iRiver doesn't supply any e-book management software, so loading non-DRM content is a simple matter of drag'n'drop which worked out of the box with Mac and Linux machines, as well as Windows. If you want to load DRM protected files, then Windows and Mac users can download Adobe's Digital Editions software, which works a treat with the Story.
Robust volume: a decent music player and good battery life add appeal
When it comes to battery life, the Story again comes on strong. iRiver quotes 9,000 page turns or 20 hours of audio playback. The latter proved to be a little optimistic, as the best we managed was 17 hours, but that’s still not bad going and the Story is over a thousand page turns better than any of Sony's Reader's can manage.
It’s a pity that iRiver's rather useful combined zip-lock bag and carry case doesn't come with the Story. In Korea, it’s only a £10 accessory if bought direct from iRiver, so hopefully it will follow in the Story's wake.
At £229 the Story undercuts the Sony Reader Touch Edition by around £30 and, despite the saving, you get more storage and a much better music player. Bookeen's Cybook Opus can be picked up for £200 but that only has a 5in screen, as does Sony's £180 Reader Pocket Edition and neither of them has a music player of any description. That makes the Story pretty decent value as far as these, admittedly, expensive e-book readers go.
Verdict
With its speedy menus, decent built-in music player, strong battery life and handy ancillary features, the Story looks a winner, provided you're running the latest firmware. If you want Santa to stick an e-book reader under the Christmas tree this year, then the iRiver Story is a sound choice, literally. ®
Thanks to AdvancedMP3Players for the loan of the iRiver Story.
More E-book Reader Reviews...
Sony PRS-600 Touch |
Bookeen Cybook Opus |
Interead Cool-er |
Sony PRS-300 |
iRiver Story
COMMENTS
@ ACs
Few points of clarification. You can indeed place multiple bookmarks in multiple books and access them all from the main menu. When you open a book file you have previously accessed the Story opens it at the last open page. The QWERTY keyboard is for entering text into the Memo and Diary applications. Memos can be exported as .txt files if you need to move them off the device.
Memos can be opened or created directly from a book page via the pop-up main menu but they are not 'stuck' to the page as they are with the Sony Reader Touch.
Sounds Tempting..
Ever since my Sony PRS-600 touch died, I've been thinking about a new reader. I found the touch functionality of the Sony Reader not worth the extra cost and many annoying quirks about the menu system and desktop software . But this looks much better. Don't need wireless, but want a good 6 inch screen. Could be my Xmas present this year
You might have been thinking of the Wikipedia reader...
which is probably closer still to the HitchHiker's guide.
http://openmoko.com/wikireader.html
However, OpenMoko's device is missing WAN or cell connectivity for realtime updates across the network; It's an offline reader and single purpose, otherwise I would have bought one.
Riddled with bugs
Doesn't work with large books (mine all come O'Reilly Safari). The headings are garbled, then after a couple of page turns the reader hangs and then reboots. Garbage. Mine's going straight back to Amazon. I suggest everyone avoids until they get the software working.
