Quote:
Originally Posted by pkovak
Con someone comment if Kindle is available in Europe? Does whispernet work there? What countries? I can easily imagine why whispernet is such a great success in USA, but it really, really depends on network working anywhere you are.
Modular design for eReader is very good idea. It would allow people to choose what they want / need - for example, you want touchscreen, but you don't need wifi and 3G, so these modules won't be included in your purchase. Someone else want wifi, not 3G, and there will be some who want 3G and not wifi.
I fear that in many Europe countries, 3G is far from ideal solution.
In fact there isn't any ideal solution, because there is no free worldwide "datanet" yet (I hope you all read your daily portion of Peter F. Hamilton  ), so we have to survive with what we have now. |
Dear pkovak:
Modular design works with external add-ons. You can, for example, bring out an eBook Reader and have a Wi-Fi dongle or Wi-Fi SD card as an option.
But, Touchscreen is not something that is as easy as just laying on the plastic overlay. I know from my days of selling POS terminals that there was talk of an IR Touchscreen that could be placed on a device later. BUT... the internal mechanics and GUI are the problem. You COULD possibly program all devices to take Touchscreen and then not put it on some... but the majority of the cost of Touchscreen is borne inside the machine and any savings (if any) would be eaten up by engineering costs.
Plus, modular would involve a potential nightmare for keeping things straight. You would have to have packaging with check boxes on them to tell what that particular package has. Marketing would also be a bit more difficult.
Also, if you give people the choice of going Wi-Fi or 3G, the wireless providers kick up a fuss. Prices for SIM cards require a cost PLAN and AT&T know they may not see the numbers they need so they jack up the cost of the plan. And what about retailers? COSTCO or Wal-Mart does not want choices... they want SALES. Bring them in... watch them fly out the door.
Now, this is only from the point of an eBook Reader manufacturer and not from the consumer... but we need both views I think.
Robert B