Comments on: Intel’s new pocket-sized computers, RWA’s list of pirate sites, insta-bookers’ Lightning Source contract, and gains for online retailers

By: Brian Carnell

Brian Carnell — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:29:23 +0000

“Romance Writers of America is making an anti-piracy push and telling members about a new list of sites it regards as offenders—a database intended to help RWA members search for their illegally reproduced titles. So what happens when consumers hear of the list? Will they use it as a (non)shopping guide? Please don’t.”

LOL. So a lot of people who have never heard of RapidShare or Megaupload are about to learn that’s the place to go to download their ebooks for free!!

By: Joseph Gray

Joseph Gray — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:42:48 +0000

I don’t know why every bookstore and library doesn’t have one of those Espresso POD gadgets. And if all of the big publishers were smart, they would jump at making a deal to offer all of their back titles on these machines.

I love ebooks, but sometimes you want a pbook. Being able to walk into a store or library and walk away with a freshly printed copy of something that otherwise wouldn’t be available (or special order) is a great idea.

By: Aaron J. Walker

Aaron J. Walker — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:49:27 +0000

While MID’s are exciting, they are only now coming to market. However, MIDs and UMPCs are two different animals although both were announced around the same time.

UMPCs were supposed to be MIDs but something happened on the way to the manufacturing plant. UMPCs became way too expensive and underpowered as a “companion” device.

Now Intel has the opportunity to deliver MIDs at the below $500 price points UMPCs were supposed to be.

For e-reading, that could be a real boon since they will boast a color screen, and internet connectivity at (supposedly) a cheap price. If they can nail the UI, they could have a real hit. Which would be great for e-readers and e-reading.

But I agree, MIDs are the unspoken evolution of devices like the Dell Axim, Palm T/X and other PDAs.