Aluratek Libre eBook Reader Unveiled

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Aluratek has released details on their new eBook reader, dubbed ‘Libre’, this new device comes with a 5-inch screen, but unlike almost all other eBook Readers, the Libre doesn’t have an E-Ink screen, coming instead with a regular LCD screen. The Libre also comes with 100 open-source books pre-loaded on it.

Despite E-Ink’s famous ‘real paper’ like display and it’s popularity with most other eBook readers, Aluratek has gone against the grain by selecting a regular LCD screen. The press release quotes an Aluratek vice president as saying: “Unlike e-Ink displays which require multiple flashes for each page advance, I believe the reflective LCD technology the Libre offers will be a welcome change compared to other eBooks currently on the market.”

Another differentiating feature of the Libre is that it includes a 2GB SD card, and that card is pre-loaded with 100 of ‘the most popular books of all-time’. Although it doesn’t say it, I’m almost positive that those are open-source books whose copyright has lapsed.

The Libre supports ePUB and PDF formats for reading books, but unfortunately, only connects to a computer via USB. As for other formats, it plays MP3s, as well as a host of other image formats. No CBR support, though, which rules out its usefulness as a comic book reader.

The Libre will is now shipping, is available in either white or black, and will set you back only $179, which is considerable cheaper than other eBook Readers on the marketplace today.