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My notes as promised (the opinions expressed etc. etc.):
The item ran for about 7 minutes.
Intro:
Traditional books facing a digital onslaught.
Kindle leading the way - but only available in US .
"But fear not there are three on or about to hit the market."
Tried to establish a classy tone for the reviews:
Guest reviewer was Nigel Havers (upper-class British actor) - enthusiastic about the idea of eReaders.
The setting was an old-fashioned book-lined library.
Brief overview of e-ink technology. Charged particles of pigment. Less eye strain. Long battery life.
Product comparisons:
BeBook - 3 out of 5
Lightest of the products. 15 cm screen. Can hold hundreds of books.
Copyright-expired books readily available for free.
In-copyright books usually for sale in rights managed format.
The BeBook can't display these formats.
Lack of recent titles was biggest negative for BeBook.
Havers was impressed by clarity of display and simple interface.
iLiad Reader Book Edition - 3 out of 5
20cm screen. Plenty of extra features.
Slow to start.
Fiddly menu, too many icons.
You can make notes on the pages.
Can read recent titles sold by ebook sites. The only one of the products where you can do this.
Prices are similar to regular books.
Havers thought it "more of a computer than a book..an educational tablet".
Easy to read.
Page turning bar was praised.
Sony Reader PRS-505 - 4 out of 5
Just 7mm thick.
Like the iLiad it has a 15cm screen.
Only available on the US market, planning to sell in the UK later this year.
"For copyrighted books you have to use the Sony eBook store... You have to buy stuff in their format."
Havers described page turn as "slightly longer". Made up by the fact it's such a "lovely design ... so cool and easy to operate". "A very, very cool bit of kit"
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