Nintendo enters eBook reader fray

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 1 Dec 2008 at 16:56

Nintendo has confirmed rumours that it will turn its DS handheld console into an eBook reader.

Using the forthcoming 100 Classic Books Collection cartridge, readers will able to hold their dual-screen Nintendo DS like a book, using the stylus to flip and bookmark pages, zoom and search for texts.

Among the hundred out-of-copyright classics bundled with the pack, readers will have the choice of Shakespeare, Bronte and Dumas, though, intriguingly, Nintendo says users will also be able to download further books using the console's Wi-Fi connection.

Quite how well the Nintendo DS can work as an eBook reader will depend on how many people are willing to format their texts for the DS's unique screen dimensions, though the idea of reading Lorna Doone on the cramped, high contrast screen, fills us with dread.

However, the £17.99 cartridge represents an interesting take on the market, which is currently dominated by dedicated eBook models priced around £200. For a full review of the eBook market, including reviews of every reader, read our eBook feature in the issue now on sale.