Maybe they'll develop some sort of lighting that comes from underneath the display itself eventually.
Because having to hang a light on a hand held digital device with a display in 2006 seems pretty stupid to me.

A company named M-edge (http://www.buymedge.com) is producing a case for the Sony Reader also. Appears to be all neoprene with clear vinyl over the screen. There making cases for the iRex and eFlyBook also.

Wait: does it come with the case (doubtful) or do you have to spend $50 to get one?

Buy your accessories now, you know just in case sony ever starts selling the thing.

Does anyone remember seeing a similar folio/folder type case like this for the Powerbook? I can't remember the company that made/makes them and none of the search terms I'm coming up with are finding anything.

Wait. Waaaaiiiit. The screen isn't backlit? What the fuck! Say what you want about "it's eInk! It's new! Give it time!" The engineers should have made this number 4 on their priority list - under power consumption, contrast and thickness. =)

Plus the Mylo doesn't have a backlit keyboard, sucks (according to owners), and costs $350.

PLUS, every day it seems like you can take a fresh jab at Sony for something. It's wild - I went from the biggest Sony Gadget freak years back, to almost avoiding them like the plague...

You don't understand Invader J, its awesome because it's not backlit. That's what makes it more like paper and readable for long periods without major eyestrain.

On another note, I've been watching the iterations of this since it debuted in Japan, and I am so psyched that its finally coming out in the states. I'm totally getting it, and I hope sony doesn't abandon it

The screen is not backlit to avoid eyestrain (as far as I know). That is why this technology is better for extended reading periods than reading on your laptop or PDA. I'm really looking forward to this product (or the iRex one-- whichever gets to market first!) b/c I prefer to avoid using paper as much as possible, but reading on my tablet pc is difficult after only a relatively short period of time.

My main concern is the availability of books from the Connect store (I didn't find many that are on my current 'to read' list), lack of Mac support (!!), and cost of the books. I made a few comparisons, and while Sony is charging less compared to the hardback versions, I can find paperback versions of books for the same or sometimes lower price at Amazon.com or BarnsandNoble.com.

it doesnt need to be backlit the material used for the screen looks and re-acts to light just like paper. thats the great thing about it you dont have to worry about a backlight draining the batteries

well fist of all the material used for the screen re-acts and behaves just like paper so backlighting it would do next to nothing. That the purpose behind it backlighting is what strains your eyes. this looks and behaves to light like regular paper hence no need to drain the battery with a backlight

Heh, just looked at it again and Sony has re-re-re-delayed it to mid november now.

Does anyone know where to get the Night Light shown above? The Sony site doesn't have it...

Invader J is right. I totally have to throw my copy of the New York Times on top of a lamp before I can read it, and I usually wedge a few LEDs in the back of War and Peace before giving that beast a go. What's that smell?

Don't buy a fancy charger. Get a Sony PSP charger for the PRS-505. Does the same job as the fancy more expensive charger.