Word: softbook
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...only trouble with the new SoftBook and RocketBook is that the text is still ever so slightly pixelated--not as smooth or as eye-pleasing as the text you're reading now. The newest Pocket PCs do a slightly better job, thanks to Microsoft's ClearType technology.But Pocket PCs are a little too small to read an entire novel on--unless you happen to enjoy squinting...
...idea is that the SoftBook--or something like it--will be the only book, magazine or photo album you'll ever need. This model can also do a lot of the Palm Pilot's work--like keeping a calendar and address book. It's not quite as portable as the Palm, however; it's something for your book bag rather than your shirt pocket. SoftBook Press, which makes the software for the device, thinks the addition of color will help it break into the school market. You could download a whole e-curriculum for the price of a few textbooks...
...cost of downloading titles was what made previous e-books prohibitively expensive. Why bother reading texts electronically if you're going to have to pay full price for each title you input? Thankfully, publishers' attitudes toward e-books have undergone a sea change. SoftBook says it will launch the new model with a shelfful of titles at 25% to 50% off. Its sister company, RocketBook, is also relaunching, with a monochrome device that will cost nothing as long as you pay $20 a month for a set number of downloads. If you're a voracious reader who doesn't care...
...money, SoftBook has hit the sweet spot in terms of size, weight and color. Now what high-tech bibliophiles need is for SoftBook and Microsoft to get their acts together. Perhaps a few versions down the road, someone will chip in with an olfactory circuit that gives e-books a new-book smell, at which point my old paper-and-glue devices won't stand a chance. Maybe I better clear some space in the garage, next to the cassettes and videotapes...
...more information about the SoftBook Reader, go to softbook.com Questions for Chris? Send e-mail to cdt@well.com