A little info tidbit may have leaked out as to why iRex is delaying (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6658) the release of its much anticipated iLiad reader. Not with a bang but a whimper the company changed the product specification (http://www.irextechnologies.com/downloads/Productleaflet-Iliad.pdf) (PDF), effectively reducing the amount of available Flash memory by almost 45% (new: 128MB) and removing any signs of support for SD memory cards. On the positive side, iRex engineers seem to be working on supporting a wider range of e-book file formats.

Thanks to our keen readers sammykrupa and haasisoft for pointing out (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=6690) the differences.

Do you think they reduced the memory to reduce costs/price?

I think total memory hasn't changed; only the free memory available to the user. As tripple points out (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29516&postcount=6), this could indicate that the operation system requires more memory than was originally planned.

and if its the specs from the chinese version, it uses alot more memory for OS and fonts

Reducing the amount of flash memory isn't that bad seeing how many people will probably use memory cards to store their content anyway.

But I question why they got rid of the SD slots in favor of CF slots. Granted that CF cards are cheaper today (because they are falling out of favor), but still...

Hopefully their changes will noticably reduce the price.

CF cards are larger than SD cards and require more power (admittingly, just a little).

Err am I missing something?

The specs for the Iliad have always (well since I first read about it at least) always mentioned CF.

The difference now is that it states: CF and MMC instead of CF and SD.

It's one of the reasons I liked it as I already have several CF cards (both my Digital Cameras, Clio and Zaurus, all use them)

I don't think you are missing anything. I too have always read of it having CF/SD which has now changed to CF/MMC

good glad I'm not going (more) insane.

irex just said, that SD cards can be read. Said Hernycat in the other post.
And CF was in always.