Asus launched the netbook craze several years ago with its very cheap, but well functioning products, and it hopes to play the same role in the eReader industry with the forthcoming Eee Reader Reader. The Taiwanese company announced it was working on the eReader in September, but little details were revealed. Asus claims its ebook reader will be cleverer and more versatile than the current eReaders available from companies such as Sony and Amazon. The model will allegedly to be revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, 7-10 January, though we're unsure when it'll actually hit the market.
The Asus device has a hinged spine, like a printed book, or the eDGe eReader or rumored Microsoft Courier. This will let the user read an ebook much like a normal book, and also allows the user to see the text on one screen while browsing a web page on the other. One screen can act as a virtual keypad, effectively turning the Eee Reader into a netbook. The device will also allegedly be color, suggesting it will have an LCD screen, which would unfortunately miss out on the clarity and long battery life advantages off other eReaders.
It may also have “speakers, a webcam and a mike for Skype”, allowing cheap phone calls over the internet. Again, such a product would be more a netbook/eReader hybrid, which may be difficult to pull off while still fulfilling both of these roles adequately.
Connecting:We don't know the Eee Reader Reader's connectivity options as yet, but WiFi is likely, and we understand a premium version is likely to have 3G cellular broadband capability.
Accessories: Asus Reader accessories are as yet unknown.
Price: This is the big question, as the Taiwanese company has always tried to undercut competitors on price. Budget and premium versions of the Asus Eee Reader Reader are likely, and it's expected the more expensive option will boast 3G connectivity. The Times says Asus is aiming for around $160, which would undercut all the competition if true.
Asus plans to shake up eReaders like it did netbooks, but while we're sure it will be cheap, we'll reserve judgment until we see the actual product.
eBook Reader Basics