Actually I'm thinking smaller. Kind've like an IPod in that you can take it with you, and it's specialized to one function.

Still, you're correct in that a laptop would do just as well. Not everyone owns them and can afford them, however... I'm tempted to say the bookviewer would be more affordable, but that depends on your view on what's affordable.

Yeah, the idea that authors would get paid less occurred to me as well. I'm sure there's some factor that I'm not thinking of that will balance it all out...