No technology product was perfect when it first came to market—think of televisions, computers or cell phones. But to be among the first to own the gadget du jour has its own cache—which is why you just might want to join the ranks of those who own the initial crop of book readers. You'll be among the first to find a design flaw—but you'll also be one of the few on the plane with one in your hand. Keep in mind that different readers support different formats, so you'll need to do a little homework first. But with that caveat, here's a sampling of some choices currently available:
Amazon Kindle
$399
Now the retailer from whom you've likely bought paperbacks is selling an electronic reader for them. The Kindle, though, harkens back to the days before syncing. No computers or cables needed—which makes it very travel friendly, though it does measure 7.1 inches long. The function-over-form design leaves a little to be desired, though, and the black-and-white only format harkens back to days far too long ago. However, what many users will be thrilled with is the use of free wireless service—Amazon's picking up that tab. This reader was very popular
during the holiday season, and as such, may be a little difficult
to obtain—Amazon, of course, suggests pre-ordering.
iRex iLiad 2nd Edition
$699
At 8.1 inches long, it's a little bigger than a traditional book reader. And at $699, it costs a bit more, too. The iLiad, which supports the popular Mobipocket eBook format, is designed to be readable even on the brightest of summer days. But it takes reading a step further—the iLiad lets you make notations on existing documents, and then transfer your notes to your computer.
Palm TX Handheld
$299
This device is much more than a book reader—it's a full PDA. With a full-color screen, Wi-Fi, the ability to edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, and multimedia capabilities, you'll find many uses for this handy gadget. You'll need to call in expert help when the battery dies, but there's clearly a lot to like about the TX. The Palm also reminds users that you don't necessarily need a dedicated book reader when one of your current gadgets may already be able to serve the same purpose—to see if you have a gadget that may have eBook software capabilities, visit www.mobipocket.com.
