Can Sony Make E-Books Succeed?

Wade Roush Wonders if the new U.S. version of the Librie may well succeed where the previous generation of e-book devices failed. Indeed, if an authentic book-reading experience is what consumers are looking for, the new Sony e-reader — which BW’s sources said is based on an earlier device marketed in Japan called the Librie — won’t have a much better shot at success than the previous generation of e-book devices. While the Librie is based on an innovative “electronic paper” technology from E Ink, it is cut from the same mold as the Rocket E-Book, with a flat, inflexible, monochrome screen, operated by push-buttons.
Sony has plans to launch the new e-book reader at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.