Thursday, October 22, 2009

Does Two In One Offer A New eReader eDGe?



So we have the Nook which finally combines the two worlds of greyscale eInk and full colour display.We hear much talk and speculation of an Apple table, a Microsoft tablet dual screen technology and much more.



We now have the enTourage eDGe™ which they claim is the world’s first ‘dualbook’ and offers both the functions and eInk feel of an e-reader, with the more convention colour display and functionally of netbook, notepad, and audio/video recorder and player in one. It’s a logical step and clearly offers the best of both worlds in a single package but is it the solution or merely two devices joined at the hip?

The dualbook offers a e-reader offers 9.7” e-Ink screens display that reads both PDF and ePub formats and enables the usual text and drawing notes and lets you save these to the eDGe, to a server, or email them to others. On the other side the eDGe offers a 1024 x 600 pixels, or 10.1” colour touch screen with an audio recorder, video camera, running under Google Android OS and offering the usual web browsing, audio/video record and playback, applications and features plus a library function to manage your books and files. It communicates TWiFi, plus optional 3G capability using an EVDO or HSDPA mobile modem and a BlueTooth capability to add an external keyboard.
The enTourage eDGe™ weighs only 2.5 pounds, and is approximately 8” by 10” by 1” when closed. However two in one will cost and the price today is $490 and will be available in February next year in four colours.

A smart move, but it is a hybrid, which clearly is ‘edging its bets’ on playing to all albeit at a price. The big question is whether the world will change in the 4 months before it hits the streets?

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