Another product that is not even in the factory yet, but still a very interesting concept, has been displayed by MSI at CeBIT in what appears to be a closed booth of some sort, because they probably knew that gadgeteers present there would try and interact with it. MSI markets their concept as an eReader with dual-screen, some sort of mix between their Wind netbook and a tablet. It looks very good as you can see from the pictures.

Let's see, they have it packed with Windows 7 Premium and its heart is actually an Intel Atom Z processor, which kind of makes it a netbook, if you ask me. And the 10-inch screens also make it quite large for an e book reader. The displays are multitouch, but I guess it's the multitouch that Windows 7 comes with, which makes this system pretty standard and easy to use while on the go. The model displayed there is also quite heavy.

The two screens act as if in a dual-display setup for monitors, which means (assuming that you will read books from it) you will always have to adjust the size of the windows, putting a book on one screen and other windows on the other. I think MSI has to put a “separate screens” option in there. And even so, a dual-screen e-reader doesn't seem that logical to me. Even the cross-eyed can see this.

Or perhaps is it targeted at Siamese twins. You do not need two different books opened at the same time (except in some rare comparison-related cases), or even if it showed the pages in order, I bet users would have a weird tendency to turn the page, thus closing the device every time after the second page has been read. And while reading, I remember that you get really involved in the story, often forgetting about everything around you, you certainly don't need an instant messenger popping windows on the other screen continuously.

On the other hand, if you want to research something you have just read, the second screen can be very useful and practical, allowing you to keep your book opened on one screen and search online on the other, without having to minimize and restore windows all the time. It really depends on how fast it will be and the concept shown at CeBIT is not quite Speedy Gonzales. Also, what do two screens mean to battery life?

It is an interesting concept, I'll give MSI that. But they have to really think things through before releasing it, which they are going to do later this year from what they say.


Live report by Alex Vochin from CeBIT 2010 in Hanover, Germany.

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