Let's make Irex sell the DR800SG in Europe from October

[menelic]

The DR800SG seems the best eReader out there for academic use. Irex seems to be strong on pdf and provides great note taking features - this makes the new reader highly attractive for students, lecturers and researchers. I am sure there is a sizeable customer base in Europe that needs these same use cases. So lets link up and make Irex sell their new reader in Europe from October! Since teh Quallcomm 3G connectivity enables global functionality, the device they're selling in the US is identical to what thee y will launch in Europe some time later. Why wait for them to finalise 3G negotiations which they claim they're starting at Frankfurt Book Fair in October only? Having read up on previous Irex readers and having tried the Sony 600 as well as the pocketbook 302 at IFA it seems the DR800SG is the reader to go for academic use. Lets make Irex - a Dutch company - sell their product in Europe from October - and be it per mail order from NL!

How could this be done? I Suggest we start a posting blitz here

http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2009/09/23...ader/#comments

and also email them and/ or invite their representative to post here directly in response to people who want the DR800SG s features in Europe now without having to wait for 3G plans agreed in half of the EU before roll out.

lets make it happen!

[Lilly]

FYI - The DR800SG will have no note taking ability.

[Who are you?]

Irex has already said they will make announcements this year on countries in Europe that get the Irex, and they are currently negotiating with providers.

The 800 will have note taking in the future, but the software is not yet finished.

[Crowl]

Vodafone are one of the owners of Verizon, so here's hoping that connection can speed things up as far as a european release of the device.

[menelic]

Just to clarify the idea: I know that negotiations are underway, but I fear the diversity of the European mobile data infrastructure might slow things down unnecessarily. I'd like Irex to start selling the device from their website from October. I am sure there are people who would like to use the device asap and are happy to go without 3G offers for a few month.

let me know what you think - and even more important, let Irex know!

[Seventh Son]

As if this is the last device on Earth I don't care, sorry. Don't see any use for 3G on a reader. Wacom tech doesn't really appeal to me on anything other than a tablet. And having to use a special stylus while on the go doesn't seem all that convenient.

[Jumpn Jack Flash]

I assume that Verzion is subsiding the device in some manner and that is what irex is trying to get in europe. Now I cannot set that happening so they may have to sell at a higher price on this side of the pond.

Personally I can see benefit of a 3G module, but I would perfer a Wifi module (or both ).

Now that the 800 is out, I wonder if they will get suspend working in the DR.

Now too wait for an 8'' Onyx Boox or get a DR, decisions, decisions.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by Jumpn Jack Flash

I assume that Verzion is subsiding the device in some manner and that is what irex is trying to get in europe. Now I cannot set that happening so they may have to sell at a higher price on this side of the pond.

It isn't being subsidised by verizon, they are just supplying the very limited connectivity that the device has, there's no reason why the device would need to cost more in europe.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by menelic

Just to clarify the idea: I know that negotiations are underway, but I fear the diversity of the European mobile data infrastructure might slow things down unnecessarily.

I don't fear it, I know it...

Originally Posted by Seventh Son

As if this is the last device on Earth I don't care, sorry. Don't see any use for 3G on a reader.

Same here, I don't care about 3G. But apparently I must care about it if I want to buy such a device, because they don't want to sell it unless they have a 3G partner. That I might like the device as-is, without 3G, that's apparently not important. Or maybe I already have a 3G subscription somewhere which I could use for this device.

I just can't understand their "need" for a 3G partner.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Who are you?

The 800 will have note taking in the future, but the software is not yet finished.

Just a word of caution. My standard advice is that you should buy a device based on it's current capabilities. If note taking is a requirement for you, I would recommend holding off on a purchase until the software really exists.

That's not just for iRex, but any company. Plans change, companies go out of business, etc. Lots of things could happen before a future feature is supported.

[Crowl]

You could understand them wanting such partnerships in place before doing a full launch in a particular country, but it does seem strange that none of these companies want to sell any devices.

Maybe its all just a handy excuse, they might be committed to certain levels of order to the states and wouldn't have enough devices to launch anywhere else at the same time.

[avril87]

Why the big push for a European release? If it doesn't have note taking abilities yet, why not wait? This would be my ideal device and I might consider making a visit to Best Buy on my vacation... if it already had the note taking abilities. If not, I will wait for a European release next year. Hopefully after hearing all the reviews from those who've already bought one.

I cannot understand why Irex released a device without the note taking. IMO that's what puts them ahead of the rest of the readers on the market.

[jotas]

Originally Posted by avril87

Why the big push for a European release? If it doesn't have note taking abilities yet, why not wait? This would be my ideal device and I might consider making a visit to Best Buy on my vacation... if it already had the note taking abilities. If not, I will wait for a European release next year. Hopefully after hearing all the reviews from those who've already bought one.

I cannot understand why Irex released a device without the note taking. IMO that's what puts them ahead of the rest of the readers on the market.

Irex is also famous by dropping all support and fixes for products as soon as a new one is released, and for having unfixed and unfinished firmware for promised features... so, my main concern is if they will add it really in future, and in a working and usable way.

Regards.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by jotas

Irex is also famous by dropping all support and fixes for products as soon as a new one is released

They've done that once, and the hardware/software between the new/old devices were completely different. Also, the older device was still supported, just no new fixes/features.

In this case, the DR1000 and DR800 are based on the same architecture. I would expect that they will continue with software development for both.

and for having unfixed and unfinished firmware for promised features... so, my main concern is if they will add it really in future, and in a working and usable way.

No argument there. That's why I would recommend waiting if note taking is something that is a requirement for you. I wouldn't just assume that they will finish it. But that holds true for any company, not just iRex.

[Bert]

Originally Posted by avril87

Why the big push for a European release? If it doesn't have note taking abilities yet, why not wait? This would be my ideal device and I might consider making a visit to Best Buy on my vacation... if it already had the note taking abilities. If not, I will wait for a European release next year. Hopefully after hearing all the reviews from those who've already bought one.

I cannot understand why Irex released a device without the note taking. IMO that's what puts them ahead of the rest of the readers on the market.

Some people aren't as interested in notetaking ability. I currently own an iLiad, and I rarely use the notetaking. Hell, I can't even remember when I used it for the last time ...
I also don't care much for the 3G functionality. Sure, it's nice to have, but I don't really need it, and I will also rarely use it when it's there.

Problem is I broke my iLiad's screen last week, and replacing it costs $400 ... So I better buy another device instead of repairing my 3-year-old iLiad. This device is one of the only 8" devices, and one with an excellent pdf viewer too. I find that the most important thing, so I want to buy this device ... and that's why I want an October release.