B&N and Verizon Jump Into E-Reader Fray with iRex

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Seventh Son

And what's the proper aspect ratio for book readers?

At least a similar aspect to a printed page. The Daily Reader is oblong, more like an HDTV aspect ratio.

[Seventh Son]

Originally Posted by kennyc

At least a similar aspect to a printed page. The Daily Reader is oblong, more like an HDTV aspect ratio.

I have some paper books that are oblong and some that are square and such, so I don't think there is a strict standard. And, besides, Daily Edition is an electronic book reader and eBooks don't have a notion of aspect ratio. At least they should have.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Ea

Definitely sounds like they released it a little early, but given what I read when I was thinking of buying the DR1000, the matter is not necessarily bigger than waiting for firmware updates. I guess the release of the SonyDaily might have made them push the release?

I'm definitely curious about this, but I don't feel especially put out that it's not released i Europe until next year (during first half of 2010 according to the Engadget hands-on article) - by that time it might have the worst bugs resolved.

I wonder about the quality of the flip bar. I liked the idea of it as such, on the Iliad, but I sincerely hope this one won't turn out to have the same "stickyness" issues as the Iliad (a 'short' single-page turn was sometimes interpreted by the device as 'long' 5-page turn - it was a hardwise issue).

People from a Dutch ereader site were invited in Eindhoven, where the company is located. (http://www.ereaders.nl/24090901_irex...e_stap_vooruit)

They also asked the question; when would it be introduced here, the answer: there is no concrete answer possible. A successful launch of a 3G requires good cooperations with partners, and while they're working on it, but it hasn't cleared up yet. So, I wonder where endgadget gets their date...

[Ea]

Originally Posted by kennyc

At least a similar aspect to a printed page. The Daily Reader is oblong, more like an HDTV aspect ratio.

I thought the "usual" aspect of a printed page were down to tradition - and originally down to the optimal sizes of vellum (at least the vellum folio's I've seen had that certain size aspect ration that is most common).

Anyway, the sony daily gives you more text per "page" without making the lines wider (easier to read). I don't think it's ideal, but it's another option that could be more optimal for some than a wider, larger screen.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

People from a Dutch ereader site were invited in Eindhoven, where the company is located. (http://www.ereaders.nl/24090901_irex...e_stap_vooruit)

They also asked the question; when would it be introduced here, the answer: there is no concrete answer possible. A successful launch of a 3G requires good cooperations with partners, and while they're working on it, but it hasn't cleared up yet. So, I wonder where endgadget gets their date...

From Engadget: "... will be available this October in "select" Best Buy stores and will hit Europe in the first half of 2010. No wireless contract is required."

Sounds as if Engadget either were told something different or got something wrong... Both likely possibilities.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by Ea

Anyway, the sony daily gives you more text per "page" without making the lines wider (easier to read). I don't think it's ideal, but it's another option that could be more optimal for some than a wider, larger screen.

I also like the upcoming sony's ability to show two pages in landscape mode, which is a lot less wasteful than increasing the margins since you have less page turns. Other readers should add this view.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Another "preview" which is generally positive although it does contain some incorrect information about the kindle. Interesting comments on background color, but could just be related to newer versus older panel.

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/09/hands-on-irex-m.php

[Seventh Son]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Another "preview" which is generally positive although it does contain some incorrect information about the kindle. Interesting comments on background color, but could just be related to newer versus older panel.

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/09/hands-on-irex-m.php

Th reviewer immediately think the device is "twice as good" as Kindle or Sony just because it has a larger screen. Huh? So PRS-300 or Opus should be total crap according to him and a device with 15" simply godly

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Ea

I guess the release of the SonyDaily might have made them push the release?

Perhaps getting the device out in time for holiday shopping was more of a motivation. It woudn't be the first product that was released early to make sales.

BOb

[Mr. Goodbar]

Originally Posted by Seventh Son

Th reviewer immediately think the device is "twice as good" as Kindle or Sony just because it has a larger screen. Huh? So PRS-300 or Opus should be total crap according to him and a device with 15" simply godly

I think his point was that you have twice the screen area compared to the six inch devices and he correlated that to being twice as good. Certainly a slanted view to what is important to that user and not the most objective journalistic review, but it's good to see more choice coming into the mix.

I did find the comparison pics to the kindle 2 to be interesting. I've seen many kindle 2 owners saying the device is too large when it's actually slightly shorter, but a little wider than the K2. I personally like the minimalist design and always preferred my iLiad screen size, but I continue to be a little skeptical that iRex got the software right. They never seem to be able to get sleep, battery life etc. dialed in like their competitors have.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by jotas

It's Irex so ... believe me, not only can be possible, but WILL BE in this way. No on-board memory, and no outside access to SD card.

I'm not sure why you would think that. Every device iRex has ever made comes with on-board memory and a removable memory card.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I'm not sure why you would think that. Every device iRex has ever made comes with on-board memory and a removable memory card.

I thought the DR1000S only allowed you to put user data on the memory card. The internal memory was 100% for running the firmware.

BOb

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Ea

I wonder about the quality of the flip bar. I liked the idea of it as such, on the Iliad, but I sincerely hope this one won't turn out to have the same "stickyness" issues as the Iliad (a 'short' single-page turn was sometimes interpreted by the device as 'long' 5-page turn - it was a hardwise issue).

I'm not sure I believe that's a hardware issue. I've seen various theories, including software ones.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

They also asked the question; when would it be introduced here, the answer: there is no concrete answer possible. A successful launch of a 3G requires good cooperations with partners, and while they're working on it, but it hasn't cleared up yet. So, I wonder where endgadget gets their date...

There's a comment from iRex on their blog saying that we can expect an announcement at the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid October.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by badbob001

I also like the upcoming sony's ability to show two pages in landscape mode, which is a lot less wasteful than increasing the margins since you have less page turns. Other readers should add this view.

That's another good one. I am currently reading fiction on my DR1000 this way (2 column, landscape mode - formatted as PDFs) - it takes advantage of the large screen while still keeping lines comfortably short.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I thought the DR1000S only allowed you to put user data on the memory card. The internal memory was 100% for running the firmware.

Doh!