Year of the ebook reader?

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One of the more intriguing devices of 2009 are all the different ebook readers that have sprouted up. Really this is old technology with some newer twists. Without a doubt the Amazon Kindle is the trailblazer of eBook readers. Not long after the Kindle's wild success Sony announced their own eBook reader. Another lesser known company offering eBook readers is Astak.

The technology behind the screens of most eBook readers is closer to the first laptops than the latest LCDs. A number of readers can be read in direct sunlight because of the limited shades of grey, mimicking paper. Some, but not all the eBook readers, can connect to the Internet via 3G and download books. Other readers allow a connection to the Internet, but restrict you to the company's sales ebook site.

Whatever happens, I think we'll see more of these devices pop up over the next year. I'm not sure people are completely satisfied with the current batch of eBook readers. It seems like quite a few have DRM (Digital Rights Management) issues. If the readers are too restrictive no one will want them.