Monday, 13 October 2008

Sony Unwraps New E-book Reader

Sony recently unveiled a new e-book reader with a built-in light and a touch-sensitive display, features that set it apart from Amazon's competing Kindle reader.

The PRS- 700 weighs 10 ounces and comes with a stylus that readers can use to highlight text in an e-book or write their own marginalia. The PRS-700 can hold up to 350 books with built-in, internal memory, but voracious readers can expand that amount by using a removable memory stick.

Still without a backlight, this reader comes equipped with its own LED reading lights that shine on the front of the screen. Unfortunately, the Reader still lacks wireless connectivity. Like the earlier models and the Kindle, the PRS-700 has a six-inch screen of electronic ink, which presents dark gray text on a light gray background.

The PRS- 700 would be available from next month and will cost USD 400, which is USD 100 more than the PRS-505 model that will remain on sale. Launch plans for areas outside of the U.S. were not disclosed.