In case you haven't been paying attention or have been incommunicado in an undisclosed location, three new E Ink-based e-book readers are coming soon:Sony's Reader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5663), iRex's Iliad (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5582), and Jinke's Hanlin (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5083).

Based on the what we know so far about each of these three upcoming e-book devices, which one appeals to you the most? After you cast your vote, please feel free tell us why you voted the way you did in the discussion thread.

Vote after the jump (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=5667).

Related: Sony's new e-book reader officially announced (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5663), More details on the Iliad ER 0100 e-book reader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5582),A Librie for the rest of us (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5083)

The Irex sounds like the best, especially with wireless support but a lot depends on price, DRM etc. I have a feeling the iRex will be more expensive than the other two.

The Runner up for me is the Hanlin, it sounds like a great unit. The Sony is a non-starter with me, I do not trust them.

The big question for all these devices is, presuming they need to connect to a computer, will they work with Mac OS X?

That and I still like a backlit screen. The eBookwise 1150 is just comfortable in your hand and that backlit screen is great for reading in bed or without a reading lamp. If somebody would come up with an eBookwise 1150 with a really high res color screen that would be what I'd prefer.

I choose the iRex because of its 1024x768 display. Unfortunately the price is still an unknown, and I've set my upper limit to $600.

I chose the iRex Iliad due to its wireless connectivity, formats, and larger screen. While it might be more expensive than the other two, I think there's a strong possibility that it may be offered at a discount when purchased with an electronic newspaper or e-book subscription (leveraged with wireless delivery), similar to how you can get $100 off different Audible Ready devices when you sign up for Audible.com.

If I could pay under $300 for the Iliad with a monthly subscription that gives me 2 e-books per month along with a daily newspaper for $15-20/month, I'd be all over it.

I'd be happy with the Sony Reader if it wasn't from Sony. With all the bells and whistles of the iRex, it's certainly not going to be cheap. And I am not willing to pay a fortune for a dedicated e-book reader. ;(

If I had to choose only one it would be the Iliad hands down.

I would consider the Sony as well once I start seeing hands on reviews. I have little trust for the company, but if the DRM is reasonable and the content is such that the particular books aren't available anywhere else digitally I would probably get it.

I will pile on with the iRex.

The Hanjin is a close second, but the proprietary OS coming out in its first version, the proprietary file format that other formats are converted into (at least according to the scant specs released so far), and the fact that its primary market is a non-English speaking country create uncertainty.

I can't make any decision about the Sony device since no specs have been officially released, but given Sony's behavior in the consumer electronics space in the past three decades - and their behavior as a content provider in the last 5 years - makes me immediately dismissive of this effort.

If the photos we've seen so far are anything to go by, the iRex is a nice piece of design. The Hanjin, much like the Libre, looks busy and noisy in comparison.

EDIT: Sure, I scroll down the page and there are the Sony specs. They don't change my decision though. Look at the supported formats: the first one listed is their proprietary own, while the formats listed for the iRex are all commonly used.

I'm not rich, so if the the iRex is $500 (and from what I've heard, that's 2-300 under the likely price, then I'll wait for the Linux Jinke device this spring.

Sony is not an option, I just don't trust them, either.

It is not possible for me to vote until I know more. I am happy reading on my PDAs and am not willing to erase my eReader and .LIT DRM ebooks (yet). An ebook reader is also one more device to carry around. The only thing I can vote on this early is which company I am unlikely to buy from. :)

So, the reader should be cheap (face it, a better one will soon come out), use CF or SD card instead of internal memory, support a DOS-compatible filesystem so books can be copied to the card in a cardreader, have an acceptable DRM (as I would have to buy some books), support PDF so I can read my tech literature on it, have a reasonable size and be light. Yes, I know, I am in for a l-o-n-g wait but so be it.

The ideal reader is probably a foldable eInk paper connected to a small box you have in your pocket.

I have to admit that after looking at Sony's offer, I'm starting to warm towards it.

Assuming that the Iliad's specs are true, it is undoubtedly the superior machine. However, I somewhat doubt that it really has everything stated... at least, not without being horrendously expensive. I have a feeling that the stated Iliad specs are of a prototype that will not reach mass production, at least, not without some of the more esoteric (for an eBook reader) features removed (e.g., WiFi, wired ethernet, SD or CF slot, USB host, touch screen).

The Sony Reader is much more conservative in terms of specs, which means, it is also much more likely to be the production model. After all, it is in essence a simplified and somewhat less pretty Libre. However, the real advantage with the Libre is not the device itself, rather, content.

With the release of the Sony Reader is the unveiling an e-Book store that will actually sell popular books in the format. If they do it right, it may well become the "iPod" of the e-Book market. Furthermore, unlike the digital audio scene where you can convert your CDs into MP3s that will work on any third party player (and as such, many people already having a large volume of "legacy" content not bound by DRM), you cannot simply "convert" your dead-tree books into a digital format.

AFAIK, there will be no such service with the iRex Iliad and it would be in Sony's interest to not make their book service compatible with any other player (ala iTunes Music Store).

Let's be clear... public domain literary content will not make eBook readers mainstream. Being able to get the next "Harry Potter" will.

Regards,
Michael Tam

Assuming that the Iliad's specs are true, it is undoubtedly the superior machine. However, I somewhat doubt that it really has everything stated... at least, not without being horrendously expensive. I have a feeling that the stated Iliad specs are of a prototype that will not reach mass production, at least, not without some of the more esoteric (for an eBook reader) features removed (e.g., WiFi, wired ethernet, SD or CF slot, USB host, touch screen).
I was worried about that too (and I think some people like Laurens here, as well). The only fact that keeps me hoping is that iRex is a spin-off from Philips, and I cannot imagine them spreading "hot air".

But then again, read closely what they say on their website:

The iLiad platform allows for customized versions of the electronic reader that can be created for special (B2B) markets.

If you read "allows for" as "comes in", then you're probably right, and the first generation of the iLiad is meant for the mass market.

Here's a quick check of del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us) for the popularity of the iRex (http://del.icio.us/search/?all=irex) vs Sony Reader (http://del.icio.us/search/?setcount=100&all=%22sony%20reader%22).

If you read "allows for" as "comes in", then you're probably right, and the first generation of the iLiad is meant for the mass market.
You probably mean "the iLiad is not meant for the mass market."

I only found out about the iliad this evening from a post in the engadget article on the Sony Reader. This is how I see the situation.


Positives:

Iliad, larger screen with many other features not available on the sony. Highly desirable. Wide variety of supported formats. Touch screen input. Wired and wireless networking.

Sony Reader, More compact for easy transportation. Focused design no frivolous extras ( excluding mp3 playback ). They have a content provision system to back up the device. Supports SD card so even if Mac support is lacking you can get files onto the device. Supports conversion of a number of formats into sonys BBeb thing.

Negatives :

iliad, left to fend for yourself on the content front. No mention of what DRM methods are supported, possibly restricting you to either classic content or the shadier methods of acquisition. reduced battery life due to the extras like wifi, usb host etc. Larger screen makes for a less portable device.

Reader, it's a Sony product. Not likely to support OSX. Less support for various formats, natively.


Tough choice, but given that they come out at roughly the same time (supposedly) at least there is the chance for real world comparisons before shelling out the cash.

Wow am I really the first who voted Sony Reader?! I understand your resentment, after all, Sony did everything possible wrong with their Sony Librie reader. But if what has been said at the CES is right, then Sony has no plans to restrict reading material to its proprietary format. Given that, I'd pick the Sony because it's mobile and most certainly comes at a lower price than the iLiad.

Actually, I voted for the Sony Reader too. I pick the Sony Reader mainly because its price, its size and the expectation that it will be reasonably possible to put your own content on the device. Which, in all fairlyness is all I want.

While the irex is certainly larger and boosts more specs....specs aren't everything. In fact, I prefer a solid device without to many features. I have nothing against decicated devices, unlike doctorow, but let them stick to what they are intended for.

I am rambling.

If I could retract my earlier vote, I'd vote for the Sony Reader, too.

Depending on the availability of the iLiad when it's released, that will be the reader I would buy.

I've seen comments on the cost issue, but I easily see it coming in no more than $600. Technologies like USB, SD and CF Card, Wifi and Ethernet are so commonplace that I can't believe they would drive up the cost of the iLiad significantly. The three things that will drive the cost are the higher-res, larger display (8.1" at 1025*768), the full-screen touch-sensitivity and the integretion of the WaCom Penabled Technology for input. Will these three things drive the price up $250 higher than the Sony Reader? It's possible. Will it drive the price up more than $250 over the Sony Reader? I don't think the cost of the technology warrants it.

It would be an interesting thing to try and discover the actual cost of the Sony Reader and the resulting profit they take in from the $350 pricepoint. That could give a better idea about the eventual pricepoint on the iLiad. My guess is the iLiad will come in between $500 and $600.

I voted iliad because it's not a sony product but thats not to say I don't have a deal of interest in the sony reader. I've spent the last week finding tools to convert my fast expanding ebook library into BBeb format. The Sony is what sparked my initial interest and I think it has a great deal of promise to it. I have more faith in Sony to release the product on time than I do for the iliad but I guess time will tell.

Follow-up: Poll got picked up by a Washington Post author:

TURNING THE LAST PAGE ; Electronic Readers Take the Ink and Paper Out of Book Technology (http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/536963/turning_the_last_page__electronic_readers_take_the _ink/index.html)

I have just recieved my V8 which for the price seems to work quite nicely. Viewing un-copyrighted content is great. New ebooks for which I am prepared to pay for, now thats frustrating.

Once changed the language from Russian to English, very easy to use. Needs a few attempts to get the line feeds in word / HTML right for the Wolf Printer.

Now that iRex pricing is out, maybe we should do another poll. I wonder how different the results would be. :)

I have to say that the Sony Reader knocks spots off the Hanlin models and the Librie. I have at last got hold of the Sony PRS 500 and find it really easy to operate. It looks great with the leather edged cover and is comfortable when reading. The links to Connect store are OK at the moment and I am sure will get better as more content is added. Downloading ebooks from Gutenberg and converting to the Sony is easy and works well. MP3 player is good also.
Only problem - you have to have a US credit Card for buying from Connect store. Does Sony not know that there is a huge potential European market out there!

Well, they seem to follow MobileRead, so I'd say it's a safe bet they do know about the extr-U.S. interest. We just don't know what's holding them up. :shrug:

Be sure and add youself to the Reader owner count (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7878) over in the Sony forum (if you haven't already)! :beam:

I have used both the IRex and the Sony Reader.
After using the IRex for a month, and always having to wait almost a minute just to read after turning it on, (If you don't turn it off, the battery continues to go down), I then accidently dropped it and broke the screen. ($343 to get it fixed, will not do). I did like the flip bar, but battery life sucked. (Around 8 hours). I like the ability to have directories to sort your books.

Got hold of a Sony, and it only takes 3 seconds to turn it back on, and it returns to where you left off. (With the IRex, you have to go through the menus to reload your book.) I have used the reader for days, and the battery icon still hasn't changed from full charge. The screen is a little smaller, but at least you can zoom some. The weight of the reader is good. (I didn't notice the weight of the IRex, until I held a Sony, much nicer). I wish it had directories to sort you books, but if you have the books on the internal memory, you can put them into collections. I have a few of them, current reading, work, religious, etc.

In the end, the Sony is the better choice: half the price, extreme battery life.

I like all of them. My choice would be for an all out color eink static media machine. Pictures, text, audio. No movies, no flash, there are better tools for that, mainly TV related apparatus.

The Fujitsu and Eink prototypes are promising!!

I'm in a wait-and-see mode. I think I would be more inclined to go with a reader if there was more content available. I like the idea of managa and/or comics on them, but I don't like the idea of doing conversions and scans and reformatting and whatnot. I see myself doing it during the initial gosh-wow-oboyoboy phase of owning the device, then thinking it's too much trouble.

I like the Fujitsu and Eink protoypes, too.

I'm willing to pay extra for the iLiad, once the following are addressed (and most of this is promised by iRex, so I'm just waiting a bit):

1 - Support some kind of DRM content, so I can buy new books

2 - Write on PDF functionality - this would be a HUGE benefit to me. I have scads of PDFs that I need to read, annotate, and track annotations on, and this device would do the trick. People who just want to read books are quite right that the Wacom screen adds more expense and power consumption than they should have to pay, but I would actually use it.

3 - Web browser for static content (text, photos, etc.) with HWR enabled for browser forms, preferably also with RSS client, hooked up to the wireless/ethernet - what's the point of spending money and power on networking features if you don't use them? Might as well have an email client on there, too, though a web browser would effectively give me that.

4 - pen calibration/pressure sensitivity support - again, the Wacom screen raises the cost and drains power, so make the best use of it possible. I want to be able to sketch, diagram -- do anything I currently do with my paper notebooks.

I also need to see the screen first-hand to make sure it's readable to my eyes. Maybe I could see a Reader somewhere and make comparisons based on that, since the technology is more or less the same.

I appreciate the concern about the glass screen. I plan to make or buy a foam rubber "wetsuit" with a hard front cover to help protect mine if I get one.

Someone renewed this poll ;) I think we were already on an updated poll here:

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7801

I'll go ahead and close this older thread. Please continue the discussion and voting at the newer thread (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7801) and poll.