Quote:
Originally Posted by CleverClothe
Except that the convertables are $500-700, 2x-3x as heavy, and don't last nearly as long.
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The Eink devices brecklundin was referring to are the iRex DR1000S and (to a lesser extent) the iLiad. The new convertibles are $400-500 vs $859 for the DR1000S, and the current battery life of the two is similar. I agree that the large weight disparity and LCD vs EInk provide somewhat of an apples to oranges comparison. However, the DR1000S's customer base is largely a subset of the potential customers for a "convertible netbook". Also, tablets without keyboards appear to be the next phase of the evolution of netbooks. The market for these is certainly smaller, but the marginal cost of designing a slate once you have a convertible may not be large (just as the convertible was a natural extension of netbooks and nettops).
I think iRex made a serious mistake in not doubling the size of the DR1000S battery. It has such a tiny battery, that a small convertible (with a big and heavy battery) can compete well in time between recharges. There will be other EInk devices with ~10" screens this year, and perhaps they will provide a better balance of price and features.