Plastic Logic reader to use AT&T network

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

but if barnes and noble expect to sell it and compete with the kindle, the price is gonna have to stay low

B&N has no control over PL's pricing. They don't own PL, they are just providing the store.

[HansTWN]

we all wish for a low price. However, the DX is 489.-. The plastic logic is a more advanced technology, has a touch screen, is more robust, and has WiFi. Apparently the software is also much more advanced --- better PDF support, etc. So 600+ would definitely be reasonable, consider that the DR from Irex costs 800.

They might price it below that if they offer some bundle deals for books or papers.

[pking36330]

The ZDNet article speculates that the PlasticLogic device will be priced under the Kindle price:

"The missing element: Pricing for the eReader. Chances are that Plastic Logic’s reader will come in under the Kindle’s price, which is a bit expensive despite price cuts. For Plastic Logic, the Barnes & Noble deal is a coup that will bolster the eReader’s launch. Lynch wouldn’t reveal whether Barnes & Noble would sell the Plastic Logic eReader directly."

That seems a little farfetched to me, but I hope they are correct. An 8-1/2" x 11" e-ink, wi-fi reader on a plastic substrate instead of glass, priced less than the current Kindles would certainly energize the e-book market in my opinion.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pking36330

An 8-1/2" x 11" e-ink, wi-fi reader on a plastic substrate instead of glass, priced less than the current Kindles would certainly energize the e-book market in my opinion.

I disagree; it would be FAR too big to carry around. Besides which, is there actually any evidence that PL are working on a device with an A4 screen? That's a damned big screen - the largest screen device currently available is the iRex DR1000, which has an A5 screen; half the size of A4.

You can't even buy a Tablet PC with an A4 screen! It's just too big; I think that the market for such a device would be extremely restricted.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I disagree; it would be FAR too big to carry around. Besides which, is there actually any evidence that PL are working on a device with an A4 screen?

They do not appear to be using an A4 screen, but an 8.5"x11" screen (USA letter size) according to the second sentence in this video demonstration on their web site.
http://www.plasticlogic.com/news/video.php

[HarryT]

Pretty much the same size: "Letter" size is a little wider and a little shorter than A4. All the same, I stand by my (personal) view that a device with a screen that size is way too big for most people to want to carry around.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Pretty much the same size: "Letter" size is a little wider and a little shorter than A4. All the same, I stand by my (personal) view that a device with a screen that size is way too big for most people to want to carry around.

I think that would depend on why you want such a device. For me, who only reads novels on it, it's way too big. But, if you have to read a lot of textbooks and other study or work related books, it might not be.

I think we'll all agree that the percentage that only reads novels is much bigger, and thus a smaller reader makes more sense for most people...

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by pking36330

The ZDNet article speculates that the PlasticLogic device will be priced under the Kindle price...

...for no particular reason that I can detect, other than wishful thinking.

I concur that the PL will be an expensive device, and I can't imagine that B&N is going to subsidize any of its cost.

Having seen the Kindle DX, it strikes me that the PL's larger form factor will be great for PDF's and technical documents, but less than ideal for portable reading -- it's just too big, especially with a half-way decent case. This could be balanced out by the ability to put your B&N books on multiple devices -- if there is some way to sync your last page and notes to them, which afaik is not the case. Otherwise it's going to be a real drag to switch from device to device.

Is it clear why PL will use wireless access, other than some type of web browsing?

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

...for no particular reason that I can detect, other than wishful thinking.

I concur that the PL will be an expensive device, and I can't imagine that B&N is going to subsidize any of its cost.

Having seen the Kindle DX, it strikes me that the PL's larger form factor will be great for PDF's and technical documents, but less than ideal for portable reading -- it's just too big, especially with a half-way decent case. This could be balanced out by the ability to put your B&N books on multiple devices -- if there is some way to sync your last page and notes to them, which afaik is not the case. Otherwise it's going to be a real drag to switch from device to device.

Is it clear why PL will use wireless access, other than some type of web browsing?

Your opinion seems to exactly match what the information provided on the Plastic Logic web site says. The device is NOT a book reader, it is a document reader. It's size is intended to match the size of documents that it is intended to read. They even go so far as to state that it is too large for a book reader. The wireless access seems to be for accessing newspaper subscriptions and document retrieval from the home office. Web browsing would be a terrible experience using an eink display, IMHO. B&N seems to be positioning themselves to support all *generic* book readers, so this PL tie up is probably just a marketing venture not directly tied to books in any way.
http://www.plasticlogic.com/

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Pretty much the same size: "Letter" size is a little wider and a little shorter than A4. All the same, I stand by my (personal) view that a device with a screen that size is way too big for most people to want to carry around.

Probably true, except for their intended audience. Business folk usually have to take a briefcase full of documents around with them on client calls, so this device would allow a lot more document storage and maybe even a lighter and smaller briefcase.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

Probably true, except for their intended audience. Business folk usually have to take a briefcase full of documents around with them on client calls, so this device would allow a lot more document storage and maybe even a lighter and smaller briefcase.

Indeed. That is precisely the market that the iRex DR1000 is aimed at.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Indeed. That is precisely the market that the iRex DR1000 is aimed at.

Bet it will be priced similarly too.

[HarryT]

I'm sure it will. The DR1000 is really not very expensive for a business user - it's priced to compete in the Tablet PC market, not to be a competitor for "mass market" eBook readers like the Sony or Kindle. I have a DR1000 myself, and although it cost me considerably more than my CyBook did, for me personally it was worth the price I paid for it.

[Abecedary]

From the videos of the PL device that I watched, it looks like they use a double-tap on the screen to turn the page. That would drive me completely insane. In the age of gesture-based touch interfaces, using a method that is from the dawn of computer GUIs makes almost no sense.

Of course, if they're targeting business users and executives, they're all probably going to be double-tapping the screen anyways, since that's all most of them know....

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Besides which, is there actually any evidence that PL are working on a device with an A4 screen?

The small amount of info we have is summarized in wiki: Plastic Logic. We don't know its pixel density, but the screen is definitely 10.7 diagonal inches (vs 9.7" for the KDX and 10.2" for the DR1000S). Another interesting difference is that it will be running WinCE, which may be helpful for business apps.