All Things Digital: iRex 800 (vs. Kindle)

[The Straven]

I don't mind the small stylus at all, but if iRex had wanted to put a silo in the thing, they would have found a way. That they didn't seems like poor planning.

If I do find a cover that I like, what I'll do is tether the stylus to the cover (I've come to hate velcro, just a personal preference).

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by The Straven

I don't mind the small stylus at all, but if iRex had wanted to put a silo in the thing, they would have found a way. That they didn't seems like poor planning.

If I do find a cover that I like, what I'll do is tether the stylus to the cover (I've come to hate velcro, just a personal preference).

The official covers all have a slot for the stylus already in them (and I assume the 3rd party ones will too), that's why I'm not really understanding what the complaint is regarding not having a silo in the device itself. I wouldn't recommend using the device without a cover, and if the stylus can be kept in the cover, does it really make a difference?

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

The official covers all have a slot for the stylus already in them (and I assume the 3rd party ones will too), that's why I'm not really understanding what the complaint is regarding not having a silo in the device itself. I wouldn't recommend using the device without a cover, and if the stylus can be kept in the cover, does it really make a difference?

When traveling, I agree. But at home, I use most of my readers "naked". Simply feels better and is more fun without cover. And when sitting/lying on the couch, I'm not worried about dropping my reader. Right now, I'm using nook, Kindle 2, iRex 800 and Cybook Opus without cover. Sony 900 I only use with cover, as it's relatively small and not that easy to separate from the reader.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

When traveling, I agree. But at home, I use most of my readers "naked".

I've got two dogs and two little kids, "at home" is probably a more dangerous environment than traveling.

I always use it in the cover, so kind of assumed everyone did. Yeah, I can see if you don't normally do that at home it would be annoying to not have a silo.

[superhero]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

The official covers all have a slot for the stylus already in them (and I assume the 3rd party ones will too), that's why I'm not really understanding what the complaint is regarding not having a silo in the device itself. I wouldn't recommend using the device without a cover, and if the stylus can be kept in the cover, does it really make a difference?

Respectfully, this line of reasoning means purchasing a cover is mandatory and not optional as you can't store an integral part of the system without it. If iRex had included a cover with the unit like Sony does, I agree it wouldn't really make a difference because all components necessary would be available from square one. Since I don't have the cover and I think the slip cover is essentially worthless, I am left with nothing to hold the stylus. For this reason, I feel the unit is incomplete. Again, this comes back to my previous post regarding the attention to details and user-friendliness, value for dollar, etc. Great unit just a little lacking.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by superhero

Respectfully, this line of reasoning means purchasing a cover is mandatory and not optional as you can't store an integral part of the system without it.

I would recommend using it with either the included slipcase or else getting a cover, yes. Not necessarily just to have a home for the stylus, but as protection for the screen. eInk screens are very expensive to replace if they get broken.

[The Straven]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

The official covers all have a slot for the stylus already in them (and I assume the 3rd party ones will too), that's why I'm not really understanding what the complaint is regarding not having a silo in the device itself. I wouldn't recommend using the device without a cover, and if the stylus can be kept in the cover, does it really make a difference?

As I stated, it doesn't worry me, but I think it's more aesthetically pleasing to store the stylus in the device vice the cover. Too, the white cover has a loop for the executive stylus, not the one included with the 800SG; maybe we'll see a cover designed with the small stylus in mind, maybe we won't--for me the cover must provide good protection and be easy to handle, and if it doesn't account for the small stylus I'll just rig my own tether; I do agree with mgmueller that the white cover isn't attractive.

But I meant to say that, from an engineering standpoint, if iRex had really been thinking about the small stylus they would have found a way to build the silo in. My pet theory is that iRex only ever intended to package the executive stylus, and the small stylus was thrown in as a cost-saving measure. *shrug*

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by The Straven

Too, the white cover has a loop for the executive stylus, not the one included with the 800SG

My wife looked at it and said it would be fairly easy to sew a line of stitching across the middle of the current loop in order to make it smaller, so that the standard stylus will fit.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

My wife looked at it and said it would be fairly easy to sew a line of stitching across the middle of the current loop in order to make it smaller, so that the standard stylus will fit.

But then an additional stitching line would appear on the outside of the cover -- how would that look?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

But then an additional stitching line would appear on the outside of the cover -- how would that look?

No, not the outside of the cover. Inside the cover there is a piece of fabric that forms a loop for holding the stylus. That's the only thing you need to sew. Not through the leather.