For those who need to have a book feel, NEC has the answer for you!

[GeoffC]

A two screen design has merits in other applications than strict fiction-based reading (though having a 'map' on display on one screen would help LoTR springs to mind).

One dislike with this particular design is the seemingly excessive edge space.

[Maggie Leung]

I can see the value of two screens. Would be better if a device let you switch between using both screens hooked up together and using them separately.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I can see the value of two screens. Would be better if a device let you switch between using both screens hooked up together and using them separately.

I believe this devices has that feature, at least it looked like it in the demo

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by =X=

I believe this devices has that feature, at least it looked like it in the demo

Looks like the controls are different on each side. I was thinking that a double device would be viable for more people if you could split the screens so two people could use 'em separately, and then you could hook up both parts to use as one device when needed. I think that would widen the base of prospective buyers. A family, siblings or a couple could share, for instance.

[John F]

I'm not sure I'm seeing the advantage of multiple screens. I think I would rather have something like a tablet: just rotate to landscape and open multiple windows.

[MikeFromHC]

Originally Posted by John F

I'm not sure I'm seeing the advantage of multiple screens. I think I would rather have something like a tablet: just rotate to landscape and open multiple windows.

Jumping back and forth between windows can be a real problem in many cases.
If there is a main item and several that relate to it it gets to be more of a pain.
I work with a 19 and a 20 inch monitor and for real work it's OK most of the time.
Doing that on a 10 inch tablet is not possible.

[Crowl]

It seems a nice enough concept and crucially they seem to be looking at why you would want to have two screens rather than simply thinking of recreating a book.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by =X=

On an aside note apart from feeling like a book, which is really not the value here. There was a study a year or so ago that concluded the ideal eReader, for students, educators, and business men, should have two screens.

The reason is was that a split screen would be optimal for multitasking. As in having multiple books open for quick references or a book plus a word processing app for doing research.

Most current eReaders with only one screen do multitasking poorly. It's a pain to have to switch between books and even worse if you have to switch between books and apps.


I think most of us here in MR are leisure readers so the need to multitask is not great. But this product fills a huge gap where mobility, ebooks and actual work can become feasible.

=X=

For that wouldn't having multiple windows open on a tablet PC make much more sense than using something like this?

[The Terminator]

Looks bulky,heavy,glarish and kinda clumsy, I don't think it will catch on

[=X=]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

For that wouldn't having multiple windows open on a tablet PC make much more sense than using something like this?

A tablet would have to be 14"x10" that is pretty big. Being able to fold makes it half the size and would protect the screen.

Also the bendable screens allow the 2nd screen to act as a keyboard. Again thatis not easy to do on a tablet.

[DMB]

Back when I was at school, long, long ago and doing Latin, I used to make use of cribs for Virgil: the LH page showing the Latin text and the RH page showing a translation into flowery Victorian English. I never reproduced the language of the crib, but it was a useful clue to deciphering the Latin.

I imagine that sort of thing could still be quite useful for coping with another language.

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by DMB

Back when I was at school, long, long ago and doing Latin, I used to make use of cribs for Virgil: the LH page showing the Latin text and the RH page showing a translation into flowery Victorian English. I never reproduced the language of the crib, but it was a useful clue to deciphering the Latin.

I imagine that sort of thing could still be quite useful for coping with another language.

yes it could, but only when you had that specific kind of book which offers 2 languages (and I bet these books are rare!)