Iliad or V9t: worth the wait?

kenflyken · 11-29-2007, 05:56 AM

I have bought my own Iliad a month ago, and I absolutely love it! Take it everyday everywhere. Now, I've promised my nephew that I'd buy him an e-book reader for reading/annotating textbooks (his school has .pdf textbooks available, most of which are a tad larger than A4 size) as a New Year present.

From what I've heard, the Hanlin V9t with touchscreen is coming up at the end of next January, but things may change depending whether the e-ink screens will be available on time or not. Also, pricing of the V9t is still undeclared, and I'm not willing to spend more than $700 for a reader. The features are still unclear as well, whether if it will be able to write notes and/or merge them onto .pdf files...?

But the most exciting thing about the V9 is a 10 inch screen; I'm still green with envy even though I already have an Iliad. So..that is why it's so hard to make this decision.

So, do you think that I should wait for the V9t or just go for the Iliad?

tribble · 11-29-2007, 07:09 AM

I do not expect the V9 to be released on Dez. 31st 2007. And i expect the price tag to be at around 900$.

kenflyken · 11-29-2007, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tribble

I do not expect the V9 to be released on Dez. 31st 2007. And i expect the price tag to be at around 900$.

Is it typical for e-book readers to be delayed, as this seems to be the case for Cybook 3 as well as the Kindle? Then...I should go with the Iliad?

tribble · 11-29-2007, 08:39 AM

As far as i know, PVI still has problems with the larger E-Ink screens. And since the technology is very new, delays are to be expected.

And since the iLiad is the only available choice at the moment, i would go for it. There i no way to tell when the V9t will be available and when it is, how well the software will do. Especially in terms of notetaking.

HarryT · 11-29-2007, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenflyken

Is it typical for e-book readers to be delayed, as this seems to be the case for Cybook 3 as well as the Kindle? Then...I should go with the Iliad?

PVI are the only manufacturer of eInk screens, and I suspect that their production facilities are running flat-out trying to deal with the demand for Sony, Bookeen, and Kindle readers at present. They probably have very little incentive to try to "hurry along" new, larger screens if they lack the production capacity to produce them.

tribble · 11-29-2007, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

PVI are the only manufacturer of eInk screens, and I suspect that their production facilities are running flat-out trying to deal with the demand for Sony, Bookeen, and Kindle readers at present. They probably have very little incentive to try to "hurry along" new, larger screens if they lack the production capacity to produce them.

They probably had a good reason to buy a company which has 3 new production facilities

kenflyken · 12-01-2007, 10:25 PM

I've finally made up my mind and ordered the Iliad.

Thank you, Tribble and HarryT, for the insight.

tribble · 12-02-2007, 03:45 AM

Then i hope, the iLiad will be a great companion for you. Enjoy your new toy.

searcher · 12-02-2007, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

PVI are the only manufacturer of eInk screens

Not true. polymer vision also made eink screens.
http://www.polymervision.com/

kenflyken · 12-02-2007, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by searcher

Not true. polymer vision also made eink screens.
http://www.polymervision.com/

But I understand that PVI is the only manufacturer whose screens are currently used to produce commercial readers. Also, polymervision is focused on roll-able displays rather than e-ink screens for e-readers.

HarryT · 12-02-2007, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by searcher

Not true. polymer vision also made eink screens.
http://www.polymervision.com/

But (and please correct me if I'm wrong) no device which uses them is actually on the market yet, is it?

searcher · 12-02-2007, 09:43 AM

irex didn't use PVI. They made their own displays somewhere in japan.
Polymer vision will produce first flexible displays very soon.

But PVI, polymer vision and etc. are very small players on this market. The huge player will be lg.philips.

tribble · 12-02-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by searcher

irex didn't use PVI.

Wrong. iRex has PVI manufacture their displays.

Quote:

Polymer vision will produce first flexible displays very soon.

Whats soon? Got any more detailed info?
PlasticLogic is supposed to massproduce flexible einkscreens mid 2008.

Quote:

But PVI, polymer vision and etc. are very small players on this market. The huge player will be lg.philips.

I doubt, that Philips will play soon, beceuse iRex and PolymerVision are two companies, who have resultet from Philips because Philips did not really want to get into that market. And i havent heard anything about LG.

JSWolf · 12-02-2007, 11:15 AM

v9t is an unknown as to when it will actually be made available for sale. Yes, you can wait for it, but do you want to wait and unknown amount of time? And that unknown amount of time won't be until sometime 2008. So you'll be waiting at least a month and probably longer.

searcher · 12-02-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tribble

because Philips did not really want to get into that market.

They want to get into the market and they are not stupid.

From the news, May 14, 2007
LG.Philips LCD has developed the world?s first 14.1-inch flexible color E-paper display, equivalent in size to an A4 sheet of paper.
The 14.1-inch flexible color E-paper uses electronic ink from E-Ink Corp. to produce a maximum of 4,096 colors. It can be viewed from a full 180 degrees, so that images always appear crisp, even when the display is bent.

PVI is far away from this.

11-29-2007, 05:56 AM	#1
kenflyken Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505, Irex Iliad	Iliad or V9t: worth the wait? I have bought my own Iliad a month ago, and I absolutely love it! Take it everyday everywhere. Now, I've promised my nephew that I'd buy him an e-book reader for reading/annotating textbooks (his school has .pdf textbooks available, most of which are a tad larger than A4 size) as a New Year present. From what I've heard, the Hanlin V9t with touchscreen is coming up at the end of next January, but things may change depending whether the e-ink screens will be available on time or not. Also, pricing of the V9t is still undeclared, and I'm not willing to spend more than $700 for a reader. The features are still unclear as well, whether if it will be able to write notes and/or merge them onto .pdf files...? But the most exciting thing about the V9 is a 10 inch screen; I'm still green with envy even though I already have an Iliad. So..that is why it's so hard to make this decision. So, do you think that I should wait for the V9t or just go for the Iliad?

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11-29-2007, 07:09 AM	#2
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	I do not expect the V9 to be released on Dez. 31st 2007. And i expect the price tag to be at around 900$.

11-29-2007, 08:39 AM	#4
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	As far as i know, PVI still has problems with the larger E-Ink screens. And since the technology is very new, delays are to be expected. And since the iLiad is the only available choice at the moment, i would go for it. There i no way to tell when the V9t will be available and when it is, how well the software will do. Especially in terms of notetaking.

12-01-2007, 10:25 PM	#7
kenflyken Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505, Irex Iliad	I've finally made up my mind and ordered the Iliad. Thank you, Tribble and HarryT, for the insight.

12-02-2007, 03:45 AM	#8
tribble iLiad Maniac Posts: 1,382 Karma: 2369 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Device: Bookeen Opus (i love that thing) and iPad (what an irony)	Then i hope, the iLiad will be a great companion for you. Enjoy your new toy.

12-02-2007, 09:43 AM	#12
searcher Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 344 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505	irex didn't use PVI. They made their own displays somewhere in japan. Polymer vision will produce first flexible displays very soon. But PVI, polymer vision and etc. are very small players on this market. The huge player will be lg.philips.

12-02-2007, 11:15 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,205 Karma: 144286760 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	v9t is an unknown as to when it will actually be made available for sale. Yes, you can wait for it, but do you want to wait and unknown amount of time? And that unknown amount of time won't be until sometime 2008. So you'll be waiting at least a month and probably longer.

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