[Sonist]

Right now, I have at home a PRS-700, a PRS-505 (just got one to try) and an iLiad Book Edition.

My wife, who doesn't seem to care much about e-ink technology, took one look at the PRS-700, and then went away. Pretty much the same reaction to the PRS-505. She thinks the screens are too small right off the bat, so she didn't even focus enough to discuss the contrast differences.

Today, I received the iLiad (I had told her that a slightly bigger screen is coming.)

She took one look at it, and said "I like it! It's perfect!"

And, I think so too (guess that's why she puts up with me:-)

But the screen size really does make a difference, at least here (I realize others may not mind, or may prefer, a 6" screen.)

The iLiad is not a perfect device. It has a slightly cheap-to-the touch feel compared to the Sony. The curved right-hand corner is a primary-grade design touch. It is not recognized by Vista Ultimate 64-bit (it appears on the desktop of my iMac though, so I can load books - I use a Mac mostly anyway:-)

It takes about 40 secs to boot, and it doesn't have Sleep mode. A related issue is the battery life, which is shorter than that of the Sonys. It does NOT charge through USB, which combined with the lack of Sleep capability, can be a huge problem, if one goes trekking, or to a Pacific island with no power (I am trying to figure out if there is a portable solar charger which might work with it.) iRex, even though having access to Philips' deep pockets, seems to have trouble producing any software which is beyond early Beta quality, and does not seem to be able to deliver on its promises.

BUT, that screen makes it worth it. It's the perfect size (IMO) - 10" would be too much, 6" too little.

Plus, it appears that the software has gone largely open-source, so I am really, really hopeful the people involved with it now will be able to improve it significantly. If they can update it to 2.6 kernel and implement Sleep, plus a few more integrated file-types, the iLiad is going to be the one to rule them all.