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| From the Field - Kenneth Bell |
Administration Speaks up on Behalf of E-Rate
Fresh from a report detailing a growing
divide between information haves and have-nots, the Clinton administration is taking
up the challenge some congressional leaders have posed against the E-Rate. Education
Department Secretary Richard Riley and NTIA Secretary Larry Irving spoke on the topic at
recent events. The administration has been in a tough place as opponents have dubbed the
E-Rate program "The Gore Tax", due to the Vice Presidents sentiments towards
information technology policy. Read the Story.
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E-Book Special
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In this special edition, we look at electronic books. It is a meme that
seems to crop up every so often, but the promise of delivering full-length works
electronically is getting tantalizingly closer. While still pricey, several companies are
set to introduce products that are easier on the eyes, more portable and connected for
instantaneous delivery. While its doubtful E-books will replace paper editions anytime
soon, they will probably co-exist and enhance the market in the same way video did to
big-screen movies.Prices vary
from $300 to as high as
$2000, but the market will initially be referential work aimed at professionals and
students. Imagine being able to tote around ten or twenty professional volumes in your
rucksack and it begins to make sense. Of course, romance novels aren't that far off, but
you won't want to take the current crop of E-books into the bathtub with you.
Finally, for you PalmIII users, a company will be offering books
that you can read on your connected organizer. Owners of this amazing 3Com device already
know about its awesome capabilities, with nearly two and half million sold. Now reading
texts while in a meeting or on the plane will be just as simple. |
Nuvomedia - RocketBook™ |
The RocketBook™ boasts a high contrast, high resolution, back lit screen for
improved reading. Some of the nice features include selectable font size and
highlight/annotation making it nice for students. It can hold up to 4000 pages of text.
The system connects to a standard PC with Web access and can download texts from Barnes
& Noble, Amazon, the Gutenberg Project and others. From Nuvomedia's Website "For the publisher, the
RocketBook™ provides immediate worldwide distribution of titles with no printing and
shipping costs, no need to manage inventories, and no book returns." |
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Everybook - Dedicated Reader™ |
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Everybook
is trying to win customers among professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants,
engineers and others who need to keep reading updated journals and reference works. The
system is a full two page display making it seem much more like a book. One market they
are banking on is the textbook market. One-fourth of all books sold in the U.S. are
textbooks, a $5.7-billion-a-year market. The Everybook is still a prototype, but has
financial backing and interest from Bill Gates. |
Softbook Press - Softbook™ |
The Softbook is slated to be available in the
Fall of 1998. Pricing starts at $299 per unit plus a commitment to buy $19.95 worth of
books and periodicals each month from the SoftBookstore. Titles include periodicals,
newsletters, books, and trade and industry journals - both current and out-of-print - all
of which are copyright-protected and secure. Softbook aims to tackle the resistance by
putting a slick leather cover on the unit to make it seem more book-like. But underneath
is a backlit, high contrast screen. Softbook has lined up several publishing partners such
as Random House, Simon and Schuster and Harper Collins. |
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For Palm users, Peanut
Press is negotiating relationships with publishers to offer titles for reading on the
popular organizer. Texts would be downloaded from the Internet. Read the
Story.
Items submitted by:
Kenneth S. Bell - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
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