Unboxing iRex 800 and first impressions

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

Well, from earlier comments it looks like a quick slide of the power switch puts it into a suspend mode

Yes, but is that a suspend-to-ram or suspend-to-flash mode, or does the device support both?

IE after X minutes it automatically goes into suspend-to-ram and if you do a "short slide" of the power switch it goes into suspend-to-flash.

That's the way I hope it works, but I don't think we know that for sure yet.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Yes. Bought on PC. Then chose "send to reader". Then chose "iRex" (they have a pic of iRex 800, but iLiad and 1000S should work as well).

The DR1000S does, but I don't think the iLiad supports the PressReader application.

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

He said that he didn't let it go into standby mode.

What does standby mean? That the screen remains with text on it, or that the screen goes blank? If it means that the text remains on the screen, then it would hardly be possible to even know if it were in standby or not. If the screen goes blank, then you are being disingenuous. My PRS-505, for example, starting from a full charge, will sit there with text displayed for every bit of a couple weeks if I don't otherwise use it. If the DR800 is going down by a bar after just sitting there static, mostly unused but text displayed, for a day or even two, that's a pretty significant battery drain over the competition.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

What does standby mean?

That's the question we're asking. It could mean several things, depending on what type of power management they've implemented. Whether the contents stay on the screen or not isn't really relevant. What's more important is the power level of the rest of the internal hardware and how they implemented the suspend (either to ram or to flash, or both).

My suspicion is that your Sony is getting weeks of battery life using suspend-to-flash. His DR800 is on target for 4 days of battery life using suspend-to-ram, and he is intentionally not putting it into it's suspend-to-flash mode. So right now we're comparing apples to oranges with the Sony comparison. If you want to compare it with what your Sony does, you would need to put the DR800 into it's suspend-to-flash mode.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by badbob001

Newspaperdirect likes to present the paper in its original layout as opposed to the kindle-like version with just article links. Either format have their appeal. I believe newspaperdirect has a table of contents view we well.

Here is their app running on several devices:

Yes, there's a table of content as well. Personally, I find the newspaper look (at least as my starting position) way more appealing. And then choose the article of interest via stylus.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

The DR1000S does, but I don't think the iLiad supports the PressReader application.

I guess, you're right.
But next to "send to reader" there's an option "save" as well.
I've generated an ePUB file for example. I guess, Mobipocket can be generated as well.

EDIT: Yes, Mobipocket CAN be generated. It's labeled "Kindle", but working on others as well of course. ePUB can be generated as well.

[professzore]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

I wouldn't consider it a point for iRex 800.

Ok. In my own "race". Its opponent is 'txtr. Both Kindles are out. Nook too.

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

My suspicion is that your Sony is getting weeks of battery life using suspend-to-flash.

Perhaps - it doesn't really matter. When I leave text static on the screen like that and then pick it up to read it and press a page-change button, the reaction is instantaneous, there is no hesitation, even slightly, as though the device had to quickly "wake up" from whatever sort of suspended mode it was in. It seems like if Sony could figure out how to do that simple functionality with their readers, it makes iRex look really silly for not being able to do the same thing with theirs.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

Perhaps - it doesn't really matter. When I leave text static on the screen like that and then pick it up to read it and press a page-change button, the reaction is instantaneous, there is no hesitation, even slightly, as though the device had to quickly "wake up" from whatever sort of suspended mode it was in. It seems like if Sony could figure out how to do that simple functionality with their readers, it makes iRex look really silly for not being able to do the same thing with theirs.

You're assuming the DR800 can't. We haven't found that out yet.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Yes, but is that a suspend-to-ram or suspend-to-flash mode, or does the device support both?

IE after X minutes it automatically goes into suspend-to-ram and if you do a "short slide" of the power switch it goes into suspend-to-flash.

That's the way I hope it works, but I don't think we know that for sure yet.

Reports say it takes 55 seconds to boot from off. How long does it take for the dr1000 or iliad? If it takes significantly longer, then perhaps some form of hibernation is being used. Of course, then if it uses hibernation, how do you really turn it off (is there a reset hole)?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Yes, but is that a suspend-to-ram or suspend-to-flash mode, or does the device support both?

IE after X minutes it automatically goes into suspend-to-ram and if you do a "short slide" of the power switch it goes into suspend-to-flash.

That's the way I hope it works, but I don't think we know that for sure yet.

After a certain amount of time it goes into suspend (no idea whether it's ram or flash). I didn't pay attention and I can't change it in settings. I guess it's 30 minutes (of inactivity).

[professzore]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

And then choose the article of interest via stylus.

Can you navigate with the flipbar instead of the stylus?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by badbob001

Reports say it takes 55 seconds to boot from off. How long does it take for the dr1000 or iliad? If it takes significantly longer, then perhaps some form of hibernation is being used. Of course, then if it uses hibernation, how do you really turn it off (is there a reset hole)?

Waking from hibernation (suspend-to-flash) should be much faster than a full boot.

From what I understand a short slide of the power switch puts it into a suspend mode (not sure which kind yet), a long slide of the power switch turns it off.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by badbob001

Reports say it takes 55 seconds to boot from off. How long does it take for the dr1000 or iliad? If it takes significantly longer, then perhaps some form of hibernation is being used. Of course, then if it uses hibernation, how do you really turn it off (is there a reset hole)?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...1&postcount=50
iLiad = 45 seconds
1000S = 50 seconds.
I'll have to re-check, whether 800 really is a bit sower. But all 3 definitely are within the same range.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

After a certain amount of time it goes into suspend (no idea whether it's ram or flash). I didn't pay attention and I can't change it in settings.I guess it's 30 minutes (of inactivity).

I don't know for sure either. My guess would be that the automatic suspend after a certain amount of time is to ram. Using the power switch to suspend it is probably flash.

However, they could both be the same mode. We'll have to do more testing to find out (or get technical information from iRex).