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As I unhappily discovered the screws can work lose from the bottom of the case. The large case flexes which I think is what contributes to the screws working loose. In my 3rd unit (the previous 2 having been DOA) this lead to failure of the page flip bar.
In my experience iRex's hardware support is a nightmare. Any kind of repair to the main device requires a trip to Germany and as I discovered: iRex's promises to pay for return shipping aren't always kept. I still haven't heard back from them regarding the 12/27/06 back billing from UPS for a return made last September!
Other hardware issues. Examine the photos taken of the inside of the device. It isn't a single printed circuit board design. The stacked layers of circuit board design used is historically more vulnerable to flex and vibration than a single circuit board design (as used in the Sony Reader). One of the things we humans are worst at are connectors and with stacked circuit boards you have many connectors being stressed and waiting to fail.
From the photos the Wifi is implemented as a CF card. If the CF card connection flexes too much and the connection becomes intermittent you can't re-seat it to restore proper operation. You can't access it, there is no access door.
The stylus is very flexible and seems to bend easily and comes with no replacement nibs. In addition the stylus is small and has no hole in it to secure it to the main unit with a tether. iRex only has one $40 shipping charge so ordering a replacement stylus begins with paying $40 in shipping to the USA (which is almost the same as the cost of the stylus on their site.)
In addition to main unit failures I've also had one bad travel hub, which is the only way to recharge the unit. Everything about the design of the travel hub lends itself to "dangle" which puts stress on all the cables and all the connectors inside the travel hub as well as the docking connector in the main device itself.
So long as iRex stood behind their product I was willing to put up with these issues but now that I've been back billed by UPS and iRex has yet to resolve that weeks later? I have little confidence in iRex anymore. Coupled with slow development, constant delays in promised major features, failure to promptly ship my ordered cover and sliding delivery for other hardware accessories... They now seem to me like a startup that has burned through its initial money and is now teetering on the precipice of going under.
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