All Things Digital: iRex 800 (vs. Kindle) - Page 2

mgmueller · 03-14-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Whilst I take the point about not being able to store the stylus on the device, I can't actually see where a stylus slot could have gone without changing the form factor. One of the good things about the DR800 for me is that there is no wasted real estate - it's almost only a screen!

BeBook Neo = 10,6mm thick http://mybebook.com/6-inch-ereaders/...duct_info.html
iRex 800 = 10,7mm thick http://www.irextechnologies.com/irexdr800/specs
BeBook Neo does have an integrated stylus, which btw is identical with the former iRex iLiad stylus. It is/would have been possible (and preferable of course)... And you can exchange styli, so they could have incorporated the small (US=SG) one. And you still could use the one we (Europe=S) have in addition...
Black stylus (the fat one) = iRex 800S
White stylus = inside of BeBook Neo
Grey/black stylus = identical (all measurements) with the white one = original iRex iLiad stylus = iRex 800SG
All 3 are freely exchangeable, each working on every other reader.

Dellaster · 03-14-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Whilst I take the point about not being able to store the stylus on the device, I can't actually see where a stylus slot could have gone without changing the form factor. One of the good things about the DR800 for me is that there is no wasted real estate - it's almost only a screen!

The minimal bezel is one of my favorite things as well. With a bit of industrial Velcro, the pen isn't going anywhere and I find that the grip improves too:

mgmueller · 03-14-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellaster

The minimal bezel is one of my favorite things as well. With a bit of industrial Velcro, the pen isn't going anywhere and I find that the grip improves too:

Your picture in combination with mine above makes clear, that (in the US version) they use the former iRex iLiad stylus. That's exactly the same, Onyx Boox/BeBook Neo is using. It easily would fit into the housing (of course I have no idea, how "cramped" it already is - just talking about the diameter of the stylus in relation to the size of the housing).
I guess, it's not about dimension of the stylus. Obviously they decided to go for different styli in different regions (costs?). It certainly would be troublesome, to have 2 or even more housings/fittings. It's way easier (and cheaper) of course, to loosely pack by the respective stylus.

Dellaster · 03-14-2010, 12:34 PM

I certainly don't disagree that a pen slot of some kind would have been very welcome.

BTW, this Wacom Penabled Tablet PC Slim Pen is exactly the same pen, except for the button which has no function for the iRex. I purchased it from Amazon.com as a backup. It works just fine.

Shaggy · 03-15-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

Whilst I take the point about not being able to store the stylus on the device, I can't actually see where a stylus slot could have gone without changing the form factor. One of the good things about the DR800 for me is that there is no wasted real estate - it's almost only a screen!

Exactly. They probably had to make a decision about whether or not to increase the size of the device in order to put in a stylus slot. IMO, I'm glad they chose not to. I'd rather have it slimmed down and put the stylus in the cover/case.

Shaggy · 03-15-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgmueller

BeBook Neo = 10,6mm thick http://mybebook.com/6-inch-ereaders/...duct_info.html
iRex 800 = 10,7mm thick http://www.irextechnologies.com/irexdr800/specs

I don't think the issue is the thickness, it's the amount of free space in the bezel around the screen. Does the BeBook Neo have a wider bezel than the DR800?

You won't really know if they could have fit the stylus in the device or not without opening it up and seeing what's inside. I guess I should restate my earlier opinion to be "if" it came down to a decision of increasing the size of the device to hold a stylus, I'd prefer they kept it small.

superhero · 03-15-2010, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I don't think the issue is the thickness, it's the amount of free space in the bezel around the screen. Does the BeBook Neo have a wider bezel than the DR800?

You won't really know if they could have fit the stylus in the device or not without opening it up and seeing what's inside. I guess I should restate my earlier opinion to be "if" it came down to a decision of increasing the size of the device to hold a stylus, I'd prefer they kept it small.

Also, it would depend on just how much bigger the unit needed to be to include silo. I personally like the size but I find it difficult to hold it for long periods because it is so thin...I know we always want thinner and lighter. The Nook for example is more comfortable to hold due to its shape.

I think that a creative company could have come up with a solution to include a pen slot and not increase the size. For example, a loop that plugs into small holes in the unit so you can opt to carry the stylus or not. Think how the PRS 505 hooks into its book cover but with a holes on the the front, rear or where ever to accommodate a holder. I am sure there are many other better ideas. I have had many smartphones...before the Iphone and they routinely fit a stylus in a small compact space. I think a little ingenuity should have made it happen. As I said earlier, as the stylus becomes more integral to the operation of the unit through a software update its presence or lack thereof will be a bigger issue.

TGS · 03-15-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I don't think the issue is the thickness,...

I think thickness is an issue for the "luxury" stylus we got on the "S" version - don't take that away from us it's about the only "win" we got for our extra 100+ euros!

mgmueller · 03-15-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superhero

Also, it would depend on just how much bigger the unit needed to be to include silo. I personally like the size but I find it difficult to hold it for long periods because it is so thin...I know we always want thinner and lighter. The Nook for example is more comfortable to hold due to its shape.

I think that a creative company could have come up with a solution to include a pen slot and not increase the size. For example, a loop that plugs into small holes in the unit so you can opt to carry the stylus or not. Think how the PRS 505 hooks into its book cover but with a holes on the the front, rear or where ever to accommodate a holder. I am sure there are many other better ideas. I have had many smartphones...before the Iphone and they routinely fit a stylus in a small compact space. I think a little ingenuity should have made it happen. As I said earlier, as the stylus becomes more integral to the operation of the unit through a software update its presence or lack thereof will be a bigger issue.

I agree. In the worst case, they would have needed to add 5mm on the left side, to include the smaller (US) stylus. And I guess, this even wouldn't be necessary, there should be plenty of space below the flipbar.

mgmueller · 03-15-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGS

I think thickness is an issue for the "luxury" stylus we got on the "S" version - don't take that away from us it's about the only "win" we got for our extra 100+ euros!

But what about adding the smaller US stylus? It's $ 15 tops.

mgmueller · 03-15-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I don't think the issue is the thickness, it's the amount of free space in the bezel around the screen. Does the BeBook Neo have a wider bezel than the DR800?

You won't really know if they could have fit the stylus in the device or not without opening it up and seeing what's inside. I guess I should restate my earlier opinion to be "if" it came down to a decision of increasing the size of the device to hold a stylus, I'd prefer they kept it small.

For comparison: BeBook Neo, iRex 800S and Sony 900.
I've partially pulled out the styli from BeBook Neo and Sony 900.
Bezel of BeBook Neo is wider at the bottom (to make room for the 5-way-buttons). But if we look at the bezel on the left side, where they put the stylus into BeBook Neo, it's about identical to iRex 800. And Sony 900 on the left is similar.

OrcaBlue · 03-15-2010, 09:33 PM

My guess is that the flip bar is the the reason why DR800 can't house the stylus within its bezel.

mgmueller · 03-15-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrcaBlue

My guess is that the flip bar is the the reason why DR800 can't house the stylus within its bezel.

Hmmm...I'm no electronics expert. But my guess would be, there's not much mechanic below the flipbar. And the wires cold be rooted anywhere. I'd expect, it should be the perfect place, as they can't do anything else useful in that area because of the flipbar.

OrcaBlue · 03-15-2010, 09:47 PM

When I saw the stylus for the first time, I thought to myself that thing is puny. They definitely could have stick it somewhere within the bezel.

mgmueller · 03-15-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrcaBlue

When I saw the stylus for the first time, I thought to myself that thing is puny. They definitely could have stick it somewhere within the bezel.

The US one is absolutely identical with the stylus from BeBook Neo.

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03-14-2010, 12:34 PM	#19
Dellaster 本の虫 Posts: 242 Karma: 344 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: Kindle3, DXG, Fire · iPad, iPod	I certainly don't disagree that a pen slot of some kind would have been very welcome. BTW, this Wacom Penabled Tablet PC Slim Pen is exactly the same pen, except for the button which has no function for the iRex. I purchased it from Amazon.com as a backup. It works just fine.

03-15-2010, 09:33 PM	#27
OrcaBlue Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 2190 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	My guess is that the flip bar is the the reason why DR800 can't house the stylus within its bezel.

03-15-2010, 09:47 PM	#29
OrcaBlue Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 2190 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	When I saw the stylus for the first time, I thought to myself that thing is puny. They definitely could have stick it somewhere within the bezel.

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