Mainstream iRex 8.1-inch reader for 400$ (rumor)

[kaas]

From Gizmodo:

It looks like iRex, leading makers of giant, feature-packed ebook readers for real-life P.G. Wodehouse protagonists, is casting a monocled eye on the mainstream market. Crave's got details on a forthcoming 8.1-inch touchscreen reader, with wireless, rumored at under $400.

That should make quite a few people here happy

Here some more info from CNet:

Here's the little we know:

* 8.1-inch display
* 3G wireless connectivity (no carrier announced)
* Touch screen with stylus navigation
* Fall 2009 release

Until now iRex, one of the early e-reader pioneers (you remember the iLiad, right?), has mainly offered more business-oriented readers that are rather pricey and sold primarily to European customers. However, this model is a consumer model that will be sold in the U.S., as well as other countries (here in the States, I suspect it will cost less than $400 and possibly less than $350). Allegedly, the unit will have a tie-in with one of the large online e-book sellers, though iRex wouldn't say which one.

[Alisa]

Things are getting interesting.

[Shaggy]

Looks like this is the successor to the iLiad that a lot of users were speculating about. They've been pretty good at keeping quiet on this one though, I haven't heard even a hint about it over on their forums/blog.

[jessTay]

If they sell this in Canada, I'll probably be able to get it for christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

LIFE IS GOOD!

[igorsk]

So what happened to Digital Reader 1000SW, anyway?

[wallcraft]

Can iRex finally produce a device with a battery life that does not suck?

I don't mean to be entirely negative, because I got my moneys worth out of the iLiad and the DR1000S is a significant improvement over the iLiad in many ways which will presumably be carired over to the new device. An 8.1" screen is just big enough for PDFs, and it will be intereting to see if this screen size can compete with the 9.7" to 10.7" alternatives. The DR1000S has not gained a large amount of 3rd party software (perhaps because its price limits the number of developers), but like the iLiad it is open to 3rd party Linux apps.

[kaas]

I guess they were already too expensive and decided to lower prices...

[dek]

It looks good, but the timing does not seem good. If it comes out this fall (August or September), I may try it. If not, I will buy a new Sony (PRS-600). If it comes out at the end of this year, I will try the Plasticlogic instead of the iRex.

[ahi]

This is the right size (though not yet the right price) to functional as a general eBook reading device.

Good show! Hope the price comes down in a year or two...

- ahi

[Abecedary]

Looks interesting, but it doesn't exactly bode too well when the manufacturer of the device can only provide a CG mockup instead of actual pictures of a prototype.

[mtravellerh]

Maybe this is the reader Vodaphone Germany wants to tie in with...

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Abecedary

Looks interesting, but it doesn't exactly bode too well when the manufacturer of the device can only provide a CG mockup instead of actual pictures of a prototype.

I was wondering about that too. Assuming this is actually real, and they are planning on a Fall 2009 release, you'd think they would have pictures available. I'd like to see some confirmation from iRex that this is a real product. The only thing they've hinted at on their site is that they're working on a color eInk device for 2011. I've never seen any mention of a new consumer level device for 2009.

That might be because they don't want to impact the iLiad sales by making an official announcement this early. I would assume that the iLiad is likely to be discontinued when the new device is released (assuming it exists).

[junkyardwillie]

Is this going to be finger touch or still WACOM? Looks like a sweet device, too bad my ereader needs are already fulfilled.

[kaas]

Originally Posted by junkyardwillie

Is this going to be finger touch or still WACOM? Looks like a sweet device, too bad my ereader needs are already fulfilled.

I believe it is Wacom as in the other readers.

cheers,

kaas

[Shaggy]

Gizmodo and CNet say it's a stylus touch screen. Whether or not that's accurate, I don't know. It might just be an assumption because both of the other iRex devices use WACOM screens.