Okay, did some checking around -- I'm seeing reason to think that the "fall" timing may be the result of confirming quality levels on the released device (like a double-check through QA sort of thing).
(Obviously) Sony's Reader is aimed at us, the end customers, rather than B2B like the iLiad, so they're not expecting some company to buy it and fill the device with its own software. I'm inferring that Sony wants to make sure that the OS & apps on it are going to be pretty solid right out of the box, and reduce the oportunity for grumbling as much as they can.
Just look at how we're going on over the iLiad's ... issues..., and it's
supposed to be a B2B product -- they made us acknowledge it in writing before they'd let us buy the rascals, and we're still awful noisy! Mostly reasonable, I dare say, but pretty noisy, still.
I think it was noted elsewhere on the forum that the Sony CEO is pretty excited about their Reader, so they have
that motivation too.
Specific attention to a product by the CEO? Ouch.
Anyway, it's not spring, and it's not August, but October isn't all that far off, I suppose. (grumble)