Best E-readers.com

Skiff eReader Overview

Skiff Reader, the dazzling offering from the publishing company Hearst, is about to bring the superlatives into the e-reading world.  Boasting of 11.5-inch screen, it is the largest e-reader on the market, but its barely a quarter-inch chassis also makes it the thinnest. It is bendable, it is durable, and it boasts of a visually appealing layout. Will the Skiff Reader, geared more towards digital newspapers and periodicals, sail towards Kindle-like horizon?

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

Features – Hardware and Software

The Skiff Reader sets a new bar in display technology by introducing a display panel based on thin sheet of aluminum metal foil and consisting of silicon thin-film transistors. This departure from glass backplanes used by other ereaders makes the Hearst Reader flexible and least prone to damage or risk of cracking, shattering, or breaking. The chassis, made of magnesium, adds to overall sturdiness of the device.

At 11.5 inches, no other e-reader is better suited for widespread reading materials such as magazines than the Skiff Reader. And with a screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels, also the highest on the market (4 times more than typical ereaders on the market), it can display the entire page of your daily paper – including advertisements – without compromising readability.

Equally impressive is the device’s software, which lays out reading materials (particularly magazines and newspapers) in the way they were originally intended. Designed by periodicals themselves, the Skiff Reader’s layout is aimed to optimize e-newspaper reading experience.

Like the Kindle and the Nook, the Skiff electronic book reader will have its own e-store. Users can access the Skiff store, Skiff services and other online sites over the Sprint network. In addition to free 3G connectivity, the Sprint Reader is WiFi-enabled.

The device’s internal storage is as generous as its screen size: 4GB. A single charge can provide 1 week of continuous reading. No word yet on what file formats the device will be supporting.

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

The Bottom Line

Skiff is planning to release their reader for purchase this year. While the prototype has already captured the imagination of the e-reading market, final judgment has to be postponed until the Skiff Reader hits the shelves.

Skiff eReader Pros & Cons

Pros

Gone is struggling with bland PDF texts; readers can enjoy a full page of a newspaper or magazine in  one view. User interface is also impressive. To go to different sections of the paper, users simply use the scroll bar found at the bottom of the device. To go to the next page, simply swipe the screen with your finger or stylus. Finger swipe up or down can increase or decrease font size.

With a chassis measuring just a quarter-inch – about the thickness of your favorite magazine – the device is light and easy to hold.  Despite its insanely thin waist size, it is solid and sturdy. 

The Skiff Reader can carry digital content as well as personal and work documents. Hearst is also working with other electronic manufacturers to make the device compatible with a wide variety of devices including smartphones and PDAs. 

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

Cons

11.5 inches is ideal for reading magazines and newspapers, but awkward for reading books. When opening e-books, the device leaves about an inch of blank space on all sides. Zooming is also slow, and the page refreshes each time the user creates a movement on the device. Since there's no final release yet, Skiff designers still have the time to make improvements.

While supported by multiple publishers, Hearst has yet to fill its Skiff bookstore. If it does by the time the first batch of ereaders hit the market, will it compete with the Amazon, B& N, or Sony store? Another important issue that may affect how well the market is going to embrace the device is price; there's no word on pricing yet.

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

What's in the Skiff Reader Box (no word from Skiff yet, but may include:)

• Skiff Reader device
• USB
• User manual
 

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

Skiff eReader Features

Main Features

• 11.5-inch screen display
• Damage-resistant metal-foil screen display
• WiFi and 3G connectivity
• Magnesium housing

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!

Key Features

• Touch-sensitive display
•  High-resolution graphics
• Flexible screen
• Ultra-thin chassis

Bonus Features

• Crack-free, shatter-free screen display

Amazon Kindle 2 $259! What Is The Best eReader? Discover The New Amazon Kindle!