, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what all the first batch of tablet devices from MS, Apple and others brings.

I sit it out a generation or two and let the kinks be worked out, standards reached, and prices to fall before picking up one.

Xerxes · 10-02-2009, 12:51 AM

Also instead of a fake Moleskine app, I'd rather an enhanced OneNote app.

brecklundin · 10-02-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Yep, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what all the first batch of tablet devices from MS, Apple and others brings.

I sit it out a generation or two and let the kinks be worked out, standards reached, and prices to fall before picking up one.

I am trying to do the same thing...usually when I get this way, itching to buy, I go look at my Kindle and I get better right away. Man that display bugs me no end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxes

Also instead of a fake Moleskine app, I'd rather an enhanced OneNote app.

OneNote would be wonderful...love that app.

Sonist · 10-02-2009, 07:12 AM

Hm, to me, one great thing about a tablet is, that I can hold it easier than a hard-cover.

I personally want a large screen, but not really a double screen.

pking36330 · 10-02-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerxes

Also instead of a fake Moleskine app, I'd rather an enhanced OneNote app.

One of the videos or blogs about this posted exactly that sentiment. The design sprang from the perspective of creating a hardware that supported the OneNote style of data manipulation.

If they create this with the wireless charging, I could picture having one of these lying on a charging mat as you work at your computer at home or office, and when its time to go to a meeting or go sit in the recliner, you fold it up and take it with you. An electronic portfolio, and with WiFi sync to a shared documents folder, I'd HAVE to have one. But to be powerful enough to do all the things shown in the video, what hardware spec level do you think they are running?

Sub-netbook specs
Netbook specs
Low-end laptop specs
Business laptop specs
Faster than current laptop specs

The reason I ask is price of course.

wodin · 10-02-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fugazied

From MS's track record they would lock it down so companies need to buy 10 courier devices to share data and that data can only go across to other MS devices.

Uhhh? Aren't you thinking of the wrong company? It's Apple that is notorious for locking stuff down!

Xerxes · 10-02-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Uhhh? Aren't you thinking of the wrong company? It's Apple that is notorious for locking stuff down!

Not really. The description he gave sounds like MS applications. Sharepoint style.

dmaul1114 · 10-02-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonist

Hm, to me, one great thing about a tablet is, that I can hold it easier than a hard-cover.

I personally want a large screen, but not really a double screen.

Yeah, I kind of think I'd prefer one letter sized or so screen as well.

Easier two hold, and seeing one large page at a time is fine--or you could hold it side ways had have two pages displayed that way.

I think a two screen device would be more awkward to hold and read, write notes in a meeting etc.

brecklundin · 10-03-2009, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Yeah, I kind of think I'd prefer one letter sized or so screen as well.

Easier two hold, and seeing one large page at a time is fine--or you could hold it side ways had have two pages displayed that way.

I think a two screen device would be more awkward to hold and read, write notes in a meeting etc.

well, then why not two independent devices that can be paired together and then function as the Courier concept demo shows...then you can have what you want and the rest of us can have what we want and nobody gets to tell anyone what they need...

This is not a technically difficult idea to implement...

10-01-2009, 10:27 PM	#1
Khelbiros Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 62 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Hanlin v5, Stanza	Microsoft Courier and Asus tablet 'e-readers' According to this Gizmondo report, Microsoft is working on a new tablet style gadget that is an 'infinite journal' - and can read PDFs, 'Courier file' documents and Powerpoints. Asus are also developing a tablet-style reader, that opens out like a book that may be cheaper than the Kindle at launch. However, both gadgets appear to use LCD screens, which means shorter battery life than comparable ereaders. Do you think that these tablets will edge out the market on ereaders rather than Kindle-esque e-ink devices? I'm still hanging out for shots of Apple's rumoured tablet gadget as well.

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10-01-2009, 10:42 PM	#2
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	The Courier concept video looks amazing. I don't think those type of things will replace e-ink devices for the hard core readers on this site. But they would be fantastic once they can do all that for a decent price for those of us with academic jobs etc. that need something with big color screens, mark up capability, and would love internet, e-mail, pda functions etc. all intergrated in a device that we can use to read and mark up academic books/articles, grade and markup student papers electronically etc. I'm fine with LCD and shorter battery life for these devices. I seldom read more than an hour or two in any one stretch anyway. But again, they aren't for avid readers who read their e-ink devices for hours on end day in and day out. There's room for both types of devices in the market. Though I do think multi-purpose devices will hurt dedicated reader sales some as less hard core readers opt for them over dedicated readers.

10-01-2009, 10:50 PM	#3
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	I want one of those Couriers, I hope they think up a better name for it though!

10-01-2009, 11:42 PM	#4
Xerxes Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 90 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, TX Device: Astak EZReader, Pocket Pro	For a device like that, it has to be ready for full day use. I don't see it.

10-02-2009, 12:12 AM	#6
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	The courier concept video looks incredible, however Microsoft is somewhat adept at screwing up concepts. The courier file format would no doubt be proprietary, so I wonder how well you could share information with other platforms. From MS's track record they would lock it down so companies need to buy 10 courier devices to share data and that data can only go across to other MS devices. I think the ASUS device would be more promising because any software would probably be linux based and very open, easily transferring data into other formats. Also there have been more Apple tablet rumors, apparently Apple has been talking with newspapers and magazines recently eg. the new york times. They have no other reason for talking to those guys other than a forthcoming tablet afaik. Rumors still abound on sites like cnet/wired but they are talking somewhere before Jan 2010.

10-02-2009, 12:15 AM	#7
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Yep, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what all the first batch of tablet devices from MS, Apple and others brings. I sit it out a generation or two and let the kinks be worked out, standards reached, and prices to fall before picking up one.

10-02-2009, 12:51 AM	#8
Xerxes Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 90 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Houston, TX Device: Astak EZReader, Pocket Pro	Also instead of a fake Moleskine app, I'd rather an enhanced OneNote app.

10-02-2009, 07:12 AM	#10
Sonist Apeist Posts: 2,126 Karma: 381090 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The sunny part of California Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device	Hm, to me, one great thing about a tablet is, that I can hold it easier than a hard-cover. I personally want a large screen, but not really a double screen.

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