iRex Digital Reader 1000s is yet another attempt by an Amazon competitor to wrestle away Kindle’s momentum (if there is any since the device is sold out for 6 months each year). iRex 1000s is certainly an impressive ebook reader. With a 10.2 inch, it certainly tempted me to give it a try. The trouble with iRex and other ebook readers for that matter is they focus more on cool features and less on valuable, useful features. The device is big, but it does not come with a marketplace behind it. It has a big screen, but it does come with a buggy interface. And I don’t know anyone who would go for this device instead of buying a tablet pc for about $750.
At the end of the day, iRex 1000S falls way short of actually mounting a challenge to Kindle and Sony Reader. The size is impressive, and I hope Amazon will adopt the same size of screen for Kindle 2.5. But iRex will learn sooner rather than later that size is not everything.
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2 Responses to “iRex Digital Reader 1000S: A Real Challenger?”
I don’t think any device will challenge the Kindle unless it has a similar marketplace behind it.
There will be lots of cool e-book devices that come out, with plenty of cool features, but the Kindle will dominate the e-book world.
Just link the iPod was built around the iTunes store, the Kindle is built around the Amazon book store.
And since Amazon is the alpha male in the book selling world, I think its highly unlikely that anything will come along which can serioulsy challenge the Kindle.
The fact that you can put your own content on it is a big advantage for the DR. But they should ensure that you can actually use the device the same way you would use a book / newspaper: pick it up and start reading (so standby mode is essential), have it pick up the newspaper at a certain time of the day, and one button for hibernate.
If you have to wait almost one minute before the thing is on and then wait 2 mins for it to pick up the newspaper, you’re off to something else…