Monochrome, in a Colorful World

Wikipedia has its share of fans, and an equally huge number of critics. But

that has not stopped Openmoko from launching this monochrome screened,

unconnected (to the online world) and 3 buttoned WikiReader.

The WikiReader essentially holds the entire Wikipedia (text only) in a device

that fits in your palm. Access it anywhere; at home, in the office or even while

traveling. The WikiReader is dressed in white, which makes it prone to dirt.  It

weighs a pocket-friendly 130gms (including 2 AAA batteries and the micro SD

card).

The company that makes the WikiReader claims that if used every day for 15

minutes, alkaline batteries will last a complete year. The screen is not

backlit, so you can't see it in low light. The contrast on the screen is

adjustable, just like many older monochrome displays. The touch response is

quite good. Scrolling is smooth, and the response of the interface is quite

impressive for a small, AAA-powered device.

The WikiReader does not have any connectivity options. So, the question about

updates arises, since Wikipedia updates almost daily. Essentially the data is

stored on the supplied 8GB micro SD card, so you can download the update on a PC

for free and then transfer it to the card yourself (updates will be about 4GB in

size). You can also opt for the US$29 per year option and they'll send you a

fresh microSD card with the update pre-loaded.

Overall, the WikiReader is a good concept, which needs to be fine-tuned a

lot. Certain essentials are missing, which need to be added. The updates process

needs to be easier; downloading just the updated parts rather than the complete

4GB data would help a lot. Secondly, the screen should have a backlight. The

current screen is just brutal on the eyes, especially in poor lighting

conditions. This current version applies to you only if you have no access to

mobile internet and are constantly in need of an encyclopedia of information.