Plastic Logic unveils magazine-like e-book reader

Plastic Logic this morning launched an e-book reader it hopes will tackle the Amazon Kindle and other high-profile readers. The device is one of the few to have a letter-sized, 8.5- by 11-inch display but uses the company's unique plastic screen backing to generate a much thinner and sturdier design than most readers, which need a toughened shell to protect a glass back. This produces a device with the shape of a magazine or small newspaper but the changeability of an e-ink device.

The company also plans to stand up to Amazon with its own built-in wireless link on the reader to download content separately; it should also support USB transfers of PDFs and some e-book formats as well Office documents, including Excel, Powerpoint and Word files.

Plastic Logic remains cautious with launch details and doesn't explain whether it will use 3G cellular wireless or will focus on short-range Wi-Fi instead. It so far plans to launch its first dedicated reader in early 2009 and will set a price closer to the actual release.

From left to right: Plastic Logic reader, Sony Reader, Amazon Kindle