Would you pay for new features?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

It's very nice of ALL companies that give us new features and stuff for free - be gratefull, it's NOT some kind of birthright you've bought with the device!!!

I think I misunderstood.

If the firmware was to add new features not present in the original device, it would be ok to charge for it imho.

However, if it is to remedy deficencies in the device (e.g. by improving PDF support) then it should be free to existing customers. I would regard this as standard customer support.

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

If users paid for updates, maybe it would motivate Bookeen to greater responsibility.
No more blowing off customers' requests for new features, sticking to announced release dates, better communication on Bookeen's part.

That was part of the idea... Plus, there should be a way for feature requests and voting on what's important. Maybe if money is involved, we can get them to reconsider their position about nonDRM ePub support in the Mobi version (and vice versa).

I'd be happy to pay 5 bucks for each new feature I really want/need!

BTW: Why do we have 9 people in this thread saying they'll be willing to pay, if the features are worth it, but just 7 votes other then "never"?!

[Abelturd]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

BTW: Why do we have 9 people in this thread saying they'll be willing to pay, if the features are worth it, but just 7 votes other then "never"?!

'cause it would be unwise from me to say I would pay when I don't know what I would be paying for. So I refrained from voting.
If they were selling FW with features I deem useful, I would pay, otherwise no.

[emellaich]

Here is the thing, software can be a source of competitive advantage. However, its clear that Bookeen is having problems with basic stuff like enabling the delete key. Given this, I think it might be more appropriate for them to open up the software and pursue an open source approach.

Bookeen could concentrate on key components, say the display drivers, document display and an API. This would leave the community to add features to the user interface, enhance the directory etcetera.

Alternatively, Bookeen could adopt open inkpot as their standard core system and enhance it with modules/features that they feel are necessary.

[T_Frain_K]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apple do it for the iPod Touch and nobody seems to mind.

This is not true, I know a bunch of people that are very upset. And right they are.
The thing is, if you (as a company) want to stay serious, you just cannot charge for a firmware. Since it is part of the product you already paid for, which would not be of any use without it.
Besides that, you can charge for any kind of additional software no doubt.

To sum up my statement:
No payment for firmware implementations. Possible for additional software.
But that should not mean, that obvious basic functionality should be left out to be then sold seperately (like automatic key-lock on my N73).

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by T_Frain_K

The thing is, if you (as a company) want to stay serious, you just cannot charge for a firmware. Since it is part of the product you already paid for, which would not be of any use without it.
Besides that, you can charge for any kind of additional software no doubt.

In fact the OS of all eReaders is some kind of stripped-down Linux. Then come the reading software for different file formats, which is additional apps.

You paid for a package of OS + reader apps and are perfectly right to demand full functionality for all of this (it was part of the deal).

But if they add additional parts for new file formats or features (like organizer, alarm clock whatever... like with Pocketbook), it's nice to get them for free, but in some way they have some right to charge (at least a little fee) for this - especially when there's license fees involved.

Like I've already said before: I'd happily pay for features I really need/want, like I've paid for some shareware tools on my PC. Come on, said 5-20 bucks is a steal, if you'd get a bunch of new features, you otherwise have to buy a new reader for...

[Sparrow]

I would pay $6.27 if they could make it read aloud in a Marilyn Monroe-voice.

[ErwinOtten]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I would pay $6.27 if they could make it read aloud in a Marilyn Monroe-voice.

$ 1,50 for pagenumbers and $ 2,75 for a dedicated look-up button.

More bids anybody ?

[EowynCarter]

$ 1,50 for pagenumbers

Works for Epub on the opus. And probably will with gen 3

[ErwinOtten]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Works for Epub on the opus. And probably will with gen 3

Al right, let me rephrase that. $ 1,50 for pagenumbers in Mobipocket

Because without dictionary support I don't give a rat's ass for ePub.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by ErwinOtten

Al right, let me rephrase that. $ 1,50 for pagenumbers in Mobipocket

How does that dictionary thing works anyway ? If you have a dictionary in mobi format, like say, the English / french harraps, you can do a lookup in it when reading an other book ?

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

How does that dictionary thing works anyway ? If you have a dictionary in mobi format, like say, the English / french harraps, you can do a lookup in it when reading an other book ?

How it works with my Chambers dictionary is:
I'm reading a book and come across I word I don't know. I click the menu button and select 'Lookup Mode'.
This displays a rectangle on the book page that you can move around with the up/down/left/right selector - the rectangle selects each word it comes across.
When it's on the word I want, I click the centre button and it brings up the definition from the dictionary.
Once I've read the definition, selecting 'Back' from the menu list takes me back to where I was in the book, and I can carry on reading normally.

[Idoine]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

How does that dictionary thing works anyway ? If you have a dictionary in mobi format, like say, the English / french harraps, you can do a lookup in it when reading an other book ?

Don't you know that already ?

Spoiler:

Contextual menu, Lookup mode, move on the word you want to explain, validate, you'll have directly your definition, or a popup menu if you have several dictionaries like me (Menu contextuel, Mode définition, déplacement sur le mot recherché, et validation, tu obtiens soit directement la définition du mot, soit une liste de choix si tu as plusieurs dicos comme moi)

Edit : As Sparrow said (I forgot this part ! ), you can come back with the Back button on the left side of your Cybook too.
Edit bis : the Spoiler button doesn't work for me (IE8), I hope it'll work for you !

[Barcey]

It depends if I think the features are worth it or not.

If it's features that are above and beyond what was advertised in the original product then I think they are justified in charging for an upgrade but I would expect it not to be a mandatory upgrade and I would expect them to continue supporting the original feature set for x amount of time.

[etherspin]

bugfixes would be bad to charge for but significant extra functionality is ok to have a charge for - if that culture promotes more life for older devices by giving companies incentive to create updates then Im all for it