Quote:
Originally Posted by emellaich
Price: Although no longer a deal, the new Astak price seems inline with other companies. However, the real issue here is the rise of the netbook. Its hard to compare the price/features of an ebook when you can get a laptop with an eight to ten inch screen for $300 to $500. The ipod touch at $229 is at a nice price point also. It may not be possible to put the ebooks together much cheaper, but they are getting a lot of price pressure from similar products.
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At present eInk screens are fairly pricey. Supposedly plastic screens will actually be cheaper to produce once ramped up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emellaich
Speed: Eink and the software to date is pathetic. It takes forever to page through my 450 book library. I need folders, and faster page changes. Its also a pain trying to find a page in a book. Since my Cybook busted, I bought a used palm tungsten. The LCD screen is so much more interactive resulting in a much snappier response. I can quickly page through my library, and I can use the touch screen and the progress bar to quickly skip back and forward.
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After watching a video the new controller in action (
which I posted here a couple days ago), I have high hopes that next generation devices will have much more responsive interfaces. It's not entirely clear if page turns will be any faster, but menus at least should be.