Sony eBook Reader Now Available

Why is a good, old-fashioned paperback not good enough anymore?

Published on September 27, 2006 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

From everyone's favorite electronics company comes the newest entry into the eBook reader market; The Sony Reader. The new device, instead of using a standard LCD screen like previous devices, uses a new "E Ink" technology that is much easier to read over extended periods of time. The screen on the device is roughly 6" diagonally, giving it close to the viewing size of a regular paperback novel.

Sony says the device will read documents in a variety of formats, including DRM protected eBooks, PDFs and standard text files. Additionally, it will be able to receive RSS feeds, view images and play MP3s.

The device costs about $350 and will start shipping around the end of October.

Comments

Phoon

on Sep 27, 2006

With all the pranks that Sony has pulled during the last year or so,
I wouldn't buy a Sony product if I had to.

But an interesting and informative thread none the less

whiterabbit007

on Sep 27, 2006

To be honest I expected ebook readers to be more common and cheap by now (this can't be the first consumer-level ebook reader, can it?). I haven't really looked in-depth into the tech so it's entirely possible that the $350 is entirely justified but I just can't see myself shelling out that kinda money for a device with such limited use. If you let me indulge myself for a moment, here is how I see the perfect ebook reader...

For one, the device allows you to browse any kind of static or near-static content, including text files, word-like documents, spreadsheats, and of course the net. Naturally it comes with WiFi for browsing the net and Bluetooth for inter-device connectivity as well as purchasing on the go. Speaking of which, it comes with full online and brick-and-mortar integration, by which I mean that purchasing a book online (from Amazon, Chapters, etc.) is as easy as entering the credit card info, clicking buy and having it uploaded to your reader. What's more, you can walk into a regular bookstore, and as you browse the books, info on them is uploaded to the device and if you want to buy some book (electronically) you just hit buy, and it will essentially perform the same thing as if you were browsing the book at an online store but without the actual browsing.

The technology is all there, and it's not even that expensive, all this requires is for some companies to get off their asses, cooperate for once and make it happen.

Davebo

on Sep 27, 2006

For that money, buy a decent PDA.

seldomseen

on Sep 27, 2006

My HP4700 IPAQ rocks, and ebooks are mainly what I use it for. Spendy, but does many useful tasks. Sony no...baloney!
Sony needs to go back to their traditional internal corporate management. Sad, but I believe their innovative, visionary spirit that made them so great has died with their founder. Sony? meh

Life is a Game

on Sep 27, 2006

One thing is for sure - the battery will not explode as it is a Sony product

dagwinn

on Sep 27, 2006

I've been waiting and looking for something like this. The majority of the articles I'm reading these days (graduate school) are PDFs. I'd love a digital reader so that I don't have to carry a laptop or print everything out.

'twould definitely make my life easier - if it ever made it to market.

Fred Hall

on Sep 28, 2006

ETA now mid-November according to linked site

DesignCaddy

on Sep 28, 2006

i'm impressed.. it has support for non sony formats, and isn't memory stick only!!!

i'm interested in an e-book.. much easier to carry around and you can put lots on it. But still so expensive?

don't get me wrong, i love books.. but, i love them for their craft. They're out dated.

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