The newest entrant in the fledgling electronic book market is Everybook Inc. Based in Middletown, Pa., Everybook has developed the Everybook Dedicated Reader, which will offer an unusual two-screen e-book reader with an impressive range of features; it expects to deliver the first of its three models in late 1999.
Unlike the single-screen black-and-white tablet units offered by its competitors, the EBDR will feature two full-color, 450-dpi hinged screens that resemble a traditional book. Users can page through a text on one side while taking notes on the other or read on both screens. Why two screens in a booklike format rather than a single screen? Daniel Munyan, CEO of Everybook, told PW, "The traditional book works, and it has been through the longest consumer test period -- about 1500 years." Munyan said EB is targeting reference and textbook publishers because of the unit's ability to reproduce full graphic content, including simple animation and some video. The unit is also being pitched for directories and catalogues.
The EBDR differs from the Rocket eBook and Softbook units in other ways. It uses the original PDF (portable document files) files created by publishers when books are printed. Using Adobe Acrobat Reader, the device can display heavily illustrated textbooks, reference titles, catalogues and maps exactly as they were published in print -- there's no need to alter or convert texts into an HTML file.
The EBDR will come in three models: the 12"x9" professional for $1500, available later this year; the 9"x6" personal for $500, due in early 2000; and the 24"x12" portfolio for $2000, available in 2001. Titles are stored on a removable PCM CIA card that can hold the equivalent of 200 novels. All models will run on the Linux operating system and feature touch-screen displays, infrared transmission to PCs or printers, full search capability and the ability to generate handwritten on-screen annotation. EB titles will be sold through the Everybook Store located on the firm's Web site, at www.everybook.net.
