Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertb
I am listening and do remember all the comments... but doesn't this work fairly good for those who like thickness and for those who prize thin too? I do not know, so I am asking. ... but CES showed THIN is what the buying public wants.
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The question is very complicated.
People DO want the thinnest possible device. They want to hold it in the shop and say "WOW (**) ... it's so thin, so light"
People, however, also want a reading device they can take everywhere without worrying about how fragile the thing is. I have seen countless articles and discussions ranting about how you can take the book and read it in the bathtub, or on a beach, how you can just toss the book in your backpack. (Seriously. How many hours in your life you spent reading a [dead tree] book in the bathtub or in sauna?)
What you need to quantify is how many people are impulse buyers and fanboys and how many will carefully evaluate the value of your device before buying. What market do you want to cater to?
What would happen when within 3 days after launch there will be 5 reports on popular review sites (like Mobileread.com) saying how the device got broken when the person handling it sneezed, or a cat spepped lightly on the screen?
I personally would prefer an ultra rugged version. No! I do NOT have an ... aehm ... "Crush Resistant Leather Cover" (TM) in mind. I think about something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ktuitTAFdw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNxjQ12kYXA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CrpUU3cCPE
I know I am minority.
I also know that no affordable e-ink reader will ever be like one of those:
http://ruffpc.com/products.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_4lS7Yu4Xo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaP8p...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkRQvFvw9TQ
but one can dream ...
(**) Now, that I think about it, I am not sure I would like to make a
"WOW! ad campain" for *my* product ;-)