Irex prepping new wireless e-book reader

Just got an image of a mock-up for a new e-Reader from Irex that's due out this holiday season. Not much info on this thing but it's larger than the Kindle 2 and just-announced Sony Readers.

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.

At this point, it's unclear what the optimal display size will be for e-readers but some people do want screens larger than 6 inches. However, a lot of people think the Kindle DX, which sports a 9.7-inch screen, is too large. So 8.1 inches may be the happy medium.

Sony, too, is also rumored to have a larger form factor wireless Reader in the works. We hope to hear about the Sony device in the next few weeks.

Comments?

[Harlan879]

Hard to comment! The real issues are screen quality and DRM, and the article says little about either.

[bugmenotr]

You must be new to iRex. They are the anti-DRM reader. See their website, wikipedia, or google around.

[kalel130]

I think most people are happy with the size of the Kindle 2 - they just wish it was touch screen so the buttons could be eliminated and the screen could take up the entire space. i.e. It's not about screen size as much as product size.

[pcraine]

I agree with you that most Kindle 2 owners are happy with its size, but I disagree that most wish it had a touch screen. A larger screen housed in a Kindle 2 sized device would be nice, but not at the cost of having to read through a constantly smudged screen.

[RexCarey]

I still don"t understand the the need for 3G..why not wifi? Then the device would be global. I am still not ready to buy one until I can get newspapers and magazines delivered when I travel outside the US.

[danielszabo1981]

For the life of me, I can't figure out why these things are as expensive as XBoxes, iPhones, used '96 Honda Civics, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love the product and enjoy reading on them very much...but the pricetag attached to these things is outrageous.

[rebid_reader]

if this is a 16 grey scale device, I want one as soon as it is issued! The bigger screen is the ticket! I now read on my Iliad V2, but the page turn speed is a bit disconcerting. Irex! Cutting Edge! Make this one work well!

[rebid_reader]

I agree that the bigger screen is the ticket for me. I have a Kindle and an Iliad. I like the page size on the Iliad much better. Battery life and the page turn speed need improvement. I would give up my Kindle any day for the Iliad, despite it's page turn delay and battery life. Fix that, and I'm in hog heaven!

[lindag8r]

These e-readers are facing tremendous pressure from the cell phone community. I love being able to access a novel on my iPhone, but the small screen is tedious. The new iRex needs to have a touch screen though. The proper screen shield will eliminate annoying fingerprints like on the iPhone.