8+ Readers in comparison

[robertpolson]

I highly Recommend PRS 900.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by ziNde

Hello,

I am looking for an ereader to buy, but i need help deciding which to buy. The reason i need your help has to do with the fact i don't really have acess to the devices in my country, and i can only get information through these kinds of topics or youtube. Still... i can't process all information.

I need an ereader because i am a college student and i find it very interesting to have a collection of technical books (engineering). So what i need is a device with a big memory (or ability to use memory cards), that can easily read .pdf files with lots of formulas. I also need it to be able to show pictures and diagrams in .pdf in a clear resolution. I believe it's better in this situation to have a big display (like 7'') because the content i expect to view is very graphic. Touchscreen is not very important, but the ability to underline text and write notes is great.

I don't really need a device that provides more acess to downloable content or that has better support to buy books. Most of the files i need are .pdf and i just need to transfer them from the pc.

Sony ereader PRS-900 or the PRS-600 seemed to be the best option at this point. What other solutions should i consider? Is there any other good device coming out any time soon?

Thanks for helping

Personally, I find zoom a MUST for PDFs (especially for technical ones).
Reflow not only "destroys" the layout, but the graphics and formulas as well.
So, in my opinion Kindles and nook don't make too much sense.
You already mentioned the display size: PDFs usually are A4/letter, so the reader should be as close as possible to that format. 5" is great for your casual read, but not for technical documents. 6" is okay, but not "professional" yet.
So this leaves (of my units):
iRex iLiad, iRex 1000S and iRex 800. iRex 800 doesn't have zoom (yet?), it's not sure whether they'll implement it.
Sony 900 and maybe Sony 600.
My favorite for PDFs always has been iRex iLiad. But it may seem a bit "outdated" to you, not being supported anymore. About iRex 800, because of the missing zoom, I'm not sure.
iRex 1000S may be too expensive, but of course makes a phantastic professional PDF reader.
Between the Sonys, I'd recommend Sony 900 because of the bigger screen and better contrast.
My gut feeling says: Sony 900 for you.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Personally, I find zoom a MUST for PDFs (especially for technical ones).
Reflow not only "destroys" the layout, but the graphics and formulas as well.

The Kindle DX might be an alternative to the PRS-900. It does not reflow and the only zoom it has is autocropping margins, but it has a larger screen to make up for this. Its downside is very poor PDF feature support, e.g. no table of contents and no annotations.

There are going to be several devices using the SiPix 9" screen coming out as soon as this is available (April?). See the Hanlin A9 in the E-book Reader Matrix as one example.

[noir]

Being an Iliad owner for a few weeks now, and reading technical manuals / IT books, i now know that it is the one and only smaller reader for me out there: the 8" is sufficient, but it's a tough fit.

I'd never want to read those manuals on 6"... 10" would be the sweetspot, but that's cumbersome to lug around.

I love the Iliad because :
- it allows me to do PDF zooming on the exact part of the screen i chose,
- it remembers the zoom level, even when reopening the document
- i added the fullscreen ipdf hack to make the toolbars disappear and use all the screen for the manuals.

If it weren't for those features, i'd have chosen the iRex 800... it's my opinion that tech manuals are readable on an iliad or bigger, 10" screens. (i didn't try the sony 900 though)

[jcatl]

I have the Sony 900 and am within the 30-day return period at Fry's, and now that I see the iRex 800 shipping for the same price($399), am conflicted as it offers a bit larger screen and obviously a sharper, less glare display. Thoughts?

I'm certainly not enamored of the Sony eBook Store - it's adequate but I'll probably side-load most content via USB or memory card. Verizon vs AT&T 3G is a toss-up where I live - both work well.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by jcatl

I have the Sony 900 and am within the 30-day return period at Fry's, and now that I see the iRex 800 shipping for the same price($399), am conflicted as it offers a bit larger screen and obviously a sharper, less glare display. Thoughts?

I'm certainly not enamored of the Sony eBook Store - it's adequate but I'll probably side-load most content via USB or memory card. Verizon vs AT&T 3G is a toss-up where I live - both work well.

I guess it comes down to a single question:
Features or display?
Sony 900 (at the actual stage of iRex 800's firmware) is way more advanced. You can't zoom on iRex. This has been one of the huge advantages of early iRex units and I hope they still implement it. For some PDFs, in my opinion, zoom is essential.
You can't annotate on iRex. To me, that's not important. But many users claim they need it and would expect it on any touchscreen unit.
And, but that's really totally subjective, to me Sony 900 is way more "polished". Great build quality (I'm not totally fine with iRex in some minor details), great cover (2 covers included with Sony, none with iRex). And lots of details for Sony, like easier access to memory slot (2 with Sony, 1 with iRex and you have to pull the battery to reach it) or so far only one cover available for iRex 800 which is really ugly and kind of "cheap".

BUT:
Contrast is way better on iRex and has significantly less glare. To me, Sony 900 is perfectly readable. But iRex is more than that, very close to "benchmark units" as Sony 505 or nook.

Right now, I'm ranking Sony 900 #1 and iRex 800 #2. Quite surprisingly, nook ranks #3.
But: Would iRex 800 have some of the features of iRex iLiad, it would be #1. Most of the things, I don't find perfect about iRex 800 (I avoid saying "don't like", as it's already a great unit), can be solved via firmware upgrades.

[jcatl]

Thanks mgmueller. I'm hoping Best Buy might have the iRex in store soon (before my 30 days with the 900 is up) so I can check it out in person.

[Jumpn Jack Flash]

mgmueller

Will you be sticking your Neo/boox views on this thread when you get it?

[mgmueller]

Very briefly - on the run...
Design reminds very much of Kindle 2. Same brushed aluminum on the back, similar color of the housing.
WACOM tablet, quality of the display is excellent of course. About equal to iRex 800. The stylus can be inserted in the unit.
WiFi, no problems at all to connect. I'll try to download my B&N books via WiFi, directly from my account, not from my PC. Next I'll try what interests me most: Are there the usual country restrictions, or can I buy for example from B&N?
File formats: Of course it does PDF and ePUB (ADE DRM). But very nice: It does Mobipocket as well.
Over all first impression: It's no quantum leap. But given the European price (€ 299) it beats iRex 800 (€ 499) (it makes sense of course to compare the WACOM units) hands down. (*)

EDIT:

Tabs: in folder view, you conveniently can jump through the hirarchy via tabs on the top.
Thumbnails: In a thread about Onyx Boox I've read, it only would show icons. For BeBook, that's not true: BeBook does show icons for the books already opened. For the others it shows icons.

(*) After playing around with BeBook Neo for about one hour I'd say, it's about even with iRex 800 (Neo slightly ahead). But in comparison, the European price of iRex 800 definitely is too high. BeBook Neo is only 60% of its price!

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Jumpn Jack Flash

mgmueller

Will you be sticking your Neo/boox views on this thread when you get it?

Just started

[angelad]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Just started

And keep going, as i just followed up your link.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Very briefly - on the run...
Design reminds very much of Kindle 2. Same brushed aluminum on the back, similar color of the housing.
WACOM tablet, quality of the display is excellent of course. About equal to iRex 800. The stylus can be inserted in the unit.
WiFi, no problems at all to connect. I'll try to download my B&N books via WiFi, directly from my account, not from my PC. Next I'll try what interests me most: Are there the usual country restrictions, or can I buy for example from B&N?
File formats: Of course it does PDF and ePUB (ADE DRM). But very nice: It does Mobipocket as well.
Over all first impression: It's no quantum leap. But given the European price (€ 299) it beats iRex 800 (€ 499) (it makes sense of course to compare the WACOM units) hands down.

EDIT (1):

Tabs: in folder view, you conveniently can jump through the hirarchy via tabs on the top.
Thumbnails: In a thread about Onyx Boox I've read, it only would show icons. For BeBook, that's not true: BeBook does show icons for the books already opened. For the others it shows icons.

EDIT (2):
File management: You can delete files directly on the reader. A feature I miss with lots of other readers.
ADE: You can register via WiFi, no ADE on PC needed.
Jogdial: Already described in another thread, just to make sure: The "outer ring" is a 4-way-button (page forward/backward, menu, back). The "inner ring" moves the cursor up and down for example.
In the center of both rings, there's the OK-button. It's illuminated when connected to PC.
UI: Very well structured, absolutely intuitive.
Webshops: That's a bit disappointing so far. It's just links to the usual websites. No optimised structure, for example WAP or something like that. You can pan around easily via stylus. But it's surprisingly slow. By "slow" I don't mean the eInk delay of up to 1 second. It's the connection itself. No explanation yet, can't be my cable modem. I've chosen "US", although in Germany. I could purchase a book from ebooks.com. So I guess it's the very same as on the PC: If the shop doesn't check IPs, you can purchase on the reader. Now I'll download the book I've purchased - on the reader via WiFi of course.
Stylus: I don't like the stylus very much. I prefer the stylus from Sony 900 for example. May be the nature of WACOM styli. But this simply isn't heavy enough for me. Maybe I'll use the iRex 800 stylus? Doesn't fit in the reader though...
Cover or pouch: None included. That's a shame. At least they should include a cheap sleeve, so at least we have some minor protection. Haven't seen any covers yet, so I'll have to check the "backup covers" of my other readers. Cybook Gen3 seems to have about the same size.

EDIT (3):
Comparing iRex 800 and BeBook Neo: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...64&postcount=1
BeBook Neo has got the zoom I'm missing on iRex 800 (which iRex iLiad and iRex 1000S have): Marking any area with your stylus and exploding to full screen. And of course the usual: Fit to width, fit to height, ...

[HarryT]

Yes, I'm very impressed with the Neo. Solidly built, and very good firmware. An excellent machine.

[aceflor]

how does it compare to the nook?

I will get either a pocketbook 302, but the screen is supposed to be too glossy, or a bebook neo I think....

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by aceflor

how does it compare to the nook?

I will get either a pocketbook 302, but the screen is supposed to be too glossy, or a bebook neo I think....

Another one? Who's your role model for purchasing that many readers?

nook and BeBook Neo are hard to compare of course.
I'd say, nook is the better "casual" reader. It's lean and efficient and perfectly does what it's intended for: Reading. I wouldn't even need softrooting for that. It's stylish and elegant.

BeBook Neo I guess is for the "gadget freaks". Way more to experiment and to manipulate. Display quality because of the touchscreen, even though phantastic for a touchscreen, probably is slightly lower on BeBook Neo. I'll compare carefully later on to iRex 800.
What I really love (and totally had forgotten about): Mobipocket support.
I've changed the 3G in nook to my German SIM card, but that's not really necessary. WiFi by far is preferable for me, so even for both units here.
BeBook Neo is nice enough, but nook is ahead. Simply looks more "valuable". But BeBook Neo isn't a disaster, I'd say about average looking.
What I like about BeBook Neo: You have touchscreen and an acceptable "jogdial" solution. On iRex 800 for example, without stylus I'm not feeling comfortable. BeBook Neo, without Stylus, I still can use like Sony 300 for example.
What I really hate: So far, it only displays the filenames. Not the metadata. Might not matter for many of you. But sometimes, I've got (just an example) "Genghis_" instead of "Genghis:" as a filename. I'd still like to see the correct title = metadata. I don't see, how I could change this. I'll play with calibre a bit more, but doesn't look to good. That's way better on iRex 800. As soon as you open a book, metadata is taken over.