Seriously thoughtful Could Netbooks Kill off the E-Reader?

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by astra

What does googling for oneself have to do with netbooks vs. ebook reader?

Are you familiar with Chaos Theory?

[bmfrosty]

I could see using a netbook for larger formats - like comics or technical manuals, but for the sake of reading fiction, I really do like the smaller format.

[HansTWN]

admit it, what we want is a powerhouse laptop at a netbook price!

[bmfrosty]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

admit it, what we want is a powerhouse laptop at a netbook size!

Fixed. I want a 10" screen that does 1080p.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

admit it, what we want is a powerhouse laptop at a netbook price!

I'd not use a laptop as main ebook reader. Too large, too bulky. I even find a netbook too bulky, mainly because of that keyboard. Once Asus (was it Asus?) produces that netbook they showed on the CeBit, now that's when it becomes interesting (two touchscreens, one of which can be used as a keyboard). But it'll still be too large for nighttime reading or comfy-chair reading (don't even mention hammock reading!).

A good novel-reading device (textbooks, reports, etc might have different requirements) shouldn't be much bigger than an average pocket. That's why I think UMPC's might be a better competition to dedicated e-readers than netbooks.

[HansTWN]

Why not a netbook with a detachable keyboard as I have suggested earlier in this thread? Take it off = reader. Slap it on = computer. If you can live with the screen (I personally still love e-ink) then that is the best solution for someone who must have a multifunction device. Problem with UMPC's is they are much too expensive for what they offer, you could get a DR1000S and a netbook for the price of one of those.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Why not a netbook with a detachable keyboard as I have suggested earlier in this thread? Take it off = reader. Slap it on = computer. If you can live with the screen (I personally still love e-ink) then that is the best solution for someone who must have a multifunction device. Problem with UMPC's is they are much too expensive for what they offer, you could get a DR1000S and a netbook for the price of one of those.

Right now, yes. But the prices may go down. And it need not be an UMPC, but the formfactor of an UMPC. No keyboard (but attachable for example by USB/bluetooth), touchscreen and multi-purpose. A netbook with detachable keyboard fits in that category as well (though, I'd rather use a real keyboard than a tiny netbook one. And they don't need to be much larger as you can roll them up or fold them up).

[HansTWN]

Sounds good in theory --- until you have actually used one of those roll-up or fold up keyboards. I sometimes use a full size rollable USB keyboard with my phone (most phones can use bluetooth versions). Convenient to carry, but I doubt the rollable full size version is easier to use than a slighly undersized netbook keyboard. Since the keys are so soft they feel very awkward. The few fold up ones that are good are quite big and expensive 30-50 USD. Also tried one of those projector keyboards -- no key response and short battery life, I can get comfortable with them.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Sounds good in theory --- until you have actually used one of those roll-up or fold up keyboards. I sometimes use a full size rollable USB keyboard with my phone (most phones can use bluetooth versions). Convenient to carry, but I doubt the rollable full size version is easier to use than a slighly undersized netbook keyboard. Since the keys are so soft they feel very awkward. The few fold up ones that are good are quite big and expensive 30-50 USD. Also tried one of those projector keyboards -- no key response and short battery life, I can get comfortable with them.

Actually, yes, we have one in the livingroom It's easier to store than that fixed keyboard And I'd use that one instead of a tiny netbook keyboard (but I must say, my keyboard, the one I use daily, is huge. Only by looking at a "normal" keyboard, do I already get wrist pain...)

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Why not a netbook with a detachable keyboard as I have suggested earlier in this thread? Take it off = reader. Slap it on = computer. If you can live with the screen (I personally still love e-ink) then that is the best solution for someone who must have a multifunction device. Problem with UMPC's is they are much too expensive for what they offer, you could get a DR1000S and a netbook for the price of one of those.

Well...there's something similar being sold, called the Always Innovating Touch Book. It comes apart, and has batteries in both halves. One half is a tablet, one half is a keyboard. So you can use just the screen as a tablet, or put it together and you have a netbook.
The specs aren't half bad, and the price with keyboard is US $399. It's a serious contender for me right now, but I'm holding off til afte the first of the year when I'll have money to make a final decision.

http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/

[ahammer]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Well...there's something similar being sold, called the Always Innovating Touch Book. It comes apart, and has batteries in both halves. One half is a tablet, one half is a keyboard. So you can use just the screen as a tablet, or put it together and you have a netbook.
The specs aren't half bad, and the price with keyboard is US $399. It's a serious contender for me right now, but I'm holding off til afte the first of the year when I'll have money to make a final decision.

http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/touchbook/

man that is sexxy... now I go to think do I want something that will run almost anything I throw at it(and do word docs and stuff).. or is eink that big of a sell to me.

part of me says I looking at a computer screen all day anyway what 2 more hours. only 5 hours of battly live I would bet as a tablet so thats also a issue have to remeber to charge the thing.

[psikeyhackr]

Greetings and salutations, this is my first post.

If an e-book reader is too big to fig in a pocket and costs more the $300 then I would expect netbooks to mostly kill them off. Some people will insist on e-ink machines but I think they will be a minority. If anything the the designers try to make the e-readers too much like books. We should have automatic scroll with variable speed control.

I use an Archos PMA400.

http://www.lordpercy.com/archos_pma400_review.htm

It is a Linux computer and I have downloaded the Justreader program into it. My only complaint about it is no automatic scroll. I have to press a button to change screens. But since it fits in a pocket it beats a netbook. It is smaller than a paperback book. It will also record sound and video if you plug in a camera or VCR.

But I expect netbooks to kill most e-book readers. Of course the so called Smartbooks will come out next. Even smaller and $200.

psik

[lilac_jive]

Now that I have a netbook, I feel confident saying that as much as I love my netbook, I'd rather give that up than my Reader.

[Jaime_Astorga]

I'm not sure I would call a netbook a "full fledged computer". Sure they can do all the basic stuff, like web browsing and word processing, but their specs are too weak to handle many programs. Plus they don't even possess an optical drive unless you purchase an external one.

"Basic stuff" is what most people use their computers for. Netbooks can handle most programs; nothing short of a modern game or quality modeling software is going to be a real showstopper on a netbook. The lack of optical drives is a disadvantage, but it is becoming less important as content and programs begin to be more widely distributed online.

How many people that you know do not wear a watch because they they have time display on their phone? I know one such person.

I do something similar; I have a time display on my iPod nano (which I pretty much always carry), so I don't bother with a watch.

[psikeyhackr]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I'm not sure I would call a netbook a "full fledged computer". Sure they can do all the basic stuff, like web browsing and word processing, but their specs are too weak to handle many programs. Plus they don't even possess an optical drive unless you purchase an external one.

That is funny. People now use computers to do idiotic things that require lots of processing power but these people don't have a clue what the computer is really doing. How many people understand the math involved in compressing a CD into MP3s. Most people can't tell you what a Nyquist limit is.

Fast high-res games require a lot of processing power but all they really do is waste people's time. So if netbooks are 3 times as powerful as a mainframe that corporations were willing to pay $3,000,000 for in 1980 there is no way they cannot be REAL COMPUTERS. It is just a question of when people will refuse to buy PHONY SOFTWARE. BLOATED garbage like Vista that wastes the processing power of whatever computer you put it on.

http://www.netbookation.com/netbkbnch.htm

psik