You're probably wondering what's been happening with that super thin, super sexy
Plastic Logic e-book reader that we've seen floating around various tradeshows. Well, the device has landed at D7, and it's got a few new features cooked up -- most notably, built-in 3G data. There's no specifics on what carriers or bands, but besides that WiFi connectivity, you'll be able to go totally nuts out in the real world. Additionally, it looks like the company has seriously tweaked the UI, now providing a simple and clear interface for getting around your documents, and a page-turning gesture (don't mind the green tint in the pic above, the screen is still very much grayscale). The slate is definitely lust-worthy, but we noted a fairly slow screen refresh (way slower than the Kindle), which is kind of a downer -- along with that fairly distant 2010 launch date. Plastic Logic also made an appearance on
Fox Business News today, and the video is embedded after the break.
posted May 27th 2009 7:15PM
Hmm, I'll have to look into that. I've been seeing a lot of news on these e-readers lately..
It's a BOOK, not a internet tablet! Somehow I like simpler ebooks better...
i totally agree. The book I'm reading at the moment doesn't have any access to the internet. I like the idea of books transcending the idea of a book, but not at the additional price. Shouldn't these companies have learned from Apple the most important lesson of business? Give the consumer what they want and in an easy way first, then add on after that. I could be confused but don't margins still cause the business world to revolve?
Uh... you're missing the whole point.
If you actually had some of your sensory modalities intact (vision and audition), you would know that this thing is not supposed to be like a book.
All this ePaper is seriously hurting the paper airplane industry.
I always enjoy being reminded that the future is now.
Funny, that's almost exactly what I thought an Apple tablet would look like.
Will this also be priced out of consideration? Most likely. Its really unfortunate that it is more cost effective to print paper. Granted this may be more convenient in many ways but traditional paper has advantages over current e-readers.
And disadvantages too though.
That's my question too. Supposedly their plastic screens are much cheaper to produce than the glass screens used by everyone else. Will that be reflected in the price or have they added too much other crap onto it? It's a bad sign that they seem to be aiming it at the business user. That can't indicate it will be cheap. How about a plain, non touch-screen, no Wi-Fi, no 3G cheap version as well as a high end no holds bared version?
@Mojo
If it works out the same as the current e-ink displays, then someone will make various models. A six inch screen with USB connection, perhaps an A4, and an all singing all dancing connected every way possible version. Plus, e-ink type displays can be used for more than e-book readers. Think watches, cell phone displays, media player displays etc.
The big advantage of this particular display is that it is pretty difficult to damage it. Unlike the glass mounted ones that can crack and render an expensive device useless with a single drop.
Wake me up when page turning is fast.
Lets see you do it faster with a real book.
it will be available sometimes in 2010 ... Back to Future VII
Yet before Back to the Future II...
Looks pretty awesome, I'll wait on that Kindle purchase for a little while.
Why do we need expensive e-book readers with 3G? Wifi is sufficient. Are there really that many people who can't wait till they get home or to where there is wifi to purchase a book? Just make the reader cheaper!
What are ebooks doing?! IMO, most of the benefits of an e-reader is the dazzle of just another electronic device. E-readers have yet to play up on their true benefits. Size and price of distribution. Instead of gearing toward the Saturday morning book club crowd, pushing already cheap paperbacks into the digital world, they need to focus elsewhere.
E-readers should first and foremost be in education. I regularly spent $500 dollars on 40lbs of textbooks a semester in college. A twelve ounce e-reader with a 30% discount on digital texts would definitely entice customers to consider going digital. (Although it would be up to 19th century-esque publishers to offer these discounts.) Manufacturers need to play up the strengths of the digital medium. Integrated searching, highlighting, auto-generated notes from user-highlights. They do not need to be spending money on 3g hardware and carrier negotiations (I'll digress on wifi given it's cheap prices nowadays). Until books are consumed faster than a 3 minuted Mily Cyrus song, there is no need for constant connection. An SD card provides fast enough updates. An e-reader is not a laptop/tablet/pmp.
In a market just coming into it's own, we are still just waiting for the product which does e-books simply and effectively. The kindle is a good start as it tackles the huge issue of content, but I believe the true starting point of ebooks is in education where $200 of hardware and convenience can pay for itself after only a year.
Interesting development. I just wish the reporter, Brian Sullivan, would let me the man speak without interrupting his every sentence. It was like listening to sports talk radio.
The interface with the tabs on the left and page choice on the right is definitely a winner. Not only will I buy one of these, I think Ill chat them up about retailing them.
I have been seeing a lot on the zune hd with the oled screen?