Some E-Readers May Become Obsolete or Lack Compatibility – WSJ.com

I am wondering what impact e-readers will have in the classroom.

• Some E-Readers May Become Obsolete or Lack Compatibility – WSJ.com

  "By GEOFFREY A. FOWLER Books are having their iPod moment this holiday season. But buyer beware: It could also turn out to be an eight-track moment. While e-reading devices were once considered a hobby for early adopters, Justin Timberlake is now pitching one on prime-time TV commercials for Sony Corp. Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle e-reading device has become its top-selling product of any kind. Forrester Research estimates 900,000 e-readers will sell in the U.S. in November and December. View Full Image EREADER Getty Images Barnes & Noble announced its Nook e-reader in October, but you won’t be able to see it in stores until Dec. 7. EREADER EREADER But e-reader buyers may be sinking cash into a technology that could become obsolete. While the shiny glass-and-metal reading gadgets offer some whiz-bang features like wirelessly downloading thousands of books, many also restrict the book-reading experience in ways that trusty paperbacks haven’t, such as limiting lending to a friend. E-reader technology is changing fast, and manufacturers are aiming to address the devices’ drawbacks. "

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  • By GEOFFREY A. FOWLER

    Books are having their iPod moment this holiday season. But buyer beware: It could also turn out to be an eight-track moment.

    While e-reading devices were once considered a hobby for early adopters, Justin Timberlake is now pitching one on prime-time TV commercials for Sony Corp. Meanwhile, Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle e-reading device has become its top-selling product of any kind. Forrester Research estimates 900,000 e-readers will sell in the U.S. in November and December.

    View Full Image

    

    Getty Images

    Barnes & Noble announced its Nook e-reader in October, but you won’t be able to see it in stores until Dec. 7.

    

    

    But e-reader buyers may be sinking cash into a technology that could become obsolete. While the shiny glass-and-metal reading gadgets offer some whiz-bang features like wirelessly downloading thousands of books, many also restrict the book-reading experience in ways that trusty paperbacks haven’t, such as limiting lending to a friend. E-reader technology is changing fast, and manufacturers are aiming to address the devices’ drawbacks.

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