Hi Sarah,

I'm arguing that Entourage would be well advised to target a segment of the student market with a large partner, one that leverages the capabilities _specific_ to this device. One thing the iPad, Kindle DX, and whatever Google slate is forthcoming can't do is open like a book and display two screens. Further, neither the Kindle nor the iPad is really designed for pen input. That means the applications don't natively support and/or aren't designed with pen input in mind. However, the Edge does support these functions.

In my use of the Edge I've noticed that it's particularly well suited to foreign language training. I think Entourage would be well advised to partner with a large language training institute (such as Rosettastone, but not necessarily only that firm) to make a software package specific to the Edge that would make use of its dual screen, A/V, and pen input functions. In doing so, Entourage would have a hardware advantage in that specific sub-market that none of its larger competitors could overcome.

Another way of looking at this: Entourage needs a killer app for the Edge that can _only_ run on the Edge. They then should aggressively market that application and featureset as part of a larger tactic at gaining share in that subset of the educational market. In this case, I'm promoting language training simply because that's what I'm using the Edge for. However, I recognize that there may be other subsets where the dual screen and pen input offer an advantage over the iPad and Kindle as well.

But most importantly, what the blog author said and I agree with is that simply targeting the "educational market" is too broad. Apple, Amazon, and Google can do that because they have multi-billion dollar market caps and cash to spare. Entourage, however, is a small startup. They are a minnow swimming among sharks. Best for the minnow to seek a safe spot that the sharks have ignored until the minnow grows to become a shark itself.