IREX DR 800SG with 3G wireless

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Faenad

Thanks for this very instructive post!
I was not aware that the switches on the previous Irex were finger sensing.

I hate theses kinds of switches, I had a Samsung LCD that used finger sensing switches for the menu and it was annoying as hell to set it up, I would not want to have the same user experience every time I read a book.

I always wait for some reviews and feedback before buying any devices, as just returning the devices if I don't like it is difficult as I have to order internationally.

The capacitative switches on the DR1000 work just fine, in my experience.

[ghostwheel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The capacitative switches on the DR1000 work just fine, in my experience.

That is a strange statement.

Is your battery life not affected by the capacitive switches?
Is your unit not using power while off because of the switches?
Doesn't it happen to you that you accidentally swipe one of the buttons while reading? That because you have to hold the reader by a corner your hand gets tired?
Did it never happen that you put the reader in the bag, and while doing that accidentally touched a button without noticing?
Did it never happen that you put the reader near a wireless source and the buttons started acting up?
Can you activate the buttons with the pen while writing?

I think the buttons were a horrible choice. A choice like - "lets see if we can make buttons that are worse than the Kindle's"

Maybe what you meant is: after some use you get used to the buttons, so the DR1000 does what it was meant to. But I wouldn't say "they work just fine."

[Kent Walters]

HarryT,

To ghostwheel’s comments and questions I add the following: Have you never touched a button twice, because of a slow response, only to find that two touches were entered? Have you ever handed your DR to someone else, so that they could read something, and had them accidently turn the page by getting a thumb too near a button?

When I read on my Hanlin, I hold the thing with my thumb on the Page Turn button--when I finish a page, I press the button and feel the tactile ‘click’ and know that my press has registered. Every time, the Hanlin’s response is exactly as I intended, and I suffer no distractions from what it is I intend to do--read, and not be distracted, frustrated and annoyed.

I’m glad that you find any of this “just fine,” but I have to wonder what, if anything, you might object to, and I will ask what possible advantage you might see to having these switches on the DR might be; that is, how does anyone benifit from them.

Kent Walters

[PhishStyx]

Originally Posted by ghostwheel

That is a strange statement.

Doesn't seem strange to me, I've had the same experience.

Is your battery life not affected by the capacitive switches?

Not that I can tell. What would I compare it with?

Is your unit not using power while off because of the switches?

Not that I can tell, and as far as I know, ALL lithium powered devices lose power even when turned off.

Doesn't it happen to you that you accidentally swipe one of the buttons while reading?
That because you have to hold the reader by a corner your hand gets tired?

No and No.

Did it never happen that you put the reader in the bag, and while doing that accidentally touched a button without noticing?

There's a bag??

Did it never happen that you put the reader near a wireless source and the buttons started acting up?

Nope, that's never happened, not once.

Can you activate the buttons with the pen while writing?

I have no idea, and frankly don't want to try. That sounds like it could damage my pen.

I think the buttons were a horrible choice. A choice like - "lets see if we can make buttons that are worse than the Kindle's"

Uh, I like the buttons on my Kindle, thanks.

Maybe what you meant is: after some use you get used to the buttons, so the DR1000 does what it was meant to. But I wouldn't say "they work just fine."

Nope. I'll say it. The buttons on the DR 1000s work as intended and that is just fine, thanks.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by martienne

Availability:
US from "October" (unspecified) and only at a chain called Bestbuy which ships within US only and "cancels orders to known mailforwarding companies".
Europe from early 2010.

I am trying to figure out how I can get hold of this model immediately after the US launch despite being in Europe.

You can use shipito or a similar service. They give you a US delivery address, you buy the reader online and it is shipped to that address. They will then forward it to you. I did use their service several times.

[davidspitzer]

Originally Posted by badbob001

If the PRS-900 comes out at the same price ($399), then I would think people will get the more popular brand... Heck, people will probably pay more for the brand they know.

Yes i agree but Sony has that unfortunate touch layer that diminishes its readability like the 600 and the form factor of the 900 is strange and yet to be tested in real world usability tests

[HansTWN]

More people might get the Sony. But the Irex seems to be the better device. It has a bigger and better screen.

[schmolch]

That pen looks huge, can it fit into the reader?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by schmolch

That pen looks huge, can it fit into the reader?

I'm guessing that's the "executive" pen and is sold as an option. Generally, the pen that comes with the iRex devices is pretty slim, and fits into a slot in the back.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by ghostwheel

Is your battery life not affected by the capacitive switches?

How much power do they draw? Is it significant? Would battery life be noticeably longer without them, or would it not make a real difference?

Is your unit not using power while off because of the switches?

Same questions. Do you know that it would use significantly less power while off, or is that just a theory.

Sure, in theory they are drawing power. But is it anything that would make a real difference? Would you get several hours more battery life without them, or just a couple extra minutes?

I don't know the answer to that. Do you?

[owl123]

That seems to be a good theory. My DR1000 loses approx. 3-5% of battery power each night while turned off. What else could draw battery power?

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by schmolch

That pen looks huge, can it fit into the reader?

It fits into a loop on the leather cover, above the device in portrait mode, see PHOTOS: iRex DR800SG ebook reader.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by owl123

That seems to be a good theory. My DR1000 loses approx. 3-5% of battery power each night while turned off. What else could draw battery power?

Lithium batteries naturally lose charge over time. Also, there are still outstanding bugs in the DR that cause power loss because the unit is not shutting down correctly. Do you know that your loss isn't due to one of those?

I'm not disputing the theory, but many people are treating it as if it's a significant problem. I don't think anybody really knows if that's true, they're just assuming it is.

Has anyone seen real numbers for how much power the buttons draw when not in use? I'd prefer to base the theory off of facts instead of assumptions.

[oncdoc]

the flashing light could be a problem. one of their techs should just tell us.

[wallcraft]

LinuxDevices has an article, 3G-ready e-book reader boasts 8.1-inch display, that seems to provide some new information. I'm not sure how much of it is directly from iRex though. For example, Karel (IREX turns page on eReaders with latest Digital Reader) confirmed that it has a SD card slot rather than a microSD slot.