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Sharper Image Literati
If you’ve been looking for a dedicated color eReader, the Sharper Image Literati may be what you’ve been waiting for. Offering a wide 7-inch screen, the Literati is designed to replace not only your books, but also to show true color of your magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, photography books, cookbooks, and the like. Is color enough to make Sharper Image’s eReader entry standout from the black and white pack?
Features – Hardware and Software
Sharper Image’s Literati will sport a 7-inch TFT LCD color screen with screen resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Below the screen is a QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the earliest Kindle model. The keys are widely spaced, providing more rooms for your fingers to move. The screen is also flanked by page turn buttons on both sides.
The Literati, however, doesn’t have the same well-proportioned look as the Kindle’s. The device looks rather longish. Still, the device looks nicely put together. The Literati will be available in white and black/gray.
For loading books, there’s WiFi that connects you to the Kobo-powered built-in bookstore. You can also plug the device to a PC via the included USB.
Unlike other color eReaders like the Velocity CRUZ eReader and Augen the Book, the Sharper Image Literati has no tablet ambitions. It remains focused on reading, so you will find no extra features – reading distractions if you will – like games and videos here.
The Bottom Line
For those who want a break from the monotonous black and white world of eInk readers, the Sharper Image Literati will be available in more than 7000 retail outlets across the US this October with an affordable price tag of $159.
Pros The Literati will ship with 25 free classic titles to help start your library. You will also get a coupon code, which you can use to download 125 more free classical titles from the Kobo eBookstore, and a protective cover to help shield your device from scratches and falls. Color screen offers truer experience of magazines, newspapers, graphic novels, comics, and the like. David Carnoy of CNET has tested the device and said it has a good page turn and book loading rate. Cons It’s an LCD-based eReader, so while there’s no official word yet on the device’s battery life, we can see it is going to be significantly lower than eInk’s. This means you need to recharge frequently. Backlit screen also means you can’t use the device outdoors. On the other hand, the device will be ideal for reading at night and in dim places. Literati’s 800 x 480 resolution may display images just fine, but they are not as sharp as on the iPad.
Main Features • 7-inch TFT LCD color screen • QWERTY keyboard Bonus Features • 25 pre-loaded eBooks + gift certificate • eReader cover
Had it for 3 weeks. Had to reset the thing 8 times. The battery lasted about 3 hours. Took it back because it would no longer download or delete books. Last time I tried turning it off, it wouldn’t even shutdown. Oh, did I mention the HORRIBLE customer service? Buyer beware!
HORRIABLE!! as soon as i got it i tried to connect it to my wifi and i dident work. then i went to a friends and theirs worked. so i downloades a ton of books thinking it was fine. so when i got home i started to read them. afte i go a chapter into one, a message came up saying to update yoour libary. so i went into work and did that. it still wont work. customer care dident help a thing. i dont recomend it to anyone. just find another ereader. its not worth your time.
It was fine until it stop working not once but twice and will come back on!
Update: It will not come back on!
We have had ours for 2 months and we love it. It connected to my WiFi and I haven’t had ANY problems with it. I like being able to show people COLOR pictures on it. Color magazines look GREAT on it too. The only thing missing on this one is an MP3 player and the ability to play videos.. BUT then it is supposed to be a book reader. I find the page turning and screen resolution acceptable and the LCD is GREAT for reading in bed at night. I recharge it after I read and it hasn’t gone dead yet. I wouldn’t trade this one for two eInk readers. If I would have read these comments BEFORE I bought ours I would have passed on it, but I’m happy with it….
I bought my Literati about 3 weeks ago. I love it. The battery doesn’t last as long as other ereaders but its long enough for me and then I just charge in between reads. I found a second ereader on clearance but it didn’t have a charger. I called the customer service line and they are putting a charger in the mail free of charge. I can’t complain about that!
. I wish I could find one more for my daughter.
To whom it may concern,
I am deeply surprized to find that this eReader is still being sold. I first saw it on HSN last year for around $119.00. A month later it was discontinued but still sold at Bed,Bath&Beyond for under $40.00. I was SHOCKED! I research the eReader to find out why the discontinued sale and drop in price, and i found out that it did not work properly and the battery died very fast. To read this in August 2011 that it is still around is beyond me. I am purchasing a Kindle for myself, and look forward to happy reading.
I bought it at Ross for $49.00, I love it, no problems.