the eeeNote - it’s a serious threat to...everything

[RockdaMan]

Somehow, I doubt that. But this is what the blog author says...what say you?

Asus are promising that the eeeNote, their e-reader with a grayscale LCD screen, will be available “soon” with a retail under $200.

If that is for real, then the e-reader market just flipped upside down again. With that retail price it’s a serious threat to the Nook, Kindle, NookColor, everything. Hell, with 13 hours battery life it’s a threat to Android tablets.

The eeeNote is based on a unique low power LCD screen, and it has Wifi, a Wcom touchscreen, microSD card slot, speakers, a microphone...

Asus for it's own sake says

Are pen and paper about to become obsolete?

[rogue_librarian]

LCD? Meh. Do not want.

[wyndslash]

cute. i have a friend who works in the marketing department of asus. asus generally has a nice reputation around here, especially for the durability of their wares and their netbooks.

[rhadin]

I will be very interested in how this gray-scale LCD compares to an eInk screen. It might well be a game changer for ebook reading.

If you look at the promo video for the device, it really is compelling. For the first time, I am thinking I might buy one -- or at least seriously consider doing so -- even though I have no use for such a device for anything but reading ebooks and I am very pleased with my Sony 950.

[Asawi]

Hmmm... I don't know... I don't think it's an e-ink contender for people who mainly want an eBook reader. With the good battery life it could be a surf pad contender for people who want both functions (eReader and surf pad) at least if it's slim and low weight.
I'd be really curious to check it out, I have to say!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rhadin

I will be very interested in how this gray-scale LCD compares to an eInk screen. It might well be a game changer for ebook reading.

I have my doubts about that. There are already many grey-scale transflective LCD devices on the market; they've made relatively little impact.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have my doubts about that. There are already many grey-scale transflective LCD devices on the market; they've made relatively little impact.

Yup.

I might be tempted, for more "work" purpose. Large e-ink are still $$$$, so this might find its pubic.

[Anthem]

Blah.

[SCION]

After viewing the video, I'm interested at that price. Don't see it as a threat to anything. Just another option.

[Worldwalker]

I certainly want a look at it. I'm very fond of my Asus netbook, despite the software support issue. As someone said, I don't see it as a replacement for my e-ink ebook reader, but as a general-purpose ultra-light display device, it might have some very interesting uses.

[MrsJoseph]

I want to see it in action myself before making any judgments. It looks cute but how functional is it, really? A pen tablet with no color?

[DMcCunney]

The ASUS product page is here: http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=IrZFXz2AcdRvL7L6

I don't see this as a serious threat to "everything", precisely because it's grey scale.

I'm not counting ASUS out. After all, they largely created the netbook market, with the original ASUS eee PC.

It's using Linux as the OS, which presumably means the Xandros flavor ASUS created for the eee. So one question will be what third party stuff will appear that will run on it.

I expect a color version of this down the road. That will be interesting.
______
Dennis

[Giggleton]

I'm more interested to see what google comes out with, android eink reader? sounds good.

[carld]

Under $100? Interesting. Under $200? Not so much.

[MR. Pockets]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have my doubts about that. There are already many grey-scale transflective LCD devices on the market; they've made relatively little impact.

Because they all have come from third rate or small companies. With Asus marketing one, it is almost guaranteed to have a lot more impact.

As regards the E-Ink (Pearl) vs transflective LCD, I have seen side-by-side both screens (same size) and the E-Ink wasn't really any better except that it has a whiter background.