eReader status checks

Now that the iPad is out and the reviews are flooding the www; it’s a good time to remember some of the other strong players in the market.

Available;

iRex – http://www.irextechnologies.com/

Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C

Nook – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp?cm_mmc=Redirect-_-nook.com-_-Storefront-_-nook

Sony – http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644523779&XID=O:sony%20ereader:dg_read_gglsrch

Available but really hard to find;

Fujitsu Flepia – The only full color e-ink style device.  Not in the North American Market Yet.  This link is to a REVIEW - http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/hands-on-with-fujitsu-flepia-color-e-book-reader/

Things to look forward to;

Pixel Qi – This company makes screens but are often rumored to be coming out with their own product – http://www.pixelqi.com/

Plastic Logic Que – The original ship estimate was April 2010, that’s now moved out to ‘Summer’ – http://www.plasticlogic.com/ 

Skiff - http://www.skiff.com/skiff-reader.html

enTourage eDGe – This is not a dedicated eReader.  The dual screen (1 standard screen & 1 e-ink screen) make this a working unit - http://www.entourageedge.com/

Units with LCD type screens are not listed.

Sony RED FLAG WARNING

It is important to read User License Agreements. 

Take this new one from Sony for their eReaders – it’s SCARY – it gives them the authority to data collect from your computer, from anything connected to your computer and from any file within your network.  As if that’s not bad enough, you also give them the authority to allow any ‘Third Party’ the same access.  You have no control over who that ‘Third Party’ is, or will be.

Let me say it again because it’s really, really important – By accepting this License Agreement you give SONY and ‘WHO EVER SONY SELLS ACCESS TO’ the access and ability to monitor and collect data on your computer and any other device you connect to.

And if you don’t agree?  Sorry, you can’t buy eBooks from them ever again. 

But who would? 

It’s like a book store demanding you submit to a full cavity search before entering the store, and because of that ‘Third Party’ inclusion, the guy running the cafe can also do his very own cavity search, and the janitor, and the delivery person, and the window washer…

Oh, and they don’t tell you that in the main window.

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The above is an opinion of the Authors