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Having already weighed in heavily on the Netbook front, thanks to the popularity of its category-defining line of Eee PCs, hardware manufacturer ASUSTeK (ASUS) now looks set to turn its attention to the burgeoning electronic reader market.
The Eee Reader, aiming true and gunning for Amazon and Sony. Image: ASUS.
And, rather than competing directly with leading devices offered by the likes of Amazon (Kindle) and Sony (Reader), ASUS appears willing to push the established envelope in order to make its mark on the category and wow prospective consumers in the process.
Specifically, while both the Kindle and Reader are single-screen book readers, the virgin offering from ASUS reportedly looks and feels much more like a conventional book insofar as it boasts dual screens and a folding spine hinge.
Although initial consumer reaction might be to assume both screens are simply used to deliver a more authentic book-like reading experience, a related report pubished by UK broadsheet The Times suggests the inclusion of a second screen signifies much more versatile applications.
For example, while one screen could be used to display the pages of a novel – much like existing electronic book readers – the second might be used to surf the Web, and having two screens could also see one employed for displaying a keyboard, which would make the device something of a pseudo Netbook.
And, given those proffered usages and the above concept image, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to assume that perhaps one or both of the screens on the new ASUS reader will arrive with integrated touch functionality.
While ASUS has yet to officially name its electronic book reader, the Taiwan-based maker is claiming that the incoming twin-screened device could well hit the market for as little as 100 GBP, which would undercut much of the competition by almost half.
If those pricing claims prove to be more than just pre-release posturing, and the ASUS device does indeed come equipped with some or all of the features that are presently being banded around, then Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Reader are facing a potentially rocky road on the high street.
Current chatter suggests the platform will be ready for a retail launch this coming holiday season.
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