Quote:
Originally Posted by aegeus
I would say it very easily 
My opinion is that although capable of handling many formats and having many features compared to it's rivals; our device does not even have a full keyboard! Just think how hard we will be using the dictionary function after it has been added to our device.
Don't get me wrong; I love my device and use it a lot; but it doesn't make me forget it's lacking parts. I am pretty sure next time this year we will be talking about color screens, touch screens, full keyboards, connection types of the device (wi-fi, gsm etc.) integration with bookstores etc. I believe that this development speed in e-book readers is very rapid, compared to similar products (like for example mp3 players)
I believe that our devices are first and good premature examples of e-book readers. If we can not get more firmware updates and new features till next year; our device will look like a gray screen calculator compared to upcoming new products. I just don't want to have an outdated reader next year, which is a short period I think for this product.
There's still a lot to add to our device which can easily be seen from the suggestions and I know that I shouldn't be eager to get a new firmware each month; however I just don't want to stay with an "damped" device.
Regards. |
Dear Aegeus:
I agree with you that the industry is growing and new things will come. However, from my eye on the industry, what will come will cost a lot of bucks.
First off, Touchscreen can raise the price by $80-$90. AND... many touchscreens (witness the new Sony PRS-900BC at $549) are NOT at all clear (you lose about 35% in resolution clarity. New crystal clear touchscreens are coming... but not quite yet.
Color E-Ink screens are still Q2 or Q3 of this year and so far the color I have seen is nothing to rave about. Plus, eBooks are in black and white for almost all of them.
Wi-Fi is great and Astak will soon have this... but it can add $20.
3G can be a nightmare. The module alone costs about $85 and that is without the plan.
NONE of these are Firmware Upgrades. They mean buying a new device IF you want to get that.
I do not think of the Pocket PRO as at all "basic". Lacking 3g and color screens and touchscreen can be just fine. At $199, the Pocket PRO is a bargain. Like I illustrated with the Sony PRS-900BC... it costs $549. Are you dying to pay that for a device that has a sealed-in battery?
I guess it is a matter of semantics: but I never look at the Pocket PRO as a "basic" in any way. Will the Pocket PRO go away in popularity because of new devices. I strongly doubt it. The vast majority of people want an eBook Reader for less than $230... and they hope that will drop. I think you will see the Pocket PRO as exceedingly ideal for eBook Reading for a number of years!