Build quaility
 

In my month here, I have never seen anyone suggest that the build quality of one brand's hardware is below average. And I have never seen a brand's hardware referred to as being above average.

Is it correct to say that the hardware of all the eBook readers are manufactured equally well?

Is the difference in build quality (assuming the same generation) only a matter of firmware?

great topic!! I can say that the build quality of my K1 as well as the Sony readers I have handled are good. No case flexing or "plasticky feel" at all.

There were some early reviews of the Cool-er reader having a "cheap feel", but from what I've read, people seem happy enough.

I am so used to MgAlloy cases on my laptops & PDA's I took for granted that a $500 K1 would have come with a MgAlloy case, but nope...still it is solid with nice fit and finish.

I am willing to bet the multi-branded devices use the same cases and are pulled from the same component production runs. For smaller brands a custom case would be a large expense that could make them unable to compete in the market. As companies grow and others die off, we might begin to seem more differentiation based on build quality as we do with laptops/netbooks/tablets.

Build quality, in my opinion differs quite significantly.
Housing of Sony readers is aluminum for example. Most others simply are plastic.
But you might call this "quality of material" instead of "build quality".

I don't know that case material alone matters for a reader. As an example there are the Kindles which, while they have a plastic case, it is a high end plastic and gives just as solid a feel as the Sony devices.

As long as the case has no flex and the seams are even (indicator of a quality build that should be solid but alone not a guarantee of a 'solid' device) I would think it is a matter of preference as to the feel of each material. Remember the Kindle is demo'd on the Amazon site dropped on a corner to show how durable it is...

I think for ereader devices, the interal frame matters a lot. A good frame paired with a well made case will give the torque resistance needed for the eink displays.

Maybe display flex might be a good indicator of better builds? I wonder if some displays will show more flex than others and this might make them more vulnerable to damage?

Apart from Sony devices (505, 300 and 600) which have very good materials and build quality, I have a only handled BeBook personally and was totally unimpressed by material quality (it was build rather well though). Could not justify the price of 300 EUR for it at all.

I've desribed BeBook as "cheap and plasticky" and have found quite a few reviews, stating the same.

Personal rating:

First class: Sonys (except Sony 300 because of "plastic framing"), Kindles, iRex iLiad.

Second class: Sony 300, iRex 1000S, Cybooks.

Third class: BeBook.

why do you rate readers, with an iron case better than reader with plastic case??

the plastic cases can also be designed for more stability than the iron ones

plastic is also lighter, which i like much more than a bit stability

True, but the metal case is more solid if you use your reader to hit flies with it.

Or re-roof your house... :D

OK, let's put aside the debate between the merits of metal and plastic casings.

What about the guts? Are all the brands equally reliable? Do some have the reputation for quitting to work just after the warranty expires?

That's a real issue. There simply aren't any long-term test results how durable and reliable the hardware components - mostly the screen - are.

eBook reading devices are way from being a price bargain, so I simply do hope today's devices still will be running in, say, for or five years. Or even more, since the thought of keeping a growing pile of electronic junk (PDAs, mobile phones, and possibly reading devices) in a crate isn't one I favor.

It's interesting how perceptions differ. I would rate the build quality of the DR1000S considerably above that of the iLiad.

I would also rate the CyBook Opus above the CyBook Gen3. You can "bend" the Gen3, but the Opus is "solid".

Honestly, I'm a bit worried about my Sony readers. I've had 2 Sony Notebooks - never again. I've talked to my hardware store. They showed me the guts of a Sony DVD player.
Quote of the hardware clerk: "Goods from their plant in ... all look the same. Disastrous quality."
But this doesn't seem to be the exception. I'm less than happy with my latest Apple products as well.
All going for the lowest price instead of quality.
If I've got the option, quite frankly I try to avoid "Made in ...".

On my 1000S, upper and lower part don't even fit perfectly. I had it repaired, didn't see it before.
iLiad seems really solid and sturdy to me.
Opus is smaller and not as easy to bend as Gen3. But still, I hear it creaking when pressing or flexing a bit.