So you have a ebook device. When will you upgrade?
 

Let's assume all of you have JUST paid big bucks for an ebook device like the sony reader or the irex.

So... if a company now announce that within this year, they will beginning to sell a new ebook device...
What kind of features does this device needs to have at what price in order to lure you to buy it instantly?

If it has the features if the iLiad, plus a batterylife like the reader, and maybe even a better eink generation screen, i would go for it. Even if its another 650 Euros.

For me, if some company can offer this in their device for a max price of 500 dollar, i'd jump ships instantly:

Double the DPI of the sony reader (at least 360dpi, or beginning inkjetquality)
SDHC-support or dual slots
Color display.
Builtin lighting (SMD-leds on the frame of the screen)
Battery life must be at least at sony reader's level

And nice to have:
wifi-connectivity (optional)

I sort of agree with you -- because I am a gadget freak and it would be so cool to have. I want a full-page screen (A4) for PDFs too because one can get all sorts of tech books in pdf form these days.

But I would feel guilty :blink: :shy:

Well, I haven't bought a Sony or iRex but got a REB 1200 instead recently (in addition to the existing 1100). For me to upgrade, the main selling points would be:

• A4 or half-A4 sized form factor (something similiar to iliad)
• touchscreen or some kind of input (a slave touchscreen LCD similiar to hanlin would also do)
• extensibility for developing applications similiar to the iliad

To be honest, the iliad meets most of those requirements, but it's too costly at $800. Something around $350 would be better.

1) Bigger screen. I'd really like something closer to letter size.
2) Battery Life. I don't know how they can make an iLiad like device (with regard to a full os with ability to run 3rd party apps and a touchscreen) with a long battery life like the sony, but it would be awesome.
3) Color. Not necessary, but would be nice.
4) Fast screen updates with less ghosting. Might be a generation or two before we see that.
4a) Higher Contrast/Whiter Background. Perhaps pure white isn't possible or even wanted, but it would be nice to be a few shades closer.
5) Bluetooth. Wifi is nice, but to push files and folders to the device over bluetooth would be great.

This is more of a wishlist than a requirement. For me to leave the iLiad I'd need at least #1 or #2. Both would be ideal.

Well, I don't think they're likely to come out with something to make be go for a replacement, the Sony Reader is too well suited to my needs. :shrug:

However, if someone came out with an A4 e-ink device that allowed viewing and annotating PDF files (and able to merge the annotations back into a PDF file), and had a battery life of somewhere in excess of 20 hours (absolute minimum) between charges, I think my wife would likely be interested for paper-grading purposes. Oh yeah, the price would probably have to be under $500.

a feature to turn lead into gold

Connection with surface computing?
 

Many want WiFi or Bluetooth. I wonder if Mirocsoft's surface computing initiative will drive any manufacturers to include that sort of connectivity. I wonder if software support for an automatic Bluetooth connection has to be put in place in a phone or a reader before it can make/receive a connection from the surface computer.

But it wouldn't make me upgrade.

I might not do an upgrade. Unless Sony comes first up with an A4 colo(u)r device with a wider array of mediae and formats. Pipe dream?

While waiting, the EEE will find a comfy nest here.

I have paid quite a lot of money for Sony Reader quite recently and I also had to invest considerable effort to be able to get it here - in Central Europe.

I will replace it when it dies. Period.
It does everything I need it for.
If there was version without mp3 player that was $10 cheaper I would have purchased the one without the mp3 player.

I would purchase a new device if it had a MUCH better screen and a price tag under 50 bucks.

must have:

- wireless internet with a real browser
(implies keyboard of some sort)
- A4 page size flexible display
- fit in my pocket
- open platform
- audio

price has to be bellow 300$

My iLiad is working well for me, and I still have my eBw 1150 (and I might have stayed with that if the PDF converter had been available about a month earlier!) There are a few additional features I'd like to have, but most of them are software related (even things like keyboard support), and the user developer community is likely to have them all in hand within the next year. The only thing I really wish my iLiad had that it doesn't is on-board HWR (there is no Linux HWR that I know of), but that's also a software issue and Vision Objects is apparently thinking about porting their products to Linux, so I'd buy that as a software package.

I wouldn't pay anything for a unit with less than what the iLiad has now, but if a new unit were available with better power management-- ideally with built-in solar power-- I'd consider it.

Ok, I might also consider upgrading in a few years to something like eink with a faster display. But I couldn't justify the price of a new iLiad (I bought mine used) unless it could replace my OSX laptop, as well. Nothing I need to do can't be done on Linux except HWR, I think. But a faster display would definitely be needed, and to replace my laptop, I'd also need color (I do some artwork there). For a monochrome display, I couldn't justify paying more than about $350.

Very happy with the Iliad right now - but I keep thinking about two things that would make me open my wallet again.

No. 1 would be a colossal increase in database capabilities - you know, wikipedia, imdb, dictionaries and other reference works by the bucketload, stored on the device or via wi-fi, all connected and easily searched. Anything that gets us closer to a Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

No. 2 would be near-indestructibility. I really feel that e-ink devices, insofar as that is at all possible, need to be much sturdier for me to be completely comfortable with them. When you can drop an e-reader like you can drop a book and nothing happens to it, that'll be a great day.