I have just been sent this link to Kno by someone in my professional network. The information on the home page drew me in straightaway ..
"While no one was looking, someone revolutionized the textbook, higher education, and learning itself in one crazy, bold move."Yes, it’s a digital textbook. Yes, it’s a whole new ecosystem. Two spacious panels. Touch-screen interaction. A fully-stocked store. Video. Note-taking. Sharing and community.
Kno is everything a textbook was. And will be.
Take a look! What do you think?
To my mind, it just seems so cumbersome and awkward.
The idea is great and sound but the video gives the impression it is limited to 'textbooks' (presumably e-textbooks) and other educational material but would one want to use such a specialised device compared to a more general computer or tablet device?
Posted by: Deerwood | 22 September 2010 at 01:32 PM
In a word, No.
Love the hardware, root it and sell it as an Android device and I'll be seriously interested. Can it complete with the Galaxy Tab as my current object of desire - not so sure.
Love the idea of digital texts you can markup and annotate, but I want that app to be based on something open and standards compliant, so I can create my own content for my classes - and so that my students can use free tools to create their own content as well.
Package the whole lot in what looks like a closed, proprietary "ecosystem" that appears to be designed to ensure lock and cash flow for text book vendors, and I won't touch it.
I see the founder was one of the guys who set up Chegg, the textbook rental company, which wasn't my cup of tea but evidently it was and is successful. They will no doubt get investors - in fact, since the website has no "Buy" link yet, I can't help wondering if it is still at the market research stage. I'm sure it will come to market, and people will buy it, but I'm not in any rush to get one.
Mike Cosgrave
Posted by: mcosgrave | 23 September 2010 at 09:29 AM
When man was first trying to fly he kept gluing feathers to himself and leaping off cliffs. This thing 'looks' like a print text book with feathers glued all over it.
Posted by: Thom Gillespie | 23 September 2010 at 03:12 PM
I think it deserves a chance..looks interesting and certainly would save on the cost of textbooks for parents and students. Need a high school version next.
Posted by: Rosie Parmigiani | 23 September 2010 at 08:54 PM
I love it! I hope kids will soon have them in school. I watch them every day...drag their school bags with tons of books.
Posted by: AnaVar | 24 September 2010 at 08:20 AM
When man was first trying to fly he kept gluing feathers to himself and leaping off cliffs ,
Posted by: David | 24 September 2010 at 02:28 PM
In looking at this device, I am left wondering what really makes this better than a new digital textbook app that is developed for the iPad. In fact, I can't even believe that many developers would choose to develop apps for this device over the iTouch and iPad. With the iTunes distribution platform, there is a built-in way to get the new digitally textbook in users hands. I just can't see why anyone would want to buy a separate device for this. The two screens just doesn't seem like enough of a selling point. There may even be valuable other features but an iPad app seems to make a whole lot more sense to me.
Posted by: Fred Haas | 26 September 2010 at 03:24 AM
Agree with you Fred!
Posted by: Paul Simbeck-Hampson | 26 September 2010 at 09:45 PM
I can't even believe that many developers would choose to develop apps for this device over the iTouch and iPad. With the iTunes distribution platform,
Posted by: ffxiv gil | 27 September 2010 at 04:14 AM