iRex's 1000SW e-reader won't have 3G -- no matter how much we say otherwise

If you've been following the new iRex reader, the 1000 series, you'll be disappointed to know -- as we were -- that the high-end 1000SW will not come equipped with 3G connectivity as we previously reported. Apparently jkOnTheRun got in touch with iRex rep Loeki van der Lee after unsuccessfully searching for hard evidence on the feature, and he confirmed that the device will sport WiFi and Bluetooth, but nothing more. Honestly, based on his short responses and the information we snagged from Forbes the day before the announcement, it sounds as if plans might have changed at the last minute. Still, it won't alter the fact that the $849 device won't provide the same functionality as a $359 Kindle... though it does have that snazzy Wacom stylus.

[konshuss @ Sep 25th 2008 8:44PM]

the sheer size of the footprint, the price, and my lack of concern for adding a couple of pounds to my lap makes me want to buy a laptop instead.

[hans @ Sep 25th 2008 8:26PM]

why would anyone buy this thing?

[NutMac @ Sep 25th 2008 8:43PM]

Now I know where all the Palm Foleo engineers went.

[Josh @ Sep 25th 2008 8:52PM]

Trolls like you are the reason the internet sucks. Please go dig a hole, climb in it, cave the whole in, and suffocate to death please.

[OnlyShawn @ Sep 25th 2008 9:02PM]

...how can the manufacturers of this thing possibly believe that they'll outsell the plastic logic? do they plan on just keeping the price high now, and get the few people far along the demand curve, and then dropping it down once the PL comes out? they can't think it's going to have the superior quality to warrant this much of a higher price, can they??

[Plothole @ Sep 25th 2008 9:11PM]

Last time I checked, the Plastic Logic reader didn't have an offical price to compare this too. For all we know, that device will be just as costly.

[OnlyShawn @ Sep 25th 2008 9:16PM]

you're right...but I've seen speculation of it being "competitive with the kindle", and I believe that was from the CEO of PL during the initial product unveiling. largely, that's due to them using plastic vs. glass/lcd, and the vastly lower costs of production.

[Plothole @ Sep 26th 2008 8:00PM]

I've heard all that too. However I'm not sure why it would even be compared to the Kindle in the first place. The PL reader is targeting a completely different market. (it's meant for documents, not novels)

[BigD145 @ Sep 25th 2008 9:10PM]

Damn. That's way too much. Someone recommend something that has similar functionality (no 3G) but at less than half the price.

[Plothole @ Sep 25th 2008 9:13PM]

The closest thing right now would be a tablet PC. Except you don't get the eInk screen or same kind of battery life with one of those.

[BigD145 @ Sep 25th 2008 9:55PM]

Same thing: e-ink. I don't know of any pure tablet PC that runs for about $400 and isn't absolute garbage. Let's stick with a proper e-reader here.

[Charbax @ Sep 25th 2008 9:42PM]

iRex Illiad, their previous model, is pure awesome. I can't wait to see if this one is faster and smoother.

Sad thing about the huge pricing though. But I guess that's how it is with such large sized E-Ink devices.

It'd be nice I would think if iRex did a 5" 6" smaller model but with the same wacom features.

You can see my video of their previous model at http://youtube.com/watch?v=V1RNiGXoRyY

It is simply amazing technology. Every student should have one.

[weg @ Sep 26th 2008 5:25AM]

Unfortunately, this new device still has the same problem as the iLiad: 50 seconds to boot, no proper sleep mode. They promise that the battery lasts 24h, but last time they also promised the iLiad would run for 20h and it just runs for 12h. They promise that they'll add a sleep mode via firmware update, but iRex is well known for breaking these kind of promises, or at least for taking forever to provide firmware updates. The only "proper" eBook format supported is Mobipocket, and it seems you can't read DRMed eBooks. Just read the FAQ at http://forum.irexnet.com/viewtopic.php?t=2859 , it is full of promises what the device WILL be able to do (suspend/stand-by mode, better battery life, more eBook formats, web browser, ...). By the time they actually support all this, there will be other comparable devices available.

AND: None of the new features will be backported to the iLiad, even though they claim they'll "keep supporting" it.

[Ronald Hicks @ Sep 25th 2008 10:18PM]

Really waiting on the third or fourth generation of this type of device. It should be in color by then. I would want this thing to be about 1/8" thick, weigh 12 grams and have Wacom input. If it is grayscale there should be 256 shades. As an artist I would like something that would refresh instantaneously so I wouldn't know the difference between this and paper. It should read numerous documents. Wi-Fi and other types of communications would be secondary. I want something that can go 90 days on a single charge. The Graphic applications should be able to simulate water washes, smudges, charcoals, pen-and-ink,etc... The color version should be able simulate pastels, oils, paper types.
The display should be clearly readable in noontime sun at the Equator on the summer solstice and also be readable from any angle.
Fifth and sixth generation devices should be flexible and fold up and/or roll into a scroll. The high tech nano solar cells embedded in the casing will constantly refresh a plastic chemistry battery that can withstand 10,000,000 recharge cycles and be able to totally recharge very low ambient light.
This device should withstand extremes from freezing to near ignition of the plastic casing(it will be fire resistant and merely melt).
In the case the device is left in total darkness with the auto power down disabled with a video in an infinite play loop the device should not need recharging for at least three years.
It should have and audible alarm and digital voice recorder.

[allislost @ Sep 26th 2008 12:36AM]

... no.

[qaz @ Dec 7th 2008 1:37PM]

yep

[Jeff P. @ Sep 26th 2008 12:10AM]

How eloquent you are. Does your vocabulary contain any other words or did your education stop there? Or is it too hard for you to actually put together a complete sentence?

[allislost @ Sep 26th 2008 12:22AM]

Is the kindle the cheapest e-book reader with the most features?

Because I'm getting tired of reading my e-books on my laptop.

[Plothole @ Sep 26th 2008 2:33AM]

It's neither the cheapest, nor does it have the most features. One thing it does have though, which most ebook readers don't, is the [free] EVDO.

[nightmajik @ Sep 26th 2008 3:38AM]

I have either the first or second generation of Sony eReader myself (haven't followed the generations closely), and I believe it's comparable in price to the Kindle. I highly recommend the Sony, largely because of it's compact size--I carry it everywhere. I use it purely for reading, which is why I don't need a keyboard, which takes up space on the Kindle. I download books on my PC, plop them on the eReader (usually I keep about forty on there at a time, so it's not like I run out and need some source of emergency wi-fi to download something new), and I'm set. Battery lasts for a couple weeks at a time, with an hour or two of use everyday.

[allislost @ Sep 26th 2008 5:57AM]

The sony e-reader looks way better than the kindle but... i'm on a tight budget so...


Since people were nice enough to answer my previous question, I'll ask one more. What would be the cheapest e-book reader?

[Plothole @ Sep 26th 2008 7:33AM]

The absolute cheapest would be an eBookwise. However this device, while still available, is rather antiqued. No eInk, just and LCD. And what's worse is that it uses smartmedia cards.

Now the cheapest modern device would probably be the Sony Reader. What's also nice about these is that Sony has recently updated their firmware to support both ePub and secure PDFs files (though the reflow on the latter is a bit iffy). Of course this update only applies to the newer PRS-505 models.

[OnlyShawn @ Sep 26th 2008 1:30PM]

...wait a few months, hopefully that paper logic will come out--that's what I'm doing. I was all about getting a kindle for a while, but that PL demo sold me.

[Troels C @ Sep 26th 2008 4:18AM]

Engagdet, this is a professional product. Why do you compare it to the Kindle? It has an entirely different purpose. Its like comparing a van to a street car.

[JV @ Sep 26th 2008 1:08PM]

I second that, as far as I know, the Sony eReader and Kindle do not have touchscreen input. So to compare those is to compare a tablet pc to a laptop. Which is normally not done.

I recently had a look at a sony ereader, and although I am a fan of Sony products, I think the screen size is too small. Anything smaller than a paperback (~7") is annoying to read.

[Ogo @ Sep 26th 2008 7:41AM]

For same or less money the Paper Logic e-newspaper has a higher cool factor.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/08/plastic-logic-finally-ready-to-launch-flexible-e-newspaper-re/

[ssrat_ @ Sep 26th 2008 9:21AM]

Nice to hear from plastic-logic that COLOR is 3-5y out, which HOPEFULLY means it is working in the lab, but is just on the expensive side.

Of course in the meantime I will have to pick something else up, probably the Wind, or if there is something to compete the gigabyte tablet.. let's see what the christmas rush brings

[Ian @ Sep 26th 2008 9:05AM]

Paper Logic, please come out with your A4 sized e-Reader, or at least release the price in order to know whether it's worth waiting for.

[Troels C @ Sep 26th 2008 9:17AM]

Indeed