It has taken them 10 years and over $200 million to develop it using research at Cambridge University and now it is ready to challenge Amazon’s Kindle, it is the Que eReader from UK based Plastic Logic.
Plastic Logic who also happen to make the Nook eReader, were displaying the Que at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The eReader has a 10.7 inch display and weighs in at just under a pound and is only a third of an inch.
Now although Plastic Logic is a UK firm, there is no word of the Que being available for sale in the UK at the moment.
“British users may be disappointed that this British company is yet to announce plans to bring this product to the UK,” said the BBC’s technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones.
Can’t quite understand their logic behind that but never mind.
The device is apparently aimed at “mobile professionals” and is going to cost quite a bit more than what you’d pay out for the Kindle.
It will be ready for release in April with 4GB models complete with Wi-Fi for $659 and 8GB models, also with Wi-Fi but this time with a 3G connection with AT & T for $799 and if we compare that to Amazon’s Kindle the Que eReader is going to cost you practically double.
So is there anything special about the gadget?
Well it uses unbreakable flexible plastic electronic displays as opposed to glass. The Que also works entirely by touch, no buttons to press.
Thanks to a deal with Good Technology, you will also be able to access email on the Que, and if you have a Blackberry you can wirelessly send your documents straight on to the Que.
It will also be able to read a variety of documents including PowerPoint, Excel, Word and PDF files to name but a few.
The Que eReader will also get content from Barnes and Noble who house over 700,000 titles as well as from US newspaper USA today.
“What we are trying to do at Plastic Logic is give you the benefits of paper without all of the drawbacks” Plastic Logic CEO Richard Archuleta said.
The idea according to Archuleta is that professionals can do away with all the paper they’d normally carry about with them and have it all on the Que instead.
Let’s see if it makes the grade.
