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Wednesday September 23, 2009
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 The latest entrant into the ereader market has two powerful new allies: Best Buy and Verizon. iRex, once a provider for a Barnes & Noble-branded device, is set to hit Best Buy shelves next month, ready to mix up the decidedly sparse ebook market.
The company is rolling out the DR800SG, a $399 device that features an 8.1-inch touchscreen and unlimited Verizon 3G wireless access. The reader has access to Barnes & Noble's ebookstore and Newspapers Direct's 1,100 plus papers. The device can handle HSDPA data and, unlike the Kindle, is up for some serious ePub action, which means you'll have Google Books at your disposal.
UPDATE: More details and photos of the iRex available now at pcmag.com.
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September 23, 2009 3:37 PM
Nice but what will be the monthly fee? I'm thinking if it's Verizon you'll pay probaly $50 per month. And how do you make sure that anything you download doesn't get erased by B&N or Verizon?
September 23, 2009 5:06 PM
People won't get serious about these things until someone combines the display with wi-fi connectivity and decent html reader, for less than $300.
September 24, 2009 12:09 AM
It doesn't make sense to buy the e-book when you can buy regular laptops for less than $300 with WiFi, Hot-Spots are everywhere these days providing you broadband access all the strategic places where you need the internet the most. ebook should have come 5 years back to make sense. :-). it is too late now.
October 3, 2009 7:20 AM
Even with the power of a small, cheap netbook for the same price or less, they lack the digital ink, which is their strongest selling point. The displays are less straining on the eyes and allows for crazy long battery charges.
As for a monthly charge, if there is one, it will kill this thing before it gets off the ground. That's why they cost so much. The Kindle uses the Sprint network, but you never have to pay a monthly fee. The only way to compete is to offer the same deal.