While I sit in hotel basements listening to people argue over radio frequency interference, Karen is swimming with the dolphins. I think maybe I didn't get the better part of this deal. Unfortunately, the deal is that one of us has to sit in the meetings and I'm the one who's qualified.

Out in the rest of the world, several manufacturers are getting ready to release next generation eBook readers. Some of these look like improvements on the Sony. It'll be interesting, though, to see the prices. What do you think is a fair price to pay for a book reader? I think the price has to be less than $200. Think about a two year payback period, and an average person who reads books reading maybe ten books a year, $200 means an additioanl $10 per book. If you try to sell for $400, you're talking an additional $20 per book. Sure some people read more than 10 books a year. And these are definitely the target market for eBook readers. Still, we have to move toward the mainstream.

In fact, I'm not sure that dedicated eBook readers are really the right long term solution. My son Nick has written a note on reading on his Creative Zen. A device like an iPhone might be an ideal compromise. Still, I do love my eBookWise. Of course, I use it to read submissions.

rob