gdgt

Ha it sounds like a sony name mark-up to me. Although it might have something to do with the deals they are making on NYPL access and it also has a touchscreen, which the kindle is lacking.

I don't think they have said yet, although they do have free access to library rentals.

New/best-selling price is now $9.99, down from $11.99.

[source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/technology/personaltec
h/05sony.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss ]

Even now, without this _particular_ version from Sony you can get a book from public libraries via your computer.

I'm living in Boston, and with my Boston Public Library card I was able to check out books on my computer using my card # for use up to 14 days at a time. They use the Adobe DRM solution, which works quite well with version 3 of the Sony software. I can have up to 10 electronic titles out at a time.. and, of course, there's no cost. I can also read the books + add annotations + search on my computer, which is an added bonus.

I'm personally looking at the PRS 600, since the wireless access isn't important to me. The 600 is also a bit smaller, which is an advantage to me but perhaps not as much a selling point for other users. In either case, this functionality is what makes the Sony reader worth it, in my opinion.