There is colour e-ink now, but it is very pale and so far it has not hit the
market, just demonstrated on prototypes. It is a toy in a way, but it is
useful. I read a lot and storage of paper books becomes problematic after
awhile. I started seriously using the library for a time, but the e-reader
is good for someone like me. I read fast. When I travel I can take a stack
of books or one e-reader and something to charge it with. There were lots
of Android tablets at CES, so they are starting to heat up. However, there
is the issue of all of the versions of Android floating around.

As for apps, I have no clue as I have never used a cell phone. I have seen
apps used, but never had the chance to use them myself. You can root most
Android devices. I even saw Ubuntu running on one recently. The Pandigital
has been rooted and apps for other Android devices will theoretically work,
but most require physical buttons instead of a touch screen so from what I
understand the apps are useless.

The reviews on the Pandigital vary from very happy to it sucks. People
compare it to the iPad which it is not and are disappointed. They say it is
sluggish and the touch screen is hard to use. People who expect it to work
as a $150 e-reader tend to be very happy. The trick with the touch screen
apparently has to do with the type of screen. It is galss with and overlay
capacitor touch sensitive layer. It is cheaper to produce this way. You need
to use a stylus or your fingernail instead of your skin. Once you figure
this out it works well from reviews I've read.

Costco is really good at taking things back so I may give it a whirl.