The CES 2010 eBook Reader Roundup

Designed as a "dualbook," the enTourage eDGe features a 9.7-inch black-and-white eBook reader screen on the left side and a 10.1-inch color tablet screen on the right. The unique combination, combined with a robust feature set that includes Android functionality, has earned the eDGe plenty of buzz at the show.

The device was especially designed with students in mind, incorporating plenty of features tailored to their needs. Besides the ability to play music and video, users can also attach notes, handwritten scribbles and even videos and web sites to, say, individual textbook pages. The eDGe also supports open docs and Microsoft programs such as Word.

The device started shipping in late February 2010.

Plastic Logic's QUE reader is about a third of an inch thick and features an 8.5-inch-by-11-inch screen. The device is designed for business folks, featuring support for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, plus BlackBerry file connectivity. The QUE also puts extra emphasis on newspaper content, highlighting publications such as the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

The QUE comes in two pricey flavors: the $649 4GB WiFi model and the $799 8GB WiFi/3G-enabled version.

UPDATE: The QUE is now officially history, thanks to market changes (this likely includes the iPad's introduction and price cuts for popular eReaders such as the Kindle and Nook). The company will now concentrate on making a new eReader instead.

Along with its current lineup, Bookeen featured a prototype of its newest eReader, the Cybook Orizon. The Orizon sports a 6-inch, touch-sensitive display and has 16 levels of gray scale. And at 7.6 millimeters, the device is quite thin. For folks who value wireless connectivity, the Orizon also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The device is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2010

The iriver Story features a simple, slightly curved design, along with an overall look that echoes Amazon's Kindle. Like the Kindle, it has a keyboard and doesn't have a touchscreen. But unlike the Kindle, this reader actually supports EPUB. A company representative says the Story will launch this January at $279. The same rep also said a Wi-Fi version with touchscreen is planned for the second quarter of 2010.

Samsung featured three readers at its booth, including the new 6-inch E6 and the new 10-inch E101. Samsung's new readers boast displays that work well even under direct sunlight, along with robust handwriting capabilities. But they're also pricey at $399 and $600 respectively. So far, Samsung has worked out an agreement with Google Books for content and is currently negotiating with other providers. The devices should be out earlier this year.

Note: It appears that the price for the E6 has now been lowered to $299.

Copia featured six different E Ink eReaders at CES, along with an LCD reader geared toward kids. The readers' screens ranged from 6 inches to 9 inches, with most coming with touch functionality.

One of the interesting things about Copia is its focus on its Web site, which is heavily geared toward social networking in addition to providing content. Ultimately, the company's goal is to create a community where people can check on what other people are reading, follow members and authors who create accounts on the site and do the same sort of stuff that helped make Facebook, Twitter and similar endeavors popular.

The site launches in March while the devices hit the market on June 6.

Astak showed a prototype of its latest unnamed reader, which is planned for release in the second quarter of 2010. Astak is targeting a price point of $199 for the device, according to a company rep. Given that the device actually has a touchscreen, that's a pretty intriguing price if it holds true.

Spring Design's Alex eReader has already gotten a lot of press, thanks to the dustup between its maker and Barnes & Noble. Like the eDGe, the Alex features two screens: an E-Ink display and a colored touchscreen. In the case of the Alex, though, the design is a bit more compact. Spring Design also signed a deal with Borders for content. The device was supposed to go on sale in February for $359 but has since been pushed back to a March release.

Audiovox had the new RCA Lexi eReader at its booth but since the device wasn't working, it wasn't possible to view it in action. The company rep did say that the device has an accelerometer for automatic page re-orientation and that the 6-inch screen featured 16 levels of gray scale. It also had an interesting flipping tab for turning pages (as opposed to a button). Audiovox has partnered with Barnes & Noble for content for the device, which should be out around the second quarter and retail for $229.