iRex intros lower-cost, preloaded iLiad Book Edition

iRex today sought to compete against some of its more frugal rivals and introduced the iLiad Book Edition. The updated version drops the Wi-Fi used for downloading content and fixes but as a result is less expensive; its €499 ($768) price is €150 below that of the original. The lack of native e-book content that sometimes plagues these readers is also purportedly solved with 50 vintage books already preloaded on the iLiad's built-in 256MB of memory, saving the user from having to buy more online.

The iLiad runs a 768x1024 tall e-paper screen similar to that of the original iLiad and also comes with a stylus to backup hardware controls on the side; MobiPocket e-books are supported along with more generic PDF, HTML, and TXT files, as well as common formats like BMP, JPEG, and PNG. CompactFlash and MMC card slots allow the device to hold up to 8GB of content.

iRex ships the Book Edition of its reader on May 9th. The company is currently focusing on its European launch but has sometimes seen its reader on sale in the Americas, where it supports e-books bought from shops such as Amazon. [via MobileRead]