(1) Are you in a position (somehow) to figure out the amount of RAM? Either download one of the various "iOS Monitor" type apps, or just open a bunch of large apps and see if we get the same level of swapping (ie restarting from scratch) that we see on iPad2 when you switch between them.
(2) We're told the CPU really is just an A5 with a better GPU, but there's always the possibility it has larger caches or interfaces with faster RAM or suchlike. Does it feel faster than an iPad2? Again if possible, can you sneak something like either installing a Linpack app or running a Safari speed test?
Makes you wonder about the future of e-readers? Sure the e-ink is still somewhat easier on eyes, but with such high PPI the tablets will be 'good enough' for many people.
You are assuming that these particular features are the features that matter to users. One could equally well say that - Hi DPI color - ability to read PDFs at a reasonable size are the essential features eBook readers care about. Certainly they are the features I personally care about.
Bottom line is you are doing the very old, very boring, very juvenile thing of saying "I care immensely about feature X, therefore the whole world does".
What we do know is that iPads have sold in huge numbers, and that Apple is happy to publicize their sales numbers. Amazon has been cagy about Kindle numbers, and refuses to state the split between Kindle eInk and Kindle Fire sales. I don't know what they're trying to hide (low-priced Kindle eInk are all the sales? Tablets are the future and no-one wants Kindle eInk?) but they certainly don't seem confident about the long-term future of eInk readers.
You're forgetting that the costs of developing and maintaining a single-function eInk reader with a minimal OS have to be much, much less than a mainstream tablet, and as such there's no reason why eInk can't continue to be a sustainable niche market.
The original poster was not talking about niche markets. He was talking about "Makes you wonder about the future of e-readers? ... the tablets will be 'good enough' for many people."
That's my point. We have already REACHED the "good enough for most people" point. Even Amazon appears to think this given they released the Fire (though, as I said, they are being so cagey about releasing information who knows what they think or hope for).
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BaboonGuy - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
NO GALLERY BELOW!Kaboose - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Could you hold on a minute, a single minute, A SINGLE FREAKING MINUTE IS ALL IM ASKING FOR HERE!JazzMang - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
lol what?! Everyone needs to chill. I'm sure the gallery will be up... when its done (3DRealms style)Ryan1981 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
I used to have patience, but then I got an arrow in the knee :PSilthDraeth - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Anand used to post galleries before he took an arrow to the knee.Anand Lal Shimpi - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Sorry about that! The photos were uploaded but the gallery wasn't auto-created. It's fixed now!Take care,
Anand
name99 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
(1) Are you in a position (somehow) to figure out the amount of RAM? Either download one of the various "iOS Monitor" type apps, or just open a bunch of large apps and see if we get the same level of swapping (ie restarting from scratch) that we see on iPad2 when you switch between them.(2) We're told the CPU really is just an A5 with a better GPU, but there's always the possibility it has larger caches or interfaces with faster RAM or suchlike. Does it feel faster than an iPad2? Again if possible, can you sneak something like either installing a Linpack app or running a Safari speed test?
dagamer34 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
They've already said it's double what the box 360 and PS3 have, which means its 1GB.name99 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Ahh, I missed that. Thx.tipoo - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Source? I didn't see that in any live blog. And the PS3 has 256 system and 256 video memory fyi, the 360 is 512 shared.meloz - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Makes you wonder about the future of e-readers? Sure the e-ink is still somewhat easier on eyes, but with such high PPI the tablets will be 'good enough' for many people.Articuno - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Not at $499 it won't be.Kamen75 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
...And the Nook Simple Touch's 60 hour battery life.scook9 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
Not if you take it outside.....name99 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
You are assuming that these particular features are the features that matter to users. One could equally well say that- Hi DPI color
- ability to read PDFs at a reasonable size
are the essential features eBook readers care about. Certainly they are the features I personally care about.
Bottom line is you are doing the very old, very boring, very juvenile thing of saying "I care immensely about feature X, therefore the whole world does".
What we do know is that iPads have sold in huge numbers, and that Apple is happy to publicize their sales numbers. Amazon has been cagy about Kindle numbers, and refuses to state the split between Kindle eInk and Kindle Fire sales. I don't know what they're trying to hide (low-priced Kindle eInk are all the sales? Tablets are the future and no-one wants Kindle eInk?) but they certainly don't seem confident about the long-term future of eInk readers.
Metaluna - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
You're forgetting that the costs of developing and maintaining a single-function eInk reader with a minimal OS have to be much, much less than a mainstream tablet, and as such there's no reason why eInk can't continue to be a sustainable niche market.name99 - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
The original poster was not talking about niche markets. He was talking about"Makes you wonder about the future of e-readers? ... the tablets will be 'good enough' for many people."
That's my point. We have already REACHED the "good enough for most people" point. Even Amazon appears to think this given they released the Fire (though, as I said, they are being so cagey about releasing information who knows what they think or hope for).
tim851 - Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - link
Okay, scook9 says "Not if you take it outside" and you call that "very old, very boring, very juvenile".Great comment!
PeteH - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - link
That is really gorgeous.