The device embodies simplicity with a monochrome touchscreen and 3 simple buttons: Search, History, and Random. It runs on two AAA batteries, reportedly enough to power the device for several months.
The catch -- beyond being a one-trick pony -- is that unlike the actual Wikipedia, the WikiReader is not updated in real-time as articles change. Updates to the 3 million article collection included on the device are only available quarterly, either as a free download from the Wikireader website or as a $29 annual subscription for updates on microSD cards.
To us it seems a lot to ask for an Internet appliance that only has a single function. From we've discerned from the video below and other marketing materials, the device seems aimed particularly at schoolchildren who might benefit from a constant knowledge base companion at a lesser cost (and less moving parts) than a laptop or even a netbook. Would you consider a device like this either for yourself or as a gift?