Et Tu, Kindle?

We keep pushing the all purpose comm-digital device in the form factor of a netbook but at half the weight. Well it looks like the idea will get yet another function to add to the list — eBook reader –

The first Pixel Qi product, called 3qi, is a 10.1-inch netbook screen designed to work in three modes: a black-and-white e-ink mode for reading text documents and e-books, and two color modes, designed for use indoors or in bright sunlight, that are more suitable for Web surfing and video playback.

E-ink mode extends battery life by shutting off the backlight, and is intended for reading e-books, documents, Web sites or blogs and other text-based material.

The screens should be in netbooks and on store shelves by the end of this year, said Jepsen. Giving netbooks new screens capable of making them e-readers could make them compelling holiday presents, for price and functionality alone.

E-reader makers have reason to fear such innovation because people will be able to buy devices with more functions for about the same price. The latest Kindle, a stand-alone e-reader, costs US$359 according to Amazon.com, while some of the world’s most popular netbooks with 10-inch screens, Asustek’s Eee PC 1000HE and Acer’s Aspire One AOD150-1165, are similarly priced.

Its a compelling economic-usage case. Why spend $299+ for the Kindle when one can have its functionality and computability too for about the same price? The 3qi will also support color that the Kindle folks have said they won’t support till 2010. I can hear price points dropping already.

Linky.
screen article.