College students: What do you think of the Kno? How would you use it and would you use it to replace all paper textbooks? http://www.kno.com?

I am definitely intrigued by the Kno. I feel it is an innovative product with a unique niche. I will break down my answer in two different ways: Look at how I would use it personally as a student.

Second how I feel others would use Kno, and its place in the market. Kno 1. I feel Kno is definitely on the right track when it comes to innovation.

We already know what eBooks have done for the literature industry but it has had little to no impact when it comes to textbooks. Kno serves that gap and is looking to fill the void with their product.

2.

Dual Touch Screens...that sounds quite amazing. My biggest problem with eBook readers is that they were too small and didn't feel like a book in my hand. But Kno once again solves that problem with two separate screens that you can interact with.

This provides a lot of endless possibilities.

3. App Market.

LOVE this idea. I feel any new innovative product needs to provide third party app developers an opportunity to take their product to the next level. But it will be extremely interesting to see how many developers sign on board with this.

What are the limitations/flexibility with the technology. Is there money to be made essentially?

4.

Let's talk about use in classrooms. I really don't see myself ever using this product inside a classroom. It seems too large.

This product clearly goes against the current tech trend, smaller is better. I absolutely love my netbook and would never switch it out for a Kno as it doesn't seem like a tool I could use to take effective notes. I would probably pull out my iPad before I consider the Kno.So it is definitely not useful out of the classroom.

5. Use outside the classroom? I can see potential there, but I don't see it being extremely useful.

Unless the apps are amazing, I would always prefer a Laptop and a Paper Textbook to the Kno. It's just how I work when I study. I like having the ability to write in the textbook, thumb through pages, jump back and forth between chapters at a flick of my hand.

I feel the Kno will bog me down. Especially in a college environment, my goal isn't to learn everything possible in the book, my goal is to get an A in the course. Sure watching an extra video in Kno might be cool, but I doubt it will really improve my grade.

Also group studying would be of no value if the other students don't have a Kno.

6. Time Effective.

I don't think this would be a good use of my time. If anything I feel the Kno would slow my thought process down. Very few teachers in the college environment teach at the same pace or organization as the book, this means I have to use every minute to my advantage.

This also means I will be jumping from Chapter 3 to 14 really quickly. I don't know if the Kno can handle that and will be effective at cutting down time. This can be a huge drawback.

7. Textbook Integration.It's hard to get a lot of information about the Kno right now, but the biggest question will be "What publishers do they have on board? " How many textbooks are going to be available through Kno.

If I am taking 5 courses a semester but only one or two of my 10 texts are available on the Kno, I am going to see little added value for me to purchase this. Especially when I assume this product will be costing upwards of $500 for the unit.

Summary I feel the Kno has the potential but I really don't see it succeeding in the market place.

This unit will most likely be overpriced and won't be able to integrate enough textbooks from the start to provide value to students. I hope they are approach Universities instead of Publishers so they can roll out the device say at one specific university. I feel that would be a stronger Marketing approach to unveil the value of Kno.

Contact one school, even a specific program at that school and strike up a deal. Get all the textbooks the students are using and unleash it in that small environment. See how it thrives and hopefully the word of mouth market will flourish.

But right now, I can see why no one has targeted the textbook market via technology, it is too difficult to grasp and too difficult to monetize. Especially when the target Market has already purchased a laptop, netbook, iPad, or eReader, it will be hard to convince them to add the Kno to their arsenal. Hopefully I am wrong, I am a big fan of education products and would love to see innovation in the field.

Simply, I just don't know how well Kno will do in the marketplace.

I don't think the Kno is necessarily better than a single tablet as a textbook. (Single tablets easily scroll through pages. The highly reflective Kno double-screen, bigger than the average textbook, can be straining to the eyes.) However, I like the Kno's capability to be used as a textbook and note pad simultaneously, as well as its support for pen stylus:

I think the Kno will be like OLPC's laptop.

It may inspire a generation of double-screen classroom tablets, but it may not succeed commercially. I would use it if it had a screen other than one that almost doubles as a mirror. Too much glare, as the following video shows: youtube.com/watch?v=6VeTnZ-YlEk&feature=... Other cons: * too heavy, it's 5.5 lbs.

If they could bring it to half of its weight... * too expensive, no word has been released about its pricing, but they're using "sub $1000" as a hint, so it must be near $1000. * short battery life To be fair, the Kno's Pros: * pen stylus - I type faster on keyboards and touchscreens (Kno also supports both), but I need a pen for easier sketches and diagrams * double screen - I can use 1 as a textbook and 1 as a notebook when I need both at the same time * book or notebook feel - the flexibility makes it easier to hold or balance I would get it if it were *reasonably*: * more ergonomic (to the eyes) * tougher (fairly shock-proof, maybe scratch-proof and waterproof) * lighter * cheaper * lasts longer without charging.

Thats definitely cool. I would want one as a student, but as a student I don't think I could afford too much. I think I would be much more likely to get one if its use extended much further than just study.By aiming for that 3-5 year niche if someone wants to get one the way it is marketed seems to imply its really only useful for study, where it looks like it would be a great ebook reader, tablet pc, etc. It also looks like it uses a light emitting display which may make it hard to read outside as shown in some of the promotional pictures, I would need to look into that first.

And they make no mention of a microphone for recording seminars. Seems like that would be a key feature and fairly low cost to include. I do like the two screens, I have two screens on my uni computer and they are extremely useful.

It also serves to protect it when not in use. If an ipad had two screens like this I would be more inclined to get one. Final summary: +Cool device +Would be very useful in class +Two screens would be great +Would make my bag lighter ;) -Seemingly no microphone -Limited use, doesn't sound like they intend for it to be used past study -Likely expensive when on my student budget -Probably light emitting display, although not a huge negative Final decision, well I'm almost out of uni so I would probably go for a device I know I can use afterwards (even though this has the potential to).

Would probably pay up to $450usd for this. Likely alternative:

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I like to read books in hard copy, I do not know why but when I am reading hard copy of the book I learn faster than if I would be reading it on PC or Kno. But I would not mind to have one Kno :).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.