I've got a Kindle, and I love it, but I was looking over the iRex site (in response to another post), and couldn't help but notice that the Iliad seems very expensive ... on the iRex site anyway.

I also noticed that, although I can't see much in the way of differences, the Iliad v 2 is $100 more expensive than the book edition. That's what I'm really curious about ... why the difference in price? I'm sure it has to be for some reason that I am missing ...

I am thinking of getting one of these for taking notes at meetings. I think it would be a lot better than my tablet PC and take up much less space in my briefcase. But ... second question ... how is the battery life?? I mean in real use ... not what the manufacturer says it is.

Thanks. :)

The book edition lacks the Wifi. That's the only difference.

The book edition lacks the Wifi. That's the only difference.

Hmmm .... got it. Thanks.

battery life with frequent actual note-taking is probably anywhere between 5-8 hours.
that said, for precision/more comfortable writing you might want to get a better stylus/pen to go with it (i'd have recommended the Cross Executive pen, but it seems they've been EOLed a few weeks ago)

At conferences I have mine on all day taking notes, and it lasts at least 8 hours, but not more than 10. As a reminder, it does not recognize handwriting. There is PC software that purports to handle that part (after you copy your notes to the PC), but I haven't tried it.

Which would be plenty long enough, I think.

No .... I've got a tablet PC running OneNote, and I haven't used the handwriting recognition feature either. I can barely read my handwriting after a few days (which is why I always immediately transcribed my notes -- either with a typewriter or a computer -- as soon as possible after writing them.

For me, if I were to get an Iliad, it would be simply as a lighter alternative to the tablet PC for business meetings and such. I'm still thinking about it and probably will for a while before purchasing one.

I'm also seriously thinking about purchasing a few more Kindles .... :D

When you use the Iliad primary for notetaking it might be a very good idea to buy the WACOM executive pen, its way easier to handle than the "toothpick" the iLiad comes with.

2000 years evolution of handwriting devices has come up with a design thats pretty good for the human hand, just look like how a normal pencil/pen looks like. I don't know what goes into the mind of technicans thinking, disregard this, half the length will sufficide also...

I don't know what goes into the mind of technicans...

Space considerations? :)

When you use the Iliad primary for notetaking it might be a very good idea to buy the WACOM executive pen, its way easier to handle than the "toothpick" the iLiad comes with.


But doesn't the presence of the stylus in its socket disable the touch screen? Do you have to remove the stylus every time you want to use your WACOM pen? That sounds like a bit of a nuisance!

But doesn't the presence of the stylus in its socket disable the touch screen? Do you have to remove the stylus every time you want to use your WACOM pen? That sounds like a bit of a nuisance!

Yes it is, thus I leave my stylus at home, and only take the WACOM pen with me. It fits nicely into that executive casing. In addition to the nuisance its quite a danger for people like me, I'd sure soon lose the stylus or the wacom if I'd to take care of both, I was lucky until now to have lost neither.


Yes, yes, I know, lower battery lifetime because the digitizer won't turn off, when I'm not using the pen by putting the stylus into the slot. However 99% of the time I use the iLiad I do use the pen (even for reading pdfs), and from experience I can tell, its sure not a lot shorter life time. I can get easily through any even blocked lecture any time, that is 8 hours at least.

Yes, yes, I know, lower battery lifetime because the digitizer won't turn off, when I'm not using the pen by putting the stylus into the slot.

Actually, even without the stylus in the slot it still switches off after a period of inactivity.

Actually, even without the stylus in the slot it still switches off after a period of inactivity.

It's supposed to, but from what I've heard that feature has never really worked. Obviously, if axel77 is leaving the stylus at home and writing for 8 hours, nothing is turning off. ;)

Mine does turn off and it drives me bonkers :)

I sometimes leave the stylus on the table for a long time, while reading a text. And when i grab it to jot something down, i often find the digitizer went to sleep and i have to either put the stylus in the silo then pull it out again or click the buttons around for a while, until iLiad finally grasps what it should do (i.e. switch the bloody digitizer on).