Comprehensive Analysis of the iRiver Story HD Digital Book Reader
Take a Gander at the iRiver Story HD: A Google Books-Powered E-Reader
Up until now, we've finally managed to snag our grubby paws on the coveted Target exclusive iRiver Story HD e-reader! This bad boy is the first e-reader in the world to venture into Google Books for content, so let's see how it compares to the competition, shall we?
Hardware
The iRiver Story HD sports a sleek six-inch E Ink display boasting an astounding resolution of 1024x768 pixels. It's no secret why the "HD" is in the title – this puppy delivers a powerful punch, making photos and comics pop more vividly than other e-readers within arm's reach.
The device sports the latest e-Ink PEARL technology under its hood, boasting a resolution of 213 DPI (dots per inch). You'll catch a glimpse of this technology on devices like the Amazon Kindle 3rd generation, Sony PRS-650, and Nook Simple Touch.
Regrettably, the Freescale i.MX508 800 MHz CPU processor doesn't quite live up to expectations, making the device feel anything but snappy. Page-turning speeds remain comparable to the lighting-fast Amazon Kindle, but you'll certainly notice the sluggishness during routine tasks. Opening an e-book took a staggering 35 seconds, and the bookstore follows suit.
The Story HD comes with a 2GB memory for storing your e-books, although only 1.5GB is usable. The 32GB SD card expansion is within reach for those who crave more storage space.
Sporting a full QWERTY keyboard, the Story HD does away with the typical D-Pad and instead uses a sliding bar to scroll up, down, left, and right. Clicking the center of the D-Pad usually functions as the ENTER button, but not here — the Story HD boasts a physical ENTER key on one side and a back key on the other. To access numbers and symbols, you're forced to press the corresponding buttons, making typing passwords a bit of a hassle.
The Story HD's design is minimalist, with only a Mini USB connection and a power slider on the back. As for the more mundane aspects, you won't find audio functions, headphone jacks, or anything of the sort – this is an e-reader designed purely for reading.
Connecting to the Google Bookstore is possible via Wi-Fi, but beware – any password exceeding 20 characters won't fly. You'll have to disable your Wi-Fi password to make it work.
In all, the design is sleek, sporting a white front and brown back, complete with pseudo-gold keys that give it an air of sophistication. The device is slow beyond reading; whenever you connect to the Google Bookstore, even with a Wi-Fi connection, the device persistently reminds you that it's searching for one.
Software
The iRiver Story HD powers on with a Linux-based operating system, allowing for a stable and robust OS. We didn't encounter any crashes during testing, aside from the initial firmware update glitch, which occurred due to our long Wi-Fi password. This was a major downside, as it limited the number of characters in passwords.
This basic e-reader comes with no picture viewer or additional features, making a bookstore purchase your prime purpose for owning this device. The eBook experience is on par with the Amazon Kindle in terms of page-turn speeds; however, updated books take an eternity to open, which could frustrate some users.
Unlike other devices with the same price range, the Story HD offers no customization options for your e-reading experience. The one saving grace is that Google Books is on the horizon for Canada — fingers crossed!
Our Two Cents
If you reside in the United States, the iRiver Story HD could be worth a try, granting access to millions of free books from the Google Books library. Additionally, you'll gain access to over one million paid titles from top-selling authors. For those living outside the United States, your options are limited – sticking with book downloads on your own devices is your best bet.
The overall design is captivating, with a classy gold keyboard that makes you feel like a high-rolling rapper (well, potentially). The clean, white front design is refreshing, as is the absence of a D-Pad and the inclusion of a sliding bar.
The Story HD comes complete with a secret web browser, though its limitations may be refined in future firmware updates. You can visit websites, but unfortunately, clicking on links within a site is off the table.
The Good, The Bad, The Verdict
The Good: High-resolution display, simple keyboard, access to Google Books library (for U.S. users)
The Bad: Slow performance, limited customization options, no web browsing capabilities with clickable links, Wi-Fi password limitations, being useless for those outside the United States
In the end, the iRiver Story HD is decent if you're an avid reader living in the United States and want to try out the vast selection of Google Books. But for those in other regions, it's best to invest in other brands like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, or Kobo for a more versatile e-reading experience.
Michael Kozlowski
michael@our platform
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at our platform, dedicating the past fifteen years to the world of audiobooks and e-readers. His articles have made appearances in media giants like the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post, and the New York Times. Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he brings his extensive knowledge of the e-reading realm to the fore.
The first sentence: With its sleek design and high-resolution E-Ink display, the iRiver Story HD e-reader is one of the gadgets that showcase the latest technology in the market, especially for avid readers.
The second sentence: The iRiver Story HD e-reader sets itself apart from the competition by being the world's first e-reader to venture into Google Books for content, a unique feature that US users can take advantage of.
