iRex isn't the only company introducing an ebook reader this Spring. Sony is getting ready to launch its Reader. The Reader offers um, well, readers, a 6 inch display on which they can peruse up to approximately 80 stored books (they're basing their number on unillustrated books. If your preferred literature is more picture heavy, expect to be able to carry fewer) In addition to being able to display eBooks, the Sony Reader can also allow users to browse PDFs, read documents, view JPEGs and listen to MP3s. The product page mentions that the Reader can display blogs and newsfeeds as well; although as it's not (as best as I can tell) web-enabled, online news sources will need to be downloaded to the device and read as static content.
Unlike Katie, I've never been a big fan of the idea of the ebook concept. It's not that I don't appeciate the convenience of having a large bulk of your personal library with you at all times, it's just that I enjoy the sensuality of book reading. For me there is something special in the sound the leafs makes when they're turned, the way the the pages feel beneath the fingertips, the sense of accomplishment in moving the bookmark further and further through the chapters until at last you reach "The End." (Hey, give me a break, I was a Lit. major.) It's this sort of thing I feel like ebook technology will never be able to replicate, no matter how paper-like the display is.
However, as I'm writing this, I'm thinking about the single volume edition of the Gormenghast novels which is taking me ages to read because I refuse to lug it about with me on my daily commute. Comparing that 1168 bohemouth to 8.8 ounces of the Sony Reader, its obvious which I would prefer to have weighing down my messenger bag. Darn it. Now the gadet geek in me wants one, and the book nerd in me is grumpy. Some days it's difficult to be a Gemini.-[Star C. Foster]
Product Page (via IFlipFlop)
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It's a nice product, I like it, today I find another one also use the E Ink technology, STAReBOOK STK-101, it's from a Taiwan based China Company. Its thickness is only 8mm, which equals 50 pages of traditional books and the weight is 176g, which is very convenient for carrying.
By the way, they also have a ebook search engine, which can get a lot of ebook source there. It means that people who use STK-101 dont have to pay for any books in the future. very sweet.