eDGe: Are Netbook/e-Reader Hybrids Next?

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There are a lot of people who go back and forth between buying a netbook and an e-book reader these days. These devices are not necessarily interchangeable, but in these tough times, people prefer not spending more than they have on gadgets. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get the best of both worlds in one device? Somebody has thought of that. That somebody is enTourage Inc. The company has designed an e-book reader / netbook hybrid (called eDGe)  that enables you to read your documents and manage your files on the go without a hassle.

eDGe also uses Google Android to help you get the most out of your gadget. You can connect to the Internet through WiFi or a 3G network. You can also bring your books to your e-book reader via a USB drive or a SD card. You also have 4 GB of space on your netbook, so you can store up to 3000 documents on eDGe and take them with you on the road. Here are the official specifications for eDGe:

  • Dimensions: 8.25″ x 10.75″ by 1.0″ (closed)
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs.
  • Internal Memory: 4 GB
  • File Formats: ePub, PDF
  • LCD Touchscreen Display Size: 1024 x 600 (10.1″)
  • E-paper Input: Wacom® Penabled®
  • Display Size: 9.7″ e-Ink®(1200 x 825), 16 shades of gray
  • Battery Life: 16+ hours utilizing the e-reader screen
  • External Memory: SD card slot, 2 USB ports
  • Input: Stylus input on e-paper and touchscreen. Virtual keyboard. Bluetooth and USB keyboard

eDGe may have a dual personality but the e-book reader one is clearly dominant. The device does come with a nice set of input features and support for open format documents is a plus. But the battery life and the on-board internal memory keep this device from being a true netbook. Here is how the device stacks up against other top e-book readers:

Credit: enTourage

The concept is certainly interesting and something that may be adopted by other major companies. But at $490, it’s hard to justify the price of eDGe. If the device was priced as low as a Kindle or a Nook, we may have a whole different discussion.

Your take: does eDGe have a chance?


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