I now have an iLiad

[nekokami]

Yes, despite all the concerns and broken (or at least seriously dented) promises by iRex, I now have an iLiad of my very own. However, I have to admit I did not pay full price -- I bought it used, and paid a bit less than I would have for a Sony Reader. (I wouldn't have bought a Sony Reader in any case. I like the functionality of my eBw 1150 better.)

So far I'm quite happy with my iLiad, but my expectations have been reasonably set by reading everyone's comments here. The lack of pen calibration is annoying. The slow boot time doesn't bother me too much. We'll see how I feel about battery life after I've had it for a week or so. Right now I'm just deleriously happy that I can read PDF files without having to convert them first-- and soon, RTF files too!

My next question will be whether, as a second-hand owner, I qualify for the battery replacement. I'll let folks know what I find out.

[Adam B.]

Nice.

I wonder if the appearance of FBReader had anything to do with that decision.

[NatCh]

I think neko ordered it a while back, but I'm sure she would have been even more eager to do so if she'd known.

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by nekokami

Yes, despite all the concerns and broken (or at least seriously dented) promises by iRex, I now have an iLiad of my very own. However, I have to admit I did not pay full price -- I bought it used, and paid a bit less than I would have for a Sony Reader. (I wouldn't have bought a Sony Reader in any case. I like the functionality of my eBw 1150 better.)

Sounds like you had a great deal, neko. Especially now with fbreader for iLiad on the horizon, prices for the iLiad may soon go up again

[yvanleterrible]

Good for you Neko, I'm envious... hoping you get no trouble with it like I guess many people don't.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

Nice.

I wonder if the appearance of FBReader had anything to do with that decision.

That was an extra bonus. I've been trying to conclude this purchase for over a month (waiting on someone else to pay me money owed). I'm waiting for an easy install script, however. (And I haven't gotten the shell hack yet.) I wish iRex would hurry up with the unbricking utility.

I am now testing out different files. Some of my PDF files won't open (the screen flickers, then returns to the content lister). I haven't upgraded to 2.9 yet, so perhaps that will fix the problem. I also need to get a CF card, so I guess I'll browse around the forums and see what brands seem to work well. Recommendations are welcome.

Yvan, I've been jealous of everyone else having fun with their iLiads for months, but I'm certainly not trying to cause hard feelings now that I've got one of my own!

[yvanleterrible]

Not at all I'm happy for you!

[yvanleterrible]

So! How is it? Have you had time to explore it?

[nekokami]

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.

[BACbKA]

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?

Yes, when mounted from the PC as an external hard drive. Or, you can ask for the shell hack, install the terminal, and then just use the regular shell commands to create a directory locally (but, given the scare stories of those that have bricked it already, I'd rather wait for an unbrick option first).

And I could easily see the cost of the iLiad getting folded into a grant proposal as "equipment."

BTDT :-)

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by nekokami

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.

That's what the lock icon on the bottom of the screen is for.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

That's what the lock icon on the bottom of the screen is for.

Silly me! Thanks!

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by BACbKA

Yes, when mounted from the PC as an external hard drive. Or, you can ask for the shell hack, install the terminal, and then just use the regular shell commands to create a directory locally (but, given the scare stories of those that have bricked it already, I'd rather wait for an unbrick option first).

Yeah. The pressure to get the shell hack is increasing, though, with all the cool stuff Adam B. is doing.

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by nekokami

Silly me! Thanks!

No problem. When I first got my iLiad I had the same problem. The conversation in my head went somethint like this:

"Damn, I hate it when my hand hits those buttons. Hmm, what do these icons at the bottom of the screen do? Padlock? I can still see what's on the screen...*presses button* Sweet! I guess I should have read the manual"

[yokos]

Originally Posted by Adam B.

No problem. When I first got my iLiad I had the same problem. The conversation in my head went somethint like this:

"Damn, I hate it when my hand hits those buttons. Hmm, what do these icons at the bottom of the screen do? Padlock? I can still see what's on the screen...*presses button* Sweet! I guess I should have read the manual"

hehe, early buyers like me [July 2006!] waited months for the lock button, nekokami can use the feature right from the start.