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nekokami · 03-19-2007, 02:43 PM

I like it a lot so far. I can read many of my PDF files, but I'm still having trouble with some (but I still haven't upgraded to 2.9 yet). I used it to take notes in my analysis class today, which was fun, though I find it annoying when my hands bump the buttons at the bottom and I find myself looking at a content list instead of my notes. I may try the trial version of the Vision Objects software to see what it can make of my handwriting, but I wouldn't be surprised if it fails on my math notes, with subscripts, limits, etc.

This presents a usability question: how will I be able to find my notes again? If I keep each day's notes in a different file, the notes area will get very cluttered. Can I create subfolders? I don't see a command for that on the iLiad itself, but if I do it using a mac or pc while the iLiad is being accessed as a hard drive, will I see the subfolders and be able to select to view their contents? (I'm sure this was discussed here at some point, I just haven't had a chance to search through the forum posts to find the answer.)

I downloaded the sample stationery files and I've been having fun with them. I'm thinking of creating some bead design templates (e.g. for gourd/peyote stitch and brick stitch). I might also make templates for polar coordinates, triangle grids, and other fun tesselations, or maybe Penrose tile patterns if I get around to it. Even with only four "colors" to play with, I find these fun to doodle on.

I would still like a tool like BiblioTeX to pop up while reading PDF (or other) files. I'd like this tool to associate its current entry with the currently viewed file, and preferably also with the current page in that file, though once an entry exists for a file, the file-level metadata should be automatically propagated. A minimal view should show only the annotation field. Ideally, this annotation field would be converted to text, but even if not, it would still be useful if the metadata was searchable. This would make the iLiad invaluable to any researcher during the research review process. Maybe DotReader could provide some of this functionality, with a clever export plug-in to handle the BibTeX output.

Oh, and I'm reading Diana Wynne Jones' Year of the Griffin, which is a favorite of mine, but my paper copy is currently buried in some box in the basement, so it's nice to be able to have it handy.

The rest of my family doesn't understand why I bought this when I already had an eBw 1150. Then again, they haven't watched me fighting with trying to convert PDFs to something the 1150 can read. Honestly, for book reading purposes, the 1150 was fine. The only real justification I have for getting the iLiad is the way in which I hope to use it for my doctoral research, which is why the annotation management features are so important to me. I consider myself extremely lucky in that my pen is fairly well calibrated, though that feature still matters a lot to me as well.

Next I need to figure out what to do about a protective case. I may fabricate my own, though I'll take a look at what's out there commercially, first. I want neoprene bumpers around the edge and rigid protection front and back, at minimum. (And I don't use leather goods, so I'll need to decide on some sturdy fabric, probably either "cordura" type nylon or some tough hemp variety.)

So far, for my usage pattern, the slow startup time isn't really bothering me. I don't like to read in quick gulps, but prefer to get comfortable and spend an hour or so with a book (longer with research), so waiting 40 seconds or so for startup isn't a problem. The battery life, likewise, hasn't been an issue yet. All of this leads me to believe that geeky academics may be an ideal market for iRex to pursue. And I could easily see the cost of the iLiad getting folded into a grant proposal as "equipment." I think iRex should be paying more attention to this market.

03-19-2007, 02:43 PM	#9
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I like it a lot so far. I can read many of my PDF files, but I'm still having trouble with some (but I still haven't upgraded to 2.9 yet). I used it to take notes in my analysis class today, which was fun, though I find it annoying when my hands bump the buttons at the bottom and I find myself looking at a content list instead of my notes. I may try the trial version of the Vision Objects software to see what it can make of my handwriting, but I wouldn't be surprised if it fails on my math notes, with subscripts, limits, etc. This presents a usability question: how will I be able to find my notes again? If I keep each day's notes in a different file, the notes area will get very cluttered. Can I create subfolders? I don't see a command for that on the iLiad itself, but if I do it using a mac or pc while the iLiad is being accessed as a hard drive, will I see the subfolders and be able to select to view their contents? (I'm sure this was discussed here at some point, I just haven't had a chance to search through the forum posts to find the answer.) I downloaded the sample stationery files and I've been having fun with them. I'm thinking of creating some bead design templates (e.g. for gourd/peyote stitch and brick stitch). I might also make templates for polar coordinates, triangle grids, and other fun tesselations, or maybe Penrose tile patterns if I get around to it. Even with only four "colors" to play with, I find these fun to doodle on. I would still like a tool like BiblioTeX to pop up while reading PDF (or other) files. I'd like this tool to associate its current entry with the currently viewed file, and preferably also with the current page in that file, though once an entry exists for a file, the file-level metadata should be automatically propagated. A minimal view should show only the annotation field. Ideally, this annotation field would be converted to text, but even if not, it would still be useful if the metadata was searchable. This would make the iLiad invaluable to any researcher during the research review process. Maybe DotReader could provide some of this functionality, with a clever export plug-in to handle the BibTeX output. Oh, and I'm reading Diana Wynne Jones' Year of the Griffin, which is a favorite of mine, but my paper copy is currently buried in some box in the basement, so it's nice to be able to have it handy. The rest of my family doesn't understand why I bought this when I already had an eBw 1150. Then again, they haven't watched me fighting with trying to convert PDFs to something the 1150 can read. Honestly, for book reading purposes, the 1150 was fine. The only real justification I have for getting the iLiad is the way in which I hope to use it for my doctoral research, which is why the annotation management features are so important to me. I consider myself extremely lucky in that my pen is fairly well calibrated, though that feature still matters a lot to me as well. Next I need to figure out what to do about a protective case. I may fabricate my own, though I'll take a look at what's out there commercially, first. I want neoprene bumpers around the edge and rigid protection front and back, at minimum. (And I don't use leather goods, so I'll need to decide on some sturdy fabric, probably either "cordura" type nylon or some tough hemp variety.) So far, for my usage pattern, the slow startup time isn't really bothering me. I don't like to read in quick gulps, but prefer to get comfortable and spend an hour or so with a book (longer with research), so waiting 40 seconds or so for startup isn't a problem. The battery life, likewise, hasn't been an issue yet. All of this leads me to believe that geeky academics may be an ideal market for iRex to pursue. And I could easily see the cost of the iLiad getting folded into a grant proposal as "equipment." I think iRex should be paying more attention to this market.