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The iPad isn’t even out yet, but there’s lots of speculation about how it will change the fact of content delivery. If folks are already talking about how it could affect how we read in a niche as small as comics, you know people are chomping at the bit to get this device.
Two articles that jumped out at me were c|net’s “iPad might breathe life into digital comics” and this post on the Panelfly website. Panelfly is an iPhone app that hopes to be big (no pun intended) on the iPad.
I’m sure the experience of reading comics on the iPad will be really slick, but I will never buy a closed device from Apple. Not when I know there’s better overall experiences out there to be had.
I’ve been reading comics on two devices for a few years now: my Samsung Q1 and my Android phone. The Q1 would be absolutely perfect if it weren’t so damn heavy. It’s just too much for my wussy-boy wrists to use one-handed. The screen is perfect though and any smaller than 7″ won’t allow for a readable full page IMO.
The Android experience is helped big time by the very excellent Droid Comic Viewer. You can pretty much only read one panel at a time and there’s LOTS of panning, but DCV adds all of the features you could want.
So here’s what I want for my digital comics enjoyment:
- At least a 7″ color touchscreen capable of multitouch
- Android under the hood with access to the Market
- As close to 1Ghz processor as you can get
- At least as much storage for apps as the Nexus 1
- SD card slot
- USB host for storage and mouse
- Bluetooth for wireless keyboard
- Wifi – I don’t care if it has 3G
- Around 1lb in weight
- I think this can all be done for under $400
I’m already hearing about such devices, but I haven’t found the perfect fit. The Haleron iLet Mini HAL doesn’t seem to have the processing power. The Entourage eDGe is very expensive and may be overkill. The Dell Mini 5 is too small. I guess I just need to be patient.
