NotionInk: Adam tablet

[Tilda]

Hi guys,

Thought I'd post this and see if anybody else has been following this tablet like I have been for the last year and a bit!

Its a tablet running android (which means it can use the kindle book reader out for android, along with all the new android apps coming to the amazon market soon).

It also has a funky new screen called the PixelQi screen.
In a normal mode it is backlit and LCD-like, however if you switch to its Qi mode, it is like a kindle in terms of back-lit-ness and how easy it is to read in sunlight.

It's literally just been demoed at CES and a first batch of preorders have been taken.

The CES demo is here: Notion Ink Adam hands-on at CES 2011 - SlashGear - sadly they dont show much of the Qi screen.
The official promo video is here: Notion Ink: Contact
But the blog of their CEO is here which has some other videos and screens: Notion Ink

An early Qi screen comparison is here (the Qi screen is on the laptop in the middle) and you can see the kindle-levels of readability:
YouTube - Pixel Qi vs Kindle vs Toshiba R600 vs regular LCD tablet

I'm not being paid to plug this I promise, I'm just very keen on it and can't wait until i can afford one. Just wondered if anybody else has been watching it?

 

[ford prefect]

Having just watched the Slashgear videos, I do hope that was a very early unit, because the touchscreen looked pretty jerky and a bit unresponsive when it was being used.

 

[TdC]

that's awesome.

I WANT IT!!!

 

[Tilda]

Engaget have new hands on and interviews here:

Notion Ink Adam hands-on preview (video) -- Engadget

The Engadget Interview: Notion Ink's Rohan Shravan -- Engadget

 

[DaGaffer]

I've been following this for a year. Looks great but I'm just incredibly dubious about its chances of success. I also don't think they have a hope in hell of coming in at the price points they were talking about.

 

[Ch3tan]

I'm wary of the screen; I'd want to try it before I bought it. Kindle "like", does not mean as good as the kindle screen for reading.

 

[TdC]

I'm wary of the screen; I'd want to try it before I bought it. Kindle "like", does not mean as good as the kindle screen for reading.

yes, but it is a tablet, not a reader. imo, and I am wary of being a fanboi, it's going to be reasonably awesome.

 

[Raven]

I know its dreadfully unfashionable to like windows but I really wish they would just release them with windows 7, for software compatibility alone.

 

[DaGaffer]

I know its dreadfully unfashionable to like windows but I really wish they would just release them with windows 7, for software compatibility alone.

There are a number of tablets using Win7, all of them crap. Win7 just isn't optimised as a touchscreen OS. I like Win7 as well, but I wouldn't want it running on my Tab.

 

[cHodAX]

Shit that engadget video of the Adam is fucking great, I really really want one now. It is gonna fuck iPad in the arse.

 

[TdC]

you and me both, Cho. I wants it!

 

[cHodAX]

I have 400 biccies put aside but I can't find reliable pricing information and obviously the first run is sold out on pre-order. Any idea as to the price for the model with pixel-qi screen?

 

[Tilda]

Check here Cho

Cost of Adam Delivered (including tax) by Country

 

[Tilda]

Backlit LCD, Wifi only
$375.33 +$50 = 425.33
*0.635011 = £270.09
+£ 54.02 vat (20% as of 01/01/2011)
TOTAL PRICE of £324.11

Backlit LCD, Wifi + 3G
$425.33 +$50
*0.635011 =£295.49
+£ 59.10 vat (20% as of 01/01/2011)
TOTAL PRICE of £354.59


Pixel Qi LCD, Wifi only
$499.45 +$50
*0.635011 =348.91
+£69.78 vat (20% as of 01/01/2011)
TOTAL PRICE of £418.69


Pixel Qi LCD, Wifi +3G
$549.99 +$50
*0.635011 =381.00
+£76.20 vat (20% as of 01/01/2011)
TOTAL PRICE of £457.20

 

[Tilda]

I'm wary of the screen; I'd want to try it before I bought it. Kindle "like", does not mean as good as the kindle screen for reading.

Did you see the comparison of kindle vs mac vs Qi screen I posted?

 

[Ch3tan]

Yes, but I want too see it. The eink is like reading paper, it's comfortable for long reading sessions and it only uses battery when changing page. You can't tell those things from a video

 

[DaGaffer]

I think the Adam may have missed its window; its going to be hit by all the big brands flogging Honeycomb tablets in a few months on one side, and by the e-readers getting colour and video (thanks to Mirasol displays) on the other, and probably by the end of 2011 tablets with both, meaning mainstream tablets that do everything the Adam does, with much bigger distribution and marketing.

 

[TdC]

so what are you saying? get it? don't get it? if you're saying "wait" then it's the same old it kit argument all over again.

I like this one, and I guess because I like it I want it to be a good thing. I should have some dosh to shell out on it, though getting stung for 120 eur tax is going to be shit.

 

[Tilda]

I may have not been clear enough DeGaffer -

Adam is getting Honeycomb, its just that the tablet is released first, so honeycomb will be an upgrade. The Notion Ink CEO has a blog where he has said he made this tablet to be hacked, have chrome or linux installed on it, or for xda to release really cool stuff. but Notion Ink will be porting honeycomb across when its actually released to people other than motorola.

Secondly - adam has colour - its display both a colour lcd, and a tinted 3rd generation pixel Qi screen for e-reading. You can switch between the two.

I so want one!

 

[DaGaffer]

I may have not been clear enough DeGaffer -

Adam is getting Honeycomb, its just that the tablet is released first, so honeycomb will be an upgrade. The Notion Ink CEO has a blog where he has said he made this tablet to be hacked, have chrome or linux installed on it, or for xda to release really cool stuff. but Notion Ink will be porting honeycomb across when its actually released to people other than motorola.

Secondly - adam has colour - its display both a colour lcd, and a tinted 3rd generation pixel Qi screen for e-reading. You can switch between the two.

I so want one!

It may not get Honeycomb; rumor has it Google are setting a min resolution for honeycomb and the Adam currently falls under it. That means even if hacked you don't get access to the Android market. Now I know the market isn't as important as Apple's, and NotionInk are saying they'll do their own, but it won't get support. The variant support for Android is bad enough already without doing bespoke stuff for single device markets (I know, I'm going through this shit at the moment). And without a vibrant app store, a tab is pretty limited.

I know the Adam has colour, and the solution NotionInk came up with is elegant enough, but it will end up being much more expensive than Mirasol.

This is why I'm no longer convinced of its success; it may not get Honeycomb, which means few apps, and it won't be able to compete on price (I don't believe any of the current prices being banded about anyway). If the Honeycomb situation is resolved, then you can make a judgement on whether you're prepared to pay for the hardware, but if it isn't, it may as well be an expensive door stop.

 

[TdC]

But Gaff, the only other one I know is that Motorola one, and the released specs are quite contradictory. especially regarding resolution, unless big M are also going down the route of blatant lies, stating 1080p when that is actually the output rez on the hdmi....just like Sony *cough* says...

 

[Tilda]

You can disbelieve the prices all you want, but thats what they've announced, billed and started shipping to people at...

The rumour about screen rez was denied by google iirc.

 

[DaGaffer]

You can disbelieve the prices all you want, but thats what they've announced, billed and started shipping to people at...

The rumour about screen rez was denied by google iirc.

Billed? Started shipping? I don't think so. It doesn't have FCC approval yet, and the pre-order process is rather interestingly missing from the notionink site. Pre-orders were supposed to ship from Jan 6; does anyone have one? Nuh uh.

They were still demoing hand made prototypes at CES and yet taking pre-orders for delivery that week? Caveat emptor people.

 

[cHodAX]

Colour e-ink screens on the horizon.

Hanvon brings world's first color E Ink reader to CES, we go hands-on (video) -- Engadget

 

[cHodAX]

These are going to be interesting as well...

Samsung shows flexible and transparent displays at CES 2011 (video) -- Engadget

 

[Tilda]

First units of Adam will be shipping on Tuesday and Wednesday. FCC and CE clearance and numbers have been given.

 

[Tom]

My Box! (with more photos) « Notion Ink

 

[TdC]

wow, they're huge!

 

[inactionman]

Was interested in getting one of these, but it looks like much higher spec tablets are coming, with WTF resolution displays (1280x1024, and up).

 

[Tilda]

Nicer resolution but same gpu and processor speed, without the Qi out-door readable screen.