First impressions of iLiad Book Edition (with screenshots)

DesiLinguist · 02-11-2009, 07:32 PM

I got my iRex iLiad Book Edition delivered today. And so far, I really like it! I am not going to bore you with a long-ish review because there have been much better ones posted in this forum and on the web in general. I will just show you some pics and share some first impressions in terms of the things I wanted my iLiad to do when I made the decision to purchase it:

(1) PDF support is fantastic. I am currently reading a novel that was not formatted for the iLiad but it's still very readable in landscape mode with continuous view.

(2) MobiPocket support is really nice as well. I am not a fan of the font they use but I know I can install new ones and I might do that in the next couple of weeks.

(3) Page turning speed is pretty fast. I was worried that it might be annoyingly long but it's easy to adapt to it as others have said.

(4) Reading comics was a disappointment. The uneven sized panels in most comics I have make it hard to read even in landscape mode. May be I can find a way to get properly formatted comics or something.

(5) The pen input is indeed a little slow but not slow enough to be a problem. I am not sure I will use this to actually take full on notes but it will be very useful when reading technical articles.

(6) Regarding technical articles, two column ones are indeed barely readable and I might try out the all-in-one iPDF viewer sometime later to see if that helps (it has a column mode, IIRC). However, single column articles are very readable (much more so in landscape mode). Of course, you can't really use landscape mode for multi-column articles.

(7) I ordered the M-Edge Genuine Leather Cover and it's really nice although I don't like reading with the cover on.

I think that about covers it. Overall, I am very impressed and feel vindicated in my choice. Of course, my impressions could change after I have used the device for a couple of weeks (if they do, I will post an update).

Oh, and you can see the screenshots here.

Please let me know if anyone has any questions. I would be happy to help.

millydog · 02-11-2009, 09:21 PM

Congratulations on getting your iLiad.
Thanks for your advice when I was trying to decide what to get. I ordered an iLiad v2 this morning. Now, I am waiting for delivery, not very patiently. I am a bit excited.
Thank you for your first impressions. I found such posts invaluable when I was researching readers. I am enjoying your photos too. You are right that the silver does look good. Is it plastic? I hope that my V2 looks just as good.

I think that I am also going to have to add my first thoughts to the forum when I get mine. PDFs were a big deciding factor for myself in getting the iLiad.

Oh, I ordered a different cover to you. I am getting the deluxe leather one. It was the only one offered by the same store that I ordered the iLiad from, but it was my first choice of cover anyway.

Enjoy your reading. Actually, I will be interested in hearing how much playing you do initially and how long it takes before you really sit down and just read. I am a player. I love gadgets and love tweeking them, and I somehow feel that I might do that just a bit too much instead of just reading. lol

Jodi

DesiLinguist · 02-11-2009, 09:34 PM

Jodi,

It is plastic but it doesn't feel cheap to me (as I read somewhere on this forum). I think the black of the iLiad v2 has a rubberized feel to it (from what I have heard) and so it should probably feel even better to the touch.

I played with all that iLiad had to offer for a couple of hours or so. I wanted to play with installing third party applications etc. but my CF card arrives in a few days and I will wait for that before I install any third party software.

I looked at the Deluxe cover but I don't like magnetic straps and so I didn't get that one.

Looking forward to hearing your first impressions

Atom_ · 02-12-2009, 02:56 PM

Congratulations! I myself got mine about a month ago and I am really happy about it.

Regarding technical papers as you say you have to use the all-in-one pdf. You have two different "column mode" versions, and I think it's a matter of taste which one you like most. Anyway I have to tell you that both work in a quite intuitive way: roughly speaking you zoom to a column and turning pages means going down through the column; when you are at the bottom you continue in the next's column top. Really nice indeed!

To read comics, I just was trying out some of them and e.g. my Maus copy is totally legible in full screen, altough a bit on the small size. The thing is that the comic viewer cannot zoom to an area (as far as I could find), as ipdf does, so depending of the scan it will be too small even in full screen mode. Anyway I think this could change soon ;-)

Well, enjoy your iLiad!

DesiLinguist · 02-12-2009, 05:47 PM

Atom_,

Thank you for your input. When you say two different "column modes", I assume you are saying that there are two modes in the all-in-one version of ipdf, right?

Actually, now that you bring it up, does the community ipdf version have exactly the same interface as the iRex default version? And is it any more/less efficient in terms of power consumption for page turns?

Also, when you say "comic viewer", is that a separate piece of software?

Atom_ · 02-12-2009, 07:07 PM

If fact you have 6 different ipdf versions to choose from, two of them are "column view" ones. Check the official thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22152

These versions are just modified versions from the official one so the interface is the same and also the functionalities, except for the additions, which usually change the behaviour of short/long button presses. Refer to the thread I mention and the links to the modified versions there.

I usually switch between a full screen capable version for "normal" pdf reading and a column mode one for magazine articles and papers reading.

In respect to the comic viewer you usually have comics in either pdf or cbr format. With pdf you are on the best side as you can zoom to the printed area, go to full screen (a mode in which the lower icons are hidden and the document fills all the screen area), and start reading. The zoom is kept between page changes so there you go :-)

If you have cbr's, you need either somehow convert to pdf (probably just a little script if you are in linux) or use an adecuate reader as iViewer https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32915 (mmm as I was looking for the iViewer thread I found another thread which seems to talk about a cbr->pdf conversion tool, check it out https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9125 ). iViewer doesn't have zoom, so if you have white margins bad thing.

Don't forget to install FBReader if you want to read chm etal https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20490

Enjoy!

DesiLinguist · 02-12-2009, 07:36 PM

Atom_, thank you so much for all the valuable info. I am planning to try out the community versions of iPDF as soon as I get my CF card. One final question though: You say that

Quote:

usually switch between a full screen capable version for "normal" pdf reading and a column mode one for magazine articles and papers reading.

Is is possible to switch between different versions of iPDF on the iLiad itself? If so, is this done by using mrxvt (the terminal) and fiddling with symlinks or is there an easier way?

millydog · 02-12-2009, 09:13 PM

It's 1pm, I'm on my lunch break, and my iLiad hasn't arrived yet. I'm hoping it arrives soon since it's Friday and I don't want to have to wait until Monday.

As it turns out, just the device is on the way, the cover has been backordered. So, the cover will arrive later, maybe in a couple of weeks. I actually hope that the cover has magnetic straps, I am a fan of them.

I must admit to getting a little confussed when ordering the case, because it was listed as a leather case, not the deluxe leather case, yet the picture was the same as the deluxe leather case....so I assummed that it was the deluxe one.

I have not ordered any cards yet. I have a spare 1GB SD card that may work in it I think, so I will give that a go before ordering anything.
I also want to have a go with installing the 3rd party software, so I will be intersted to hear how you go with that. I also had the same question regarding launching different versions of the software.

Jodi

Shaggy · 02-12-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millydog

As it turns out, just the device is on the way, the cover has been backordered. So, the cover will arrive later, maybe in a couple of weeks.

Be very, very careful with your iLiad without a cover. The screens are very fragile to any sort of impact or weight on them. The covers have a hard/solid panel in the front that really protects the screen. It is very expensive to get a screen replaced, and is not covered under warranty.

Some people have learned the hard way in the past about how important the screen protection that a cover provides is. Be extra cautious so that you're not one of them.

Atom_ · 02-13-2009, 04:33 AM

I agree with Shaggy about the screen. If fact I got one of those Executive covers and in my opinion is a bit on the flexible side. I'm thinking about reinforcing it with something.

About installing the community programs, what I do, and I think it's the standard procedure, is to create a Programs directory in the card and copying the programs from the computer there. Once on the iLiad you navigate to that folder through the main interface and there you have your programs and program folders; you can then run the programs (the standalone ones), install them, etc. You will see when you do it, it's quite intuitive.

In the case of all-in-one-pdf you go into a folder in which you have 8 options, six for install each of the versions, one for restore the original one, and another one to detect which one you have installed in this moment. Every time you want to change version you have to go there, select, etc. It's a bit inconvenient, but it's what we have, and just takes 10 seconds. I think in some time there will be an ipdf version with all the community features.

As far as I understand, what this "installing" actions do is just replace the ipdf executable with the corresponding version (just one file). So in my opinios is totally safe to use, as are most of the community programs: most don't modify the illiad at all, the just are executed from the straigth from the card,a la portable apps (not all of course).

In this post you can find a summary with each version added functions:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=18

Enjoy!

millydog · 02-13-2009, 08:30 AM

Thank you for the warnings about the cover. I had read other similar discussions on here. I will be sure to take extra care of it. I have a small bag that I use for my Eee PC and I might use that until the cover comes....but even that would not offer protection from anything heavy. I will have more of a think about it....but I am going to be very careful.
Anyway, it didn't arrive today, so it looks like I will get it Monday.

Jodi

DesiLinguist · 02-13-2009, 10:21 AM

Atom_, thanks again for the info. Let me see if I understand this correctly: the all-in-one iPDF folder is on the CF card, say I want to read a technical paper, I go to that folder on the CF card and 'install' the appropriate 'column model 'version which replaces the default iPDF with that version of the iPDF. And then I read my technical paper. Then, if I want to read a regular PDF book, I go to the same folder on the CF card and 'install', say, the 'fullscreen' version or restore the default version and then read my PDF book. Does that sound right?

BTW, I know that one can change the font for Mobipocket books by installing it in the appropriate directory (can't recall it now but I know where it is). Has anyone really had the need to do this or are you happy with the default font? And thinking about it, is there a way to 'install' fonts from the CF card as well .... as easily as the iPDF versions or does one have to run the terminal and use the iLiad keyboard to copy the font to the internal memory?

Thanks in advance for all the answers.

Atom_ · 02-13-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesiLinguist

Atom_, thanks again for the info. Let me see if I understand this correctly: the all-in-one iPDF folder is on the CF card, say I want to read a technical paper, I go to that folder on the CF card and 'install' the appropriate 'column model 'version which replaces the default iPDF with that version of the iPDF. And then I read my technical paper. Then, if I want to read a regular PDF book, I go to the same folder on the CF card and 'install', say, the 'fullscreen' version or restore the default version and then read my PDF book. Does that sound right?

Just on the spot. This takes you no more than a few clicks/seconds. Furthermore, if you change very often, you will have the corresponding "install blabla" icon in "recent documents", so two clicks away then.

Regarding mobiepocket, I think there is an application to chage its font, at least form sans-serif to serif, if I recall properly. Look for it on the software subforum. Also take a look at the sticky threads in this and other forums if you have not already done it. They are plenty of useful information.

wallcraft · 02-13-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesiLinguist

BTW, I know that one can change the font for Mobipocket books by installing it in the appropriate directory (can't recall it now but I know where it is). Has anyone really had the need to do this or are you happy with the default font? And thinking about it, is there a way to 'install' fonts from the CF card as well

See Mobipocket Font Switcher for how to switch between Sans-Serif and Serif. See Mobipocket default font? for how to switch out the default fonts for others with the same metrics. Both threads have screenshots, so you can see the fonts in action.

For FBReader (say) it is possible to put fonts on the CF card, see Want to add a font to Iliad. This does not work for the Java Mobipocket Reader, because it only knows about the two default fonts.

Ea · 02-13-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesiLinguist

I got my iRex iLiad Book Edition delivered today. And so far, I really like it! I am not going to bore you with a long-ish review because there have been much better ones posted in this forum and on the web in general. I will just show you some pics and share some first impressions in terms of the things I wanted my iLiad to do when I made the decision to purchase it:

(1) PDF support is fantastic. I am currently reading a novel that was not formatted for the iLiad but it's still very readable in landscape mode with continuous view.
...

Congratulations! I hope it'll work out great for you. The cover is very nice, but makes the device rather bulky to hold all in all - I tend to take mine out of the cover when at home.

If you need to create your own PDFs, I've found a page size of 12.1 x 14.6 cm to be the most perfect fit for the available screen space (the info bar at the bottom takes up a little space).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atom_

...
To read comics, I just was trying out some of them and e.g. my Maus copy is totally legible in full screen, altough a bit on the small size.
...

Yes, Maus looks good, but then the paper version is only slightly larger than the the screen size. American graphic novels and manga have good sizes, but unfortunately not European comics, which are a little larger than A4/Letter (and also often in colour). I'm looking forward to the time I can get a large enough colour e-ink device to read my Asterix collection

02-11-2009, 07:32 PM	#1
DesiLinguist Computational Linguist Posts: 110 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iLiad BE, iPhone, Kindle DX	First impressions of iLiad Book Edition (with screenshots) I got my iRex iLiad Book Edition delivered today. And so far, I really like it! I am not going to bore you with a long-ish review because there have been much better ones posted in this forum and on the web in general. I will just show you some pics and share some first impressions in terms of the things I wanted my iLiad to do when I made the decision to purchase it: (1) PDF support is fantastic. I am currently reading a novel that was not formatted for the iLiad but it's still very readable in landscape mode with continuous view. (2) MobiPocket support is really nice as well. I am not a fan of the font they use but I know I can install new ones and I might do that in the next couple of weeks. (3) Page turning speed is pretty fast. I was worried that it might be annoyingly long but it's easy to adapt to it as others have said. (4) Reading comics was a disappointment. The uneven sized panels in most comics I have make it hard to read even in landscape mode. May be I can find a way to get properly formatted comics or something. (5) The pen input is indeed a little slow but not slow enough to be a problem. I am not sure I will use this to actually take full on notes but it will be very useful when reading technical articles. (6) Regarding technical articles, two column ones are indeed barely readable and I might try out the all-in-one iPDF viewer sometime later to see if that helps (it has a column mode, IIRC). However, single column articles are very readable (much more so in landscape mode). Of course, you can't really use landscape mode for multi-column articles. (7) I ordered the M-Edge Genuine Leather Cover and it's really nice although I don't like reading with the cover on. I think that about covers it. Overall, I am very impressed and feel vindicated in my choice. Of course, my impressions could change after I have used the device for a couple of weeks (if they do, I will post an update). Oh, and you can see the screenshots here. Please let me know if anyone has any questions. I would be happy to help. Last edited by DesiLinguist; 02-11-2009 at 08:06 PM. Reason: Added impression of M-Edge cover

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02-11-2009, 09:21 PM	#2
millydog Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 144 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lara, Australia Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPhone X, iPad Pro	Congratulations on getting your iLiad. Thanks for your advice when I was trying to decide what to get. I ordered an iLiad v2 this morning. Now, I am waiting for delivery, not very patiently. I am a bit excited. Thank you for your first impressions. I found such posts invaluable when I was researching readers. I am enjoying your photos too. You are right that the silver does look good. Is it plastic? I hope that my V2 looks just as good. I think that I am also going to have to add my first thoughts to the forum when I get mine. PDFs were a big deciding factor for myself in getting the iLiad. Oh, I ordered a different cover to you. I am getting the deluxe leather one. It was the only one offered by the same store that I ordered the iLiad from, but it was my first choice of cover anyway. Enjoy your reading. Actually, I will be interested in hearing how much playing you do initially and how long it takes before you really sit down and just read. I am a player. I love gadgets and love tweeking them, and I somehow feel that I might do that just a bit too much instead of just reading. lol Jodi

02-11-2009, 09:34 PM	#3
DesiLinguist Computational Linguist Posts: 110 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iLiad BE, iPhone, Kindle DX	Jodi, It is plastic but it doesn't feel cheap to me (as I read somewhere on this forum). I think the black of the iLiad v2 has a rubberized feel to it (from what I have heard) and so it should probably feel even better to the touch. I played with all that iLiad had to offer for a couple of hours or so. I wanted to play with installing third party applications etc. but my CF card arrives in a few days and I will wait for that before I install any third party software. I looked at the Deluxe cover but I don't like magnetic straps and so I didn't get that one. Looking forward to hearing your first impressions

02-12-2009, 02:56 PM	#4
Atom_ Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spain Device: iLiad	Congratulations! I myself got mine about a month ago and I am really happy about it. Regarding technical papers as you say you have to use the all-in-one pdf. You have two different "column mode" versions, and I think it's a matter of taste which one you like most. Anyway I have to tell you that both work in a quite intuitive way: roughly speaking you zoom to a column and turning pages means going down through the column; when you are at the bottom you continue in the next's column top. Really nice indeed! To read comics, I just was trying out some of them and e.g. my Maus copy is totally legible in full screen, altough a bit on the small size. The thing is that the comic viewer cannot zoom to an area (as far as I could find), as ipdf does, so depending of the scan it will be too small even in full screen mode. Anyway I think this could change soon ;-) Well, enjoy your iLiad!

02-12-2009, 05:47 PM	#5
DesiLinguist Computational Linguist Posts: 110 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iLiad BE, iPhone, Kindle DX	Atom_, Thank you for your input. When you say two different "column modes", I assume you are saying that there are two modes in the all-in-one version of ipdf, right? Actually, now that you bring it up, does the community ipdf version have exactly the same interface as the iRex default version? And is it any more/less efficient in terms of power consumption for page turns? Also, when you say "comic viewer", is that a separate piece of software?

02-12-2009, 07:07 PM	#6
Atom_ Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spain Device: iLiad	If fact you have 6 different ipdf versions to choose from, two of them are "column view" ones. Check the official thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22152 These versions are just modified versions from the official one so the interface is the same and also the functionalities, except for the additions, which usually change the behaviour of short/long button presses. Refer to the thread I mention and the links to the modified versions there. I usually switch between a full screen capable version for "normal" pdf reading and a column mode one for magazine articles and papers reading. In respect to the comic viewer you usually have comics in either pdf or cbr format. With pdf you are on the best side as you can zoom to the printed area, go to full screen (a mode in which the lower icons are hidden and the document fills all the screen area), and start reading. The zoom is kept between page changes so there you go :-) If you have cbr's, you need either somehow convert to pdf (probably just a little script if you are in linux) or use an adecuate reader as iViewer https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32915 (mmm as I was looking for the iViewer thread I found another thread which seems to talk about a cbr->pdf conversion tool, check it out https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9125 ). iViewer doesn't have zoom, so if you have white margins bad thing. Don't forget to install FBReader if you want to read chm etal https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20490 Enjoy!

02-12-2009, 09:13 PM	#8
millydog Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 144 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lara, Australia Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPhone X, iPad Pro	It's 1pm, I'm on my lunch break, and my iLiad hasn't arrived yet. I'm hoping it arrives soon since it's Friday and I don't want to have to wait until Monday. As it turns out, just the device is on the way, the cover has been backordered. So, the cover will arrive later, maybe in a couple of weeks. I actually hope that the cover has magnetic straps, I am a fan of them. I must admit to getting a little confussed when ordering the case, because it was listed as a leather case, not the deluxe leather case, yet the picture was the same as the deluxe leather case....so I assummed that it was the deluxe one. I have not ordered any cards yet. I have a spare 1GB SD card that may work in it I think, so I will give that a go before ordering anything. I also want to have a go with installing the 3rd party software, so I will be intersted to hear how you go with that. I also had the same question regarding launching different versions of the software. Jodi

02-13-2009, 04:33 AM	#10
Atom_ Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 11 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Spain Device: iLiad	I agree with Shaggy about the screen. If fact I got one of those Executive covers and in my opinion is a bit on the flexible side. I'm thinking about reinforcing it with something. About installing the community programs, what I do, and I think it's the standard procedure, is to create a Programs directory in the card and copying the programs from the computer there. Once on the iLiad you navigate to that folder through the main interface and there you have your programs and program folders; you can then run the programs (the standalone ones), install them, etc. You will see when you do it, it's quite intuitive. In the case of all-in-one-pdf you go into a folder in which you have 8 options, six for install each of the versions, one for restore the original one, and another one to detect which one you have installed in this moment. Every time you want to change version you have to go there, select, etc. It's a bit inconvenient, but it's what we have, and just takes 10 seconds. I think in some time there will be an ipdf version with all the community features. As far as I understand, what this "installing" actions do is just replace the ipdf executable with the corresponding version (just one file). So in my opinios is totally safe to use, as are most of the community programs: most don't modify the illiad at all, the just are executed from the straigth from the card,a la portable apps (not all of course). In this post you can find a summary with each version added functions: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=18 Enjoy!

02-13-2009, 08:30 AM	#11
millydog Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 144 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lara, Australia Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPhone X, iPad Pro	Thank you for the warnings about the cover. I had read other similar discussions on here. I will be sure to take extra care of it. I have a small bag that I use for my Eee PC and I might use that until the cover comes....but even that would not offer protection from anything heavy. I will have more of a think about it....but I am going to be very careful. Anyway, it didn't arrive today, so it looks like I will get it Monday. Jodi

02-13-2009, 10:21 AM	#12
DesiLinguist Computational Linguist Posts: 110 Karma: 100 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: iLiad BE, iPhone, Kindle DX	Atom_, thanks again for the info. Let me see if I understand this correctly: the all-in-one iPDF folder is on the CF card, say I want to read a technical paper, I go to that folder on the CF card and 'install' the appropriate 'column model 'version which replaces the default iPDF with that version of the iPDF. And then I read my technical paper. Then, if I want to read a regular PDF book, I go to the same folder on the CF card and 'install', say, the 'fullscreen' version or restore the default version and then read my PDF book. Does that sound right? BTW, I know that one can change the font for Mobipocket books by installing it in the appropriate directory (can't recall it now but I know where it is). Has anyone really had the need to do this or are you happy with the default font? And thinking about it, is there a way to 'install' fonts from the CF card as well .... as easily as the iPDF versions or does one have to run the terminal and use the iLiad keyboard to copy the font to the internal memory? Thanks in advance for all the answers.

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