[firekat]

I am not a hacker but I can certainly understand the frustration of people with these skills. In some aspects the concept and implementation of programmable electronic device manufacture and marketing is still in it's infancy.

The point is that most hackers/programmers see a new device as a blank chalkboard/whiteboard and an opportunity to use the tools that they have to get what they want out of the new device. It seems that they see manufacturers of these devices as just toolmakers, facilitating what they want to do with the device. The manufacturers want to control all access to the device. They don't want to be thought of as just a hardware supplier. They see opening up the device to further functionality as a potential loss of revenue. A hacker could come up with functionality that was not thought of by the manufacturer and sell it. I don't see this happening in this small community here on mobileread but on the outside world it is completely different, hence companies are very guarded in what they will do with their devices and just how open they will be with it.

A tool manufacturer sells you a screwdriver. They want you to use it only as a screwdriver. They don't want you to use it as a chisel, scraper, driftpin, alignment tool, prybar, etc. They want you to purchase all those tools, not just the screwdriver.

Look at the way that Apple has hobbled their devices. If you want something or some further functionality from them you either give up or wait until they build another one that will satisfy your needs/desires. It is their branding. They make you want/need it, tell you how happy you will be with it, and then when you want a little more they tell you that you don't really and are going against the group and how superior their product is inspite of it's shortcomings. One thing that I do have to give them is that their stuff usually works - without fault. You just can't do anything with it other than what they will allow you to.

I can commiserate with the frustration. I am trying to maintain a positive "glass is half full" attitude. But at times I can get pessimistic, think that iRex is just going to dump this thing as is, and will either sell the company off or just give up.

We are not a very patient lot. We all want it NOW!!! After all we did get iRex to pre-release this device contrary to their initial plans. We did get very upset with their lack of communication or a percieved sense of miscommunication. In the end they do appear to be working with us - to a certain extent and to whatever degree they desire. The thing is it will all take time.

The sliding release times of the other e-ink devices tells me that there is more to these devices than what might initially meet the eye.

C'est la Vie! (Excuse me if I spelled this wrong)

I am hoping that it will all work out in the end - I just want it RIGHT NOW!

Maybe we need to start another meditation thread?

P.S. As I was penning this after I finished I noted the subsequent references to the meditation thread. Boy things move fast here!