So given the choice of the Iliad V2 or the 1000S (both retailing at 599 EUR), which would you choose?

Is wireless important to you or is screen size the selling point?

the 1000S, but i read/annotate/switch between books a lot

The wireless is less important to me than the screen size in this case, but I'm looking for a professional device right now.

I personally prefer the DR1000S due to its screensize. The WLAN was of no importance to me yet.

Assuming existing software on the iLiad (no significant upgrades), the iLiad is already as good as it will get and the little we have seen of the DR software appears to be a significant advance - and it will get better still over time. Unless you have a specific (existing) application in mind for the iLiad WiFi, it will probably not meet your expectations.

So, the real comparison is between the 1000S and the 1000WS. I don't think there is any doubt that WiFi and Bluetooth are a huge help to developers of software for the DR (allows remote login or an attached keyboard). If iRex (or a 3rd party) can come up with a usable web browser for the DR then it will be worth while for a wider audience. In a business context, opening up iDS delivery means again that WiFi is worthwhile. Based on the iLiad, I doubt most people will miss the WiFi if they buy the 1000S, but iRex could surprise us.

If iRex (or a 3rd party) can come up with a usable web browser for the DR then it will be worth while for a wider audience. In a business context, opening up iDS delivery means again that WiFi is worthwhile. Based on the iLiad, I doubt most people will miss the WiFi if they buy the 1000S, but iRex could surprise us.

That is key, having a browser and if possible able to load newspapers and RSS feeds wirelessly from iRex then the SW will be a formidable device. Maybe the delay in introducing the SW has to do with finalizing the browser, commerce web site and bringing on newspaper and magazine publishers. One can dream. Otherwise why Wifi...why?

No doubt, the 1000 S. It's the size of the screen that matters most to me.

I'm torn between the large screen and the ability to grab some newspapers (with Feedbooks) on the way out of the hotel in the morning. Hopefully there will be a price drop on the Iliad in the coming months

The concern I (and many would) have over getting the Illiad V2 over one of the Digital readers would be of how long iRex is going to keep supporting them.

As it would be obvious, they will probably be concentrating most if not all their research and development effort on the new products.

So personally I would say that unless you have everything you want on the V2 and want to save a little money without having to pony up for the extra for WS go for the newer model. you'll probably have a longer product lifecycle.

There is such good support in the iLiad forum here on Mobile Read that even if iRex stopped there would still be good support.

Dale

There is such good support in the iLiad forum here on Mobile Read that even if iRex stopped there would still be good support.

Dale

True, but I referring more to hardware support, especially if / when it breaks (based on problems mentioned by the forum in the past).

There is probably going to be limit till which they're going to have spares to fix damaged / broken ones, unless they have still got ongoing production of screens and other components. and once the warranty period is over (How long is it? 1 or 2 years?) they're not required to support or repair it.

I figure, that spending a bit more now, will probably brove to be a better deal in the long run , but that's a personal opinion formed after nearly pulling my hair out trying to get parts for electronics, just a year or two after production ceased. It was futile in most cases, even when I was willing to pay more then the normal price and get them shipped from wherever i could.

DR1000S is the choice.
For me the size screen is very important. ;)

If the price of iLiad still be 699USD, I will definitely buy DR1000 series. DR1000 is better than iLiad in so many ways.

If iRex (or a 3rd party) can come up with a usable web browser for the DR then it will be worth while for a wider audience. From iRex's DR1000 FAQ (http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?p=13419#13419):

Q: Will there be a web browser on the device and if so which one and will it support Java?
A: Yes, the iRex Digital Reader 1000 SW will have a limited browser (web-kit based). It will support text and images, non-supported formats (e.g. flash) will be replaced by content that can be displayed (static images) or ignored. It supports java scripting, radio buttons, checkboxes, input fields, buttons and downloading files.

This sounds like a very usable web browser. Now the only problem is the lack of a ship date for the DR1000SW.

The iLiad is somehow a dead end for advances.
Q: Will iRex continue to support the iLiad with new firmware?
A: We will continue to support the iLiad but we have no immediate plans to add new functionalities.

Q: Will the iRex iLiad and iRex Digital Reader 1000 be sold together, or is the iLiad being phased out?
A: The iLiad series will be continued next to the iRex 1000 series, each of these series are addressing a different user group and both product ranges are part of our suite of e-reader products.

Q: Will any of the new software programs be back ported to the iLiad?
A: No, for this the iLiad and the DR1000 hardware infrastructure differ too much.
http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?t=2859

True, but I referring more to hardware support, especially if / when it breaks (based on problems mentioned by the forum in the past).

There is probably going to be limit till which they're going to have spares to fix damaged / broken ones, unless they have still got ongoing production of screens and other components. and once the warranty period is over (How long is it? 1 or 2 years?) they're not required to support or repair it.


They've said on their forum that they plan on continuing to produce/sell/support iLiads. However, it sounds like future development of new features will be limited to the DR1000.

I don't think I would buy either of them right now. (Though I already have an iLiad.) I would wait to see how the power management problems work out before buying the DS1000. iRex promised to fix the power management with the iLiad and then had to admit they couldn't. I don't think they can be trusted with this on the DS1000, either. If the power management was important to me, I'd wait for them to fix it before buying.

I'm not too happy with their abandonment of new features on the iLiad, either, after promising a new multi-format viewer all year. The features of the DS1000 look pretty nice, but I just don't have confidence in iRex as a company able to react to consumer needs. :shrug:

I'm not too happy with their abandonment of new features on the iLiad, either, after promising a new multi-format viewer all year.

Yeah, I'll be upset about it too if it turns out that the new viewer framework they've been talking about for a long time was never intended for the iLiad. If that's the case, then it was very misleading on their part.

I've directly asked that question on their forum. We'll see if they respond.

Yeah, I'll be upset about it too if it turns out that the new viewer framework they've been talking about for a long time was never intended for the iLiad. If that's the case, then it was very misleading on their part.

I've directly asked that question on their forum. We'll see if they respond.
Oh, it may have been "intended for" the iLiad, but then iLiad support may have been dropped. :rolleyes:

I'll be surprised if they offer anything for the iLiad after this. But then, I'm in a rather cynical mood today.

I'm not that cynical yet, but I'm getting there. :2thumbsup

From the FAQ: Q: Will iRex continue to support the iLiad with new firmware?
A: We will continue to support the iLiad but we have no immediate plans to add new functionalities. I have been listening to sales-speak for decades, and the above can only mean: we will continue to sell iLiads but there will be no new software.

At first I thought it was a great misfortune as I bought Iliad V2
just a week before they have released DR1000. But after some evaluation
I must say that I'm happy enough with it.

As I'm going to read mostly technical/programming PDF's
I think that Iliad screen & device size are just the right one.
Using the zoom functionality and the full screen mode of community
provided ipdf you get in landscape view more then 100% A4 print
font size.

From what I've seen DR1000 doesn't provide enough extra
functionality over Iliad to be a viable replacement and it's
bigger screen for reading PDF's is not needed.

I'm sure that in the near future we will see more and more devices
popping out with significantly better functionality, e.g. with
decent browser, color, thinner/lighter so that it is not worth to
change from Iliad to DR1000.

As I'm going to read mostly technical/programming PDF's
I think that Iliad screen & device size are just the right one.
Using the zoom functionality and the full screen mode of community
provided ipdf you get in landscape view more then 100% A4 print
font size.

From what I've seen DR1000 doesn't provide enough extra
functionality over Iliad to be a viable replacement and it's
bigger screen for reading PDF's is not needed.


The only most important reason for which I would consider upgrading would be the 128MB RAM and faster CPU.. other than that all the iLiad needs is a software overhaul

I would have considered replacing my iLiad with a new model at the same size in another year or so, if they fixed the power management/boot time issues. The current size works very well for me. But I do like to use it to take notes, and the delay as it starts up before I can start taking notes really is inconvenient sometimes.

The only time I miss a larger screen when viewing PDF documents on the iLiad is with multi-column documents. I really need to experiment more with the column-navigation versions of iPDF. (I keep hoping someone will combine all the stray iPDF enhancements into one version!)