Most important property of such a reader would be that there is no need to install any upload-software to the computer. Only then I could go to public library, browse and download free ebooks to the reader. If the device has the USB cable, then the device should be seen in the computer as an usb/portable disk. The books saved to this usb/portable disk then must also be readable in the reader. Note, some mp3 players are seen as a usb/portable disk, but the music files saved to the disk are not playable. Some proprietary formats may have been reverse engineered but that is illegal in USA and Europe. In Europe, one is not even allowed to tell what unofficial software could be used to convert the text to the proprietary format. And reverse engineering would not help at all, because one cannot install anything in public libraries. Does eBookWise require a software installation? Sony devices are known for requiring a software installation. Note, the requirement for the software installation hits harder the digital camera. Most popular cameras require the software installation, and therefore one is not able, e.g., to transfer the photos to safe, to home, via a public library, an internet cafe, or a hotel. Think about travelling and a possibility that your camera gets stolen or otherwise damaged, or that you're short of the memory cards. Juhana -- http://music.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-graphics-dev for developers of open source graphics software