This reviewer of the recently released Sony Librie praises the screen quality (apart from the slow refresh rate), but does not like the digital rights management (DRM) system used:
Sony has opted for a DRM and distribution system for the Librie that must have been designed by the same guy who made up the guidelines for NetMD’s DRM. In other words, some dinosaur in SonyHQ who still doesn’t read his own e-mail since he can’t use a keyboard.
As of launch day, Sony’s new book rental program contains a whopping 400 books. That’s it. The convenience store down the street from my apartment has a wider and more current selection. Also, the innovative (read as idiotic) new 60-day-and-it-evaporates download service has NO periodicals! No magazines, no newspapers. The only types of documents that would lend themselves to a rental system aren’t even offered. Instead we end up with a moldy list of books that would be public domain if it weren’t for the fact that Japan doesn’t believe in giving away information for free, even if no one would want it.