It's Sony's new eBook, an electronic reader that has a screen as sharp and clear as a printed page.

Unlike most notebook and monitor panels, which which are 72dpi, the 6-inch screen in the Librie is 170dpi, 2.5 times as sharp.

It uses electronic ink from E-Ink, an American company, and a screen developed in conjunction with Philips Electronics that looks almost exactly like paper.

It's about the same size and weight (190 grams, about 7 ounces) as a slim paperback book and can store hundreds of novels, texts, and reference books.

The screen can be read from any angle and doesn't fade in bright light.

The Librie draws power only when a page is turned, so the four AAA batteries that power it will last almost forever - an estimated 10,000 page turns.

Bonus: the image stays on the screen even with the power off.

The device contains 10 MB of memory and has a Memory Stick Pro slot for extra storage.

About 500 books fit on a 512 MD Memory Stick.

It's got a USB 2.0 port, Qwerty keypad, speaker, and earphone jack.

Sony will begin selling it next month in Japan for $380. No word on whether we'll ever see it here.

Arthur C. Clarke once said that electronics would only truly replace paper when the price of a device was the same as a standard paperback.

We've got a ways to go. I look for the lines to cross in about five years. That is, I believe you will be able to buy an eBook reader like this for $10-$15 by 2009-2010.

You heard it here first.

Having said that, I'd buy a Librie in a heartbeat for $380.

I tried out one of those clunky first-generation eBook readers last year, borrowing it from our local public library.

I loved it.

Reading in bed, with the only light in the room coming from the screen, the rest of the room in darkness, was wonderfully cozy.

Much better than a reading lamp if your lover wants to sleep.

Even cooler is reading while lying on your side: much better than trying to manage an actual book's pages.