The Perfect Electronic Book?

I found a new gadget that I wouldn't mind having; the Sony Portable Reader. I have only read about this device but it sounds amazing. It is an electronic book whose display (reading surface/area) virtually mimics that of a paperback book. Why is this important? Because it is easier to read than typical computer, PDA or Smart-Phone screens. You don’t have to worry about viewing angles (glare) or visibility while in bright light or outdoors. (Laptop, PDA and Smart-phone screens are typically hard to read when outdoors.) On a device about the size of an average paperback book, you can store 80 eBooks and have the ability to store more with memory slots.

I admit, sometimes it is nice to get away from technology and pick up a real piece of paper, magazine or book but for me at least, the underlying reason has been that the electronic devices (computers, laptops, PDA’s, Smart-Phones, etc…) aren’t conducive to quality reading in your favorite chair, or outside. The electronic devices are either too big (PC/laptop), have too small of a reading surface (PDA/Smart-phone) or simply don’t offer an enjoyable reading experience for other reasons.

One downside to the Sony Reader is that you need to buy electronic books for it. Obviously this is not a big deal if you are used to buying your books, but for someone who uses the library, this can be a turn off. The good news is that large amounts of free e-books are available from the public domain but these typically are not the same titles that you would find on a “best seller” list in the bookstore. Other good news is that many independent authors are starting to distribute their books in electronic format (quite often free) in addition to printed versions that cost money.

The most apparent downside to the Sony Reader is the price: $350. However, if you read a lot of books, whether in paper or electronic format, this may just be the device for you; just think of the price as a contribution to saving the environment (fewer trees need to be cut down).

Check it out: http://www.sony.com/reader/