My Trip to Borders in Islington to see the iRex Iliad Book Edition

ec1matt · 05-10-2008, 08:11 AM

Fortified only by a latte and a Danish pastry from the lovely Tinderbox on Islington's Upper Street, I made my way into the local branch of Borders to check out the new iRex Iliad Book Edition.

It started promisingly - there was a display right by the entrance but wandering round the store, there was no device on display. I asked at the information desk and the guy went and got one for me to look at.

He booted it up and even as it was showing the intial splash screen I could see the screen was something special (this is the first time I've seen an e-Ink device in the flesh, so I guess most readers here already know how good the screen is). He fiddled about with it until we got to the book menu (I suspect the product has only just arrived so there's been no staff training yet) and I had a look.

Holding the unit in my hand, I was surprised how well it fitted - given the larger screen, I was expecting it to be slightly unwieldy. The screen was very crisp (reminded me of an old monochrome LCD with no backlighting) and I didn't find the flicker on changing pages to be particularly noticeable.

Price is £399 and while I said in another thread that was twice what I was prepared to pay for an eBook device, I have to admit that I was tempted. I have been holding out for the Sony PRS-505 to get an official UK launch, but now after the Iliad, its smaller screen might be a disappointment.

The guy on the information desk did tell me that the store manager hasn't yet decided if Borders 20% vouchers (which you get by registering online or in-store) will be allowable against a purchase of an Iliad.

There are a few snapshots here if you're interested:-

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=iRex...26939219%40N00

mrdini · 05-10-2008, 08:20 AM

Ah thanks for the quick reply!

Since it doesn't seem they're actually doing any kind of a "launch day" or anything like that, I guess I'll just leave it for one day when I'm already in the area...

Shame - I'd have thought they'd put in a bit more effort for the first day. Oh well.

ec1matt · 05-10-2008, 08:26 AM

It was a bit of a let-down that hadn't made any effort. I was hoping for a couple of machines on display and perhaps an iRex rep demoing them. I live pretty close to the store and pop in from time to time, so if there's anything new to report, I'll post an update.

mcramer · 05-11-2008, 06:28 PM

yeah - e-ink displays are a sight to behold especially if you've been reading on backlit, LCD devices. I spent two years reading on a Dell X50V and wouldn't go back to that type of screen......

Looks like a nice device but a bit big for my liking.

Go on, you know you want to buy one

ec1matt · 05-12-2008, 01:22 PM

You're right, I do want to buy one, but £400 is too expensive. If they accepted a 20% off coupon I'd be sorely tempted, but failing that I'm waiting for an official UK launch of either the Sony PRS-505 or the Kindle. (I'd hope that if the Kindle came to Europe it would be a restyled Mark II unit that looked less like prop for Star Trek:TNG than the current model

)

zerospinboson · 05-12-2008, 09:13 PM

TNG? more like TOS.

astra · 05-13-2008, 05:31 AM

Don't forget about online shops.
£400 including shipping.

£410 including shipping.

So far, Borders are ahead for buyers who live close to the shop because the prise is the same and you can actually touch the reader.

05-10-2008, 08:11 AM	#1
ec1matt Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 370 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, Paperwhite 2013, Sony PRS-505(RIP)	My Trip to Borders in Islington to see the iRex Iliad Book Edition Fortified only by a latte and a Danish pastry from the lovely Tinderbox on Islington's Upper Street, I made my way into the local branch of Borders to check out the new iRex Iliad Book Edition. It started promisingly - there was a display right by the entrance but wandering round the store, there was no device on display. I asked at the information desk and the guy went and got one for me to look at. He booted it up and even as it was showing the intial splash screen I could see the screen was something special (this is the first time I've seen an e-Ink device in the flesh, so I guess most readers here already know how good the screen is). He fiddled about with it until we got to the book menu (I suspect the product has only just arrived so there's been no staff training yet) and I had a look. Holding the unit in my hand, I was surprised how well it fitted - given the larger screen, I was expecting it to be slightly unwieldy. The screen was very crisp (reminded me of an old monochrome LCD with no backlighting) and I didn't find the flicker on changing pages to be particularly noticeable. Price is £399 and while I said in another thread that was twice what I was prepared to pay for an eBook device, I have to admit that I was tempted. I have been holding out for the Sony PRS-505 to get an official UK launch, but now after the Iliad, its smaller screen might be a disappointment. The guy on the information desk did tell me that the store manager hasn't yet decided if Borders 20% vouchers (which you get by registering online or in-store) will be allowable against a purchase of an Iliad. There are a few snapshots here if you're interested:- http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=iRex...26939219%40N00

05-12-2008, 01:22 PM	#5
ec1matt Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 370 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, Paperwhite 2013, Sony PRS-505(RIP)	You're right, I do want to buy one, but £400 is too expensive. If they accepted a 20% off coupon I'd be sorely tempted, but failing that I'm waiting for an official UK launch of either the Sony PRS-505 or the Kindle. (I'd hope that if the Kindle came to Europe it would be a restyled Mark II unit that looked less like prop for Star Trek:TNG than the current model)

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05-10-2008, 08:20 AM	#2
mrdini Connoisseur Posts: 97 Karma: 177 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Hanlin V2 & V6	Ah thanks for the quick reply! Since it doesn't seem they're actually doing any kind of a "launch day" or anything like that, I guess I'll just leave it for one day when I'm already in the area... Shame - I'd have thought they'd put in a bit more effort for the first day. Oh well.

05-10-2008, 08:26 AM	#3
ec1matt Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 370 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle Oasis 2019, Paperwhite 2013, Sony PRS-505(RIP)	It was a bit of a let-down that hadn't made any effort. I was hoping for a couple of machines on display and perhaps an iRex rep demoing them. I live pretty close to the store and pop in from time to time, so if there's anything new to report, I'll post an update.

05-11-2008, 06:28 PM	#4
mcramer Kiwi reader Posts: 107 Karma: 349 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Device: iPad, iPhone	yeah - e-ink displays are a sight to behold especially if you've been reading on backlit, LCD devices. I spent two years reading on a Dell X50V and wouldn't go back to that type of screen...... Looks like a nice device but a bit big for my liking. Go on, you know you want to buy one

05-12-2008, 09:13 PM	#6
zerospinboson "Assume a can opener..." Posts: 755 Karma: 1942109 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Local Cluster Device: iLiad v2, DR1000	TNG? more like TOS.

05-13-2008, 05:31 AM	#7
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Don't forget about online shops. £400 including shipping. £410 including shipping. So far, Borders are ahead for buyers who live close to the shop because the prise is the same and you can actually touch the reader.

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