Engadget: Kno dual-screen tablet appears at D8, we go hands-on

kjk · 06-02-2010, 05:34 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/k...e-go-hands-on/

Quote:

Kno promised to launch a double-screened Linux-based e-reader designed for students at D8, and the undercover startup didn't disappoint -- believe us when we say it came out in a big way. That's big as in freaking big: the Kno reader features dual 14.1-inch capacitive IPS displays (1440 x 900 each), weighs 5.5 pounds, and offers six to eight hours of battery life, all in a package that's so comically large we thought it was a joke when we first saw the press shots. Kno says it'll offer both pen and touch support, and it'll come with a stylus out of the box. Under the hood, it's running a Tegra 2 chip with 16GB of storage, and the entire experience is essentially a WebKit instance. Yes, it's sort of like the Courier, but larger -- much, much larger.

I love this pic:

http://www.engadget.com/photos/kno-press-pics/#3036339

actually, all the pics are awesome.

dmaul1114 · 06-02-2010, 05:41 PM

Is that for real?

Way too big with the silly (IMO) double screen design.

I'd be interested if it was one screen that size with 8 hour battery life.

CyGuy · 06-02-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Is that for real?

Way too big with the silly (IMO) double screen design.

I'd be interested if it was one screen that size with 8 hour battery life.

I agree. Ditch one of the screens and it might be worth a look.

The-eBook-Reader · 06-02-2010, 07:25 PM

gastan · 06-02-2010, 07:26 PM

Way to big and not worth a look? It's targeted at students who typically could be carrying any where from 3-6 books each of which may weigh 3-6 pounds (1.3-2.7 Kilo) ... or even more. I doubt that a student would complain about slipping one of these into their backpack rather than 20-30 pounds of DTB's. And considering that (I think) most students would usually be at a desk or table when using it, it's twin screens probably wouldn't bother them either.

Seems to me that telling it's intended target that it's "way to big" or "might be worth a look" if you toss one screen would be like telling a trucker his semi tractor is overkill for pulling that 20 ton trailer around.

dmaul1114 · 06-02-2010, 07:32 PM

I wasn't calling the device useless--just saying that it wasn't something I'd want. Even being a professor who still deals with textbooks for classes I'm teaching etc.

One screen is fine, I can only read one page at a time anyway!

But hey, I'm all for variety in the market place. My posts are never anything more than discussing whether a device fits my specific needs/wants. I don't care what other people need or want, how much devices sell or that kind of stuff. Just about getting a gadget that suits my needs.

But that doesn't mean I'm dismissing a place in the market for any device I'm down on personally. If it fills other people's needs--great! Variety is the spice of life, the more variety in gadgets the better so everyone can find something that matches their needs close to perfectly, rather than the norm of having to settle for whatever comes closest.

fishface · 06-02-2010, 09:18 PM

I think they couldn't make the thing under 3lb and just went and shot the moon with 5.5lb.

Anarel · 06-02-2010, 09:31 PM

Jesus Christ!

And people thought my Dx was huge and heavy...

delphidb96 · 06-02-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishface

I think they couldn't make the thing under 3lb and just went and shot the moon with 5.5lb.

They could have shrunk it down to two 10" screens and cut the weight to 2.5 pounds overall and it would have been *MUCH* more appealing.

Derek

fjtorres · 06-02-2010, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

They could have shrunk it down to two 10" screens and cut the weight to 2.5 pounds overall and it would have been *MUCH* more appealing.

Derek

To say nothing of cutting the cost and increasing the battery life.
Lighting up those 14-inchers has to eat up battery power like crazy.

Worldwalker · 06-02-2010, 11:44 PM

/agree with Delphi.

That thing's not a textbook, it's a coffee table book.

Something like that with a couple of 10" screens would be wonderful; I'd buy it. If this fits a niche in the educational market, great; I hope it does well. The more devices the merrier. But I'll be waiting for its baby brother.

delphidb96 · 06-02-2010, 11:58 PM

Not only the weight and battery life - think of the cost. 14" screens cost more to make than 10" screens. In fact, someone could have just taken two 8.9" (say from Dell Mini 9s) or 10" (mini 10vs anyone) and slapped in touchscreen layers and gotten the whole thing lighter, thinner and less power-consuming. And so very much cheaper.

Derek

rogue_librarian · 06-03-2010, 02:03 AM

Looks like two biblical stone slabs...

petermillard · 06-03-2010, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

/agree with Delphi.

That thing's not a textbook, it's a coffee table book...

More like the whole coffee table

Pete

brecklundin · 06-03-2010, 04:17 AM

this is EXACTLY the size and device I have been wanting for my work references....EPD panels would be a preference for obvious reasons but this will be FINE. Now all that is needed is actual quality software from Linsux developers. Sorry but Linsux software is 99.9% a waste of electrons.

It will indeed be interesting to see what this device delivers over the next 7-10 months.

06-02-2010, 07:32 PM	#6
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I wasn't calling the device useless--just saying that it wasn't something I'd want. Even being a professor who still deals with textbooks for classes I'm teaching etc. One screen is fine, I can only read one page at a time anyway! But hey, I'm all for variety in the market place. My posts are never anything more than discussing whether a device fits my specific needs/wants. I don't care what other people need or want, how much devices sell or that kind of stuff. Just about getting a gadget that suits my needs. But that doesn't mean I'm dismissing a place in the market for any device I'm down on personally. If it fills other people's needs--great! Variety is the spice of life, the more variety in gadgets the better so everyone can find something that matches their needs close to perfectly, rather than the norm of having to settle for whatever comes closest. Last edited by dmaul1114; 06-02-2010 at 10:04 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Kno: A giant double-screen tablet to replace giant textbooks	Sweetpea	News	25	06-19-2010 03:48 PM
I got my hands on the Astri dual screen reader	Nate the great	News	17	03-03-2010 03:30 AM
The first Dual Screen Tablet	jankovicgood	Lounge	1	01-07-2010 12:52 PM
Dual Screen Reader	jxh11215	News	3	10-23-2009 12:32 PM
Dual Screen reader	DNel	Alternative Devices	1	01-18-2008 07:01 PM

06-02-2010, 05:41 PM	#2
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Is that for real? Way too big with the silly (IMO) double screen design. I'd be interested if it was one screen that size with 8 hour battery life.

06-02-2010, 07:25 PM	#4
The-eBook-Reader Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 4637 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: United States Device: All

06-02-2010, 07:26 PM	#5
gastan Addict Posts: 221 Karma: 801624 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: US Pacific Northwest Device: LePan II, Kobo Aura	Way to big and not worth a look? It's targeted at students who typically could be carrying any where from 3-6 books each of which may weigh 3-6 pounds (1.3-2.7 Kilo) ... or even more. I doubt that a student would complain about slipping one of these into their backpack rather than 20-30 pounds of DTB's. And considering that (I think) most students would usually be at a desk or table when using it, it's twin screens probably wouldn't bother them either. Seems to me that telling it's intended target that it's "way to big" or "might be worth a look" if you toss one screen would be like telling a trucker his semi tractor is overkill for pulling that 20 ton trailer around.

06-02-2010, 09:18 PM	#7
fishface Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 56 Join Date: May 2010 Device: none	I think they couldn't make the thing under 3lb and just went and shot the moon with 5.5lb.

06-02-2010, 09:31 PM	#8
Anarel Evangelist Posts: 424 Karma: 61399 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: K1, GKDX, K3	Jesus Christ! And people thought my Dx was huge and heavy...

06-02-2010, 11:44 PM	#11
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	/agree with Delphi. That thing's not a textbook, it's a coffee table book. Something like that with a couple of 10" screens would be wonderful; I'd buy it. If this fits a niche in the educational market, great; I hope it does well. The more devices the merrier. But I'll be waiting for its baby brother.

06-02-2010, 11:58 PM	#12
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	Not only the weight and battery life - think of the cost. 14" screens cost more to make than 10" screens. In fact, someone could have just taken two 8.9" (say from Dell Mini 9s) or 10" (mini 10vs anyone) and slapped in touchscreen layers and gotten the whole thing lighter, thinner and less power-consuming. And so very much cheaper. Derek

06-03-2010, 02:03 AM	#13
rogue_librarian Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 4269175 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Device: Pocketbook Basic 613	Looks like two biblical stone slabs...

06-03-2010, 04:17 AM	#15
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	this is EXACTLY the size and device I have been wanting for my work references....EPD panels would be a preference for obvious reasons but this will be FINE. Now all that is needed is actual quality software from Linsux developers. Sorry but Linsux software is 99.9% a waste of electrons. It will indeed be interesting to see what this device delivers over the next 7-10 months.