Tablet will overtake kindle

Posted by Michael on January 24, 2010, 7:17pm, 71 views

Excitement surrounding the impending release of Apple’s tablet device points the way towards the future of electronic readers.

In its current form the kindle is just too one dimensional.

Much of the Christmas kindle hype came from newspapers, which have a vested interest in promoting the platform. In fact the whole of the publishing industry, including books and magazines, is hoping it takes off.

Don’t rush out and buy an early version, is my view.

The kindle needs to be more than just a reader; it needs to be part of an integrated communications device, which is where Apple and Google are heading.

Instead of creating hardware to read digital books, software will be developed that works on a range of platforms.

An electronic book or newspaper should be readable on a mobile phone, laptop computer or PC.

The hardware will improve over time and there will be more options in terms of size and capabilities.

I like the size of mini laptops, but they are still a little bulky to carry around and pull out on a crowded train.

I envisage something in the size and shape of a kindle that’s also a computer, phone and webcam with wireless internet connectivity.

Apple and HTC are both tipped to announce highly portable tablet computers in coming weeks.

It makes sense that Google and HTC might produce something that uses the Chrome operating system. If it includes mobile phone capability it will be a real winner.

As for the current kindle, it’s likely to go the way of the Palm handheld devices before they morphed into phones. Remember them?

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