Sharper Image's Literati takes on Kindle with color LCD
updated 09:20 am EDT, Wed August 25, 2010
Sharper Image intros color Literati reader
Sharper Image today took its turn at e-readers with the Literati. The MerchSource-made device takes its styling cues from Amazon's Kindle but uses a seven-inch, 800x480 LCD to show cover art and photos in books. The device has Wi-Fi to get online but uses it only for downloading books from Kobo's online bookstore; the company has deliberately omitted the web and apps.
The device is non-touch and instead uses a Kindle-like keyboard below the screen as well as side buttons for turning pages.
Literati units should arrive in October for $159, or only slightly more than the e-paper based $139 Kindle, and will find their way into Best Buy and several non-traditional e-reader sources, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, JC Penney, Kohl's and Macy's.
