iRex DR800SG and PDFs

zetareticuli · 02-24-2010, 07:35 PM

Guys, can anyone comment on the performance of this one displaying PDFs? Most importantly, technical PDFs. With this I mean tables, graphs, equations, diagrams, etc. I would appreciate any information you guys provide.

wallcraft · 02-24-2010, 07:44 PM

The DR800SG has been configured by iRex with a crippled PDF capability to protect sales of the DR1000S. In particular it has no zoom option and even the landscape mode is broken. It does reflow PDFs, but this isn't likely to be effective for technical PDFs.

There is some chance that iRex will improve PDF support when mobile Adobe Digital Editions is added to the DR1000S (i.e. they might add the same version to the DR800SG). However, in general it isn't a good idea to buy a device based on possible future capabilities. In this case iRex has not even said that PDF zoom will be included on the DR800SG. They have said that annotation will be added.

zetareticuli · 02-24-2010, 07:53 PM

Wallcraft, thanks. That is more than enough for me to NOT buy the DR800, at least for now.

cmdahler · 02-24-2010, 10:26 PM

Not only what wallcraft said, but to top it off, a week or so ago there was a guy from Irex on this forum who was actually asking people why they would want PDF zoom on the DR800 - it simply showed they are so disconnected from what people might want out of a larger screen device that you just have to shake your head over it.

If you are looking for something to view technical PDFs, this device most definitely is not it at the moment. While Irex has promised firmware updates in the future, they haven't even mentioned PDF zoom as a possibility (like I said, they were as of a week ago even questioning why anyone would want that!), and their track record on releasing firmware updates anywhere even close to when they promised is utterly miserable. They are saying their first firmware update is due in April; that most likely means sometime before the end of the year, if at all. After all, this is a device that finally went on sale about 4 months later than announced, and STILL they couldn't get even a simple dictionary working in time for the release!

Right now, this is a $400 book reader that will work well with PDFs that are specifically formatted for its screen size. If you want something to view larger PDFs, look elsewhere; it'll be quite a while for this device.

HansTWN · 02-24-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdahler

Not only what wallcraft said, but to top it off, a week or so ago there was a guy from Irex on this forum who was actually asking people why they would want PDF zoom on the DR800 - it simply showed they are so disconnected from what people might want out of a larger screen device that you just have to shake your head over it.

If you are looking for something to view technical PDFs, this device most definitely is not it at the moment. While Irex has promised firmware updates in the future, they haven't even mentioned PDF zoom as a possibility (like I said, they were as of a week ago even questioning why anyone would want that!), and their track record on releasing firmware updates anywhere even close to when they promised is utterly miserable. They are saying their first firmware update is due in April; that most likely means sometime before the end of the year, if at all. After all, this is a device that finally went on sale about 4 months later than announced, and STILL they couldn't get even a simple dictionary working in time for the release!

Right now, this is a $400 book reader that will work well with PDFs that are specifically formatted for its screen size. If you want something to view larger PDFs, look elsewhere; it'll be quite a while for this device.

Actually the Irex representative said that they are considering including PDF zoom, but haven't decided yet. And he asked for input on why we would like to have it. But, with regard to everything else, you are 100% on target. I would buy this right away if they had annotation and zoom (even via a hack), but for now I am just waiting to see all the new devices coming out soon. Too bad, I really love the 8" screen and the small bezel.

Dulin's Books · 02-24-2010, 10:58 PM

I do not consider any device for reading "technical" PDF's at any size display if it doesn't have persistent zoom. Also "selection" zoom with panning is a plus.

zetareticuli · 02-25-2010, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

I do not consider any device for reading "technical" PDF's at any size display if it doesn't have persistent zoom. Also "selection" zoom with panning is a plus.

Any such devices now?

repods · 02-25-2010, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

They have said that annotation will be added.

when and where they told this ?

Dulin's Books · 02-25-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetareticuli

Any such devices now?

sure the irex 1000 and Illiad,the Onyx 60/BeBook Neo, PocketBook 301 and 302, the Que, and a couple others alll have persistent zoom- meaning you don't have to re-zoom for each page. All of the above except also have selection zoom and panning- you select an area (for instance selecting a chart)and that is zoomed to page size and then you pan around the rest of the document. I'm not sure if 302 has that.

Sony 900 has selection zoom but i don't believe any of Sony's devices have persistent zoom

zetareticuli · 02-25-2010, 09:36 AM

My opinion is that the 6" readers are good for quick grab and go for PDF. Any serious PDF reading (such as technical books, etc), requires a larger screen e-reader at least the size of the Kindle DX. In this larger category are there any readers available now or that would become available in the next couple of months?

Jumpn Jack Flash · 02-25-2010, 09:51 AM

I find striping the margins in pdfs that I want to hold the formatting on helps. And having very good eyesight

Still does not excuse the lack of zoom.
However as it is a very open platform so if someone could write a zooming pdf viewer for non drm-ed pdfs, eg O'Reilly pdfs.

wallcraft · 02-25-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repods

when and where they told this ?

From the DR800S Knowledge base:

Quote:

Can I write on my books?

As of yet the IREX Digital Reader has no scribble function. However the next software release will enable this function.

CoolDragon · 02-25-2010, 12:12 PM

Also from the DR800S Knowledge base:

Quote:

Does the DR800 support the zoom function?

Your IREX Digital Reader does not support the zoom function. You can, however, increase the font size of the text on your IREX Digital Reader. While reading a document, select Menu at the bottom, left-hand corner of the display. Select Font Size and choose small, medium, or large.

repods · 02-25-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolDragon

Also from the DR800S Knowledge base

oes the DR800 support the zoom function?

Your IREX Digital Reader does not support the zoom function. You can, however, increase the font size of the text on your IREX Digital Reader. While reading a document, select Menu at the bottom, left-hand corner of the display. Select Font Size and choose small, medium, or large.

that is.. they want not to implement it..

wallcraft · 02-25-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoolDragon

Also from the DR800S Knowledge base:

Translation: does not support zoom but does support reflow.

02-24-2010, 07:35 PM	#1
zetareticuli Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 228 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aztak Mentor	iRex DR800SG and PDFs Guys, can anyone comment on the performance of this one displaying PDFs? Most importantly, technical PDFs. With this I mean tables, graphs, equations, diagrams, etc. I would appreciate any information you guys provide.

02-24-2010, 10:26 PM	#4
cmdahler Addict Posts: 292 Karma: 24688 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Not only what wallcraft said, but to top it off, a week or so ago there was a guy from Irex on this forum who was actually asking people why they would want PDF zoom on the DR800 - it simply showed they are so disconnected from what people might want out of a larger screen device that you just have to shake your head over it. If you are looking for something to view technical PDFs, this device most definitely is not it at the moment. While Irex has promised firmware updates in the future, they haven't even mentioned PDF zoom as a possibility (like I said, they were as of a week ago even questioning why anyone would want that!), and their track record on releasing firmware updates anywhere even close to when they promised is utterly miserable. They are saying their first firmware update is due in April; that most likely means sometime before the end of the year, if at all. After all, this is a device that finally went on sale about 4 months later than announced, and STILL they couldn't get even a simple dictionary working in time for the release! Right now, this is a $400 book reader that will work well with PDFs that are specifically formatted for its screen size. If you want something to view larger PDFs, look elsewhere; it'll be quite a while for this device. Last edited by cmdahler; 02-24-2010 at 10:30 PM.

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02-24-2010, 07:44 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The DR800SG has been configured by iRex with a crippled PDF capability to protect sales of the DR1000S. In particular it has no zoom option and even the landscape mode is broken. It does reflow PDFs, but this isn't likely to be effective for technical PDFs. There is some chance that iRex will improve PDF support when mobile Adobe Digital Editions is added to the DR1000S (i.e. they might add the same version to the DR800SG). However, in general it isn't a good idea to buy a device based on possible future capabilities. In this case iRex has not even said that PDF zoom will be included on the DR800SG. They have said that annotation will be added.

02-24-2010, 07:53 PM	#3
zetareticuli Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 228 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aztak Mentor	Wallcraft, thanks. That is more than enough for me to NOT buy the DR800, at least for now.

02-24-2010, 10:58 PM	#6
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	I do not consider any device for reading "technical" PDF's at any size display if it doesn't have persistent zoom. Also "selection" zoom with panning is a plus.

02-25-2010, 09:36 AM	#10
zetareticuli Addict Posts: 367 Karma: 228 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Aztak Mentor	My opinion is that the 6" readers are good for quick grab and go for PDF. Any serious PDF reading (such as technical books, etc), requires a larger screen e-reader at least the size of the Kindle DX. In this larger category are there any readers available now or that would become available in the next couple of months?

02-25-2010, 09:51 AM	#11
Jumpn Jack Flash Lazy Git Posts: 124 Karma: 1266 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The soggy Emerald Isle Device: iRex DR800S	I find striping the margins in pdfs that I want to hold the formatting on helps. And having very good eyesight Still does not excuse the lack of zoom. However as it is a very open platform so if someone could write a zooming pdf viewer for non drm-ed pdfs, eg O'Reilly pdfs.