Neo BeBook vs iRex iLiad

[Redfox]

If any of you out there has owned both a BeBook/Boox and an iRex iLiad, how do they compare?

I bought an iLiad v2 back in early 2008, and whilst I've been pretty happy with it, I find it slow to boot, somewhat heavy and a little too big to fit into my smaller shoulder bags. I'm therefore thinking of getting a BeBook Neo as a replacement.

My main criteria, all of which the BeBook (I think) supports:

1. Has to handle PDFs well - text flowing would be ideal, but a reliable zoom + 90 degree rotation would be acceptable.

2. Has to permit annotation of PDFs and/or Doc files, and allow merge/export of annotations into the document

3. Has to be usable with my legacy ebooks (Mobipocket) as well as more current formats such as ePub

4. Has to be compatible with OS X via something a bit more user-friendly than a command-line script (not that I'm scared of the command-line, but it's something of a busman's holiday for a LAMP web developer like me!)

Any feedback much appreciated!

TIA

[keng2000]

I do have both of them.

1. Supports Rotate, Zoom and Select Font size.
2. you can do scribble and note taker (virtual keyboard). Also annotation and highlight on PDF (only).
3. You need de-DRM for MOBI. Adobe epub/pdf is fine.
4. No problem to connect to OSX Snow Leopard.

5. Power control is better than IREX 2nd. you can set screen saver or shutdown timeout. I can stand by over week without worry about forget to turn it off.
6. New firmware support Text to Speech.
7. Slower response for scribble, I think IREX has the best of this function in all e-reader i have.

[Redfox]

Thanks, Keng!

How easy is it to un-DRM Mobipocket files? I only have three of them - one I still haven't read but the other two I now own in dead-tree versions*, so it's not a deal-breaker anyway. EDIT Ignore this - I came across MobiDeDRM whilst reading about Calibre, and I don't want to break the forum's rules. I just wish that for once, manufacturers would start with an open standard instead of going down their own little proprietary route

The slower scribble response is a little disappointing - I find even the iRex a bit annoying (especially when it decides not to write any more after I've used the eraser!), but otoh it doesn't have keyboard input, and I'm sure my writer buddies would prefer legible annotations!

I also have to say that I really like the iLiad's page-turning bar; it feels so much like reading a real book. Damn, now I'm having second thoughts about replacing it...

* Bought a secondhand copy of "A Game of Thrones" in paperback so I could more easily flick to the cast list and map whilst reading it; husband bought "Wintersmith" in hardback, lent it and didn't get it back, I bought the ebook 'cos I wanted something light to read, then he bought it again when the paperback came out. Well done, Sir Terry!

[Redfox]

Just to clarify - can you merge scribbles and/or annotations back into the PDF, so that they can be read on another device such as a computer? I used my iLiad a lot for my writing group, making notes on other members' manuscripts and then sending them back. If the Neo can't do this, it reduces its utility for me.

[keng2000]

You can't export it to use with other devices than neo.
Only eReader I have, Entourage Edge, can export handwriting to new PDF itself.

DR1000s with older 1.x firmware, you can do with PDF Template. for 2.x, it may need PC application for conversion (same as iLiad).