Entourage and Marketing

It's okay, we're flexible.
Introducing the eDGe and Pocket eDGe. Fold it one way, and it's a tablet. Fold it another, and it's an e-clipboard. Fold it another, and it's a book. Fold it another, and it's a media console. Fold it another, and it's an easel. Fold it another, plug in a keyboard, and it's a laptop. Fold it closed, and it fits in your bag.
Welcome to the enTourage.

CHAAAAAARGE! Or don't. Your choice.
After using your eDGe or Pocket eDGe dualbook for 8 hours of reading, writing, music, movies, games and internet, you could find an outlet, plug it in, and be ready to go again in minutes. Or you could switch in a spare battery and be ready to go again in seconds. Could it get any more convenient?
Welcome to the enTourage.

Originally Posted by Adiposius Maximus

Sorry, I'm too good at marketing to do it for free.

So does that mean this campaign is actually recognizable as marketing already? Nice!

Originally Posted by sarah11918

Only once in all my years traveling around have I ever seen someone with a tablet PC that I didn't own.

Sarah, I can tell you that the ASUS EEE Slate E121 is a superb tablet device, now that I've had it for 2 weeks. Its just great, mostly because it is well-powered (i5 processor, 4GB RAM) and I have found other tablets that were just sad when it came to performance (the Archos 9 for example). The ASUS is a bit big and heavy (12 inch screen, 1kg) but otherwise perfect.

To me the advantage of a Win7 tablet is the ability to run OneNote and use handwriting.

Given your knowledge and experience, I would appreciate your personal opinion comparing the eDGe with a Win7 tablet running OneNote and Adobe Acrobat Pro. Other than the eInk screen and having 2 simultaneous screens, how would you compare the two devices? Functionally, are there any specific advantages to the eDGe?

If it's e-paper, shouldn't you be able to put it on the bottom of your lizard tank?

Welcome to the EdgE, the world's most expensive vivarium substrate.


If it's e-paper, shoiuldn't you be able to wrap e-fish in it?

Welcome to the EdgE which can display pictures of YOUR favorite sushi in black and white AND color at the same time!

If it's e-paper, shouldn't it be cheap to replace?

Welcome to the EdgE, where the drip-drip-drip of constantly dropping prices ... you know, I think I'm not going to finish this thought.

Originally Posted by alefor

comparing the eDGe with a Win7 tablet running OneNote and Adobe Acrobat Pro. Other than the eInk screen and having 2 simultaneous screens, how would you compare the two devices? Functionally, are there any specific advantages to the eDGe?

Well, one "advantage" for me is that it doesn't run Windows. :P

I never did use One Note, so I can't comment on the use of that.

HOW I USED TABLET PCS:
I used Journal Note extensively for tutoring, making math notes. I used the "handwrite into MSN chat windows" feature extensively for tutoring kids. I created pdfs of math problem sets and used the tablet to annotate solutions. I also would have my students writing on the tablet instead of paper as they solved their problems so that their work could be emailed to them (rather than get lost in bottom of their backpack) or so that I could edit the file so that the next student could work on the same questions. That's mostly how I used it at the time.

The dual screen wouldn't have been too much of a selling feature for that set up (an extra window to distract the kids!) as one, larger screen was best to replicate paper for them. But for how I use my eDGe now, as someone who doesn't work face-to-face and have others on my machine anymore, the eDGe is a actually a better set up.

MY MAIN USES OF THE EDGE:
- notepad replacement for non-permanent writing (comparing several flight itineraries before purchasing)
- keeping track of tasks/projects on the go in simple handwritten list form
- brainstorming ideas
- writing math problem solutions
- sketching floor plans, design ideas (we bought an older house and are slowly renovating)
- reading pdfs/ebooks; printing pdfs of web pages
- filling out pdf forms and signing documents by hand

1. The e-ink side doesn't run a complicated, bloated OS. So if I really do just need a notepad, I don't have to fight with Windows to simply handwrite. The edge may take just as long, if not longer, than a windows machine to boot up, but I also don't have to "click here for updates" all the friggin time to programs I have no intention of using in that working session. The edge never "wants my attention" or "needs my permission to continue." So for someone who pulls out the edge when I have a specific need to get crap out of my head and down on paper, or when I want to write out the dozen flight options I'm comparing, I like that it's a less demanding user experience.

2. The dual screens are insanely useful for taking notes while browsing. (I know you said other than the dual screen, but it's huge IMO.) Half of my time is browsing flight options, and not simple itineraries either. I routinely need to compare a large number of options spanning several handwritten pages. Sometimes I do this on my Macbook's browser, sitting on the table, while holding the edge to annotate. Sometimes I use the edge's own browser and have the e-ink side in landscape, flat on the table like where a laptop's keyboard would be. For me, the dual screen means not having to constantly bring different applications to the front, like on a tablet PC. Less productively, I can monitor my twitter stream or email on the LCD side while I'm working and never have to "click off" what I'm working on to check them. This is a major aspect of workflow.

3. Battery life is no where near excellent on Tablet PCs. The EE has the best battery of anything I've owned, and with a second one for swapping out that is thin, light and easy to have on me, I have never found myself without power.

4. The Journal app is pretty comparable to Windows Journal Note and to Xournal (on my Nokia tablet), so neither advantage nor disadvantage. It has the program I would use most often and it works well. Handwriting recognition of what I'd written was never a big deal for me (I don't think I used it much on the tablet PC), although both Tablet PCs and my Nokia allow you to input into any application via handwriting for when you don't want to use a keyboard. That would be nice on the EE, too, but not necessary. I also didn't have any more of a filing system than folders (didn't search using OCR or anything), so I find no difference in experience with search, file management etc.

5. Related to the dual screen thing, the "send to e-ink" feature of the native browser helps my workflow tremendously, as a lot of what I do is print web pages to pdf to save for later or to make notes on.

6. Not insignificantly, the edge is at most half the price of any comparable tablet PC options. So for people who already have a laptop and are not looking to replace it (especially Mac users, for example), the edge is the right combination of features and price compared to a tablet PC option. Not only might I have a difficult time justifying a second laptop (that won't be compatible in many ways with my current one), but when I'm traveling I don't want to have two full blown laptops if I can help it. So I can pay less, have the basic tablet features of a tablet PC (i.e. Journal Note) without a Windows environment and have a slightly smaller device with a better battery life. That was really how I looked at it, and why I didn't think twice about the price of the EE when I pre-ordered. Compared to buying a Tablet PC, if you're not making it your primary device, the edge makes way more sense all the way around.

So granted, I really use my edge more a fancy e-writer as opposed to an e-reader (which is why I think comparing with a tablet PC is very apt). This is why I'm keeping an eye on the devices mentioned in my signature: I don't need another "laptop" and I'm not likely to pay for one. As long as I have a writer that annotates and exports pdfs, i can probably be happy. I can easily see paying $200 for something that does that one feature well. From a consumer standpoint, it's not too much for a dedicated task, and I'm not "splurging" on something that duplicates functionality I already have in my laptop.

The edge, however, is a real workhorse, though and the dual screens allow me to do more than just that feature without getting in the way of that feature. (Both physically, by having another screen and OS-wise, having Android able to run apps but not affecting my work on the e-ink screen. I don't have to click to accept an Android update or click to acknowledge a program has crashed in order to clear the screen I'm working on.)

That's probably the best I'm able to compare the two devices given how I use(d) them.

Originally Posted by alefor

Other than the eInk screen and having 2 simultaneous screens, how would you compare the two devices? Functionally, are there any specific advantages to the eDGe?

Um... I have a Windows 7 PC with a Wacom drawing pad, M$ Office, Adobe Reader and high-speed wired networking. Other than the fact that you can take it with you and it runs on battery, are there any specific advantages to a Win7 tablet?

The point I'd make here is that the eDGe is not and has never tried to be a full tablet PC, and arguably, doesn't even try hard to be a full netbook. Sure, if you strip away the e-ink and dual screen because they're features you'd never use, you're better off getting a traditional Android or Windows tablet. Beefier processor, better graphics, more peripherals, more standard PC software, and if you know where to look, lower pricetag.
As Sarah mentioned, though, there are plenty of actions in an average daily workflow for which, if you have them, the second screen, the quick-and-dirty drawing interface, and the ability to go for extended time using only the low-power e-ink screen are game-changers.

To me the advantage of a Win7 tablet is the ability to run OneNote and use handwriting.

Given your knowledge and experience, I would appreciate your personal opinion comparing the eDGe with a Win7 tablet running OneNote and Adobe Acrobat Pro. Other than the eInk screen and having 2 simultaneous screens, how would you compare the two devices? Functionally, are there any specific advantages to the eDGe?[/QUOTE]

Alefor,
I use One Note extensively on my Dell tablet PC with Win7. I would have to say that I have not found any comparative app that allows me to paperlessly manage the supervision of special education across 6 schools. I do use my edge if I just want to run in and jot down some reminders or a quick note that I can later email myself to a larger record. However, attempting to use the edge for the multiple layers of notes, folders and various documents that I need to keep track of has not been practical (yet).
I do really like my edge for what I bought it for and it has not disappointed.

When I saw my first entourages, I knew I needed to have one. People need to see this. Shopping mall kiosks, office building vestibules, trade shows. I'd keep the marketing hook short and sweet: "Can your iPad do this?"

IPad status killer.

I really appreciate the insights expressed by Sarah, Ninja and goodspeech. Very interesting perspectives. I am still not sure where each device fits in. Maybe I have given myself too much variety. It sure is an interesting area that will continue to evolve. Thank you all!