Quote:
Originally Posted by rwizard
The only ways that dedicated readers could go away in the next 3 to 5 years, based on the technology we know about,are:
1. Pixel Qi is successful and adopted on a wide range of tablets.
2 E-ink gets color and capable of sufficient frames per second to make full motion video viewable.
3. Tablet devices that cost about the same as the dedicated device.
In addition to one of the above, the devices in question would have to run a minimum of 10 to 12 hours of use on a charge and be a good form factor for a portable reading device (5 to 8 inch screen depending on who you talk to).
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All this talk of e-readers vs tablets is almost certainly going to be moot within a few years. As you've pointed out, the technology will advance to a point where a tablet can have the features that they currently lack (paperlike screen, colour, video, etc.) that will make them better readers than the current e-ink devices.
All a tablet needs (for me at least) to replace my Kindle is a screen I can read comfortably (and that uses very little battery power). I'd love the reading functionality of the iPad in a reader with an e-ink screen.
For me it's not a matter of having a dedicated device vs an all-in-one device. I just want to do what I do in the best way possible, and for reading that is currently e-ink on my Kindle. I find that dedicated devices generally avoid compromise (until you get to the netbook/laptop size where the more the merrier applies in terms of functionality), but if a tablet arrives that can replicate the Kindle experience as well as tablet features I'd buy it.