14 DAY TRIAL // The hype may have somewhat settled down, but the e-reader market is still set on a path of growth, with old models selling well and new models promising just as much. Of course, as it is always the case with emerging markets, and even established ones, some products managed to grab attention, while others inevitably fell into obscurity and, eventually, oblivion, either because of inadequate performance or just insufficient advertising. Many e-book reading devices were unveiled in January and, now, one of them seems to be giving signs of life as it approaches its summer release date.
The e-reader in question is the QUE proReader, developed by Plastic Logic and first showcased at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show. So far, the company's website has listed the product as bound for summer, leaving the actual date for users to guess at. A report by Engadget, however, now suggests that the first shipments will be carried out on June 24. Apparently, a customer that placed a pre-order got an e-mail saying that the QUE would be delivered on that date.
For end-users that are not up to speed or want an update on the product's specifications, the QUE proReader comes in two versions, both of which feature a 10.7-inch touchscreen (with eight gray levels and a 960 x 1,280-pixel resolution), a thickness of 0.76 cm, USB and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and the ability to read files in PDF, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, ePub, and TXT formats. What differentiates the two available configurations is their storage and wireless connectivity. The cheaper versions, listed at $649, have 4GB of internal storage and WiFi, whereas the one with 8GB also has 3G and costs $799.
Until the item becomes available, those that pre-ordered it will have the option of canceling the order. Those that stick to it won't be charged until the shipment is carried out.