Hands-On With Entourage Netbook, E-reader Combo

LAS VEGAS — The Entourage eDGe is an unusual device. With two screens that fold together like a book, the eDGe promises to be an electronic book reader and a netbook at the same time so users can switch from reading on the black-and-white E Ink screen to the adjacent LCD screen to send emails, browse and watch videos.

The eDGE, which was announced in October, made its debut at a preview event for the Consumer Electronics show Tuesday.

“Consumers can get everything they want in one device now,” says Doug Atkinson, vice-president of marketing and business development for Entourage Systems.

It’s a nifty idea that Entourage seems to have pulled off well.

At 3 lbs, the device feels surprisingly light weight and is well engineered. Under the hood, it runs Google’s Android operating system. The eDGe has an��ARM processor, 4 GB storage, an SD card slot, 3-megapixel camera and two USB ports.

The left half of the eDGe has a 9.7-inch e-paper display that can display books in the PDF and EPUB format. At first glance, it looks similar to the large screen Kindle DX but offers more features. You can�make notes on it using the stylus though what you will end up with is a crude scrawl that looks like the drawing of a four-year old–but it is legible.

There’s also a highlight button that lets you mark specific portions of the text and save it for reference later. The eDGE lets you scroll through a library of books on the LCD color screen and search for strings that are displayed in the e-reader on the other side.

The 10.1-inch LCD touchscreen can play video or browse the internet. It comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and offers optional access to 3G networks. The capacitive touchscreen lacks the same level of smoothness that the iPhone has but is still good enough.

On a panel at the edge of the screen are four buttons: back, rotate, home and menu. A tab at the bottom of the screen offers more options such as the digital e-book store, browser, email and an icon for other apps.

Click the menu button and it pulls up an onscreen keyboard that can get you surfing.

The pivoting dual screens means the eDGe has the dexterity of a contortion artist. The two screens can be folded back so the device looks like a large notepad with the displays facing the user or folded up like a book. It can also be�maneuvered into the standard notebook format.

The eDGe is an audacious idea that Entourage Systems seems like it can deliver.�Priced at $490, the device is expected to be available next month.��Sure, it is a little rough around the edges–it feels slow at times and the touch screen could be better–but for now its brimming with potential.