Unboxing iRex 800 and first impressions

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Kolenka

The DR1000, DR800 and Kindle DX should all have about the same amount of glare.

Would be my statement as well.
Quite frankly, I've never recognised the glare you mention for iRex 1000S.
I consider the iRex units very close to my "benchmark unit" Sony 505.
Maybe it's like described a few posts above: The bigger the reader (and 1000S is gigantic), the more complicated it gets to find the "right" viewing angle (and holding position) and glare may be more obvious than with smaller units.
But if you focus on specific areas of the screen and compare iRex 1000S or iRex 800 to other units without touchscreen, there's not much of a difference.

iRex 800 is faster and more compact (smaller frame) than iRex 1000S. But as I've been absolutely fine with iRex 1000S' display quality, I don't see any real difference.

[FutureBSD]

I'm also thinking of buying a DR800S (I'm in Germany).

I've no eBook reader so far and was waiting for the iPad before deciding which eBook reader I'd buy. The iPad was a TOTAL failure in my opinion (I've a MacBook Pro + iPhone and some more of their products and I LOVE their devices). I'm using Stanza on my iPhone and don't think that the iPad will give me ANY additions.

But back to topic. I'd like two features while "working" with an eBook reader. Zooming (would be nice but is no killer feature for me (so far ;-) ) ) and annotation. I was writing iRex about both features and they told me both features will be implemented soon. (Note taking feature is scheduled for Q1 2010)
The note taking feature is going to be a separate application which, for me, sounds like you won't be able to scribble in you eBooks.

I've read many warnings about iRex in not believing what they're promising. I normally just compare AVAILABLE features while choosing a product.

The problem is: No other product is nearly as sexy as the iRex DR800S(G). It's really fast, it looks great, it has a great quality. The price is a little bit high but that wouldn't stop me from buying it. If iRex is a company that's supporting their products well I'd buy the device now and just use it as a reader till the firmware update is available.

What would be your advice for me? What are your experiences with iRex and their feature updates?

[professzore]

Originally Posted by FutureBSD

What would be your advice for me? What are your experiences with iRex and their feature updates?

Hi, Welcome on board!

I have no so much personal experiences with e-ink devices, but quiet a lot with other gadgets. In my opinion, find a local store with a demo unit, go there and try it. If you'll became familiar with DR800, simply buy it.

As iRex have an open source SDK, almost all requested functions will be available soon, whatever as a firmware upgrade or a third-party application/extension.

I also need those things you miss at the moment, furthermore I'm very familiar with quotation-based bookmarks. None of them currently available. At the moment, there is only ONE reason why I haven't ordered it yet: I can't get it in hand and get some personal experiences. (As an author of a local blog, I was asking iRex for a demo unit a few days ago, but there is no answer yet.)

Regards,

Professzore

[Mr. Goodbar]

One of the positives for the 800 in my opinion is the release of the sdk. It looks like they are serious about enabling other capabilities with 3rd party development. That doesn't necessarily mean we'll see great applications, but the possibility exists and I believe they are unique in that approach at the moment.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Just found another video on YouTube for the 800. No talking, but a walk through of some of the features and you can get a feel for start time from standby as well as overall speed of the device.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ebooksfr.../0/_UTxmE6sCMs

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by FutureBSD

I'm also thinking of buying a DR800S (I'm in Germany).

I've no eBook reader so far and was waiting for the iPad before deciding which eBook reader I'd buy. The iPad was a TOTAL failure in my opinion (I've a MacBook Pro + iPhone and some more of their products and I LOVE their devices). I'm using Stanza on my iPhone and don't think that the iPad will give me ANY additions.

But back to topic. I'd like two features while "working" with an eBook reader. Zooming (would be nice but is no killer feature for me (so far ;-) ) ) and annotation. I was writing iRex about both features and they told me both features will be implemented soon. (Note taking feature is scheduled for Q1 2010)
The note taking feature is going to be a separate application which, for me, sounds like you won't be able to scribble in you eBooks.

I've read many warnings about iRex in not believing what they're promising. I normally just compare AVAILABLE features while choosing a product.

The problem is: No other product is nearly as sexy as the iRex DR800S(G). It's really fast, it looks great, it has a great quality. The price is a little bit high but that wouldn't stop me from buying it. If iRex is a company that's supporting their products well I'd buy the device now and just use it as a reader till the firmware update is available.

What would be your advice for me? What are your experiences with iRex and their feature updates?

I haven't heard any official statement about implementing the zoom feature into iRex 800. To me, it's not that important. It has been a major argument for iRex iLiad and iRex 1000S. But I rarely use PDFs, so it's not a biggy for me.

I haven't heard about the note application being a separate one instead of scribbling directly onto documents. I don't use annotations/notes, so it's not important to me. But I'd find it kind of strange. There are way better solutions for standalone notes than using eInk devices. This feature to me only makes sense in combination with existing documents.

Concerning iRex' reliability and speed in firmware updates:
I've never placed a change request with iRex, so I can't say anything about that.
But from my personal demands, I'd clearly rank iRex absolutely top. I still consider iRex iLiads's OS benchmark. I'd "blindly" purchase any iRex unit, given my experience so far.
I don't get lots of the complaints about iRex. In my opinion, other units/manufacturers lack way more features and noone seems to care.
Alle 3 iRex units do have folders. There has been some confusion re. iRex 800 and it certainly has been a case of bad marketing. But it's there.
Kindle 2 and Kindle DX lack this basic feature from the very beginning, still they are considered (ony of the) market leader(s).
Sometimes I get the feeling: The more you're capable of, the more to complain. iRex is considered manufacturer of "professional" units, so probably the expectations are way higher.

Anyway, I wouldn't rely on any future implementations of additional features. With no supplier whatsoever. You never know about "political agendas" (focus on new business areas or new hardware, changes in over all strategy, ...) in the background or future demands, generated maybe by new competitors.
Always base your decision on what you will get here and now. With all suppliers.

[drl]

I received my 800S last week and so far am quite pleased. Very fast page turns, good contrast and readability, sturdy construction (my Cybook "spontaneously" broke its screen), and easy to navigate. On the negative side, PDF viewing is not great and I definately miss two features: dictionary support and a return feature. I like to view the footnotes within books and returning to the last page you were reading before jumping to the footnote is quite cumbersome (I bookmark before going to the footnote and then return using the bookmark).

I don't notice any significant glare from the screen under normal reading conditions--seems pretty similar to the Cybook.

All in all, however, I am very happy and think it is a much higher quality ebook than my previous Cybook. Fortunately, I have learned to convert my old .prc books to epub so my collection of previously purchased books is available.

[FutureBSD]

@mgmueller:

I totally agree with what you said:
Always base your decision on what you will get here and now. With all suppliers.

I also mentioned (or wanted to mention) that in my post.
But I think you got me wrong when you said "There are way better solutions for standalone notes than using eInk devices."

1. I'm searching for a great READER. (I think this one is a great reader)
2. I'm always taking some notes in some of my magazines. While using them on my eInk device I'd like to use this feature too.
When it comes to books I totally agree with you. I don't need the annotation for just reading books. But I do need (or would like) it for some magazines.

Because I'm living DIRECTLY at the dutch border I'll driving to my next dutch Media Markt on Saturday and try one of these devices. If I like it I'll buy it. When they release a firmware update with the other features (as promised) it'll get the perfect device. If not I won't die and got a great and really fast reader.

But it's good to hear that iRex NORMALLY has a good support. That will make things more likely to be released.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by professzore

As iRex have an open source SDK, almost all requested functions will be available soon, whatever as a firmware upgrade or a third-party application/extension.

I wouldn't be so positive about open source leading to everything one wants, especially if one is not able to do the actual work. I still don't see a cbz reader for the DR1000 and I've read a quote from Irex mentioning the sdk will allow new viewers like for cbz (so they must want it too). You would think by now there will be viewers for everything under the sun like Office documents or .lit, but I see more supported formats on Chinese-market readers.

I guess the high price of their readers makes the install base very small and the business/vertical market users that can expense it aren't exactly developers. I've seen many projects go open source and then never see any progress afterward (of course some of that may be due to the project going open source when the original author gave up).

I hope the cheaper (please don't be a dream) dr800sg will gets the install base up.

[Mackx]

Originally Posted by FutureBSD

Because I'm living DIRECTLY at the dutch border I'll driving to my next dutch Media Markt on Saturday and try one of these devices. If I like it I'll buy it.

I have not heared anyone who actually saw the DR800 at any Dutch MediaMarkt. Has anyone seen them? Where?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by FutureBSD

@mgmueller:

I totally agree with what you said:
Always base your decision on what you will get here and now. With all suppliers.

I also mentioned (or wanted to mention) that in my post.
But I think you got me wrong when you said "There are way better solutions for standalone notes than using eInk devices."

1. I'm searching for a great READER. (I think this one is a great reader)
2. I'm always taking some notes in some of my magazines. While using them on my eInk device I'd like to use this feature too.
When it comes to books I totally agree with you. I don't need the annotation for just reading books. But I do need (or would like) it for some magazines.

Because I'm living DIRECTLY at the dutch border I'll driving to my next dutch Media Markt on Saturday and try one of these devices. If I like it I'll buy it. When they release a firmware update with the other features (as promised) it'll get the perfect device. If not I won't die and got a great and really fast reader.

But it's good to hear that iRex NORMALLY has a good support. That will make things more likely to be released.

What I meant by "There are way better solutions for standalone notes than using eInk devices": It would be an extremely poor application from iRex, to deliver standalone notes. For this, there are way better solutions in the market. So iRex definitely should deliver an application to draft within existing documents.

Concerning iRex, I'd use slightly different words. Instead of "iRex NORMALLY has a good support" I'd say "iRex has excellent products, so I'm rarely in need of support". (Doesn't imply, their support is any bad. But their products from scratch already have most of the features I need.)
The only real experience with iRex support was the discussion about folders and turning off the unit. They even did answer in this forum parallel to the email requests. Hardly could be any more responsive.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Kolenka

Stylus navigating around a book list is begging to have the stylus lost, or really just not needed when you have nice big icons.

That's why you can use the buttons as a backup to the stylus.

[ajamudc]

Hi all, thanks to everyone for all the great information about the DR800SG. I am in the market for my first ereader and my short list contains the Sony 900, Onyx Boox and the dr800sg.

I really like what I'm reading (and seeing via Youtube) about the dr800sg. I'm in the US, so unfortunately there's nowhere for me to see it in person yet. My only hesitation is the lack of annotations in pdfs.

For those that may have experience with the devices I'm considering, what are your general impressions? Which device do you prefer? How much of an advantage is the larger screens of the 900 and the dr800 vs. A 6 in screen like the Boox (Neo)? Does the dr800 have dictionary support?

Thanks in advance for any information!

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by FutureBSD

I normally just compare AVAILABLE features while choosing a product.

Always a good idea.

If iRex is a company that's supporting their products well I'd buy the device now and just use it as a reader till the firmware update is available.

What would be your advice for me? What are your experiences with iRex and their feature updates?

This is a bigger question than just iRex (despite what reputations they might have). If the device has the features now that make it worth the price to you, then go ahead and buy it. If the additional features come out later, then great. If they don't, then you will still feel that you got enough value for your money.

If, however, you feel that the device would only be worth the price after it has the promised features, then don't buy it. Many things can happen with any company where plans change or focus shifts. You're just setting yourself up for disappointment.

[badbob001]

Originally Posted by drl

On the negative side, PDF viewing is not great and I definately miss two features: dictionary support and a return feature. I like to view the footnotes within books and returning to the last page you were reading before jumping to the footnote is quite cumbersome (I bookmark before going to the footnote and then return using the bookmark).

I had not thought about footnotes. I like to read books from terry pratchett, who likes to use footnotes in his works. It would be very annoying if I could jump to a footnote but was not able to jump back, especially when the dr800 doesn't have a goto page feature.

Does epub offer any special support for footnotes? I would love for footnotes to appear as a pop-up window instead of a page jump (just like dictionary look ups on the kindle). I sometimes encounter books with no link to the footnote and so I would have to remember the footnote number, jump to the footnote section and start searching. Grrr.