this may have sndk implications -- (graph 3)
RCA to Offer E-Books, The Next Generation
RCA, which made its name in stereo equipment and televisions,
wants to get its consumers reading again. To that end, the company is
releasing two new electronic readers, or e-books.
The two models RCA will begin selling this fall are, in effect,
the next generation of the Rocket eBook and Softbook Reader. The companies
that made those two devices, NuvoMedia and Softbook Press, were bought
earlier this year by Gemstar International, which also owns TV Guide.
Gemstar, in turn, has licensed the technology to Thomson Multimedia, RCA's
owner.
RCA's eBooks, like their ancestors, can handle only electronic
books and magazines produced in a special format that is also controlled by
Gemstar. The REB1100 will hold about 20 novels with its standard 8
megabytes
of memory, but a 64-megabyte memory expansion card will also be available.
Its 5.5-inch black-and-white screen has about six times the resolution of
screens on most monochrome personal digital assistants, according to
Thomson.
More muscular users might like the REB1200, with a full-color
8.5-inch display.
The advantages of full color come at the expense of resolution,
which is slightly lower.
Both devices will feature built-in modems, and the REB1200 will
also have a high-speed Ethernet connection for downloading reading material
without a computer. "The mass market is what RCA is good at doing," said
Lou
Lenzi, vice president for new-media business development at Thomson. "To
bring this to the masses, we need the experience to be as simple as
possible."
Mr. Lenzi expects that the basic model will not cost more than
$300. |
