01-29-2010, 12:25 PM | #1 |
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DR800 on BestBuy
It was mentioned in a post burried down in another thread, but I thought people would be interested and see it better if it had it's own thread.
The DR800SG-US is back up on BestBuy's website again. The price is $399. Still doesn't look like they're taking orders on it yet, but it's a good sign that it's back on their website. |
01-29-2010, 12:34 PM | #2 |
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COOL
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01-29-2010, 02:32 PM | #3 |
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Hello,
Do i have to sign a contract if i want to buy the device? Is it possible to put a german UMTS Card in the DR and use 3G based features in germany? thx |
01-29-2010, 02:40 PM | #4 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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01-29-2010, 03:30 PM | #5 |
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The big problem is that Verizon doesn't use SIM cards, and uses a different radio tech than most other carriers (built off of CDMA rather than GSM). Since there is no dual CDMA/GSM radio chipset that I'm aware of, there isn't much they can do other than offer another wireless model with a GSM radio chipset as well.
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01-29-2010, 03:39 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
Now if irex decides to switch from verizon to say at&t, they would just need to send out sim cards and a software update, unlike kindle users who had to buy a new device to get international coverage. Of course, all of the above is in theory... The dr800s manual doesn't show a sim slot. It would be interesting if the slot is still there or if the dr800s is really a physically different device from the dr800sg. We will need a teardown to see if the 3g radio module has been removed as well. Last edited by badbob001; 01-29-2010 at 03:43 PM. |
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01-29-2010, 04:25 PM | #7 | |
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I don't know if it would really work or not, but we'll likely have to get somebody else to try it and find out. It doesn't sound like iRex is going to give an official stance on it. |
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01-29-2010, 06:51 PM | #8 |
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Just when I had given up on it too...now I need to decide if I want to buy this *and* the iPad. Or just the iPad. Or just this.
The iPad is much closer to what I want out of a device in terms of functionality. The only thing the DR800SG really offers is less chance of eye fatigue. What do you guys think? |
01-29-2010, 08:37 PM | #9 | |
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Don't get fooled by the $499.-. That is for 16GB, ridiculous for media. So you are looking at 599 - 799. Additionally you will have to exchange batteries often if you use it a lot for reading, which will cost you dearly. You can get a lot more computer for a lot less. This is just a huge PDA. And like the iphone, no background apps, no non-Apple approved apps. No flash video on the web! |
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01-29-2010, 08:59 PM | #10 |
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I have a laptop but would never ever read books on it. (It's a 13" Macbook.) Because of the keyboard I can't hold it in a manner such that I can have it close enough to my eyes to get the size font I want. Also, there aren't any good eReader apps that has an interface that's truly optimized for reading on a laptop screen - hint, I don't want to read black text on white ever on LED. Only grey text on black, and with the brightness turned way down. In general though, laptops just too ungainly to read on. It might work for others with a tiny netbook, but I'm not a fan of the protruding keyboard either way.
I've never regretted not having flash on the iPhone as there are tons of retarded games in the app store if I want them and I don't watch much flash video other than youtube, if at all. The lack of backgrounding really doesn't bother me. The tasks I would be using this device for don't lean well towards multi-tasking meanwhile, and to the extent it might be useful the push notifications are perfectly sufficient for IM, twitter, etc. My iPhone is perfect for reading everything but technical books. If I bought either the iRex or iPad (or both), that is the hole those devices are meant to fit in for me. I'm not worried about the battery problem. I never exchange batteries on my iPhone or ruin the battery, and have owned an iPod, iPod Touch, MacBook, and iPhone and so don't worry about battery performance degradation with Apple devices nearly as much as I did with the multiple Dell laptops I owned before. As far as the space, for books it is irrelevant. For everything else, I will likely only sync my favorite items. So I'm not too worried about it. Really, both devices fit the same market, with the iRex edging for screen technology and the iPad edging for operating system capabilities. I'll probably have to just use both and see what I end up utilizing more over a month or so. |
01-29-2010, 09:26 PM | #11 |
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I don't see how the ipad can be a good device to read ebooks. It doesn't have an eInk screen or even a mate screen, it's a glossy one (if I'm correct).
Try to read outdoor with that! |
01-30-2010, 04:51 AM | #12 |
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Well for reading technical books (any more for technical A4/B4-sized magazines and papers) I think nothing beats the DR1000. The big screen allows you to read small prints and figures/diagrams without zooming. But offcourse this comes at a price. But you might want to add it to you 'short-list', seeing that your budgets includes Quote:"to buy this *and* the iPad".
Good luck making the 'right' choice. |
01-30-2010, 04:56 AM | #13 |
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01-30-2010, 09:51 AM | #14 |
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I read on my pda's for years before eink even existed. Palm's and pocket pc's with the old ipaq 4700 being about the best pda device for reading given it's large hi resolution display.
They are fine for casual reading for me and the kindle app on the iphone has been nice with it's syncing ability, but for extended reading I personally don't think anything currently available beats eink. But again, that depends on your needs. If you need color then eink is not going to cut it at this point in time. The same thing would go for extended battery life. If you need more than 8 hours away from a power socket then I don't think the ipad is going to cut it. I know they quote 10 hours, but we also know how optimistic vendors typically are with their quoted battery life. |
01-31-2010, 04:11 PM | #15 |
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It looks like it's now only going to be available online, at least according to the Best Buy site. Either that or it's just a temporary status since they don't yet have any in stock.
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