Please help me decide if price is not an issue

[carpii]

Hi,

Im in the market for an ebook reader. I do wonder whether the current crop of ebook readers are really that good, because no matter which model I look at, they all have some niggle about them which is a bit of a disappointment.

My requirements...

Im on linux, so Windows-only sync software (with no alternatives) is a no go.
Ideally Id like to sync via wireless, since Ive already got too many USB cables hanging out my PC. I think the wireless pretty much rules Sony out.

This might not be a bad thing. Ive been loyal to Sony for a long time, but I wonder why, because their software is usually dreadful and Ive also read that unofficial PDF's put onto the Sony result in really small fonts.

Im a developer, so if it means using a bunch of tools I can use to automate conversions and syncing, then no problems. But I do want the ability to be able to read arbitrary PDF's, and Gutenberg TXT's without too much hassle.
Im not too concerned about DRM, since I doubt Ill buy many commercial ebooks anyway. I mostly want it for reference texts, and maybe some non commercial PDF's. I can live without dictionaries, jotting notes and mp3 support.

Price is not an issue. If theres a device that will suit me, Ill buy it, end of.
I think based on my requirements, Im really left with just a few choices....

2nd Gen Ilead reader (this is the one Im thinking of at the moment)
Astak Mentor (due 2009, is the only other one I can see that does wireless)
Sony (live with the fact it cant do wireless, in the hope its *vastly* better than Iliead).

Any suggestions please?
Im basically looking for reasons why I shouldnt get an Iliad, so if youve any comments about things I might not like about it, those would be very welcome.

Thanks
Carpii

[pilotbob]

Are you in the US?

I think the only one that can Sync with wireless in the iLiad... not 100% sure if even it can.

The Kindle has wireless... you would have to run a public web server on your PC to sync with it. But, it can d/l from your Amazon Media Library and also directly from Feedbooks.com and Mobileread.com. However, you can't add stuff to your media library that you didn't buy from Amazon.

BOb

[carpii]

Hi, thanks for the reply.
Unfortunately im in the UK, and so the Kindle isnt really an option for me

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by carpii

But I do want the ability to be able to read arbitrary PDF's, and Gutenberg TXT's without too much hassle.

If these are DRM-free PDFs, then the iRex Digital Reader is your best choice, because a big screen wins over a small screen for PDFs. Like most current readers, this requires USB for file transfers. The DR1000WS will have bluetooth and WiFi, but it isn't available yet. The only problem with buying the DR1000S today is that you have to trust iRex to release improved software (e.g for battery life). Its PDF reader is probably already good enough and, for anything except PDFs, FBReader is already ported and this is world-class ebook reader software. FBReader is on the iLiad as well, but a difference is that Adam B was able to get the latest version of FBReader up and running on the DR1000S very easily. The versions on the iLiad are out of date because of the difficulty of porting to this device.

I have never found the iLiad's WiFi very useful, but if you are a developer you probably can make syncing to the iLiad via WiFi (or wired Ethernet) work. I'm sure the same will be true of the DR1000WS when it becomes available. There is no release date yet, and I assume it won't be released until the system software issues have been fixed.

[carpii]

Thanks for the interesting reply. At first I was confused because you were talking about DR1000S and Iliad as if they are two different products.
Ive since learnt that, they are

Im not sure what led me to believe they were the same product. I thought the DR1000S was actually the new one coming out in 2009, with the larger size and different design. Anyway, its irrelevant now.

The general consensus (and based on iRex's comments) is that the Iliad is now nearing the end of its lifecycle, and there will be no real developments on it in terms of software developments.

It also sounds a bit flaky getting wireless sync working (theres talk of needing a java vm for it, and I gather the guy who did most the leg-work has now abandoned his iLiad). The prospect of developing my own no longer appeals as much, given that iLiad is pretty much on its way out.

That leaves the DR1000WS which sadly Im not keen on the design of, as I often read lying on my side. Is it just me, or does it seem a strange decision by iRex to abandon their rather innovative page flip bar like on the Iliad?

All in all, I think for me the best decision now is to just sit tight for 6-12 months and see how things pan out, which is a real disappointment, but probably best in the long run

Thanks for the advice
Carpii

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by carpii

All in all, I think for me the best decision now is to just sit tight for 6-12 months and see how things pan out, which is a real disappointment, but probably best in the long run

There will probably be several competitors to the DR1000WS available within this time frame, as well as devices with a 6" screen and WiFi.

You may want to check back when the DR1000WS is actually available to see how far the device has progressed. Its major advantage over potential competitors is its openness to 3rd party developers.

[carpii]

Originally Posted by carpii

All in all, I think for me the best decision now is to just sit tight for 6-12 months and see how things pan out, which is a real disappointment, but probably best in the long run

Well, it seems I just couldnt wait that long

I decided to buy an ebook reader to tide me over until the technology matures a bit more, so Im now a Sony PRS-505 owner.

No wireless sync, poor PDF support, basically nothing that was in my original requirements. But so far, Im quite pleased with it anyway