This story puts teeth in an otherwise empty rumor (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6326), it's official now, the delayed launch of the iLiad reader (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/search.php?query=iRex+or+iLiad&do=process) has been caused by some "unforeseen technical problems" with the implementation of the web shop (http://www.irextechnologies.com/shop/index.htm). It's certainly hard to believe that a bunch of geeks who manage to produce the world's greatest e-book reader fail to implement something trivial as a web store, but may it be so. Thanks to our savvy reader Roland who brought the news (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=27706).

Updated: TeleRead mentions (http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=4764) May 10th as the date when iRex will publish more details regarding the launch of the iLiad.

Meanwhile, if you haven't done so yet, why don't you take our poll (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6287) when do you think the iRex webshop will actually open.

well...interesting to note, that even when they were still claiming an April launch, the poll was already showing a majority for the May launch option...^^

well...interesting to note, that even when they were still claiming an April launch, the poll was already showing a majority for the May launch option...^^
Heh, I took the liberty to add another entry to the poll for after-May-projections. For those who don't believe in the Web store explanation ;)

I'd tend to believe the web store excuse only because I feel no one in their right mind would use such an excuse as a lie. If there were production delays they could have just as well said that since it is not unheard of for a company to delay the release of a product for just such a reason and while some would be disappointed, they would not be as overly upset to avoid buying it altogether.

If they are indeed being deceitful, then they are painting themselves into a corner by using an excuse that can realistically be corrected fairly quickly and could lose the trust of potential customers. I mean if they lie about this what else could they lie about?

Who cares what the actual reason is for the delay? :rolleyes: It's their product to release. Just wait and see, then judge.

Who is judging? I am speculating on "what if's". Personally I don't care what the reason is. I just care whether it is the truth or not. For now, I tend to believe them. While it is true that it is their product to release, it is also their product to succeed or fail. I'm just giving a potential customers perspective.

my opinion:

The guys at iRex have realized something...

There are peolpe out there (us) who want to buy their device...NOW....and in large numbers too.
So they decided to delay and make some "adjustments" to their "direct-to-customer" sales. They probably want to add some more reader software out of the box as well.

What do you think?

That sounds possible and with best intentions.

Patience is a virtue.

Patience is a virtue.
... but being virtuous does not always come easy. :scholar:

Who is judging? I am speculating on "what if's". Personally I don't care what the reason is. I just care whether it is the truth or not. For now, I tend to believe them. While it is true that it is their product to release, it is also their product to succeed or fail. I'm just giving a potential customers perspective.

All I'm saying is to give them some slack. There's no conspiracy at work here to keep you from buying your beloved Iliad. The actual reason for the delay is irrelevant, just as long as the final product is good. Some people here are obsessing over this thing. (Yes, you are!) Maybe it sucks and you wouldn't want it anyway. :D

my opinion:

The guys at iRex have realized something...

There are peolpe out there (us) who want to buy their device...NOW....and in large numbers too.
So they decided to delay and make some "adjustments" to their "direct-to-customer" sales. They probably want to add some more reader software out of the box as well.

What do you think?

It's certainly a very attractive opinion -- that is to say I'd certainly like it if it were so.

It makes sense, I haven't heard anything that qualifies as counter-evidence, but not much in the way of supporting evidence either, aside from the massive potential customer interest expressed in this forum (and elsewhere), of course.

I think I'll join you in (at least) hoping it's so.

Patience is a virtue.

Most agreed! :D

And I know there are many virtuous patient folks who will tell you how CLIO NXT was dumped (as in not show up) on them. :o

As I mentioned on another thread, it could be possible that they are tweaking the web store to cater for more consumer volume as they may have initially intended to have some resellers or retailers front-end their B2C part, while they handle B2B themselves.

But hey, I think folks here are pretty decent and patient. We are not rioting ... yet! :D

my opinion:

The guys at iRex have realized something...

There are peolpe out there (us) who want to buy their device...NOW....and in large numbers too.
So they decided to delay and make some "adjustments" to their "direct-to-customer" sales. They probably want to add some more reader software out of the box as well.

What do you think?

Or maybe they are also using this opportunity to manufacture more units so they can sustain the massive sell immediately after the release.

I'm just hoping that they dont have not discovered any major hard/soft flaw with the device.

What I am wondering about...where is henrycat?
He went (wanted to go) to ARTEC and see the presentation on the Iliad yesterday...now I'm wondering...why havent we heard from him yet?

Maybe he got NDA...^^
or he managed to purchase an Iliad and is afraid we'll take it away from him if he tells us...:-)

....or he managed to purchase an Iliad and is afraid we'll take it away from him if he tells us...:-)
If I had the iLiad I wouldn't hang around on the Net but would start to read my 92745982345243 e-books that I've always wanted to read :D

my opinion:

The guys at iRex have realized something...

There are peolpe out there (us) who want to buy their device...NOW....and in large numbers too.
So they decided to delay and make some "adjustments" to their "direct-to-customer" sales. They probably want to add some more reader software out of the box as well.

What do you think?

Quite possible. My secret hope is that they are waiting on Mobipocket and legally can't tell us till the deal is sealed. :happy2:

Edit:

Oooh. Check this quote from Angel Ancin at iRex Technologies posted at www.teleread.org

"Main reason for delay is e-commerce problems (technical delays in the webshop itself) and inclusion of additional software goodies to be announced. (Unfortunately, I can not disclose yet)"

I really hope those "goodies" include Mobipocket. :grin:

All I'm saying is to give them some slack. There's no conspiracy at work here to keep you from buying your beloved Iliad. The actual reason for the delay is irrelevant, just as long as the final product is good. Some people here are obsessing over this thing. (Yes, you are!) Maybe it sucks and you wouldn't want it anyway. :D

I would be perfectly happy to wait until August provided that they gave us a great final product. My only beef would be if the reasons they give us were less than honest. So far I see no evidence on this, hence my speculating on it. I look for this standard in any company I purchase from and am not saying Irex is guilty of it. :wink:

http://www.teleread.org/blog/?p=4764

/Quote :
We are delayed. The new date is expected throughout May.

Main reason for delay is e-commerce problems (technical delays in the webshop itself) and inclusion of additional software goodies to be announced. (Unfortunately, I can not disclose yet)

Most likely around May 10th, we will (finally) start actively using our website for communication.

We will confirm the list of countries and launch dates soon in that environment.

Please check regularly www.irextechnologies.com from the first week of May onwards.

/Quote

I think it will be first of May .... 2007 :-)

What´s about Sony ...

Mobipocket has a special version of their reader for the Pepper Pad (mentioned somewhere in their forum).