Cut-Price Dual TouchScreen ebook Reader

A "nearly a tablet" from Asus

Asus is building itself quite a reputation for introducing affordable versions of popular technological devices.    The EeePC was introduced by the company in late 2007 and has proved immensely successful, offering consumers a relatively inexpensive alternative to the traditional laptop.

The president of Asus, Jerry Shen, has revealed that the company is now setting its sights on the ebook reader market, which has so far been slow to emerge in the UK.

“Our ethos is innovation — as our brand is less well known, we have to run faster than the competition to develop new types of products,” said Asus. “Any such product — including an ereader — has to have the right combination of functionality and price. No one is going to buy one for £1,000.”

The least expensive ereader currently available in the UK is the Cool-er, which sits at around £189.  It is thought that Asus is looking to introduce their version, christened the “Eee reader” before Christmas and that it may retail for as little as £100.

The current range of UK ereaders is a generation or so behind those on sale in the US, where 3G connectivity is becoming more commonplace.  According to retail analyst GfK, only 80,000 have been sold in the UK to date, and it maybe that consumers have been waiting for the arrival of the internet-ready models from Sony and Amazon to make it across the pond.

Speaking to the Times, Mr Shen has hinted that the Asus take on the ereader will be more advanced than its rivals as well as more affordable.  The device will have a dual screen format, giving it the familiar appearance of a paperback book.  The screens are also said to be in full colour, which is a step away from the standard monochrome versions we’ve seen to date.

The reader seems to be leaning towards the functionality of a tablet, and there are indications that it may contain speakers, a webcam and a microphone for Skype, as well as a virtual keyboard.   Internet connectivity may encourage an increase in the popularity of these gadgets in the UK as they will enable readers to download newspapers and magazines as well as new ebooks direct to the device without needing to be connected to a PC or Laptop.

The company is looking to corner the market by introducing a “basic” and a “premium” option in the next few months.  Keep your eyes peeled.