All Things Digital: iRex 800 (vs. Kindle)

[TGS]

Jepperson, the company that re-badges the DR1000 and the DR8000 as Portable Aviation Information Managers sells a Stylus Tether that attaches the stylus to the cover - but of course, you need to have a cover, and for using the unit in the cover to be your usual way of reading, for it to be a solution. Here's a link. But if you do use the unit that way I think, in some ways, it is a better solution than housing the stylus in the unit.

Edit: Just noticed it's not a solution for the stylus supplied with the US version, because the stylus with that doesn't have a hole to secure the tether.

[badbob001]

This will probably never happen, but if the dr800 gets very popular, a company could come out with a replacement back plate which includes a stylus silo...

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by superhero

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.

Do you plan on carrying the DR800 around without a case/cover? I'd be paranoid about the screen getting broken.

[Shaggy]

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.

You're probably right. I assume that if they could have fit the stylus into the current device, they would have.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

You're probably right. I assume that if they could have fit the stylus into the current device, they would have.

Can't it be way easier to explain? Maybe it's just simple marketing.
For whatever reasons they went for 2 different styli.
Maybe to find some argument for the higher price in Europe. Maybe to meet the target price below $ 400 in the US. Maybe different suppliers. Maybe....
And maybe, when designing the housing, they just didn't know yet, which stylus to finally use.
Or they knew, but didn't want to have 2 kinds of housings. You'd need 2 different slots for 2 different styli...

[badbob001]

I'm surprised no one tried to rationalize the missing stylus silo as a business decision to "encourage" sales of the higher-end pens.

[Mackx]

Originally Posted by badbob001

I'm surprised no one tried to rationalize the missing stylus silo as a business decision to "encourage" sales of the higher-end pens.

Or maybe, like selling books is part of the business-case of Amazone, selling replacement styli is part of the business-case of iRex

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Can't it be way easier to explain? Maybe it's just simple marketing.
For whatever reasons they went for 2 different styli.
Maybe to find some argument for the higher price in Europe. Maybe to meet the target price below $ 400 in the US. Maybe different suppliers. Maybe....
And maybe, when designing the housing, they just didn't know yet, which stylus to finally use.
Or they knew, but didn't want to have 2 kinds of housings. You'd need 2 different slots for 2 different styli...

They've always offered multiple stylus options in the past. Both the iLiad and DR1000 came with the basic stylus (and have a slot designed for it), but even several years ago with the iLiad you could still buy the advanced or professional stylus from them as an upgrade (although they won't fit in the device). So, the concept of multiple styli isn't new to them.

I still believe that they don't include a slot for the basic stylus because it won't fit. I don't think they made that decision just to PO everyone.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by badbob001

I'm surprised no one tried to rationalize the missing stylus silo as a business decision to "encourage" sales of the higher-end pens.

Hmmmm. You may be on to something.

Anyone else notice that the basic stylus doesn't fit in the "luxury" cover, only the higher-end pens do?




PS:

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

They've always offered multiple stylus options in the past. Both the iLiad and DR1000 came with the basic stylus (and have a slot designed for it), but even several years ago with the iLiad you could still buy the advanced or professional stylus from them as an upgrade (although they won't fit in the device). So, the concept of multiple styli isn't new to them.

I still believe that they don't include a slot for the basic stylus because it won't fit. I don't think they made that decision just to PO everyone.

...but as far as I know, all former units had been delivered with the very same stylus model in all regions. The other styli had been options. Here they distribute 2 different styli with the very same unit.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

...but as far as I know, all former units had been delivered with the very same stylus model in all regions. The other styli had been options. Here they distribute 2 different styli with the very same unit.

True, but I doubt they really knew what those plans were going to be back when they were originally designing the hardware. The idea of making the better stylus the default in Europe was probably a relatively recent decision.

My guess would be that even if it did have a slot, it would only be for the basic stylus. The DR800S would have, I assume, included both the basic one in it's lost and the upgraded one "stand alone".

There was some talk about having a version of the DR800SG in the US as well that came with the better stylus for $449. That never materialized though.

[Madam Broshkina]

I am perfectly happy with the stylus that came with my DR800SG. This is the first device that I have owned that used a stylus so I am wondering how my life would be better with a "luxury" stylus.

[superhero]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Do you plan on carrying the DR800 around without a case/cover? I'd be paranoid about the screen getting broken.

I have not yet purchased a cover for it as I am not a fan of the official cover. Accordingly, I have no choice but to use the slip cover it came with. Why include that flimsy bag instead of a reasonable cover is, again, a strange decision for a $400.00 unit. I believe the hard cover comes with the units in Europe but I am in the US.

I don't want to come across like I am only ripping on the iRex as I quite like the unit. In fact, I like it so much that I am disappointed that fairly logical choices (e.g. pen slot, cover, better software features) were not made to make the unit that much better.

I think iRex's direct competition is Sony's PRS 900 so that is what I compare it to since I have both. While iRex's screen size and clarity are significantly better than Sony's, the Sony offers several more software features which are already implemented (dictionary, annotation, MP3 player, etc)(I know some of these features are coming) and the hardware features are slightly better, pen slot, headphone jack for MP3 player, touchscreen, one touch button access to certain features, hard cover included, etc. Accordingly, feature for feature, you get more for your money with Sony. BUT, the reading experience is better on the iRex due to the screen size and clarity which is the most important thing to me. With that being said, I expect a company(iRex) to get all the details right since it's feature set is more limited when compared to the competition. I can honestly say that if Sony's screen were as clear as iRex's the one inch difference still wouldn't make it a contest and I would choose the Sony and one of the reasons for that is the attention to the details.

[Bic]

The need for a stylus, the lack of a slot, the absence of a dictionary, are just some of the reasons I decided against the iRex. Too bad, since it was top on my list. Now I await the Copia Ocean 9, since I really want an 8 or 9" screen.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by superhero

I have not yet purchased a cover for it as I am not a fan of the official cover. Accordingly, I have no choice but to use the slip cover it came with. Why include that flimsy bag instead of a reasonable cover is, again, a strange decision for a $400.00 unit. I believe the hard cover comes with the units in Europe but I am in the US.

I don't want to come across like I am only ripping on the iRex as I quite like the unit. In fact, I like it so much that I am disappointed that fairly logical choices (e.g. pen slot, cover, better software features) were not made to make the unit that much better.

I think iRex's direct competition is Sony's PRS 900 so that is what I compare it to since I have both. While iRex's screen size and clarity are significantly better than Sony's, the Sony offers several more software features which are already implemented (dictionary, annotation, MP3 player, etc)(I know some of these features are coming) and the hardware features are slightly better, pen slot, headphone jack for MP3 player, touchscreen, one touch button access to certain features, hard cover included, etc. Accordingly, feature for feature, you get more for your money with Sony. BUT, the reading experience is better on the iRex due to the screen size and clarity which is the most important thing to me. With that being said, I expect a company(iRex) to get all the details right since it's feature set is more limited when compared to the competition. I can honestly say that if Sony's screen were as clear as iRex's the one inch difference still wouldn't make it a contest and I would choose the Sony and one of the reasons for that is the attention to the details.

iRex 800S (€ 499 in Europe) does not have any cover included. It's an addon for € 50. I don't really like it (material and build quality at the lower end, especially considering the price).
I totally agree with your experience "Sony 900" vs "iRex 800".