Sony E-Ink 13.3-inch Tablet

Sony preps a new e-ink reader that targets university students who love to read but don’t like to lug bulky e-readers.

Sony isn’t new to the e-paper slate industry so we’re not surprised when it unveiled its latest e-reader called ”Digital Paper”. The first thing you’ll notice is the huge 13.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display which has 1,200 x 1600 resolution. The e-reader is equipped with a stylus pen allowing students to jot down notes and navigate through its menus aside from their fingertips. Of course, the chassis is slim enough to be slipped into school bags with only 6.8mm thick and weighs just 385g.

Other specs include a 4GB onboard storage (which is expandable via a micrSD slot), WiFi and a rechargeable battery that could last up to three weeks. As a refresher, E ink (or “electrophoretic ink”) is a specific electronic paper that has been widely used in e-reader devices due to its ultra-low power consumption. It is common for these slates to come with grayscale panels.

Meanwhile, it is noteworthy to say that Sony’s prototype e-reader might not be financially sound. If you could remember, Amazon’s Kindle DX didn’t do well in terms sales; so don’t be surprised if Sony’s 13.3-inch Digital Paper won’t make it, as well.

Sony’s prototype e-reader will debut on Japanese universities before launching to the market before the end of this year. Stay tuned.