Unboxing iRex 800 and first impressions

[electrotype]

mgmueller,

What reader would you then suggest for those complexe PDF? I'm looking for my first ebook reader and I'll use it exclusively for PDF files, most of them containing images and code snippets (PDF like a "learn the xxx programming language").

Is it really better to have an bigger than 8" screen? Or would an iLiad or Sony 900 be enjoyable, in your opinion?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by electrotype

mgmueller,

What reader would you then suggest for those complexe PDF? I'm looking for my first ebook reader and I'll use it exclusively for PDF files, most of them containing images and code snippets (PDF like a "learn the xxx programming language").

Is it really better to have an bigger than 8" screen? Or would an iLiad or Sony 900 be enjoyable, in your opinion?

For PDFs I don't hesitate a second:
First choice: iRex iLiad or iRex 1000S.
Second choice: Sony 900 or Sony 600.
Both Sony units have the advantage of zoom and reflow. I prefer zoom to keep the layout intact, but sometimes (casual read, i.e. Stephen King) reflow comes in handy.
Most other readers solely do reflow for PDFs.

iRex iLiad only does zoom (for PDFs. For Mobipocket you can change font and size). So does iRex 1000S. But it does it perfect. Simply mark your area of interest with a single stroke of the stylus. You don't even have to circle or frame the area. A single diagonal stroke is enough. That area, however big it may be, can be exploded to full screen. You even can pan the entire screen to scroll to other areas.

iRex iLiad won't receive any firmware updates, so there won't be any official ePUB support. iRex 1000S still will be supported and a firmware update for ePUB support is announced for end of Q1/2010.

iRex 800 is a new contender, got it 2 days ago. But it doesn't have the "free/intelligent" zoom I've described above. Maybe there will be a firmware update, but we don't know right now.

Concerning size:
Most PDFs are A4/letter. The closer to the original size of the document, the easier to navigate and the higher the readability.
But I've never had any troubles with iRex iLiad. (But I certainly wouldn't recommend Cybook Opus or any other 5" unit for complex PDFs).
And: Usually you can re-format your PDFs, i. e. reduce them from A4/letter to A5 and/or crop margins.

[electrotype]

Very informative. Thanks a lot mgmueller.

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I even can test it on a bunch of my readers: Kindle DX, iRex iLiad/1000S/800, Sony 900/600.

That would be great guys! I think this would call for a new Wiki page

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I agree. They've said to me before that one of their goals with the DR800 was to come up with a better/simpler UI and improve upon the DR1000's interface based on feedback they'd been getting.

This is probably one of those areas where a specific design may make sense for a high end user or the business market, but a simpler one would be a better idea for general consumers.

Ditto. I think Irex product dev team have decided to go the old 80/20 rule. 80% of the market want a particular feature, therefore we will invest 80% of our time and effort into it.
Whether we like it or not, a large portion of MB crowd are what you would call "power users". However, our dollar is just as valuable as the Average Joe's dollar. The difference is that there are tons more Joe customers out there that Irex is targeting than us.
Let's hope Irex has learned valuable lessons in the past and delivers core features right through regular product firmware updates!

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

That's what perplexes me about this device and Irex. Irex has been in the game longer than everybody except Sony. They have years and years of customer feedback asking for all the things they have left out of this device. I know because i read those forums for 2 years and asked a few questions there myself.

Constant change of management and lack of long term strategic directions will do this to a product. You are absolutely right about Irex. They've been in the game for so long, they've seen the good and the bad. You would have thought they'd learn a lesson or two. However, let's hope its not all lost for them. As I commented before, maybe they are trying to keep it simple and focus on core specs.
I love their tech but the company as a whole sucks like a hoover. IMHO as an ex customer .

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by steffi

What can you do with an IREX 800 with PDFs that you cannot do with a Kindle DX?

- Change the font size.
- Follow hyperlinks.
- Use the table of contents.
- Search for words.

The Kindle DX's PDF support is primitive in the extreme. It will display them, and that's all. No hyperlinks, no TOC, no searches; no anything, really.

[professzore]

Originally Posted by HarryT

- Search for words.
The Kindle DX's PDF support is primitive in the extreme. [...] no searches[...].

Are you sure? AFAIK Kindle 2 can search in any text PDF as all PDF files are indexed at the first opening. That's what Kindle do the best among all others. Do I miss something?

[HarryT]

I thought I was sure . If I am wrong, then I stand corrected. The most important shortcoming, though, for me personally, is the lack of hyperlink and table of content support. On the few occasions I read PDFs, they tend to be reference type material, and being able to use the table of contents / hyperlinks to just to the correct place in the book is essential.

[catharsis]

does anyone know if the folder view and ESPECIALLY the zoom in pdf will be added in future versions of the firmware? and, of course, the annotation, but that is not an issue az big as zooming in a4/letter pdfs.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by catharsis

does anyone know if the folder view and ESPECIALLY the zoom in pdf will be added in future versions of the firmware?

AFAIK, there has been no word on that.

and, of course, the annotation,

iRex have stated that annotation will be added in a firmware update that's due in April, but that does, as always, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

but that is not an issue az big as zooming in a4/letter pdfs.

For you, perhaps. For me, annotation is far, far, more important than PDF zooming. We all have our own priorities.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by HarryT

For you, perhaps. For me, annotation is far, far, more important than PDF zooming. We all have our own priorities.

In the manual, bookmarks and annotations are listed together. Can someone see if adding a bookmark allows you to add a text description? That would like a form of note annotation.

[DeReader]

Some words on the battery consumption:

Yesterday at 8:00 AM I started with a fully charged battery, I used the device for reading a few hours, but did not let it go into standby mode (which it enters automatically after 30 min.). So there was nearly the whole day a page displayed on the screen (which should only use marginal energy on e-ink devices, but the Ililad proved this wrong).

There are still 3 of 4 bars left in the battery display. So I think the power management is a lot better compared to the Iliad.

And the reader did not crash a single time, the user interface is very snappy. Also the search function for books is nearly instant (but despite that, I would also have folder support back).

I did also try to insert a SIM card in the slot, but this does nothing.

On the Irex support site, the US firmware for the DR800SG is downloadable, so I hope the US-version of the device will be out soon. But I do not dare to install that firmware on my EU device

[Mr. Goodbar]

Originally Posted by DeReader

Some words on the battery consumption:

Yesterday at 8:00 AM I started with a fully charged battery, I used the device for reading a few hours, but did not let it go into standby mode (which it enters automatically after 30 min.). So there was nearly the whole day a page displayed on the screen (which should only use marginal energy on e-ink devices, but the Ililad proved this wrong).

There are still 3 of 4 bars left in the battery display. So I think the power management is a lot better compared to the Iliad.

And the reader did not crash a single time, the user interface is very snappy. Also the search function for books is nearly instant (but despite that, I would also have folder support back).

I did also try to insert a SIM card in the slot, but this does nothing.

On the Irex support site, the US firmware for the DR800SG is downloadable, so I hope the US-version of the device will be out soon. But I do not dare to install that firmware on my EU device

That might speak really well of the battery life if the device was also doing background indexing for search. I remember being really disappointed in the initial battery life on my Kindle, only to realize it was background indexing the few hundred titles I had loaded. After that was completed over a couple days the battery life improved to a comparable level to my Sony.

[Mr. Goodbar]

I'm surprised we're not seeing any videos pop up on youtube yet. Usually the big review sites are pretty prompt with this type of thing.