iRex Technologies files for Chapter 11

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by dmikov

Screen being personal preference? Well I certainly am not thinking so when reading on my patio near pool, which here in Florida I am doing for hours and 365 days a year. Cannot do that with iPad or iPhone, need to go inside when trying to text or email somebody.

That is exactly what makes it personal preference!
For you, reading outside in bright sunlight, eInk is better. For me, reading mainly at night in the dark, LCD is better.
Neither is superior to the other, they are different.

[jbjb]

Originally Posted by dmikov

It is much lighter, portable and customizable for reading. I am not going to hunt for numbers, but I couldn't hold iPad in my one hand for more then 3 minutes, have no problems with DR800. And the myth about bezel needed also refuted by DR not needing that much of it at all, so the size is almost that of small screen readers.
Screen being personal preference? Well I certainly am not thinking so when reading on my patio near pool, which here in Florida I am doing for hours and 365 days a year. Cannot do that with iPad or iPhone, need to go inside when trying to text or email somebody.

Again, all of that is personal preference, as opposed to any inherent technological superiority.

For example, I don't read outside by a pool, but my iPad's screen is much more readable than eInk when inside in a dull room. Also, flicking forward and backward quickly through pages is far better on the iPad.

I have no problems with the weight of the iPad, so that's again a non-issue for me.

/JB

[yacoob]

Can I kindly ask parties who want to discuss ipad/IREX differencies, to move to a different thread? I'm trying to track this thread as a source of new information about IREX, so ipad noise is rather unwanted.

Thanks.

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by jbjb

But in what way is the technology in the iRex siginificantly superior? In terms of actual technology, as opposed to personal preference of, for example, screen type.

/JB

In its own field iRex wrote the book. Literally. iRex Technologies is (was) a Philips spin-off. Philips invented the e-Ink technology.
You are right, we cannot compare the two technologies against one another, as the devices are completely different (apples and oranges come to mind).
However, on the merits of technological innovation alone, iRex wins hands down. If you want to judge by commercial success, product quality, support, etc, then obviously Apple is the winner.

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by yacoob

Can I kindly ask parties who want to discuss ipad/IREX differencies, to move to a different thread? I'm trying to track this thread as a source of new information about IREX, so ipad noise is rather unwanted.

Thanks.

Hear, hear!

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by yacoob

Can I kindly ask parties who want to discuss ipad/IREX differencies, to move to a different thread? I'm trying to track this thread as a source of new information about IREX, so ipad noise is rather unwanted.

Thanks.

Agreed. Let's please not turn this into an apple fanboy/hater thread. There are already plenty of those.

[penartur]

Originally Posted by jbjb

We were talking about *technology* - there was no restriction to hardware. Having said that, even if we restrict it to hardware, I've yet to see anybody point out any area where the iRex's technology is "far superior" to the iPad. Bear in mind that screen type is a matter of personal preference, not inherent superiority of one type or the other - each has pros and cons.

/JB

Nobody says that irex is far superior than ipad.
The point is that irex, in their market segment (e-ink ereaders) makes innovative products, while ipad, in its market segment (lcd tablets) is not something unusual.
Comparing irex and ipad directly is nonsense, you can compare ipad and plasma tv as well.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by penartur

Nobody says that irex is far superior than ipad.

Well that is exactly what was said, which was why there were so many posts following up.

[penartur]

However, iPad technology is really mediocre, and iRex technology is really superior (when compared not to iPad, but to ereaders market).
Direct comparison of ipad and irex is nonsense, and that was said there many times. These are different devices for different markets.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well that is exactly what was said, which was why there were so many posts following up.

Sigh. The original post that started all of this never directly compared the two.

Can we please move on?

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Andanzas

Anybody else wondering when Plastic Logic will be joining them?

[dmikov]

Originally Posted by jbjb

Again, all of that is personal preference, as opposed to any inherent technological superiority.

For example, I don't read outside by a pool, but my iPad's screen is much more readable than eInk when inside in a dull room. Also, flicking forward and backward quickly through pages is far better on the iPad.

I have no problems with the weight of the iPad, so that's again a non-issue for me.

/JB

I think now you are confusing your subjective tolerance with objective technical data.
If lighter gadget is not superior to heavy gadget and size of gadget compared to screen size is not indication of technical superiority, what is? You can take your kind of reasoning to extreme and say that speed doesn't matter either since there might be some people for whom its a "non-issue". Use the laptop then if you are not bothered by this little things.
Plus I can turn light on in a "dull room" (or use my m-edge light) cannot really turn of the sun, so yeah I think e-ink is more versatile at least.
And I swear it is my last post non-related to op.

[stonehat]

It seems that Irex's dealers ( or at least an Italian one ) thought the same as me:

Good technology, bad management that dumped their existing customers to go for The Next Big Thing. And failed.


May I just quote from http://forum.irexnet.com ( their users' forum ) on January 11th after the DR800 news ?:

"
I think Irex have been stupid, but this makes me sad.

An Irex survival strategy:

Revamp the Iliad, quickly bring out a 2.1 version; possibly ( but not necessarily ) tweaked hardware; don't overstate what it can do, just a "Touchscreen Wifi Ereader"; Totally Open Source; fund one developer to work on apps and coordinate and support any third-party developers who want to help ( there are about 5 still semi-active, I believe... ); concentrate first on power saving, then on anything that makes the reading experience better, especially for large docs. ( 3G via the CF slot ?!)
Then, soon, an Iliad 3.0, just a bit more tweaked, also totally Open Source; possibly plug-in 3G.

Evolution not stuttering revolution; Using the new publicity around Ereaders to sell a device that is already out there; Exploiting a niche, not trying to fight the (really) big boys on their turf.
"

[yacoob]

FWIW: their official shop has closed down.

[Zetmolm]

their official shop has closed down.

That may be just to avoid bad publicity. Here in the Netherlands, the news that some webshops are kept open when they are bankrupt and still accept orders and payments without being able to deliver has reached the front pages of national newspapers today. I would not be surprised if the reason to close the offical shop is only to avoid being mentioned in this context. Even though Irex is not bankrupt (yet?) reporters might ignore this 'minor' detail, and could cause significant reputational damage.