Remember my friendly chat (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14778) with iRex employee Peter Maas, in which Peter told me that iRex is trying to expand its retail channels? Well, congrats to them for finding the first bookstore company in the Netherlands to sell their e-reader along with e-books in-store! From the iRex Blog (http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2007/10/26/selexyz-and-irex-team-up-to-promote-e-books-and-iliad/):

The Dutch bookstore chain, Selexyz (http://www.selexyz.nl/) will start with the sales of e-books and the iLiad from November onward. The iLiad will be on display and for sale at the Selexyz bookstores in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. As a promotion the first iLiads will be provided with an e-book edition of Max Westermans new book 'In alle staten (http://www.maxwesterman.nl/)'.

In a geek's wildest dream, millions of Dutch people are now going to flood bookstores and fetch an iLiad. Consequently, the price will go down below 200 Euro, thus making the iLiad one of the most affordable and attractive e-reader devices currently out there. Ok stop. Uncontrollable drooling alert.

PS: Dutch TV RTL reported on the iRex-Selexyz deal. Check out this video clip (http://www.rtl.nl/(vm=/actueel/rtlnieuws/home/)/system/video/html/components/actueel/rtlnieuws/volledig/miMedia/2007/week43/zo_1801_nieuws.avi_plain.xml) and start at around point 7min.

In a geek's wildest dream, millions of Dutch people are now going to flood bookstores and fetch an iLiad. Consequently, the price will go down below 200 Euro, thus making the iLiad one of the most affordable and attractive e-reader devices currently out there. Ok stop. Uncontrollable drooling alert.

I'll say... you need waders around here! ;)

But it would be nice, wouldn't it?

It would be nice if Selexyz sold some books in english also...

Jerry

<troll>I picked one up in store waited an hour while it booted up and read a couple of pages then the battery ran out</troll>
I'm hooked ..i want one!

It would be nice if Selexyz sold some books in english also...

Jerry

True, it is unfortunate that they only sell books in Dutch.

That was a joke.

That was a joke.
well it sounds like double dutch to me :D

Just checked.
According to the site available now, but for €649,-
Too much, but still, after reading for years about readers coming soon, this is the first one that is actually available here in Holland without having to import it through the net. So IMO this is a significant step for readers in Europe to become a mainstream product. Let's hope others will follow soon.

That's very good news indeed!

I am very interested in the Iliad (biased because of cheapness towards the Sony) for school use (none are available in Australia).

The Iliad's pen could be a major asset in High School contexts (I am not talking of writing recognition, but graphics only) - does any one have experience in using it.

For instance, how fine can the "point be made" in practical terms, for clear writing that isn't scrawled all over the place?

What is it like to write with, too slippery, easy etc.,.?

How clear is the writing can someone post actual examples, from large print, to a small neat hand?

I have been looking and looking on the net for examples of the printed product of the pen, and have found none.

If students (bearing in mind their dreadful handwriting) could actually use this for writing, I can see this going far, or being adopted elsewhere. The Wifi and open architecture does offer possibilities of students writing and teachers receiving whereas paper goes astray (or is said to every time work is due).

I shudder at the idea that it would make students' handwriting any worse, but I think they have hit rock bottom already.

Basically could it be used as it is now for such a purpose?

I use mine as my only notebook at this point. I'll try to post some pictures tonight (I left my iLiad at home this morning).

There are some software enhancements I'd like to see to note-taking ability, but the hardware is there now.

Thanks nekokami I look forward to seeing the notes for real.

>>In a geek's wildest dream, millions of Dutch people are now going to flood bookstores and fetch an iLiad. Consequently, the price will go down >>below 200 Euro, thus making the iLiad one of the most affordable and attractive e-reader devices currently out there. Ok stop.

Also, early adopters of the Iliad will be elevated to god-like status (in order of purchase order number) for their foresight and wisdom. This elite group of sages then proceeds to rid the world of all evil, puts a stop to global warming, and establishes a new paradise on Earth.
With a little bit of hacking help from AdamB.

Ooooooh, I can't wait...

Also, early adopters of the Iliad will be elevated to god-like status (in order of purchase order number) for their foresight and wisdom. [...]

Ooooooh, I can't wait...
Well I have written emails like "please let me buy your iLiad." to iRex before the official shop opened. I don't think Gods would behave like this.:D

Enough of OT.
How big is this bookstore chain Selexyz in the Netherlands? Can I find it all bigger towns?

Also, early adopters of the Iliad will be elevated to god-like status (in order of purchase order number) for their foresight and wisdom. This elite group of sages then proceeds to rid the world of all evil, puts a stop to global warming, and establishes a new paradise on Earth.
With a little bit of hacking help from AdamB.

Ooooooh, I can't wait...

I, for one, welcome our new Iliad Early Adopter Overlords. :)

Selexyz is a group of bookshops that were until recently independent. I can't say if they still are but it looks most like a purchasing/marketing group of semi-independents. Most (not all of them - for example Verwijs in The Hague isn't) are in university cities/towns. Judging from the ones I know they sell books in both Dutch and English, maybe other languages too if enough demand. The website seems to be Dutch only and doesn't format well with my Firefox version so maybe I've missed something
For a list of addresses
http://www.selexyz.nl/pages/content/S2/10030000001443-10030000000213/wo.aspx

Tokkeh

Note, however that the iLiad is only sold in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam, according to their site. (And only in one specific Selexyz store per city)

While that does cover the largest cities, I wonder why the Selexyz in Eindhoven doesn't sell any, since Eindhoven is also the home of Irex.
(And I would be very interested to go and have a look at the device.)

I'm still getting used to the idea that you cannot just walk into a shop and buy e ink devices. It is great that at least in the Netherlands you will now be able to do so. I will never forget the sweaty palmed adrenalin rush I got from spending $700 over the internet on a thing i had never seen,

Having just shelled out £470 for one, I'd quite like it to stay outside of the average price bracket for some time yet... Maybe that's just me, but I much preferred it when I paid £330 for an iPod and no-one'd ever heard of them! It's nice to be at the front with the people who push these technologies through... let the masses wait!

I'm still getting used to the idea that you cannot just walk into a shop and buy e ink devices. It is great that at least in the Netherlands you will now be able to do so.The Sony Reader has had a retail presence for about 13 months now. :wink:

I'm still getting used to the idea that you cannot just walk into a shop and buy e ink devices.

Well you can.

Here in teh US, the Sony's are everywhere.

Target has them, in our dinkly little town of less than 9,000.

I saw a Sony at a Borders bookstore in the airport of all places.

Yes you can buy these devices in a store, problem is only stores in the U.S.A and Netherlands it appears. Oh, and soon in the U.K. I am pleased for those people. It does leave the other 6 billion or so people on the planet out in the cold but so it goes. Thank goodness for the internet is what I am thinking, and for the people on this forum that are so prepared to help out others with solid advice.

No kidding! iRex owe this forum so much; without the reviews of HenrysCat and Tribble et al, I certainly wouldn't have bought one... it simply isn't feasible to spend that kind of money on something you've never seen until you've got confirmation that it's any good. The iRex site is frankly crap, so I shudder to think how far the iliad wouldn't have come without you guys!