Forbes: iRex to introduce 10.2-inch E-Ink Reader 1000 on Monday

If you don't like spoilers then look away, now -- seems Forbes has all the details related to iRex's 22 September announcement. The Netherlands-based group is set to release an evolved iLiad e-reader called the iRex Reader 1000. Like Plastic Logic, iRex is targeting business users with its new 10.2-inch E-Ink e-reader able to display "any file format" including PDF, Word, and HTML-rendered documents -- sorry, no video, no color. The Reader 1000 brings a stylus with touch-screen for making notes and markups for up to 80 hours on a single charge. The base Reader 1000 is boldly expected to start at $650 (compared to the $359, 6-inch Kindle). It then ramps to $750 for the writable screen version before topping out at $850 to add WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G data connection. Now get to it CIOs, we suspect you'll need some time to argue the case why some personnel require a laptop, smartphone, and e-reader to get through the day.

[Via mobileread, Thanks Spencer H.]

[who? @ Sep 19th 2008 2:06AM]

Ooooh. Cool.

[G Man @ Sep 19th 2008 3:00AM]

I kinda read it as iLaid :P

[collegekid13 @ Sep 19th 2008 2:07AM]

maybe . . . but not at that price

[Flashpoint @ Sep 19th 2008 2:11AM]

In other news... Duke Nukem 3d is coming to Xbox Live arcade. Duke Nukem 3D is a game, singlehandley better than every single game in the Wii library.

BTW Ryan Block hasn't showed us "HOW MUCH WEIGHT HE LOST" using Wii Fitt.

[gad get @ Sep 19th 2008 2:53AM]

Did I hear the faint voice of Flashpoint somewhere off in the distance?

[absinthe party @ Sep 19th 2008 7:55AM]

Ugh. I really wish your parents would just take away your internets already.

[RD. @ Sep 19th 2008 2:12AM]

Hard to explain when the investment may be better spent toward an X-series tablet.

[Plothole @ Sep 21st 2008 3:37AM]

That depends on what it's used for. The two major advantages this device has over any tablet are its battery life and daylight readability. Then again, it won't do color or video.

[mythical @ Sep 19th 2008 2:12AM]

interesting.

I like your part about looking away if you don't like spoilers. It's hard to miss when you've put it in the title, ahaha.

[Gav @ Sep 19th 2008 2:31AM]

If the price is correct, I won't be getting one. If it's considerably cheaper, then I'll certainly consider it.

[Elijah @ Sep 19th 2008 2:35AM]

I think it's going to be a toaster.

Does it not look like a toaster?

[Zorque @ Sep 19th 2008 2:40AM]

80 hours? That's a pretty impressive battery time, although I guess that's one of the inherent benefits of e-ink.

[weg @ Sep 19th 2008 4:13AM]

The previous version of the iLiad had the problem that it wasn't able to power down the processor when the user was "just reading". Instead of the initially promised 25h on a single charge, the device gave up after 12h. Shutting it down when not used was no option, since it took 45 seconds to boot it. Let's hope they've completely redesigned the device. If they got it right this time, I'll consider buying one despite the steep price (it's the only eReader device that's able to display academic papers without troubles).

[paralipsis @ Sep 19th 2008 2:51AM]

Everything except price on this looks incredible. Two questions though...
1. What is its storage capacity, and is it expandable?
2. What is the resolution? I have seen a couple of e-ink displays here and there and have been disappointed by the dot pitch.

[Tagbert @ Sep 19th 2008 11:03AM]

Most eReaders have a dot pitch of 150 - 166dpi. Not too disappointing.

The current E-ink 9.7" Display has a pixel count of 1200 x 825 and is 150dpi. I would guess that this new screen has a few more pixels.

[CL @ Sep 19th 2008 3:00AM]

200 bucks, and we will have a deal.

[Knives_Out @ Sep 19th 2008 3:15AM]

iCame ... iRex ... iLiad

[A.C.E.R. @ Sep 19th 2008 3:23AM]

I'm just glad those words weren't switched around.

[ssrat_ @ Sep 19th 2008 10:20PM]

Just as a reader it is WAY to expensive, for the basic price there is the new Gigabyte touchscreen tablet design, yes the battery life is a joke compared to e-ink, but considering the price and what comes with it (plus the ability to read ANY format natively) make THAT my leaning contender.