Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertb
Dear Axel:
[...]
Yes, I agree that there are more pressing issues than "thinner and lighter" but at least I am open to hearing them. I did invite the readers to come to CES and chat. I cannot solve all of the problems with eBook Readers in one effort. I can just try to keep the price down and generate the best one yet. Will there be a Version 2? Yes, I think so. This is because technology keeps moving forward and eBook Readers are a compilation of the parts... panels, controllers, embedded flash, e-paper, micro-electronics, and copyrights. By the time you get one device to market, advancements have come out that you wish you had.
I do appreciate your comments!!
|
Hey, I can only reflect from my Iliad... Its thin and leight enough than I could hope for, especially compared to any notebook. Sure thinner and leighter is nice, but really not a hot shot IMHO. Here are some things not necessarily in order:
Think the obvious answer we all know is screen size. Current reader maybe fine aleady for books, but many people want to read A4 Pdf files, and this is a pain. Yes I know there are technical limitations and we will need to still wait a while for the 9" series.
Physical stability, also no big secret, and also a problem all devices have, because at the end they currently all cook with the same water. The flexible screens might be a hugh benefit. Also I think its time for ereaders to discover what notebooks and other devices learned already before years. This is folding, a folded device usually can take much more impact than an unfolded or notfoldable. Look at the XO2, other than this device never might get reality the design is very, very smart.
Also the missing speed is an issue, but its also in the technology, I know. But currently I still happen to print out papers when working with them, because skimming through papers is a pain. On the iLIad its not only the 1 second for the screen people blame it for, its often still quite a bit slower due to processor stuff, sometime taking 5 seconds to flip a scanned page. (I know rendering the image of the scanned page is not a CPU friendly task, but its still a thumbs down on using ereaders)
Aside from screen tech, I think the biggest frontiers right now is the software side. Yes we got a pdf reader, and we got a adobe reader... and we got a notetaker, but there isn't any good software than combines all these. That allows one to make notes to pdf files (that is to attach a note to a point in the file, not scribbling ontop of the page like the current iLiad does). That allows to link pages for pdf files with other pages of other files, that allows to view to things side by side. Much like you work with traditional paper, if you work with that paper, other than reading for pleasure. Easily buying stuff online is another one of this content things. This is the secret of Amazon, its so quick and easy to buy stuff, people like to do that. Even in the paper world, I'm quite a good costumer to amazon, because getting a book you want is click-click-click-done, and a few days later the postman comes it within his hands... Newspapers is the same, its always what people market eReaders for, but in reality its quite difficult to get your newspaper on your reader.
Another big issue on the iLiad is the writting gap, that is the gap where you really put your pen upon and where the device thinks your pen is. Its an underlying problem with WACOM technology... however a gap less scribbling would be a real advantage. BTW, scribbling I consider a very important thing, and the iLiad is currently the one and only device that supports this at all.
Another issue that strikes me more, than I actually read people complaining about. is reflectivity of the screen. The screen is quite different reflective than paper, meaning if you have a light source directly over it, it will reflect in it like in a window, making reading impossible until you have to hold it differently. This a problem paper doesn't have. The sun never will reflect itself in paper, if it isn't one of this high gloss magazines. I don't know how this could be fought, if putting an anti-reflective film onto the screen will help. I read somewhere someone did it with the iLiad putting on of the films you can buy for other things onto its screen. But never heared how well it really worked out.
Another issue I'm sure that will split people into groups is operating system. I know some people like to use windows also on their embedded devices, because thats the OS they also grew up with, which the computer had when they were kids, and which the only thing is they really feel comfortable with. But on the embedded market (and I speak as ex-embedded developer) this as limits in how much it really makes sense. And funny enough some markets quite differ if you go from product type to product type. Try nowadays to get an oscilloscope which is not a PC with f*** windows on it. Especially e.g. the HP one, we managed to bluescreen it within the first 10 minutes trying
Also I had already to watch cash-machines rebooting with a windows splash screen after I inserted my card... which of course it never gave back. I thanked got the eReader market was one of this product types where obviously smarter techs were at the work. I don't know what made you guys think, lets use CE, because it is better... hmmm... but I understand that this is nothing you can change anymore gone that far already. I'm sure there are quite a number of costumers that won't mind.