Spring Break
iLiad:the good, the bad, the ugly
The iLiad proves to be one gadget that can't topple its predecessor - the novel.
By: Romy Misra
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Features
Launched by iRex technologies, the iLiad is a stylish gadget that elimincompletely ates the need to use paper. Think of all the things you can do on a piece of paper, you can do the same with the iLiad.
Price: The iLiad comes with a $700 price tag, while the iLiad Book edition has been released for $600.
Wow factors: Literally anything that can be read on your computer can be read on the iLiad, such as electronic books and newspapers. The Book edition comes with 50 stored e-books. It is compact, lightweight and easily fits in your backpack.
In addition to portability, the iLiad is able to annotate text as you would do on paper. The iLiad comes with a stylus, a pen-shaped device, used to underline text, scribble comments, take notes and even play crosswords. The notes can be downloaded onto the computer for printouts.
The second great factor about the iLiad is its superior display. The display uses what is known as "electronic paper display" technology. If you have tried to use your laptop in the sun, you will find that it is difficult, if not impossible, to read. Also, reading on a laptop for long hours can be strenuous on the eyes. The iLiad changes all this when it comes to viewing. You can read outdoors as easily as you from a piece of paper.
The iLiad is equipped with wireless capabilities to download and to share content. Thankfully, the iLiad has good battery life.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness of the iLiad would be in the function it is designed for: to read e-books. Most people still prefer reading books in the regular form as opposed to reading them on a device.
Cost is another major deterrent. You can buy as many as forty regular books for the same price of one iLiad.
Lastly, Internet access is extremely limited with the iLiad.
Conclusion: The iLiad is the best among its contemporaries as an e-book reader, but the price is disproportionate to what it offers. You can buy a decent laptop at the same price. It is unnecessary if you do not read books. However, for the tech-savvy and e-book lovers among us, this is one gadget you should definitely consider buying.
Price: The iLiad comes with a $700 price tag, while the iLiad Book edition has been released for $600.
Wow factors: Literally anything that can be read on your computer can be read on the iLiad, such as electronic books and newspapers. The Book edition comes with 50 stored e-books. It is compact, lightweight and easily fits in your backpack.
In addition to portability, the iLiad is able to annotate text as you would do on paper. The iLiad comes with a stylus, a pen-shaped device, used to underline text, scribble comments, take notes and even play crosswords. The notes can be downloaded onto the computer for printouts.
The second great factor about the iLiad is its superior display. The display uses what is known as "electronic paper display" technology. If you have tried to use your laptop in the sun, you will find that it is difficult, if not impossible, to read. Also, reading on a laptop for long hours can be strenuous on the eyes. The iLiad changes all this when it comes to viewing. You can read outdoors as easily as you from a piece of paper.
The iLiad is equipped with wireless capabilities to download and to share content. Thankfully, the iLiad has good battery life.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness of the iLiad would be in the function it is designed for: to read e-books. Most people still prefer reading books in the regular form as opposed to reading them on a device.
Cost is another major deterrent. You can buy as many as forty regular books for the same price of one iLiad.
Lastly, Internet access is extremely limited with the iLiad.
Conclusion: The iLiad is the best among its contemporaries as an e-book reader, but the price is disproportionate to what it offers. You can buy a decent laptop at the same price. It is unnecessary if you do not read books. However, for the tech-savvy and e-book lovers among us, this is one gadget you should definitely consider buying.
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