Sony digital paper may not be as thin as, well paper, but the tablet-like device does have many of the same qualities as a plain old sheet of 8 x 11 paper.

The 13.3-inch tablet uses an e-ink screen similar to those utilized in the early Amazon Kindle. However, in this case the user can fully interact with the device via a stylus. Sony is positioning it as the ultimate paper replacement system, but at a reported $1,100 it is not only more expensive than most tablets is its is almost 200 times more expensive than a package of 500-count copy paper.

Sony expects the savings to come over time as Digital Paper truly creates a paperless office. The company noted that acording to InfoTrends, as recently as 2011, local, state and federal offices used a yearly volume of 122 billion sheets of paper, an amount equal to roughly 400 sheets for every person in the United States.

"This is a true replacement for the vast amounts of paper that continue to clutter many offices and institutions," said Bob Nell, director, Digital Paper Solutions of Sony Electronics. 

It is expected to ship in May.

Convincing businesses to lay out big bucks for Digital Paper could prove problematical. Particularly in light of Microsoft's unveiling of Office for iPad last week. 

Digital Paper offers several advantages over a traditional LCD based tablets. In addition to being able to write on it, battery power is rated at three weeks and it weighs around 12 ounces and is as thick as about 30 sheets of paper. PDF source files, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel files can be converted to the PDF format and saved, viewed and annotated on the Digital Paper device. For speedy retrieval and transfer, Sony's Digital Paper incorporates wireless access to servers (via Wi-Fi) as well as USB connectivity.

Here is its basic feature set.

 High contrast display (1200 x 1600 dots), 16-level grayscale, incorporating "E Ink Mobius" technology from E Ink Corporation

• No backlight enables text to be read clearly, even in bright sunlight
• Built-in Wi-Fi functionality allows file sharing over a wireless network
• Rechargeable thin lithium-ion battery - up to 3 weeks use on a single charge
• AC adapter or USB rechargeable (computer-based charging)
• Storage - approximately 2,800 PDF files; internal memory of 4GB coupled with micro SD card slot for additional storage
• Touch panel (IR touch) compatible with electromagnetic induction-type touch pen input

Sony showcased Digital Paper during the American Bar Association Tech Show in Chicago.