I promise myself to never just post a video and leave it at that, but always provide some commentary. So although I think this video does speak for itself, here I go!
The enTourage eDGe is the next entrant I have seen in the word of eBooks, eReaders and eJournals. And in this case it seems to be all three rather than just one of them. For me, this is closer to the device that I personally wanted the iPad to be. It has a eReader that you can interact with, it has a netbook PC which is a touch device and it has the required stylus interface that is needed for any effective eJournal. As an added bonus, the ability to plug in an ordinary keyboard through a USB slot is fantastic.
Essentially to be an effective corporate device and to achieve the requirements that I see we need to innovate the risk management function, the electronic device needs to be able to deliver electronic content to people, allow them to read, edit and annotate the content, and provide them with the tools to collaborate with the content. Therefore, the device must provide eReader capability, eJournal capability and be an effective and efficient touch device. So, based on that this device seems to have all the makings for an answer. Or does it?
So, what’s missing? Before I give my view, you should watch the video.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyACAMJP2K8]
The main missing element for me are it does not provide a mobile internet option which means it has a significantly reduced functionality away from a wireless network. The other missing or negative elements are a popular operating system which therefore has a good selection of developed applications and additions, writing translation technology, being a light and easy to hold device, and compatability.
On the last missing / negative element, this is going to be an issue with all these new devices, particularly around eBooks. It seems to me that these new entrants are all working off a base on no-one having an eReader device and therefore making it able to read other formats is not under consideration. I think this is a poor assumption but alas is consistent with the anti-competitive behaviour of these suppliers in their pasts.
So, that is my opinion but I am really excited by what this device offers and right now I can see a home where I have each one of them! However, I am not so sure that is practical and financially wise!
Cheers,
