&gt; Eventually they will come out with a screen that can work reflective<br>
AND backlit. . <br><br>Exactly. And &quot;eventually&quot; could be very soon. See text and videos at<br><br><a href="http://www.teleread.org/2009/11/26/pixel-qi-well-start-mass-production-of-screens-next-month/">http://www.teleread.org/2009/11/26/pixel-qi-well-start-mass-production-of-screens-next-month/</a><br>

<br>That may well mean actual readers and netbooks in 2010 with the Pixel Qi screen; and supposedly Mary Lou Jepsen and friends plan to aim in the future for $100s HDTVs.<br><br>I could care less if somehow Pixel Qi or an equivalent tech instead shows up three or four years later. Point is, it&#39;s coming for readers and other apps. I myself think that PixelQi&#39;s text-background contrast could be better in the reflective mode, but I suspect improvements will come in time.<br>

<br>Of course, as I see it, the issue isn&#39;t so much netbooks vs. iPods vs. dedicated readers. <br><br>In real life I go back and forth between an Acer netbook, a Touch, and dedicated readers, and more and more people will be doing the same (ideally with help from e-book standards, now that ePub has gained momentum). <br>

<br>David<br><br>David Rothman, TeleRead.org, 703-370-6540<br>