Gen3 When will Bookeen post a new firmware update?

[Abelturd]

Would somebody care to make proper introductions? I'm dying to find out the true identity of delphi96, but I'm in no mood to go sifting through old threads. Why was the remark stupid? I know that curiosity killed the cat. Yet I'm willing to take the risk. Another mystery of MR about to be unraveled. Splendid.

[ErwinOtten]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

Would somebody care to make proper introductions? I'm dying to find out the true identity of delphi96, but I'm in no mood to go sifting through old threads. Why was the remark stupid? I know that curiosity killed the cat. Yet I'm willing to take the risk. Another mystery of MR about to be unraveled. Splendid.

Let's only say that Derek was one of the owners of NAEB. The only cybook-reseller in the USA until they ceased to exist in august 2008.

If you want to find out more you've got to ask Derek personally.

[Abelturd]

But is bookeen so much worse at communicating and delivering updates than her competitors, that we're all making such a big deal out of it?

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by ErwinOtten

I see you really don't have an idea who Derek (delphidb96) is. Maybe when you read some older posts on this forum (say from 2007 and further) you'll find out you made a very stupid remark.........

Let's leave it at that.

I would hesitate to say that Godzil made a 'stupid' remark, rather, I'd say that s/he's not conversant with my backstory with the Bookeen Cybook Gen3.

Derek

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

Would somebody care to make proper introductions? I'm dying to find out the true identity of delphi96, but I'm in no mood to go sifting through old threads. Why was the remark stupid? I know that curiosity killed the cat. Yet I'm willing to take the risk. Another mystery of MR about to be unraveled. Splendid.

Derek Benner. One of the co-owners/founders of Not Another E-Book, LLC, (NAEB).

Look, Bookeen has a 'decent' product. And the fact that it can read Mobi ebooks without any hassle is a big PLUS for me. Given that I'm disabled and living (until such time as I can get fit enough to get back to a real job) on disability income (Read that as FIXED, LOW income!), I cannot afford to be buying a new ebook device every year just to 'keep up with' the newer ebook formats.

Thus, regular updates of the firmware to support newer formats, or if my older Cybook Gen 3 cannot add formats, then giving a Windows executable that will convert my current mobi/prc ebooks to epub or whatever, is an absolute MUST for Bookeen to create.

Hasn't happened, don't expect it any time soon. And think about it. One of my two devices is a 64MB version. There's a chance that (near-)future updates will not run on it. So then it becomes a $375 piece of junk. And given that Bookeen cannot be bothered to even add a 'Delete the associated files' function to the OS, well, I'm not all that hopeful.

Derek

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

But is bookeen so much worse at communicating and delivering updates than her competitors, that we're all making such a big deal out of it?

Yes, compared to the Bebook for example.

Beeing small and making updates was a selling point for Bookeen were they claimed to be better than Sony and other big companies.

And I have not heard about any other company that do not aknowledge that they have got an support email.

[emellaich]

But is bookeen so much worse at communicating and delivering updates than her competitors, that we're all making such a big deal out of it?

I have studied small companies (Bookeen) versus large (Sony/Amazon). There is no best way that always works. However, you will find that in many cases the small company can not directly compete with the resources of the larger company.

For example, in the case of ebook readers the larger companies might offer a large selection of books, a wide distribution system, features such as a bundled nationwide wireless service, etcetera.

The way the small company can offset these advantages is by being more responsive. Big companies typically don't listen really well. Small companies can offer solutions that are initially weaker, but that grow over time in response to customer issues. In fact, the smaller company product may never have **all** the features of the big company product, but an attitude of continuous improvement and tailoring to specific customer requests can bring them a long way.

Unfortunately, Bookeen doesn't appear to be winning any battles. Bookeen had an early entry. As others have entered the market (Sony, Kindle, Cooler, Jetbook, ...) the Bookeen features have become quite ordinary. Since it is all based on the hardware of an OEM provider, its not unique unless Bookeen can bring some software specialization. Furthermore, Bookeen's lack of responsiveness has left them at a real disadvantage. At this point in time they are priced similar to the Kindle (considerably more than the Jetbook & Sony), they have fewer features, and they just aren't showing the ability to listen or adapt that can be strengths of smaller companies who are trying to compete against behemoths.

[FizzyWater]

I'll admit to being one of the disgruntled ones about the Cybook - although I'm as annoyed with myself as I am with Bookeen. When I was trying to decide what to upgrade to, I read Bookeen's website and blog and at that time, it was saying that folder support (and the ability to delete from the reader, I believe) was imminent.

I chose to believe them. That's where I get annoyed with myself. Caveat emptor and all that.

I've been through two firmware upgrades and neither included what I had used to make my upgrade choice. That and the sticky button (which isn't a problem with the 512 machine, so I'm told) killed any good feelings I had for this reader.

I have loaned the reader out to a friend who does a lot of travelling - and who hasn't had a smoother-operating button to compare it to - and she likes it and has made noises about buying it from me...maybe. So I may be getting rid of the Cybook soon.

Betcha that new firmware with the folders and delete function will show about a week after that, eh?

[Abelturd]

Nice to make your acquaintance, Derek.
As to bookeen's nonresponsivness, that seems to be the path they chose to follow. Not much we can do about it, their obliviousness to our ranting appears to grow with time. It's to their own harm, though.
If you don't like bookeen's attitude, stop buying their products, that should teach then a lesson. But to whine over a finished product you already paid for, that's like to expect your fridge to start doing the dishes all of a sudden, in spite of the fact it was never meant to do that. Maybe there are fridges that can do both things. But then it strikes me as natural to go out there and buy the new model. Updates are bookeen's courtesy. Don't mistake them for a relief organization. That one can not keep the pace with the technological progress financially is hardly bookeen's fault. I can neither.

[EowynCarter]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

But is bookeen so much worse at communicating and delivering updates than her competitors, that we're all making such a big deal out of it?

You're making a fuzz out of it.

You know, i wanted to get support for my NAS. Took me tree days to have any contact with Synology. Getting in touch with bookeen was done in a few minutes.

Yeah, bookeen is not that good with com, but they where effective when I really needed them to. My reader was fixed in no time. And that definitely more important than having a precise date for next update.

Stop whining endlessly you'll never have update for Gen 3 , that bookeen wants you to buy the Opus. Update WILL comes. Bookeen have said that all over again. It's just a mater of time.

[Abelturd]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

You're making a fuzz out of it.

I'm making no fuss. I'm trying to point out that B. is no worse than amazon or sony. And the logic - they're small so they have to try harder and therefore we're entitled to expect more from them is lopsided imo. They have less resources, less personell, less to spend on marketing. Let's not be so judgemental.

[GeoffC]

A new month dawns .....

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Abelturd

But to whine over a finished product you already paid for, that's like to expect your fridge to start doing the dishes all of a sudden, in spite of the fact it was never meant to do that. Maybe there are fridges that can do both things.

*Cough**Cough*Bull*Cough**Cough*Shit.

You presume to compare upgrading a set of software functions of an ebook device to rebuilding the hardware of another device? Talk about comparing apples to aether. One requires retrieving the unit and either adding to or replacing completely the various parts and components. The other requires testing the upgraded or improved software components on an in-house device to see if they will work and then allowing users to 'upgrade' their devices themselves.

Derek

P.S. It's called Goodwill. And any company which fails to provide it tends to go out of business.

[Idoine]

Goodwill is great, but I think that's not the problem here.
Quality process is the problem !

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Idoine

Goodwill is great, but I think that's not the problem here.
Quality process is the problem !

I'll grant you that point.

Derek