As a kid, I can remember paging through the volumes of my school’s encyclopedia in amazement that so much information could be so compactly compiled.  Then I got my first CD-ROM drive, blazing fast with a 2X read speed, which came bundled with an edition of Compton’s encyclopedia.  The disk included huge numbers of pictures, sound clips, and video, in addition to more articles than any printed encyclopedia I’d ever seen.  As the quality of these digital encyclopedias, such as Microsoft’s Encarta, continued to grow, they played a major role in the demise of their printed counterparts, thus helping close the book on printed media (bad pun – sorry).

But even an entire DVD filled with encyclopedic knowledge couldn’t compete with the emergence of the Internet and its bottomless pit of unchecked information.  In an effort to pool the Internet’s vast knowledge base and add a level of validity to the information, Wikipedia was created in 2001 and has grown into one of the most popular sites on the Internet.  Its hyperlink driven interface makes navigating to subtopics and references easy.  With topics written about and edited by actual Wikipedia users, often experts in their fields, the article detail and depth far surpass that of traditional encyclopedia content.
Now, for those seeking access to Wikipedia even when away from a computer, OpenMoko has announced its portable WikiReader device which puts three million Wikipedia articles in your pocket, albeit sans pictures or other media.  Think Franklin handheld dictionary meets three million encyclopedia articles.  For $99, you get a black and white, text only touch screen display and 8GB microSD card on which the site’s contents are stored.  Updated content can be downloaded quarterly for free or the microSD card can be updated yearly for $29.  The company impressively claims that two AA batteries will power the device under “normal use” for a year.  An on-screen virtual keyboard and touch screen based user interface make searches simple, after which the familiar hyperlink driven interface allows users to drill deeper into the subject about which they’re searching.

Obviously anyone with an Internet capable cell phone has absolutely no use for this device since Wikipedia’s content is directly accessible via the web.  And having removed pictures and diagrams from the available content will absolutely detract from the usually graphic Wikipedia experience.  But for those with an unending thirst for knowledge wherever they are, this reasonably priced little guy could become your new best friend.