[balok]

Originally Posted by NatCh

... I also know from that experience that deadlines get missed. Launches get pushed, and generally (from the iLiad experience), it's better to wait an extra month or even three for a product that actually does what it was designed to do, rather than one that's not there yet.

I'm just pointing out that Bookeen didn't have to set a deadline, but they did, and then they didn't respect it. If I did that kind of thing at work, I could get into a lot of trouble.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why is it that you are so hostile? have you never seen other companies miss their release deadlines before? The Cybook gen3 could be released before the software is ready. Do you want to see that happen?

Why are you defending Bookeen? I have seen other companies miss their deadlines, and that's another reason Bookeen's delay is disappointing. What I would have wanted was for the software to be ready when they said it would be. If the problem is the software, as you are theorising, then there is absolutely no excuse for the delay.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Bookeen are completely dependend upon their external suppliers, such as the screen manufacturer. It is well documented that there have been delays in the supply of the new Vizplex screens that the CyBook uses. These delays are completely outside Bookeen's control.

They can anticipate delays, and should have, considering past history in the ebook industry. Either they didn't anticipate the delay, or they don't care about missing the deadline. We should demand that they set realistic deadlines instead of pulling a date out of their hat and when the date rolls around they tell us: "Oops, better luck next time."

That's a very foolish thing to say. Do you honestly believe that Bookeen deliberately misled people about the delivery date? The date was an estimate, not a "promise". Nobody can make "promises" about future events, because nobody can predict the future. You haven't "lost" anything through this delay, have you? You haven't paid Bookeen any money, or ordered a machine from them? What are you so upset about?

They may not have deliberately misled people, but there was heedlessness in their behaviour, which may amount to a certain degree of intention. Posing an act without regard to the consequences is equivalent to having wanted to consequences. People are declared guilty of murder based on that principle.

We can make promises about future events. Have you ever had a mortage? It's a promise to pay the bank what you owe them, otherwise you forfeit your house. In this case there doesn't seem to be any forfeiture for Bookeen, because you consumers are used to getting the short end of the stick.

I don't intend to buy a Cybook, so I haven't lost anything. I couldn't care less about when the device is released. What I care about is corporate ethics. I'm upset about the way Bookeen, and other companies like Sony and iRex, treat us like sheep. I guess some of us are sheep.