mambo, you are definately not the only one complaining here...:-)
The trouble as I see it is that iRex is doing things back-to-front.
Usually, you build the Core-OS, implement the main elements like menu-structure, power-states and drivers for memory, display, controls,...
Then you start creating applications. You can always make small improvements and fix bugs in the Core-Os on the way, but starting on the basic functions after you have implemented advanced features like PDF zooming isn't really a good idea...
And now, to make it even worse, it seems the Hardware, the only thing we hadn't complained about before, is somehow not capable of allowing proper power-saving.
In case somebody has not really seen the problem yet...
Even if we get those 21 hours of battery-life, that is still less than 1 day of leaving your Iliad switched on without doing anything. It means you'll still have to switch it off after every useage to preserve battery life. You'll still have to endure the long wait until the device powers back up. I can't imagine a useage where this would not be a problem.
Example:
Casual Reading: I go to the lavatory, I pick up my Iliad. By the time it's booted and the book I was reading is on the screen, I can often switch it off again. Cool eh?
"Professional" Reading: You need to look something up for a paper you're just preparing. With paper-books you would go to the shelf, pick the book up and search for the page you need. With the Iliad, you have to pick it up, wait for it to boot and then you can actually start using it's advantages (once searching inside books is supported). In many cases you'd have found what you are looking for in the paper book before the Iliad was even booted. Cool eh?
Note-Taking: You are at home, the phone rings and you answer it, talk to the guy/lady on the other end. She then gives you a number or describes a route or something which you would like to write down. With a piece of paper you can start taking notes as soon as you find a pen. With a properly suspended e-ink device you can start taking notes almost right away. With the Iliad? I hope you have a good memory and still know everything she said by the tiem the Iliad is finally ready to go. You could of course write it down on paper and then write it on the Iliad once it is ready to go, but that would be...really cool eh?
On the Go: You are a busy man/woman with a full schedule and you keep it all on your Iliad. You are on a trip and meet some business partners. You have to work out a time and place for a new meeting so you check your schedule. Or rahter, you go all red and embarassed because your collegues various handhelds (PocketPC, smartphones, Palms, Tablet-PC...) are all there and waiting for input while your Iliad is showing it's pretty black-and-white booting screen. You could of course say: "It's eink, I can use it for ever and ever and don't have to recharge it.." but that would be a lie would it not?
Convinced that this a serious problem? I guess so!
But please, if you can find applications where this won't be a problem and where the Iliad would be a worthy replacement for pen and paper (or books) then feel free to point them out. I'm always willing to learn.
On another note, I talked to the guys from Jinke again and they have interesting plans for 2007.
Read this excerpt carefully...
Quote:
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We devote to the ebook devices; we plan to release 3 series and 6 types new products in 2007. And all these products adopt Linux OS and e Ink display. Some types have the 10 inches e Ink display. We focus on the communication function in our product next year, which include GPRS, WIFI, CDMA and 3G. We don’t design on/off switch on the products, all these can support suspend. When users charge the device one time, it can continue to use one month. We ever plan to adopt the solar charger.
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Sounds good eh? Sounds like just about everybody apart from iRex thinks that you should use the strenghts of eink technology as best you can?