New Iliad

TallMomof2 · 12-12-2007, 05:41 PM

DH knows I'm a gadget freak and surprised me with an Iliad. I'm trying to figure it out but I'm a little disappointed because of the steep learning curve as compared to the Kindle.

Some background, Windows XP user, not afraid of trying new things, used to program in Fortran and C+ and once upon a time knew DOS like a geek. I learned programming when it meant midnight runs with a card deck to the computer lab and waiting hours for printouts. Never a sys admin so didn't learn much about UNIX. I plan to convert my PC into a dual boot XP/Linux (Ubuntu) but that's way down on my "To Do" list.

What I like about the Iliad as compared to the Kindle:

1. Bigger Screen
2. 16 shades of gray (as compared to 4), pictures are a joy.
3. Open platform, potential to do more.
4. I can read my Mobi DRMed books.

What I don't like:

1. Slower to boot up, no sleep mode.
2. Slower to load the same book.
3. Some MobiPocket files don't look quite as nice as on the Kindle but if I fiddle with the font size I can make them readable.
4. Cold metal case.
5. Heavier than the Kindle.
6. Battery charge is way less than the Kindle with the wireless turned off.
7. USB 1.0
8. What's up with the travel adapter for all the cables? It seems like old technology to me.
9. MobiPocket Reader doesn't identify the newsfeeds on the Iliad, the Kindle does. That makes it far easier to find on the Kindle.

What I like about the Kindle is that it's easy to read a newspaper and subscribe to blogs. Yes, it costs extra but I haven't figured any other way to get them onto the Iliad besides MobiPocket. I'd like to able to find a fairly easy way to load them onto my Iliad without using MobiPocket. I've looked at aggregators but I don't know how to get that onto the Iliad. The Kindle is easy to use, yes that ease of use costs money and if you buy books from Amazon you're locked in to their device.

I've requested and downloaded the developer's package but I hesitate to try anything else until I can figure out how to reflash with the CF card. The directions are as clear as mud to me but it's been a long, long time since I programmed anything.

Some of the third party apps are intriguing but I want to wait until I can reflash the Iliad before I venture out.

What does the Newspaper button do? Where and how can you get content?

I think once I figure out how to use the Iliad I'll like it more.

wallcraft · 12-12-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

3. Some MobiPocket files don't look quite as nice as on the Kindle but if I fiddle with the font size I can make them readable.

Are there DRM-free examples you can point to? The reader software on both devices is very similar, but perhaps this due to the font. The Kindle uses a commercial font, and the iLiad is using a free font. Allowing the MobiPocket Reader to use a different (user selected) font is supposed to be on iRex's list of things to do, but I have not heard of any delivery schedule. Note that free fonts can be as good as commercial ones, but Amazon had the luxury of choosing just the right font for the Kindle based exclusively on how it looks displaying e-books.

TallMomof2 · 12-12-2007, 06:53 PM

I'll have to go back and look but the problem seems to happen in the smaller fonts with italics. The italicized words over run each other. If I go up a couple of fonts then it's fine.

ElaHuguet · 12-13-2007, 01:45 AM

What does the Newspaper button do? Where and how can you get content?

The four buttons on the iLiad are basically four folders in its directory, which you'll see when you hook it up to the PC. It allows storing stuff in some sort of order, I use "newspapers" for my Sudokus, for example. The reason it's called News is because one of the big ideas for the iLiad was to be able to download newspaper subscriptions, but that's only working for a couple of places (eg. Les Echos, a French newspaper, if I'm not wrong).

There are third party apps that will get you content to go in there, RSS feeds and so forth, but I'll let someone else explain how to reflash, I don't have the hack so I haven't looked into reflashing (yet).

12-12-2007, 05:41 PM	#1
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	New Iliad DH knows I'm a gadget freak and surprised me with an Iliad. I'm trying to figure it out but I'm a little disappointed because of the steep learning curve as compared to the Kindle. Some background, Windows XP user, not afraid of trying new things, used to program in Fortran and C+ and once upon a time knew DOS like a geek. I learned programming when it meant midnight runs with a card deck to the computer lab and waiting hours for printouts. Never a sys admin so didn't learn much about UNIX. I plan to convert my PC into a dual boot XP/Linux (Ubuntu) but that's way down on my "To Do" list. What I like about the Iliad as compared to the Kindle: 1. Bigger Screen 2. 16 shades of gray (as compared to 4), pictures are a joy. 3. Open platform, potential to do more. 4. I can read my Mobi DRMed books. What I don't like: 1. Slower to boot up, no sleep mode. 2. Slower to load the same book. 3. Some MobiPocket files don't look quite as nice as on the Kindle but if I fiddle with the font size I can make them readable. 4. Cold metal case. 5. Heavier than the Kindle. 6. Battery charge is way less than the Kindle with the wireless turned off. 7. USB 1.0 8. What's up with the travel adapter for all the cables? It seems like old technology to me. 9. MobiPocket Reader doesn't identify the newsfeeds on the Iliad, the Kindle does. That makes it far easier to find on the Kindle. What I like about the Kindle is that it's easy to read a newspaper and subscribe to blogs. Yes, it costs extra but I haven't figured any other way to get them onto the Iliad besides MobiPocket. I'd like to able to find a fairly easy way to load them onto my Iliad without using MobiPocket. I've looked at aggregators but I don't know how to get that onto the Iliad. The Kindle is easy to use, yes that ease of use costs money and if you buy books from Amazon you're locked in to their device. I've requested and downloaded the developer's package but I hesitate to try anything else until I can figure out how to reflash with the CF card. The directions are as clear as mud to me but it's been a long, long time since I programmed anything. Some of the third party apps are intriguing but I want to wait until I can reflash the Iliad before I venture out. What does the Newspaper button do? Where and how can you get content? I think once I figure out how to use the Iliad I'll like it more.

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12-12-2007, 06:53 PM	#3
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	I'll have to go back and look but the problem seems to happen in the smaller fonts with italics. The italicized words over run each other. If I go up a couple of fonts then it's fine.

12-13-2007, 01:45 AM	#4
ElaHuguet iLiad freak Posts: 339 Karma: 243 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mallorca, Spain Device: iRex iLiad	What does the Newspaper button do? Where and how can you get content? The four buttons on the iLiad are basically four folders in its directory, which you'll see when you hook it up to the PC. It allows storing stuff in some sort of order, I use "newspapers" for my Sudokus, for example. The reason it's called News is because one of the big ideas for the iLiad was to be able to download newspaper subscriptions, but that's only working for a couple of places (eg. Les Echos, a French newspaper, if I'm not wrong). There are third party apps that will get you content to go in there, RSS feeds and so forth, but I'll let someone else explain how to reflash, I don't have the hack so I haven't looked into reflashing (yet).

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