h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The market is about to get a LOT bigger. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10098111.stm

I'm really liking this. I really didn't like Amazon and Apple with their proprietary models.

Also, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Notion Ink's Adam. It's just so much more versatile than everything else out so far. Of course, I'm sure there will be better things to follow. I've read of estimates that nearly 50 tablets could be released by next year. I think by July, when the Adam is scheduled for U.S. release I'll know if there's anything significantly more impressive.

Here's a concise review including video(click the tab) of a nearly complete prototype from CES in Barcelona back in February. http://www.best-ereaders.com/2010/04/10/adam-tablet/

That site might be a good source for information of other e-readers and tablets as well.

Apple have sold a million iPads, what I found interesting was Apples approach compared to everyone elses.

Apples processor in the iPad is similar to the one in the iPhone, everyone else is using dual core Arm processors, so Apples had to optimise their code to get it to run well.

Interestingly if I was getting one I'd go for the Notion Ink as well. http://my.opera.com/mentholpenguin/blog/2010/05/03/narrowing-down-early-tablets

I'll probably get one late this year or next year sometime, if I'm going to get one at all.

A render of the Adam is currently my desktop background

Like your thoughts on your blog.

Thanks.

I just hope that the price isn't too high, one of the reviews i read mentioned that the CEO had remarked about the price not being too high but he might just be saying that.<smiley.

The estimates I've seen so far range from 300 to 800 USD. I really, really want one!

Yea, all I can tell so far is that there will be 16Gb and 32Gb versions. But since it will include a card slot, that might not be much of a concern. My first reflex is to buy the most expensive one to offset early obsolescence. Of course there may be other differences like connectivity. Will the base model have 3G? I know it will have WiFi, according to what I've seen so far.

Arrgh... two months seems so far away.

I don't think that I will need more than 16gb of storage. as for wifi vs 3g I'm still debating.

3G can access internet anywhere can't it? So I'll probably go for that, I just hope that the Adam is not carrier locked.

I think there will be a version without the Pixel Qi screen but the screen is one of the reasons why the Adam is better than the others! I guess that the Qi screen versions will be more expensive compared to the standard LCD screens, although the prices might fall because the Qi screens are made with the same machines that make the normal LCD screens.

I seriously doubt it will be carrier locked. Everything else they're doing seems to indicate that openness and choice is prime. For example, I read that you have a choice of OS; Android, Linux or Chromium(?).

Oh, and I'm with you on that screen. That seems to be one of it's hottest selling points. I haven't read that it will be an option, but if it is, I'll definitely opt.

If you go to http://www.notionink.in/downloads.php there are two links at the bottom for two different screen type models. The different screens may also lead to a thicker/thinner screen but its not a huge difference. I have fairly chunky, square hands anyway so a thicker one might be better for me.

That's a good point about the openness and choice, I'd read about the choice of OS. Chrome OS is too cloud based for me, I think its Ubuntu with a load of stuff removed and everything is done from inside the Chrome browser. I've not tried it out to check though.

Android would be my choice, especially as I think Notion Ink are doing a custom UI for it and Android has been used on other tablets, it also has the might of google behind it.

http://techie-buzz.com/interviews/notion-ink-ceo-rohan-shravan-interview.html

An interview with Rohan Shravan, the bottom question is about pricing and he says it will be less than the iPad.

Sweet... Of course, I'd be very surprised if anyone said they'd be MORE expensive than [insert Apple product here].

I hope that he means globally cheaper, not just in the US. And I hope that price is not one after its been subsidised by a network. Just have to wait now. Patience isn't my strong point!

As far as that goes, it sounds like it will be globally cheaper. Even cheaper in India by around $100 but that will be through network subsidies.

http://www.begeek.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/691404701.jpg

Very amusing image.

And it still can't multitask.

With the latest update the iPad will have pseudo multi-tasking. If it had proper multi-tasking it would have negated one of the advantages Android had over it but Apple decided not to do it properly.

You know you've done too much research when you search for "notion ink adam" and you realise you've read the articles at least once before!

There appears to be one potential flaw in custom UI's, updates for android. My only concern about tablets with custom UI's is that it relies on the manufacturer for the updates and some aren't great at updating them.

I hope that google releases an android tablet or finds some way around custom UI updates. The other option might be to see if you can install android yourself but I'm not sure that's possible.

Google is making an Android tablet for Verizon.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250104575238680540806288.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

I just wish Notion Ink would give us a release date for the Adam. There's been little news since February.

Wonder what features it'll have then.

I've heard June as a release date for the Adam. Apparently flash was holding them back but android 2.2 has support for flash so they should be good to go on that front. Tegra might have caused delays, there were rumors on if it was responsible for delays but NVIDIA said it wasn't a problem. However I don't trust NVIDIA at all.

Which leads to me wonder if they're still working on the custom UI, and they have the 1 million dollar app competition and their new API so I wonder if they're trying to do too much. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. I can't afford one anyway so I have to wait.

Dunno if you knew this but tablet devices don't currently get access to the android market. But it may change when Google release their tablet.

http://www.liliputing.com/2010/05/nvidia-ceo-implies-google-android-tablet-edition-is-on-its-way.html