E-readers are the thing of the future, quickly replacing books in libraries and schools. Users of e-readers have agreed that the Kindle is a good choice, making book reading a breeze. Well, it seems that the Kindle will be getting a bit of competition from the IREX DR800SG, which is supposed to be the “Kindle Killer”. The IREX is also competing against other high end models such as Sony’s new Reader Daily Edition.

Features Beat Price

While the IREX does cost more than the Kindle and the new Sony eeader, it’s features cover up the extra cash users dish out for it. To start it all off, the IREX screen is bigger than the Kindle and the Sony ereader, topping out at 8.1 inches, making it much easier to read books on. When Amazon was designing the Kindle, they didn’t think to add touch screen capabilities, giving Sony and IREX the lead with their newest touch screen interface and easy to navigate buttons. Included with the IREX is wireless capabilities delivered by Verizon, and a Gobi chipset-built in for worldwide wireless use. The IREX lacks a web browser, unlike its competitors but does have other features that mask this fact. For example, the IREX has a rotating screen (Manual, no accelerometer), a 2GB SD card, 750,00 books to choose from (Almost double the amount of the Kindle). ePub “DRM Solutions” format, bookmarks, search, and the ability to download content to device abroad (Available Soon).

Navigating Through the Device

The original Kindle had oddly shaped buttons, making it hard for the user to quickly navigate through multiple pages. Since then, the second generation has fixed the issue and may be looking at touch screen capabilities in the future. The IREX has a large screen, but as a result, the screen is minimized and therefore offers far less buttons than the usual ereader. This large screen on the IREX requires a stylus, but it also works just as fine with only the buttons. Sony’s Touch ereader runs a slight bit differently, letting the user operate the touchscreen with their fingers. The reason why a lot of other ereader manufacturers, such as IREX haven’t picked this up is because it kills the E-Ink contrast over time.

IREX is also working on a 2010 version where they will put the touch layer underneath the e-ink so it doesn’t destroy the contrast. Aside from te screen,the IREX carries a few buttons, making navigation a breeze, There is a vertical bar that allows the page to scroll forward and down, a toggle to scroll back and up, and a small menu button that lets the user activate any other features. Other than that, there is a USB jack and a power button visible on the bottom. Unfortunately, the MicroSD card is built in behind the battery so it seems like you’re going to have to screw off the back in order to reach it.

Should I get a Kindle or Wait for the IREX?

The IREX seems better all around, both feature and price wise but the Kindle also has perks that the IREX just doesn’t offer. The Kindle allows multiple file formats, ranging from AZW, Audible, to MOBI, whereas the IREX only offers ePub format. There is no word yet on how many other file formats the IREX supports. Another thing is that the IREX is $400 and comes out in October, while the Kindle is $100 dollars cheaper and is available now. The Sony Reader Edition is $50 cheaper and is also available now. It seems that the IREX is a pretty good deal and with its touchscreen capabilities, its a no-brainer.

Overall

The IREX is a great device, an amazing addition to the ereader market, and the features make up for the price, making it an great deal. There is no word on battery life and prices on downloaded books but overall, the IREX is a great E-Reader. IREX did add a few distasteful features here and there like the need for a stylus, they always have room for improvement with a second generation IREX.