For those folks that find the the Amazon Kindle DX too heavy and cumbersome, or the Sony Reader too confusing, this may just be the ideal handheld reading device for you. Its very affordable price tag is bound to attract a lot of users too.

The Interead Cool-er is small, light, and has the look and feel of an Apple iPod. It even has a circular navigation button that?s similar to the one on an iPod. I guess it?s always a safe bet to replicate a company that is well known for their trendy and eye-catching product design.

Specs:
* Weight - 6.3 oz
* Thickness - 0.4″
* Size ? 7″ x 5″
* Screen Size - 6?
* Battery Life - 8000 page turns
* Storage ? 1 GB internal + SD external slot
* Price - $250

The E-Ink screen looks like a matte book page and many users have said they can read for many hours without feeling any eye strain. A side button also lets you flick your reading style or if the document your viewing requires a different layout.

With its 6″ screen size, this means you need to turn the page twice as often as you would with a typical novel but most folks find that easy to adapt to.

The Cool-er can hold around 300 books (that?s approximate based on the 1 GB internal storage). While this is far less than the Amazon Kindle 2 and DX, do most folks even read that many books in their lifetime?

You can use the Cool-er to play music or audiobooks in MP3 format off the SD card. The eReader also lacks wireless functionality which means all downloads have to be done via a USB connection. You must first download books onto your PC before copying them to the Cool-er. There is no automatic syncing like with the iPod.

Here?s a hilarious quote?Neil Jones the founder of Interread said, ?Cool-er is designed ? and priced ? for people who love to read and share books. “This is the first ereader that people won?t be embarrassed to be seen with in public.? You know what, I can definitely see his point! I have noticed people staring when I?ve pulled out my Kindle 2 on the train.

Books can be bought from Interead?s own online bookshop, or from other sites that sell ebooks.

While the Cool-er isn?t the most feature-packed electronic reading device, that?s not its primary objective. It?s supposed to be an ebook reader for the general public. And it does that well. It?s quite affordable, well designed, and includes enough features and hardware for the average person. Heck, it even comes in 8 cool colors!

Keep in mind though, if you?re looking for something to read larger media like newspapers and magazines, or if you simply must have the coolest technology like a touchscreen or WiFi, perhaps the Cool-er isn?t for you.

Learn more about the Interead Cool-er and digital book reader.

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