Toshiba’s new eBook reader has a 6 inch, 758 a 1024 pixel E Ink display, WiFi, a touchscreen, 4GB of storage, and a microSDHC card slot. The Toshiba BookPlace Mono is expected to go on sale in mid-April for about $100, although the price will go up to $145 in May.
The Digital Reader reports the BookPlace Mono has a built-in speaker and headphone jack and supports text-to-speech technology, something that’s becoming harder to find in low-cost eReaders in the United States.
Unfortunately it’s unlikely that the Bookplace Mono will hit the US anytime soon. It’s tied to Toshiba’s BookPlace digital content store which is currently Japan-focused.
Still, it’s nice to see that Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and Sony aren’t the only major companies continuing to release eReaders with E Ink displays.
I think there is a place for ebook readers with an E-Ink screen. Even though I have a tablet computer with the Kindle software, I still use my Kindle with E-Ink screen since I don’t have to worry about the battery or the screen dimming when I am reading. The E-Ink screen is great for bright light (in or out doors).