Sharp's new device, the RD-CX100, is a dictionary and e-book reader with a color screen. It appears to be an LCD display, and has the recognizable Sharp look to it.

Some of the features:
* Linux based
* 4.3" color screen
* FM Receiver
* Audiobook support
* E-book support
* Multi-lingual dictionary
* Brushed aluminum clamshell with keyboard
* About $330 price

Some important qualities are not yet clear, such as what e-book/audiobook formats are supported, screen resolution, battery life, storage capacity, etc.

We'll have to also determine whether or not it's available outside of Japan. So many of these gadgets are just a Japanese tease, because they can't be obtained except through importers who do some basic language conversions on these types of devices.

From Engadget (http://gamecube.engadget.com/2006/12/18/sharp-intros-rd-cx100-dictionary-e-book-reader/).

Well, if it's based on Linux, odds are that if it's imported in some method there should be an unofficial "conversion" kit for the software linguistics. So whether or not it's done when you buy it,... I'm SURE there has to be a motivated Linux guru that can do that kind of conversion.

Now. How do you fix the keys on the keyboard itself?! ~grins~

This looks very much like an updated, and more consumer-focused, version of my Zaurus SL-C760.

Fantastic screen.
Awful battery life.

I was going to say myself, it looks like a clamshell PPC, and with those installed apps, sounds like it, too. Isn't that really what it is? Or will it somehow be impossible to port other apps into it?

'Course, I have nothing against clamshell PPCs (owned a Diamond Mako myself once). Depending on features and price, I'd consider it.

As my knowledge, the ebook format would be the "XDMF" of sharp.
Recently, there is no edit tool of XDMF for end-user.

What! An other format! EBabel's getting worse and worse.

Yep, it is just a Zaurus. Good because it implies Zaurii Linuxes will keep developing.

Some important qualities are not yet clear, such as what e-book/audiobook formats are supported, screen resolution, battery life, storage capacity, etc.[/URL].

The screen resolution seems to be:

480(W) x 272(H) Dot

As is specified in the specs page:

http://www.sharp-korea.co.kr/04products/spec.asp?pid=373

P.S.: No, I don't understand korean; that was the only data I could gather from that page X-).

The screen resolution seems to be:
480(W) x 272(H) Dot

That would put the screen at less than half the resolution of my SL-C760.

Since the backlight is what sucks up the power, it would seem that they made their reader less desirable than my Zaurus, without any benefit.