decisions decisions

easyreader · 08-03-2006, 02:16 PM

I've been gone for awhile and haven't been keeping up to date on the latest and greatest for the dedicated readers. So tell me all of infinate wisdom which one is the one to get? I posted here because this seemed to have the most action but please feel free to enlighten me on other devices. The formats that I read are: e-reader, doc, isilo, mobi and ms reader. Thanks for your time.

b_k · 08-03-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easyreader

... The formats that I read are: e-reader, doc, isilo, mobi and ms reader. Thanks for your time.

bad luck. none of your formats seems to be supported at the moment with either alternative. Irex has something in their new forums FAQs about mobi and ms reader. Maybe there will be a reader in some time. But not now.

http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?t=4 - Paragraph 01

NatCh · 08-03-2006, 02:59 PM

There's also the question of when you want it. If you want it before September/October, then your only option is the iLiad (and you'd better order very soon given their lead time). Sony isn't expected out before Sept/Oct, and HanLin is ... well I get the impression that nobody's sure when it might launch. (shrug)

iLiad is the more expensive option at ~700 USD or 649 Euros (including VAT).
Sony & HanLin are aimed at ~350 USD.

Sony is aimed primarily at US, no word on whether it'll make to other lands, and HanLin plans to hit US & europe with the V2. Though if you're travelling to China, you can theoretically get the V8 ... but we're not sure where, and it's in chinese.

Personally, I'm waiting at least until the Sony is out, and I can see one of them in person. I've had a first-hand look at the iLiad (thanks to the generousity of a fellow MobileRead-ing iLiad owner who lives near me, and can be bribed into showing his toy off with free coffee). Its screen is really amazing, I was expecting the screen to be great and I was still amazed.

However, I think the 6" screen is probably big enough for my purposes, and $350 is certainly a better fit for my wallet than $700 (though still quite steep enough, thank you). For me, it comes down to just wanting to read e-texts. I'll probably go for the least pricey one that does that little thing satisfactorily.

All three will read TXT, PDF and RTF (though iLiad doesn't quite yet -- RTF I mean). Sony doesn't do native HTML/XML, but the others do. If you can convert your texts to one of those formats (easier said than done, I know), you should be in good shape. Since you've already got a good collection of texts, you may want to wait and see who picks up what reading software. Maybe one of them will portal µBook, who knows? That'd help some.

mlkmnz · 08-04-2006, 01:01 AM

If you're cash strapped (like me), the eBookwise 1150 is pretty good bang for buck, you can pick it up off eBay new for $125USD. Otherwise the Iliad is the one to go for if money is no object.

Has anyone used an eBookwise and an Iliad? Would you say the Iliad is worth more than 5 times the price as the eBookwise?

bryanzs · 08-04-2006, 01:53 AM

I've got both a REB (Rocket eBook, the same device as the eBookwise 1150) and an iLiad, and if I were being perfectly honest, I'd have to say the REB is currently a better eBook for me.

This is almost entirely due to the premature state of the iLiad software; I like to read whenever I've got a few moments spare time, and right now to conserve charge I have to constantly turn off the iLiad, and restarting it takes so long (30 seconds-1 minute) that by the time it's ready, and I've paged back to the book I was reading...I'm out of time. The REB, with its instant-on, back-to-where-I-just-was capability, is much more convenient.

I'm optimistic this will change when updated iLiad software enables all the power-saving features we've been led to believe e-ink devices can support.

Regarding the devices themselves, the iLiad display is very nice, no doubt about it...though again, without the software to support changeable fonts, 'zoom' in the pdfs, etc., it's not as easy on the eyes as I'd hoped. And I'm surprised to say that I miss the read-in-the-dark ability of the REB - I still keep the REB on my nightstand so I can use it as a flashlight at night...

jæd · 08-04-2006, 03:23 AM

One thing to note about the illiad is that the company is now seeming to be quite responsive to comments in their forum...! Imagine Sony being like that...!

b_k · 08-04-2006, 07:45 AM

bryanzs:
i think the powermanagement needs to and will be changed. Other embedded linux devices can do it, so i think iRex will manage that too. Especially if one looks about the recent job advert and sees, that the iLiad is based on the OpenEmbedded environment, on which as example many alternative distributions for the Sharp Zaurus are built or OpenSIMPad for the Siemens webpad. Both of which can do suspend and wake-up in 1-2 seconds.

I believe that they will be able to implement that in the next time.

Especially if we come to think, that the iLiad originally was planned to release to public in September (? not sure right now). As of now, I still think of the device being in Beta-Status at least until the originally planned release date.

scotty1024 · 08-04-2006, 11:25 AM

With that list of desired formats I think you'd want a Samsung Q1 or one of the new Sony Vaio UX180's perhaps with their FLASH storage unit instead of a hard disk drive?

bryanzs · 08-04-2006, 05:57 PM

b_k:

Yes, I'm certain that the iLiad will improve with each software release, and agree that they _should_ be able to implement much-improved power saving algorithms.

But if one were to do a head-to-head comparison between the iLiad _today_ and another eBook reader...well, let's just say, I hope my wife isn't reading this forum, wondering why I spent $700.00 for this :-)

All humour aside, I think it's a good investment, if for no other reason than we "early adopters" _have_ to make it economically viable if we ever hope it will improve. But unless someone has this extra reason for buying the product (ie, to support future development), I would have to say I would have a hard time recommending the iLiad _as_it_stands_today_.

08-03-2006, 02:16 PM	#1
easyreader Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006 Location: BlackHills	decisions decisions I've been gone for awhile and haven't been keeping up to date on the latest and greatest for the dedicated readers. So tell me all of infinate wisdom which one is the one to get? I posted here because this seemed to have the most action but please feel free to enlighten me on other devices. The formats that I read are: e-reader, doc, isilo, mobi and ms reader. Thanks for your time.

08-03-2006, 02:59 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Sorry, I've only got finite wisdom ... VERY finite There's also the question of when you want it. If you want it before September/October, then your only option is the iLiad (and you'd better order very soon given their lead time). Sony isn't expected out before Sept/Oct, and HanLin is ... well I get the impression that nobody's sure when it might launch. (shrug) iLiad is the more expensive option at ~700 USD or 649 Euros (including VAT). Sony & HanLin are aimed at ~350 USD. Sony is aimed primarily at US, no word on whether it'll make to other lands, and HanLin plans to hit US & europe with the V2. Though if you're travelling to China, you can theoretically get the V8 ... but we're not sure where, and it's in chinese. Personally, I'm waiting at least until the Sony is out, and I can see one of them in person. I've had a first-hand look at the iLiad (thanks to the generousity of a fellow MobileRead-ing iLiad owner who lives near me, and can be bribed into showing his toy off with free coffee). Its screen is really amazing, I was expecting the screen to be great and I was still amazed. However, I think the 6" screen is probably big enough for my purposes, and $350 is certainly a better fit for my wallet than $700 (though still quite steep enough, thank you). For me, it comes down to just wanting to read e-texts. I'll probably go for the least pricey one that does that little thing satisfactorily. All three will read TXT, PDF and RTF (though iLiad doesn't quite yet -- RTF I mean). Sony doesn't do native HTML/XML, but the others do. If you can convert your texts to one of those formats (easier said than done, I know), you should be in good shape. Since you've already got a good collection of texts, you may want to wait and see who picks up what reading software. Maybe one of them will portal µBook, who knows? That'd help some. Last edited by NatCh; 08-03-2006 at 03:05 PM.

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08-04-2006, 01:01 AM	#4
mlkmnz Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony Reader	If you're cash strapped (like me), the eBookwise 1150 is pretty good bang for buck, you can pick it up off eBay new for $125USD. Otherwise the Iliad is the one to go for if money is no object. Has anyone used an eBookwise and an Iliad? Would you say the Iliad is worth more than 5 times the price as the eBookwise?

08-04-2006, 01:53 AM	#5
bryanzs Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 122 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Device: Nook HD+, Nook ST Glow, PocketBook 360, Nook Color	I've got both a REB (Rocket eBook, the same device as the eBookwise 1150) and an iLiad, and if I were being perfectly honest, I'd have to say the REB is currently a better eBook for me. This is almost entirely due to the premature state of the iLiad software; I like to read whenever I've got a few moments spare time, and right now to conserve charge I have to constantly turn off the iLiad, and restarting it takes so long (30 seconds-1 minute) that by the time it's ready, and I've paged back to the book I was reading...I'm out of time. The REB, with its instant-on, back-to-where-I-just-was capability, is much more convenient. I'm optimistic this will change when updated iLiad software enables all the power-saving features we've been led to believe e-ink devices can support. Regarding the devices themselves, the iLiad display is very nice, no doubt about it...though again, without the software to support changeable fonts, 'zoom' in the pdfs, etc., it's not as easy on the eyes as I'd hoped. And I'm surprised to say that I miss the read-in-the-dark ability of the REB - I still keep the REB on my nightstand so I can use it as a flashlight at night...

08-04-2006, 03:23 AM	#6
jæd Evangelist Posts: 458 Karma: 293 Join Date: May 2006	One thing to note about the illiad is that the company is now seeming to be quite responsive to comments in their forum...! Imagine Sony being like that...!

08-04-2006, 07:45 AM	#7
b_k Übernerd Posts: 238 Karma: 74 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Device: iRex iLiad	bryanzs: i think the powermanagement needs to and will be changed. Other embedded linux devices can do it, so i think iRex will manage that too. Especially if one looks about the recent job advert and sees, that the iLiad is based on the OpenEmbedded environment, on which as example many alternative distributions for the Sharp Zaurus are built or OpenSIMPad for the Siemens webpad. Both of which can do suspend and wake-up in 1-2 seconds. I believe that they will be able to implement that in the next time. Especially if we come to think, that the iLiad originally was planned to release to public in September (? not sure right now). As of now, I still think of the device being in Beta-Status at least until the originally planned release date.

08-04-2006, 11:25 AM	#8
scotty1024 Banned Posts: 1,300 Karma: 1479 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peoples Republic of Washington Device: Reader / iPhone / Librie / Kindle	With that list of desired formats I think you'd want a Samsung Q1 or one of the new Sony Vaio UX180's perhaps with their FLASH storage unit instead of a hard disk drive?

08-04-2006, 05:57 PM	#9
bryanzs Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 122 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Device: Nook HD+, Nook ST Glow, PocketBook 360, Nook Color	b_k: Yes, I'm certain that the iLiad will improve with each software release, and agree that they _should_ be able to implement much-improved power saving algorithms. But if one were to do a head-to-head comparison between the iLiad _today_ and another eBook reader...well, let's just say, I hope my wife isn't reading this forum, wondering why I spent $700.00 for this :-) All humour aside, I think it's a good investment, if for no other reason than we "early adopters" _have_ to make it economically viable if we ever hope it will improve. But unless someone has this extra reason for buying the product (ie, to support future development), I would have to say I would have a hard time recommending the iLiad _as_it_stands_today_.

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