I´ve got my iLiad a few weeks ago. I started the iliad and the screen looks very messed up.

Outside nothing is broken (I was very careful with the screen).

Is the screen still in a prototype phase (are we beta testers as well)?

Anyway, how do I send in the iliad for warranty (I live in Germany)? The irex onlineshop isn´t very clear about that.

Greetings and thanks ...

You have a broken screen substrate. This is due to mechanical impact or twisting of the screen and will NOT be repaired under warranty, I'm afraid. Sorry. iRex will replace the screen, but the cost will probably be somewhere around €200 or more.

275 Euro to be precise.

Im sorry for you, this is the Super-GAU. I also had a broken screen although the iLaid was in the shoulder bag!! :(

Gogolo

F**k ... what the hell.

It was always in that shoulder bag. They should give additional warnings ... *do not touch it* (ok, I wouldn´t read the manual anyway ... but).

---

Ok, ok ... that doesn´t solve the problem. Be constructive ... relax ... :smack:

---

Where do I repair it? How does it work exactly?

Where do I repair it? How does it work exactly?
http://support.irexnet.com/

Fill out a ticket. Sometimes it takes a day or two to get a reply. You'll be notified about replies by email, but don't reply to the email if you have a follow-up, make sure you use the ticket system.

To add to what daudi said, once they contact you about the repair they'll send you a box to pack the device in to. Then you ship the box back to them.

Thanks for the information.

I'm starting to get nightmares about this broken substrate topic. Every time I pull my iLiad out of the shoulder bag, I'm quite panicky that it shows these symptoms... :eek:

But I don't want to transport it in a thick heavy fully padded metal box either as that seems to be a bit contraproductive to the thought of a mobile read device. Hmmm... :chinscratch:

Ah, the pains of being an early adopter... ;)

Cheers,
- Don [:-]

The iLiad's been around for what... two years now?
Hardly "early" anymore :D

Although apparently conceived in the 70s and seriously developed in the 90s, I think the whole e-Ink manufacturing process is still in its beginnings - being no absolute mainstream display technology. That's why I insist on the "early" attribute... ;)

Hey, after all I just want to be able to throw my reading pad on the table, like they do in Star Trek... :D

Cheers,
- Don [:-]

It's really not that delicate. Avoid putting pressure on the screen and you'll be fine. eInk devices seem pretty immune to shocks - it's pressure that does the damage. If you can, avoid putting it in a bag with other heavy objects.

Throwing it onto a table is actually a pretty safe thing to do :).

There was no direct pressure from outside. It was always in the shoulder bag and the only pressure could be some writing paper or a book in the backpack (even that should be no problem because the book was not pressing with the edges).

Perhaps some hard metal (platinum?) in the shoulder bag should do the trick ...

Anyway - the repair service should give IREX a nice extra profit ...

I transport my iLiad in the "deluxe cover"

http://www.justread.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4_iLiad-Deluxe-Cover.html/XTCsid/03o41e5csmrmvhs5ibkus3q535

It is protected rather well from shocks. I transport it daily together with my subnotebook in my backpack also stuffed with books, dancing shoes or whatever the day calls for and had no problems so far.

It has beein said altough, the iLiad screen to be quite fragile to "twisting pressure".. I never dared to try out what happens if I take it at the ends with both hands and twist it, so to have the insight: "Oh yes, it indeed breaks if you do this"...

Interesting enough in both cases I read about sudden display crack, it was always the provided shoulderbag people give a good iLiad in and took a defective out... hmmm.. (the third case I read about here was a someone who droped his cellphone onto the iLiad screen...)

Hey, after all I just want to be able to throw my reading pad on the table, like they do in Star Trek... :D


LOL :)
Oddly enough, i was just watching late night (rerere)reruns of TNG the other day, and thought the EXACT same thing when i saw Picard throw the PADD on the table. "Wouldn't do that with an iLiad, would ya?" :D

Anyway, i haven't mistreated mine in any way, certainly didn't throw it around and carried it exclusively all by itself in a front, cosy, internal vest pocket or in my hand and it still didn't do me much good - as it has a line out fault.

A line out isn't caused by physical damage, it's a defect in the screen/controller. That's why it's usually covered under warranty where a broken screen like joblack's is not.

Yeah, i know.

Like i said... A lot of people (me included) have problems regardless of the treatment their iLiads recieve.

People tend to discount a lot of screen problems as "user error" when it's, in fact, just like Don said: the manufacturing process is way to wonky for a mass product.

I gona buy now something absolutely secure. Look at this (http://www.verpatec.ch/gespritzte_KK/minibag.php)!

In minibag 2 the iLiad will fit perfectly. No twisting anymore, no nothing on screen.

Maybe not beautiful but I have a big bag. And I do NOT want to have this experience again, taking it out the bag and instantly knowing "You just threw 400$ down the drain" :smack::smack::smack:

Greetings
Gogolo

I've been looking at this:

http://www.ftknox.com/redesign/gun-safe-images/titan-fire-gun-safe500.jpg

The middle, black one would fit nicely and provide plenty of protection from torsion and shear, i think :D

Oddly enough, i was just watching late night (rerere)reruns of TNG the other day, and thought the EXACT same thing when i saw Picard throw the PADD on the table. "Wouldn't do that with an iLiad, would ya?" :D

They don't show it on TV, but there's actually a whole deck of the USS Enterprise given over to screen repairs. Geordi Le Forge keeps nagging Picard about it, but he doesn't have to pay because there's no money in the 23rd century...

Money might have been abolished in 23rd century, but the concept of service credits is still very much alive and well. Payable in viable organs and socially useful work (a euphemism for toilet scrubbing). Where do you think Picard's heart and hair went?

(Speaking of toilets, is there a hidden deck consisting of toilets too? :D)

Ok the return box is here. The return papers says I have to put all items / accessoires in that box. But that isn't possible.

Isn't it enough to just put the necessairy items in it?

Ok the return box is here. The return papers says I have to put all items / accessoires in that box. But that isn't possible.

Isn't it enough to just put the necessairy items in it?

They say that in case there is an unidentified problem which could be caused by the travel hub or the charger. If your screen is broken, then you probably will not have to include all the accessories. Especially that lareg plug, where noone knows how it fit into the package in the first place.

iRex has said before on their own forum that it's just a "standard" tech support letter. You don't really need to include all of the accessories if the problem has nothing to do with them. For a screen issue, just the device itself should be fine.

Ok thanks.

I'm pressing both thumbs for it ... :2thumbsup

They say that in case there is an unidentified problem which could be caused by the travel hub or the charger. If your screen is broken, then you probably will not have to include all the accessories. Especially that lareg plug, where noone knows how it fit into the package in the first place.

I'm glad to hear you say that, tribble. When I sold my iLiad I had a heck of job fitting everything back in the box to post it. I just couldn't figure out how it had all gone in in the first place :).

...When I sold my iLiad ...

"To sell one's iLiad" seems to have an oxymoronic ring to it. How come, Harry? :eek:

Cheers,
- Don [:-], who would never surrender his iLiad voluntarily. Never. Well, over his dead body perhaps. Or over a dead screen (to get back to the topic, at last... ;))

"To sell one's iLiad" seems to have an oxymoronic ring to it. How come, Harry? :eek:

Cheers,
- Don [:-], who would never surrender his iLiad voluntarily. Never. Well, over his dead body perhaps. Or over a dead screen (to get back to the topic, at last... ;))

1. Too large to carry around everywhere with me.
2. Too slow to boot up.
3. (the "killer" for me) - Very primitive implementation of MobiPocket reader. The lack of bookmarks was a "show-stopper" for me; I need the ability to bookmark pages with errors on when I proof-read the books that I've created.

For me personally, the CyBook Gen3 is a much better machine.

I need the ability to bookmark pages with errors on when I proof-read the books that I've created.
Ahhh. Ok, ANYthing is sanctioned if it only keeps you going at creating the books! Btw., I absolutely appreciate what you do there for us (and the ebook per se). Thank you VERY much for all your efforts, it's really a marvellous work! :2thumbsup

Cheers,
- Don [:-] who has decided to ignore all the obvious but (for him) minor quirks and to be addicted to his iLiad...;)

I just spent 275 Euro in a new screen (I suppose).

Hopefully this will be the last incident. :chinscratch:

If you want to be sure you need something like this (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24800).

Gogolo

How much time did they need to repair it?

I can tell you how long it took with mine: 2 Month :rofl:

First they forgot to inform repair center that my money arrived, then I had to send it back because scribbling didnt function. Suppose they forgot to attach a cable.

Gogolo

Oh god... I suddenly feel very bad about sending mine for service.
A black line over the bottom of the screen is infinitely more preferable over NOT having the device AT ALL for 2 months. :(

How bad can a repair service be in capitalism? Strange ...

How bad can a repair service be in capitalism? Strange ...
No, not strange at all. They obviously count on you buying a new device for bridging the wait time... ;)

Cheers,
- Don [:-]

No, not strange at all. They obviously count on you buying a new device for bridging the wait time... ;)
[:-]
I think they count on that their device is the best on the market ... the worst of all:

It's true.

For the first time I'm feeling like an Apple user (paid to much just for a dream ...).

It´s back ... unbelievable.

And it´s working ... ;).

First I got a shock because on the paper was written:

Your Iliad can´t be repaired with the warranty. (So I thought they haven´t repaired it after all ... )

But that was never the case ... I paid for it.

Mine's back too!
Took about two weeks excluding customs and shipping.

And it's repaired and working, as far as i can see...

Here's a weird question: do you have to remove the serial number sticker from the back to disassemble the iLiad? I.e. is there a screw under it? Because mine doesn't seem to have been removed (and i'm 100% positive it's the same sticker - i took a photo before sending it in and it's worn out in the exact same spots).

Ok, this will probably sound like placebo, but...

I'd SWEAR my iLiad's screen seems to have a noticably better contrast after the repair than before. Even though the ambient temperatures have risen considerably since i've sent it off to iRex for repairs... (which normally causes a reduction in contrast and an increase in refresh speed, right?)

I suppose they have changed the complete screen and not just 'repaired' it ...

Seems like it. My screen's polycarbonate layer originally had a little "bump" near the lower left corner. Nothing visible, but you could see it if you looked at a certain angle and under the right light - a little imperfection in the texture, like a dimple.

After it came back, it wasn't there anymore. So it does, indeed, seem they just swapped the whole screen assembly for a new one.

And maybe you have a vizplex now. Somewhere I read that they are switching to vizplex without signing it. Is your screen faster?

Gogolo

Nope, not Vizplex, sorry.

It does seem a bit faster (probably due to higher ambient temperatures (around 30-35 °C now vs. around 20°C from before i've sent it to iRex), but not that much faster :)

Sony Reader vs. iLiad w/ new screen:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14083&stc=1&d=1215189454

The previous screen was a bit brighter than my Sony Reader's too, but i'm not sure if it was this brighter. Note that the Reader is closer to the windows and has a bit more light falling on it.

Could be due to the age difference. E-ink screens darken slightly with age.
The Reader is over a year old (year and a half? two?) and my iLiad (along with its original screen) is old stock ER0100.

This pictures are cool. I'd wish we could have more of these side by side pictures, so people can better visually compare the devices when they are out to buy some.

I'm really impressed with the Iliad screen showed in that picture. Is there anyone who knows for sure if the iliad(latest edition) is vizplex?
I've read many posts on this subject but no one was conclusive.
thanks.

I'm really impressed with the Iliad screen showed in that picture. Is there anyone who knows for sure if the iliad(latest edition) is vizplex?
I've read many posts on this subject but no one was conclusive.
thanks.

It isn't. iRex had already before costomized the screens wavelengths in their own way to improve them. When vizplex came out, they say they tried it but didn't notice any noticeable difference to their customization already in use before.

thanks axell77, greatly appreciated.
It would be useful to see a side by side photo comparison between a vizplex screen and the Iliad display.

thanks axell77, greatly appreciated.
It would be useful to see a side by side photo comparison between a vizplex screen and the Iliad display.

AFAIK the picture wouldn't be representive as vizplex AFAIK is primary supposed to speed up display speed. So you'd need a video at least.

I'm really impressed with the Iliad screen showed in that picture. Is there anyone who knows for sure if the iliad(latest edition) is vizplex?
I've read many posts on this subject but no one was conclusive.
thanks.

I doubt any response could be conclusive, unless it came from iRex. I certainly don't know for sure, and I don't know whether it matters much. But I'd say, having got the iLiad Book Edition a few weeks ago, and comparing it with the Sony PRS-505, which I've had for several months, that the iLiad's (well, this iLiad's) screen is Vizplex or something as much like it as makes no difference. The background gray seems a bit lighter and brighter than that of the PRS-505--but my PRS-505 is older, and some darkening may have occurred, so it would probably be better just to say that they're comparable. The screen refresh on the iLiad (my new Book Edition, that is) is just as fast as on the PRS-505. It's perhaps a tiny bit faster, in fact, at least when I make the most direct comparison I can, of the way they display PDFs that I've generated with pdftex---files that are the same in every way, basically, except formatted with different "papersizes" for the Sony and the iLiad. In general, in fact, the page refresh speed was a surprise--what I'd read about the iLiad had led me to expect it to be rather slow, and in my estimation it typically is not.

Keep in mind that the difference, in contrast and refresh speed, between Vizplex and the first-generation e-ink material is definite but not very great in any case. And the iLiad's font rendering, for one thing, is different and I gather always has been (16 gray scales and I think anti-aliasing that is clearly quite different from whatever it is that the Sony implements--but here I'm technically out of my depth).

I recall that when the PRS-505 was released, though it was known that Vizplex was being used, Vizplex was not mentioned in the specs or in Sony's promotional material. Similarly, iRex could have switched to Vizplex without wanting to "play it up" in any way--or maybe not, of course; who knows?

I recall, also, having read a PVI or E-Ink press release, quite some time ago--before Vizplex was actually being used in any device that was on the market--in which it was stated that Vizplex was (I'm paraphrasing very loosely from memory) easier and cheaper to make than the first-generation e-ink screens. So I'd think it likely enough that the first-generation stuff is just obsolete and not being made any more. But again, who knows? (Somebody, of course, but not me.)

It has been stated before by iRex employees (can't remember if it was here or on iRex fora) that they've tested Vizplex and decided it doesn't offer any advances over currently used screens that would justify changing the currently used production process.

Vizplex' main benefits over the previous generation are brighter whites (and, thus, higher contrast) and faster refreshes. According to iRex, the increase in refresh speed from iLiad's already tweaked switching waveforms to Vizplex isn't dramatic enough to warrant a switch.

That does leave the issue of contrast / brightness, though. iLiad did have an advantage in that area over other 1st gen E-ink devices, but how that advantage compares to Vizplex' - i don't have a clue.

BTW, i'll try to make a quick video of my Reader and iLiad page flipping side by side and post it here as soon as the Reader charges up. Also, i'll try to get a friend with the new, Vizplex equipped Reader to bring it to work tomorrow and make some side by side comparisons.

Here goes...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yq9AMEkZg7k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yq9AMEkZg7k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Couldn't get them perfectly synced, but frame by frame analysis shows iLiad is a bit faster. Nothing earth-shattering, though...
Here's a readability comparison in a best-case scenario (outdoors, lots of sunlight):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2641992605_7fdfd23e69.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2641992605_99e43f0ecc_o.jpg)
Click for full size

iLiad has noticeably better whites and contrast and much less ghosting (almost none). Reader's screen looks like a bad paperback in comparison.

It has been stated before by iRex employees (can't remember if it was here or on iRex fora) that they've tested Vizplex and decided it doesn't offer any advances over currently used screens that would justify changing the currently used production process.

Perhaps you are referring to a post on MobileRead in which Karel of iRex said

Mostly correct, however Vizplex is not really a screen but a film on which the electronic ink is laminated and iRex does not use a standard 1st Gen PVI but a custom proprietary 8.1-inch screen developed by iRex Technologies which is produced by PVI.

Since Q2 we implemented the Vizplex material into our 8.1-inch display, but the improvements are only very minor.

It's unclear, of course; but "implemented" is not the same as "tested," and "since" suggests an ongoing practice. So I'd say the more likely interpretation, on the face of it, is "We're using it, but the improvements are only very minor, so we haven't advertised the fact," rather than "We tested it, but decided not to use it, because the improvements were only very minor."

This post of Karel's wasn't followed up by any clarification, so far as I know, which is odd in a way, since its meaning has been puzzled over and debated by some subsequent posters. So: not followed up with any clarification, maybe, because he'd already said more than he meant to?

Yeah, i think that was it. But i think it was also mentioned on the iRex forum, in a discussion involving Karel's post in the i-to-i blog:
http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2007/11/09/what-makes-our-electronic-paper-displays-different/

... which states:

"In the coming weeks we will compare the display performance of the current iLiad with a Vizplex™ prototype and analyze the differences. So stay tuned."

Again, no updates of any kind since then.

Edit: It's worth noting that iLiad's screen never was described as a gen 1 e-ink display. According to iRex, if the first Sony Reader is first generation, then iLiad's screen is second and the Vizplex third.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=183040&postcount=9
According to this post, it seems that Irex is currently using Vizplex.

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=183040&postcount=9
According to this post, it seems that Irex is currently using Vizplex.

As discussed previously, Karel's statement is open to interpretation. It could mean they are, but it could also mean they've implemented it on a test device and decided against it.

As discussed previously, Karel's statement is open to interpretation. It could mean they are, but it could also mean they've implemented it on a test device and decided against it.

in either interpretation, isn't the result, it just doesn't matter?

I mean did the vizplex marketing already go so deep into your brain, you want it in your device, even when it does no observable difference for this device?

I mean did the vizplex marketing already go so deep into your brain, you want it in your device, even when it does no observable difference for this device?

For many people, apparently.

Vizplex' main benefits over the previous generation are brighter whites (and, thus, higher contrast) and faster refreshes. According to iRex, the increase in refresh speed from iLiad's already tweaked switching waveforms to Vizplex isn't dramatic enough to warrant a switch.

That does leave the issue of contrast / brightness, though. iLiad did have an advantage in that area over other 1st gen E-ink devices, but how that advantage compares to Vizplex' - i don't have a clue.


According to the specs, vizplex is slightly faster, but the iLiad screen has a slightly better contrast.

Since Q2 we implemented the Vizplex material into our 8.1-inch display, but the improvements are only very minor.
As discussed previously, Karel's statement is open to interpretation. It could mean they are, but it could also mean they've implemented it on a test device and decided against it.

Hmm, I thought it means the former pretty clearly. I am not sure how latter interpretation is possible just given the article without any outside knowledge. Of course, English is not my first language, so I cannot be sure. :)

However, if iRex implemented it, it is a mystery why they are silent about it. Advertising about using Vizplex will do at least no harm or possibly good.

According to the specs, vizplex is slightly faster, but the iLiad screen has a slightly better contrast.

That's exactly what my observations have shown.
See here: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26108.

However, there are a few caveats... Firstly, iLiad refreshes the screen in a different way (different waveform) so it can't be directly compared to vizplex. They both finish at approx. the same time, however, iLiad's Eye-Print waveforms do an additional slight "blink" at the end that makes its refresh cycle last a bit longer. That "blink" is usually not perceived in real use.

Secondly, while iLiad's whites are brighter in the best case scenario (light falling dead on the screen), Sony Reader's Vizplex screen is slightly brighter in the worst case scenario (light coming from the side).

I know some people have complained (and I have this problem too) that the iLiad ink fades considerably in direct sunlight. Is this true of all iLiads (or do I have a faulty one?), and if so, do visplex screens do it too?

However, if iRex implemented it, it is a mystery why they are silent about it. Advertising about using Vizplex will do at least no harm or possibly good.

If it didn't do much difference on the screen I can very well understand they didn't advertise it.

Say they make an announcement, iLiads with a S/N bigger than X do have vizplex, those before don"t. Now how many people just having bought an iLiad yesterday would scream up, sending their unit back. Now some store still has some iLiads on stock, now customers say, oh my god you sold me a non vizplex version you evil ... I want a vizplex now! Through that one and the rest on stock away!...

You know how people are. Make a funny acronym, and they all go crazy about it.

You know how people are. Make a funny acronym, and they all go crazy about it.

We need to start a grassroots marketing campaign saying that the iLiad uses new "googaplex" technology, which is twice as good as vizplex! :rofl:

You know how people are. Make a funny acronym, and they all go crazy about it.

Not at all, vizplex is not just a "funny acronym" , it's a really better technology in comparison with a first gen display. People "all go crazy about it " because there's a noticeable difference in readability between the screen of a prs-500 and that of a 505 or kindle.

Not at all, vizplex is not just a "funny acronym" , it's a really better technology in comparison with a first gen display. People "all go crazy about it " because there's a noticeable difference in readability between the screen of a prs-500 and that of a 505 or kindle.

The iLiad screen is not a first gen display, and there's little noticeable difference between it and vizplex. In most areas the iLiad display has better technical specs than vizplex.

Yet, people who don't know any better are "going crazy about it" on an iLiad because ... what? The only reason I can think of is because they remember the funny name.

axel77 seems to have made a good point.

If it didn't do much difference on the screen I can very well understand they didn't advertise it.


Of course, that brings up the question of if it doesn't make much difference on the screen and they're not going to advertise it, then why would they increase their manufacturing costs by including it? There doesn't seem to be any reason to add it to the device. I can't imagine that including vizplex on the iLiads would reduce their costs somehow.

Of course, that brings up the question of if it doesn't make much difference on the screen and they're not going to advertise it, then why would they increase their manufacturing costs by including it? There doesn't seem to be any reason to add it to the device. I can't imagine that including vizplex on the iLiads would reduce their costs somehow.

They don't build the eInk screen they buy it. I imagine they had to switch, because at some point they are only delivered vizplex screens from the eInk manufacturer, because they globally changed the production process.

They don't build the eInk screen they buy it. I imagine they had to switch, because at some point they are only delivered vizplex screens from the eInk manufacturer, because they globally changed the production process.

Remember though that iRex is not buying standard PVI eInk screens. The eInk display being manufactured by PVI for the iLiad is a custom screen that was designed by iRex, so it wouldn't fall under a global change to the production process. It's already a one-off product.

I guess it's possible that PVI went back to iRex and said that all the eInk layers they manufacture are going to be based on vizplex in the future, including the custom ones that iRex was buying from them, because it's cheaper to manufacture a single design at that point in the process. Then again, PVI isn't making an 8.1 inch eInk screen for anyone else, so I don't know how much the manufacturing of other device screens impacts on what they manufacture for the iLiad.

I think at this point though, all anyone is doing is speculating. Without hearing it directly from iRex or PVI, we'll probably never know. I do agree with you that it's amusing how some people are trying to make a really big deal out of this, when whether or not they are including vizplex makes very little difference. If they started including it, and nobody noticed, then why do people care?

If they started including it, and nobody noticed, then why do people care?

People may care just for pure curiosity or for sake of knowledge itself. If your pc has a 3 Gigahertz processor wouldn't you know whether it is, for example, a pentium III or an Amd turion, even if there is no noticeable difference in the overall speed of the machine?

People may care just for pure curiosity or for sake of knowledge itself. If your pc has a 3 Gigahertz processor wouldn't you know whether it is, for example, a pentium III or an Amd turion, even if there is no noticeable difference in the overall speed of the machine?

The PC is another perfect example on how to throw some number at people and they go crazy for. Its the Mhz of the CPU, people always want the fastest clocking available, hardly caring for any other features, caches, memory speed, effective registers, etc. all they are crazy for is some high number for the CPU clock... even if the CPU actually ignores every 3rd tick :)

People may care just for pure curiosity or for sake of knowledge itself. If your pc has a 3 Gigahertz processor wouldn't you know whether it is, for example, a pentium III or an Amd turion, even if there is no noticeable difference in the overall speed of the machine?

Nope - wouldn't have a clue. Why would I care?

Nope - wouldn't have a clue. Why would I care?
Mh. Maybe because the people who were following the "Ignorance is Strength" paradigm were not so terribly happy after all... ;)

Cheers,
- Don [:-], who wouldn't want to miss taking part of all those entertaining flame wars and fanboy battles over different hardware beliefs... :D

I neither know nor care how my car works - all I know is which hole to put the petrol in :). A car is just a tool - I don't want to have to understand how it works in order to use it. I really don't see why computers should be any different if they are supposed to be "mature" products.

As it happens, I do know quite a lot about computers - I am a programmer. However, you're not going to sell the things to people like my parents until they are like cars - just "buy it and use it" and not have to worry about knowing how it works.

Your knowledge about cars might be more profound than you think. You not only know which hole to put the petrol in, you also know which kind of petrol to put in. Which leads me to suspect that you (and probably your parents too) know which kind of engine is pottering away under the hood of your car. Is it a Diesel, Otto, Wankel, Electric, Steam, Nuclear, Muscle powered (hey, there's actually quite a lot of different types of engines!) engine? ;)

But you're right, a lot of people are not interested in how many horse power the car has or (sadly) how much petrol it consumes etc.

Cheers,
- Don [:-], who doesn't even know which processor powers the iLiad... :o

Your knowledge about cars might be more profound than you think. You not only know which hole to put the petrol in, you also know which kind of petrol to put in. Which leads me to suspect that you (and probably your parents too) know which kind of engine is pottering away under the hood of your car. Is it a Diesel, Otto, Wankel, Electric, Steam, Nuclear, Muscle powered (hey, there's actually quite a lot of different types of engines!) engine? ;)

But you're right, a lot of people are not interested in how many horse power the car has or (sadly) how much petrol it consumes etc.

Cheers,
- Don [:-], who doesn't even know which processor powers the iLiad... :o

But they want "turbo fuel injection"! whatever that is, i don't know. But does my car have it? I want my car to have it!

I have a sudden, distinct feeling we're not talking about iLiad's screen anymore ;)

Ahh, come on. The fact that we're talking in metaphors doesn't necessarily mean that we've left the topic to boldly go where... well, you know... ;)

But you're right. Back to iLiad's screen and its messing up. Talking of which: how do you clean the screen? Dust and dirt and grime provide some level of mess. I use a TFT cleaner, but I'm not entirely convinced of its effectiveness and efficiency... :(

Cheers,
- Don [:-]

It's hard plastic and you can clean it with pretty much anything non-abrasive. If it's REALLY dirty I wipe mine with a damp cloth soaked in warm soapy water (not wet, just damp). To remove fingerprints, etc, a "microfibre" cleaning cloth, as sold to clean glasses, camera lenses, etc, works great.

Looks like we have an answer to the "vizplex or not" question. Karel was talking about their screen technology over on the iRex forum, and I thought I'd throw in the question about vizplex, to see if he would give an answer.

He says that since the Book Edition came out in May, both versions of the iLiad are being shipped with vizplex included. He stated again though that it only makes a minor improvement.

http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?p=12811&highlight=#12811

Thanks Shaggy,
Although the improvement is only a minor one I was very curious. Now the "mistery" is solved.