The Barnes & Nobel eBook reader has been revealed.  Do any of us really want one if we already have a Tablet PC?  There’s no question that the newspaper industry is in trouble as we now get our news so many other ways.  But are eBook readers the solution?

If you’re interested in an eBook reader, there are lots of small-screen dedicated readers on the market today.  The Kindle 2 & DX and the Sony eReader top the list.  There’s also a second tier set of products that include the recently mentioned BeBook, IREX DR800SG and a whole host of others.  Some might say the market is getting crowded.

As I’ve said in other postings, “I want a device that allows me to do two things very well: browse the internet and read eBooks.”  Kindle is the only announced product with a built-in web browser, but it’s not without limitations—including the fact that it can’t be used overseas.

If you’re thinking of buying an eBook reader, before you decide your “must reading” should include Brian Lam’s posting at Gizmodo.com: “Why I Think E-Ink Readers Are Dumb.”  I especially agree with Brian’s comment that:

“Crippled as these more “advanced” readers are, they still don’t come close to approaching the functionality of a true tablet. The Apple and Microsoft tablets will be capable of decent book presentation, but will also play back TV, movies, music, web pages and hybridized print media.”

A couple of years ago, “convergence” was the hope and plan for the PDA, camera, cell phone and MP3 player industries.  In many respects that convergence has occurred.  Now it’s time to think about convergence again, this time converging the netBook, the eBook reader, touch and multimedia player.  Wait a minute, don’t we already have that with a Table PC?

Another article worth reading is Suzanne Choney’s MSNBC posting, “Tablet, schmablet: What would it be good for?”

Technorati Tags: ebook reader