But, it's another device to carry...
If the cost wasn't so obnoxiously high the fact that it is another device wouldn't be a big problem. That is if Amazon can get enough publishers of magazines on board as I'm always carrying trade related journals around with me. The problem here is the lack of color. The other problem is that my reading of this sort of material is sporadic, on a time available basis, and can be done just as well on a a good high resolution laptop. So I don't see much take up here if you can get your electronic books in a form that can be used on any sort of PC.
The other situation where this device might make sense, again at a reasonable cost, is in education. If it can in any way lower the cost of text books in public schools adoption might take place. Again this leads to students actually carrying less stuff around with them. I've actually seen little kids struggle to handle their book bags, so there is potential here.
One of the biggest attractions of the iPhone was that it combined several devices: phone, iPod, Internet Browser (portable computer); into one, portable device.
Exactly! The only problem with the iPhone is the lack of alternative models. Specifically a model with a larger display.
Ditch the iPod, Cell Phone, impromptu Camera, Laptop... carry an iPhone-- It doesn't do everything, but it does "enough" 90% of the time.
This is why I see the so called smart phone market exploding over the short term. Frankly I see the iPhone as a very early example of a smart phone, at least from the standpoint of consumers, that needs to evolve quickly. IPhones grasp on the smart phone market is not as tight as many would want to believe.
Personally, I would prefer a somewhat larger size iPhone that:
1) replaces my wallet (ID, Credit Cards, etc).
2) better Camera, VideoCam
3) Open OS X environment
4) eBook reader with annotation*
Very close to what I'm looking for, one device to serve them all (or something like that). Notably one of the biggest desires is a much better screen. That is one that is larger and of a higher pixel density.
Your idea that it would be a wallet replacement is not that far off as cell phones are sued for this in Japan from what I understand. To really replace your wallet though it would need to supply a cover or overleaf for drivers license and the occasional "card". The biggest problem here is keeping the device slim.
I'm of the opinion though that an iPhone that totally replaces everything in the pocket will still be too small to act as a book reader. At least for comfortable long term reading. For looking up technical information in PDF's the iPhone could be ideal. I say could because there is no good way to manage your PDF's or other files on the device - it needs a file browser bad. This hints at your mention of a open OS on the device and frankly is the reason I don't have an iPhone at the moment.
Which brings up the issue of cost. Sorry Apple but if I'm going to spend that much money on a small computer, like the iPhone, I need it to do a lot more than you are allowing. Especially when the device is perfectly capable of do what I want but has artificial limitations.
*There are 3rd-party (free) apps for the iPhone that provide an eBook reader and on-screen drawinging (Sketches).
Yeah if you are willing to compromise the iPhone a bit. In any event he screen is still to small for continuous reading. combine that with the fact that Apple has yet to ship a computers most basic and required application, has caused me to skip the iPhone until Apple wises up. By the way this most basic of applications is a file browser.
Like the iPhone, this "somewhat larger device" does not need to be best-in-breed for every function (phone, eBook reader, etc)... just better than most, intuitive, high-quality, fun to use-- eh, Apple-like!
Correct. At the moment though the iPhone is best of the breed. It does look like Android will give it a run for its money. Hopefully Apple will have a number of iPhones out by the time Android hits.
I suspect that Apple will announce such a device in January.
I'm resisting purchasing anything for a few more months. If I can't find the right device for the pocket I might go for an ultra mobile PC. Don't really want to do that but the iPhone is just to limited in its current guise.
Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.
- Henry David Thoreau
Interestingly Apple has been very successful at the simplifying of technical details. The thing is they went to far with the iPhone in my opinion. It is not about the easy to use interface which is very important for the device, it is more about the intentional lack of access. The machine would be much more useful with things like a cover flow based file browser and a few good independent viewing programs. I often have to reference technical details for the equipment I work on, normally either HTML or PDF documents. It is critical that any smart phone I get has the ability to manage and view those documents locally. Apple went off the deep end on this issue if you ask me.
Dave
