Kindle Review – Kindle 3 Review, iPad Review

The announcement of three new dual-screen eReaders in the last few weeks means it’s time to review all the dual screen eReaders and see how they compare with current eReaders.

Let’s start with reviewing how they compare with single screen eReaders like the Kindle.

Dual-Screen eReaders Vs Single Screen eReaders

Type 1: Dual Screen eReaders that are NetBooks+eReaders

This includes the low-end and high-end Asus eReaders and the Entourage Edge.

1. They are 50% eReader and 50% Netbook.
2. The Edge has one eInk screen (9.7″) and one LCD screen (10.1″) and is basically a do-everything device.
3. The Asus eReaders have two screens that are both LCDs and both touchscreen.

Asus’s Angle

1. Read books two pages at a time.  
2. Use one screen to read and the other as a virtual keyboard or to surf the web.
3. A low-priced model ($163 or so) to undercut existing eReaders, and a higher end model.
4. Build on the Eee PC brand.

Asus’ dual screen eReaders are supposed to arrive by end of the year.

Edge’s Angle

1. A full 9.7″ screen to go with a 10.1″ LCD screen. 
2. Android OS.
3. Higher end of the eReader market ($490 price).

The Edge Dual Screen eReader is supposed to arrive by Feb 2010.

Type 2: Dual Screen eReaders that use a small color screen to supplement eInk

This includes the Nook from Barnes & Noble and the Alex from Spring Design.

1. The idea is a good one – use a smaller color screen to supplement the main eInk screen. 
2. The eInk screen focuses on reading and thus matches the pluses of current single screen eReaders. 
3. The color LCD screen adds fast refresh times, color, touch and makes browsing books, buying books, and navigation quicker.

Both of these use Android.

Barnes & Noble Nook and its Angle

1. Lending – although it’s limited since it’s once per ebook (B&N confirmed this, supposedly) and Publishers can opt-out. 
2. Android. 
3. Best of Both Worlds (eInk and LCD benefits).
4. Low Price ($259).

Spring Design’s Alex and its Angle

1. Best of Both Worlds.
2. Android with smart phone capabilities included (whatever they mean by that).
3. Browser.
4. Capture web content on the LCD screen and switch over to view it on the eInk screen.

What Killer Features do Dual Screen eReaders bring? What Cons?

There are actually quite a few killer features -

1. The Best of Both Worlds angle which gives readers eInk reading and LCD browsing.  
2. The Alex WebGrab feature that lets you capture text on LCD and later Read it on eInk. 
3. Android and the possibilities down the line.
4. A comprehensive Journal Feature.

There are some people who would feel the dual screen reading of the Asus is a killer feature – However, it being LCD screens kills whatever benefit there might be.

The Cons

1. Still not sure how having two separate screens would work. 
2. Asus Eee eReader and Alex are going to distract readers from reading and kill a lot of the benefit of dedicated eReaders.
3. Battery life has to be less than eInk only eReaders.

Now, let’s look at each of the 4 dual screen eReaders (not actual sizes and not to scale – click for larger image) -

And jump into the details of each.

Alex Dual Screen eReader from Spring Design

Spring Design have announced Alex - an android based dual screen eReader that looks like the Nook’s long lost twin. Its features -

1. 6″ eInk Screen. 
2. 3.5″ color LCD screen.
3. Patented Duet Navigator technology to use both screens seamlessly.  
4. Android based with full Internet browsing over WiFi and 3G.
5. Removable SD card to extend storage.
6. ‘Web Grabs’ feature to insert images, videos and notes or custom text. Capture and cache web content from browsing to read later on eInk.
7. A lot of focus on multimedia publishing – There’s a Link Notes multimedia authoring tool to create images, notes, etc. and add them to original text. 
8. Android optimized for dual screen.

Alex is supposed to arrive by end of the year. The Web Grabs feature and the web browsing are both killer features.

Not sure who the multimedia authoring tool is aimed at.

Asus’ Dual Screen eReaders

My initial take on the Asus eReader was rather harsh because of its focus on multi-tasking. The Asus eReaders do bring a few good things to the table -

1. The lower end $163 priced eReader will help bring prices of eReaders down further.
2. The Split Screen is a good design feature as it provides more real estate in a smaller package. It also caters to people who want the two pages at a time view that a book affords. 
3. Asus have said the higher end version will have a WebCam and support Skype marking the first time an eReader will support voice and video chat.
4. 2 Color screens is impressive although they will likely be LCD screens and not optimal for reading.

Asus are bringing some good ideas to the table and even if their eReaders do not take off it will help the eReader eco-system overall.

Entourage Edge Dual Screen eReader

The Entourage Edge is a really interesting device. Perhaps my favorite out of the dual screens.

1. The Best of Both Worlds in this case really is Best of Both – there’s a full 9.7″ eInk Screen and a 10.1″ LCD screen.
2. They manage to come in at a decent price given the larger sized screens i.e. $490.
3. A Stylus to write directly in your books.
4. Journal application to take notes and add scribbles.
5. Also expand space between lines of a book if you need more space for notes (something missing in Sony Touch).
6. Good interplay between the screens – Highlight a phrase in an ebook and search for it on the LCD screen. Click a PDF link on eInk screen and it open ups on the LCD screen.
7. Audio recording.
8. Library Application on the touchscreen to organize books, notes and multimedia by subject.
9. Uses Android and has half a million free books from Google.
10. Saves and backs-up books and notes (including scribbles) on the Entourage web server.
11. The battery life is a little limited at just 6 hours.

Impressive Support and Extensions

1. ePub, PDF, Microsoft Office (3rd party app needed). 
2. Video – 3GP, MP4, Adobe Flash Lite (H.264).
3. Audio – MP3, wav, 3gpp, MP4, amr, acc, ogg.
4. mp3 audio recording and 1.3 megapixel camera.
5. 3G, WiFi and Blue Tooth support.

It releases Feb 2010. However, its available for pre-order now.

They have a really good demo with videos of the different capabilities - go try it out.

Barnes & Noble’s Nook Dual Screen eReader

Please read my Kindle Vs Nook Review which covers the Nook’s best features.

It’s interesting that the Alex with its browser support and save text from browser to read on eInk feature has already improved on the Nook’s dual screen Best of Both Worlds feature.

At the same time the Entourage has taken the dual screen concept in a completely different direction, although at almost double the price.