Image Gallery: E-Book Readers
Electronic book readers are closely related to multi-touch tablet PCs in design, and to a lesser degree in function. Amazon's Kindle dominates the market, but competition is blazing.
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The Kindle DX, which sports a 9.7-inch diagonal, black-and-white screen, is Amazon's largest e-book reader. Screen resolution is 1200 x 824 pixels. The addition of global wireless, makes it possible for people in more than 100 countries to download electronic books, newspapers and magazines. The DX costs $489.
The Skiff Reader, slightly larger than Amazon's Kindle DX, will download e-books and other content via Sprint's 3G wireless network. The electronic reader has an 11.5-inch flexible touchscreen that the company claims has the highest resolution e-reader display to date: 1200 x 1600 pixels. The Skiff Reader is just over a quarter-inch thick and features an e-paper display based on a thin, flexible sheet of stainless-steel foil and developed by LG Display. Other e-reader screens use a rigid screen design. Price: N/A.
Barnes & Noble has introduced a dual-screen e-book reader that costs as much as the market-leading Amazon Kindle, but adds additional capabilities. The Nook, based on Google's Android operating system, offers a 3.5-inch diagonal color touch screen for navigation and a six-inch electronic paper display based on E Ink technology. In addition, the device has integrated access to AT&T 3G wireless network to buy books from B&N's online store and access to Wi-Fi for in-store browsing at the book-seller's stores. Other features include the ability to lend e-books among Nook users. The devices costs $259, which is the same as the starting price for the Kindle.
In addition to the Nook e-reader, Barnes & Noble will also resell Plastic Logic's e-book reader, rounding out the bookseller's upcoming offerings to compete with rival Amazon's Kindle product line. Plastic Logic's QUE will compete with Amazon's Kindle DX. Both e-readers have 10-inch electronic paper displays from E Ink and are built to appeal to mobile professionals. Price: N/A.
Sony has introduced a wireless e-book reader almost three weeks after introducing two other models to challenge Amazon's Kindle. A key difference in Sony's latest model is a built-in wireless connection delivered by AT&T. The 3G connection connects Reader buyers to Sony's eBook store for purchasing digital books or subscribing to newspapers and magazines. The device is expected to be available in December 2009. Price: $399.
The dual-screen e-book reader from Spring Design tries to beat market-leading devices from Amazon and Sony by including full Web browsing on a color screen, in addition to the typical black-and-white electronic paper display. Called the Alex, the device makes an e-reader more versatile by linking the Web to content on the six-inch E-Ink display, Spring Design said. The company said it is in discussions with wireless carriers and content providers. No timetable for release of the product was announced.
The Borders e-reader, Kobo, has a six-inch screen and will sell for $150 -- less than the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook. Borders is taking pre-orders and says customers will start receiving the device June 17.
The Pandigital electronic reader with color touchscreen will face off with the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, and others in a crowded market. Pandigital has announced a partnership with bookseller Barnes & Noble, which has agreed to integrate its online bookstore into the device. Price: about $200.
The online retailer cut the price of its standard e-reader from $259 to $189 to better compete with the iPad and rival products.
The online retailer cut the price of its standard e-reader from $259 to $189 to better compete with the iPad and rival products.
The Kindle DX, which sports a 9.7-inch diagonal, black-and-white screen, is Amazon's largest e-book reader. Screen resolution is 1200 x 824 pixels. The addition of global wireless, makes it possible for people in more than 100 countries to download electronic books, newspapers and magazines. The DX costs $489.
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