Comments on: E-book-friendly tablet coming from Microsoft? Pure speculation, but here’s why it just might happen

By: Felix Torres

Felix Torres — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:58:34 +0000

MS is, in fact, up to something. Several somethings.
One has been spotted:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10359328-1.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

http://news.cnet.com/2300-10805_3-10001597.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10359367-56.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

By: David Rothman

David Rothman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:12:13 +0000

Steve and Alan, thanks for your perspectives.

Microsoft is much more into software, but it does do branded hardware and of course offers basic designs for other companies to use.

Thanks,
David

By: Alan Wallcraft

Alan Wallcraft — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:05:16 +0000

SmartPhones are the missing link for Adobe ePub (not necessarily ePub, but ePub with Adobe DRM). However, MicroSoft isn’t competition because Windows Mobile is now only a minor player.

There are actually a couple of WinCE-based EInk devices with mobile Adobe Digital Editions (iriver Story and Hanvon WISEreader N520). So Adobe could presumably do a Windows Mobile port if they wanted to.

By: Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:09:59 +0000

MS is hoping that keeping its reader relevant will encourage its use by publishers. At the moment, they are being pushed into obscurity by Kindle/MobiPocket, Sony, B&N’s eReader, and OEM (ePub) in ascension.

MS isn’t a hardware business. So I doubt they’re pushing for a tablet device. On the other hand, if hardware makers were asking MS for updated reader apps that would help keep laptops, and future tablets, active in reader markets, I don’t think MS would ignore them.

Now, when MS reader can also port ePub, that will be big news…