Re: Gen2 OLPC to be dual-screen "ebook"

On Tue, 20 May 2008, Robotech_Master wrote:

> http://www.xconomy.com/2008/05/20/negroponte-unveils-2nd-generation-olpc-laptop-its-an-e-book/
>
> They think they can get it down to $75 by using the same 
> displays being developed for portable DVD players.

That will be interesting, given that the vast majority of DVD 
players don't come anywhere near the resolution of the current 
XO.  More to the point - there is no real need for any higher 
resolution than 720x480. A 1.5x1 ratio screen at 720x480 would be 
fine, since DVDs don't have more picture than that.

Perhaps this is the Nintendo DS lesson - cheaper to double the 
screen area by doubling the screens than by making a bigger 
screen.

I would also be nervous about the touch keyboard. A touch keypad 
isn't too bad, but in my experience, touch keyboard screens suck 
even when they work well. But - it might be that "bookness" is 
more important than "laptopness", and the keyboard won't see much 
use.

In that case, two side-by-side 720x480 portrait displays should 
work quite well. The cost and market factors that drive 720x480 
mean that it could very well be years before a higher resolution 
device can come close in pricing (it's taken 50 years to make 
widescale improvements in the television display format). That 
means the device sets both a consistent and durable de facto 
standard. Dropping the touch screen - and even replacing the 
computer with dedicated ereader hardware - to get a pure ebook 
reader really could push down to the $50 price point.

One key advantage I see there is that setting a consistent and 
durable standard for the resolution in a device with the form 
factor and battery life to be a good reader has the potential to 
trigger widescale content production. Publishers could publish 
knowing that they will work well on the two-page 720x480 portrait 
device. Furthermore, they won't need to republish in two years 
time when the super upgrade becomes available. Such publications 
will work on more sophisticated (and expensive) devices as well, 
and that is fine, but it's not the same market driver as a single 
market format that works in a $50 reader.


:: chris smith ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecuna possit - cicero ::

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