Whitcoulls said yesterday the Kobo eReader would let people read books anywhere, anytime with 100 free, pre-loaded titles, including War and Peace and A Tale of Two Cities.
Up to two million other titles could be downloaded into the eReader or other devices from Whitcoulls' new ebook platform and read on other compatible devices, including PC and Mac computers and iPhones. Other devices being added included iPad, Blackberry and others.
Books could be instantly downloaded with a range of prices starting at $3.95.
New Zealand became the fourth country in the world to have the eReader after Australia, Canada and the US.
Dave Fenlon, group managing director of REDgroup Retail, which owned Whitcoulls, said the launch would change the way New Zealanders read forever.
"We are bringing a whole new level of choice, control and flexibility to New Zealand book lovers," he said.
The eReader, which costs $295, comes with 100 free books but can be expanded to 5000 with an additional memory card. Its battery would last up to two weeks or 8000 page turns.
It weighed only 221gms, had a 15.2cm display screen and five adjustable font sizes.
