What features are important to you on new devices?

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by theducks

What is a Grade A screen compared to the PEz?
I know the rest, but other may not.

You can only have an On Screen Keyboard if you have Touch, I don't want touch (The new kittens already cause unwanted page operations on my PEz).

Dear Duckie:

ALL the screens at present on Astak devices are Grade "A". Screen manufacturers grade their screens based on how close to their perfect screen it is. Some manufacturers in China and Taiwan do sell eBook Readers with e-ink for incredible prices (maybe $117 cost to Astak) if we wanted them. They use Grade "B" which is kind of like what a blemished (Blem) is on tires. The screen manufacturer felt it did not have quite the clarity of resolution of their best screens.

I put it on there as an option. Me, I am proud we use only the best screens. But, there are significant savings by using a Grade "B" and it works but just is not great. I wanted to see if, in the drive to offer lower cost devices, how many might support "slightly less than perfect" screens if the price was reduced by $40-$50. Astak devices are up against these lower priced units all the time and I get asked often WHY we cannot offer as low a price as some others in the market. The general public has a tendency to think of screens as "works or does not work". Reality is there are indeed grades of screens.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

I have a desire for a 9" reader for academic work (surprised this market hasn't been broken into given the number of students in schools and teachers/lecturers).

Silly thing is I think the Kindle DX is damn close. IMHO it needs to add functionality such as cropping of PDF files; provision to have open multiple files and just rotate between them. Throw a SD card slot and USB port (to allow plugging in a thumb drive) and I think it would be there (for my academic needs anyway).

Anyway, just my 2 cents on what I want my next ereader to function as.

We have lately seen a great number of school districts and colleges wanting to buy the Pocket PRO for their faculty. I know it is 5 inch but that is fine with them (I am in no way arguing with you). They buy 20-30 at a shot and they like the different colors we offer so they can give Blue to Science and Maroon to Business and so on. I do not understand fully why this is happening but it is. From the small feedback they give, it is the 20 formats and 26 languages and the speed and the SD card slot that make it great for them. A Radiology Department, on the other hand, feels the User Replaceable Rechargeable Battery is absolutely critical so they can keep all their devices at full charge all the time. They cannot afford down-time.

I agree that the 9 inch should be ideal for schools and universities and lecturers. It is already wanted by lawyers and script writers and producers of TV shows. The 9 inch is definitely coming and we do want it.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Spiffy

None of the above.

Missing from that list is improved firmware, featuring more solid and logical on-device management of ebook files.

That could be called expensive in terms of development resources, but its cheap in terms of actual effect on the hardware. Keep the hardware cheap, without unnecessary feature clutter. But file maintenance is less of a feature and more of a necessity. It's not like Wifi or 3G, which are total gravy which other companies are trying to persuade consumers are absolutely necessary. They aren't.

Although Wifi may not actually be that expensive to add, come to think of it. The chipset isn't very expensive and there are no ancillary costs like with 3G. The problem is that I bet Wifi would affect battery life... so why bother? If its added make sure its not an "always on" kind of situation and has to be manually turned on.

Larger screen? Great. But maintain the smaller cheaper ones as well on at least one model. Anything over 6 inches isn't NECESSARY, its a luxury, but its certainly more worthwhile than most "features".

Keyboards? Hell no. Why? Just why?

Keep the SD slot. I don't care if the unit could be $10 cheaper without it--you need it.

Sealed in batteries are stupid. I'm not sure how that's a cost issue though. Are sealed in batteries CHEAPER to produce?

Backlighting is an interesting question. I honestly don't know. Don't need one with the current model, but I can conceive of designs where it might be a good thing. Just don't go adding a touch screen, okay? Too little bang for the buck. Ditto for color screens.

A reliable clock would be nice, and I don't think it has to cost much. Don't have it drain the main battery. Have the clock run off its OWN standard watch battery (make it an easily available affordable type, coin sized or smaller), and have THAT battery accessible via an externally accessible panel which you don't need a screwdriver for. If it added more than $5 to the cost of the unit in total I'd be shocked.

So here's what's important:

Absolutely essential:
1.) Reading your books
[fairly large gap]
Fairly essential:
2.) MANAGING your books
[gigantic gap]
Somewhat essential:
3.) wide format support, accessible battery, SD slot
Nice to have, if it doesn't increase cost:
4.) having a working clock, case colors (as opposed to a color screen)
Reasonable luxuries, if increased cost is not huge:
5.) Wifi (but just for file transfer, not for web browsing or any other crap like that), screen bigger than 6"
Unnecessary or maybe even detrimental "features":
6.) 3G, Touch screen, Color screen, Keyboard

Another thing besides file management not on the poll is a feature similar to the Pocketbook 360's accelerometer page turning feature. It actually sounds more useful (and cheaper to produce) than a touch screen. It's probably not an expensive device if they can add it to cheap video game controllers. I'd rate it like "Wifi"--potentially useful, but only if its implemented correctly and doesn't add much cost.

Dear Spiffy:

Yes, you bring up many great thoughts and input and I appreciate it. Keyboards seem to be popular for note taking and some navigation benefit and dictionary perhaps. This might be critical to lawyers, schools, script writers and more. I just think it is an option worth exploring as we have seen a few arrive here.

Yes, it costs less to put in a sealed-in battery over going with User Replaceable. I do not know what the costs are for each but it saves a bit. On the other hand I think you lose the ability to keep a fully-charged spare with you at all times and batteries do go bad. I DO agree with others that say that they buy a new device before they need a new battery... but I know on my GPS unit the battery went bad in the middle of a trip to Indianapolis and that left me asking at gas stations again for directions. You do not appreciate User-Replaceable until you need it.

I agree that color is basically useless on eBook Readers BUT the reviewers are constantly saying "the iPad has color and eBook Readers will never be competitive without it". I don't agree with that one little bit but I wanted to get feedback from others. I see the iPad as a computer or netbook and as a horrible substitute for an eBook Reader. Reviewers think that eBook Readers will just die away without going to color screens. The illustrious iPad is the second coming of Christ to all gadgets in many reviewer eyes.

[Davimee]

Looking through the options again I've decided this is pretty much an ereader, not MID, so I went ahead and voted in the poll. I still prefer the 5" screen of my pocket pro to a 6" screen, as it is so easy to take with me.

• Wi-fi doesn't really matter to me, either way. If it had wi-fi (or bluetooth) I can see myself using that to hook it up to my computer (in the same way I used to hot sync my palm), but I don't think I'd use that to go directly to a book store. It would be nice to be able to connect it to my computer without fishing around for the usb cord, but if that feature adds a lot to the cost, I'd prefer to not have it.
  
• Touch screen doesn't make any difference to me, either. If the touch screen has good contrast and looks good without adding a huge price to the tag, then sure, it would be nice. But when I saw the Sony touch screen at Borders, the screen looked washed out, compared to my Pocket Pro. So if I'd have to sacrifice quality of screen, then I definitely don't want touch screen. And if it adds a lot to the price (more than $10-$20), then I'd rather not have it.
  
• As far as the keyboard goes, from what I understand, the soft keyboard requires touch screen. I'm happy with the keyboard on the Pocket Pro. If it did have touch screen, then yes, the soft keyboard would be nice. That way it could have a bit of a larger screen without making too much larger of a footprint.
  
• A choice of colors is fantastic, but not completely necessary. If offering other colors increases the price, I'd be happy with black. Although I'd really prefer to not have white, as that would tend to show dirt easier, I would think.
  
• Dictionary support would definitely be a plus!
  
• I really like the visible clock in CoolReader, so I'd say a visible clock would be great. Actually, I like the entire status bar in coolreader, so if that was an option in the epub reader, that would be fantastic. It's great being able to see my progress into a book. And when I read several books by the same author, sometimes I forget which book I'm reading, so it's nice to have the title of the book. But I can see how some people don't like that, so it's great to have the option.
  
• I say ship it with the case... even though it adds a few dollars, it saves me from having to purchase something extra for my new toy. I'd rather have everything I need right in the box.
  
• Now as far as the screen display, e-ink, backlighting and battery life... I'd be curious to see one with a backlit display. That would be great for reading in the evening. However, I do like the look of the e-ink screen. I wouldn't mind sacrificing battery life for backlighting, as long as the display is still easy to read. Also, if it had this feature, would I be able to read it in direct sunlight, like I can my Pocket Pro? If I'd have to sacrifice that, I say skip the backlighting, stay with e-ink, and I'll continue using my book light at night. But if there's an option for turning off the backlighting and reading in direct (or bright) sunlight, I'd like the backlit option. That is, of course, if it doesn't add a hefty weight to the price tag. I'm also happy with a black and white screen.
  
• As far as weight, please keep it light! My purse gets heavy enough as it is, if I had to weigh it down with a heavier ereader, I'd end up leaving it at home.
  
• I don't know about the user replaceable battery... on paper it's a great feature to have, but like others here have said, I've rarely replaced a battery on an electronic device. Although I have a friend who's brand new Sony has a dead battery, and it's too much of a hassle for her to get a new one, so she's not using hers. So yeah, a user replaceable battery is good, as long as the battery itself doesn't cost a terrible amount.
  
• SD card slot is definitely a plus! And please do what you can to keep the cost down!

Thanks for your survey!

[Spiffy]

Robert, the IPad IS the second coming... as long as its stacked against other $600 devices.

Stacked against devices hovering in the $100-$150 space? Not so much.

The real threat are these supposed Android Tablets. Really the only way to counter devices which look like they won't cost much more than a decent eReader is to emphasize the reading experience, because... what else do you have? Best ergonomics and controls for reading, a (hopefully) optimized user interface (that needs a lot of work), far superior battery life, less eyestrain, etc. Because otherwise? Everyone will simply use a tablet. After all, they can web browse, and no matter what anyone says, a handheld web browsing unit IS damn convenient.

The "A" quality screens vs. the lesser quality is an interesting question. I personally wouldn't want lesser quality, but if it allowed you guys to produce, lets say... an $80 unit? It might be worth looking into for a bargain basement unit sold through standard retail channels. The opportunities of such a low cost is that more people will buy them on impulse. The problem with it is that with those kind of impulse buyers, the interface/software/book management tools have to be rock solid and pitifully easy to use. Think "person who buys consumer electronics at Target and Walmart". That kind of market might finally be ready for eBook readers, but they sure aren't ready for file and directory management in order to use the reader. Heck, after 25 years of trying to explain to MY Dad what a "directory" is, I've given up trying. A lot of our aging population is like that.

But that seems like it would be a side effort. The root of your original question seems to be about keeping up with a more sophisticated type of buyer. That's actually a much tougher endeavor given that there seems to be little space to compete with Internet Browsing capable devices other than going the same way. I don't see an easy solution.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Spiffy

Robert, the IPad IS the second coming... as long as its stacked against other $600 devices.

Stacked against devices hovering in the $100-$150 space? Not so much.

The real threat are these supposed Android Tablets. Really the only way to counter devices which look like they won't cost much more than a decent eReader is to emphasize the reading experience, because... what else do you have? Best ergonomics and controls for reading, a (hopefully) optimized user interface (that needs a lot of work), far superior battery life, less eyestrain, etc. Because otherwise? Everyone will simply use a tablet. After all, they can web browse, and no matter what anyone says, a handheld web browsing unit IS damn convenient.

The "A" quality screens vs. the lesser quality is an interesting question. I personally wouldn't want lesser quality, but if it allowed you guys to produce, lets say... an $80 unit? It might be worth looking into for a bargain basement unit sold through standard retail channels. The opportunities of such a low cost is that more people will buy them on impulse. The problem with it is that with those kind of impulse buyers, the interface/software/book management tools have to be rock solid and pitifully easy to use. Think "person who buys consumer electronics at Target and Walmart". That kind of market might finally be ready for eBook readers, but they sure aren't ready for file and directory management in order to use the reader. Heck, after 25 years of trying to explain to MY Dad what a "directory" is, I've given up trying. A lot of our aging population is like that.

But that seems like it would be a side effort. The root of your original question seems to be about keeping up with a more sophisticated type of buyer. That's actually a much tougher endeavor given that there seems to be little space to compete with Internet Browsing capable devices other than going the same way. I don't see an easy solution.

Dear Spiffy:

All good feedback and thank you.

We are still very hard at work on our Spectrum. That is an MID (Mobile Internet Device). I hope to have it in a few more months. This is a 7 inch design with full browser capabilities, webcam, picture camera,replaceable battery, color backlit display, touchscreen, SD card expansion, and I believe they have settled on Android. There is a lot I am leaving out until it is ready to spec out. This will be light enough for anyone (maybe 10.5 ounces) and cost about $299, from what I am told. I see this as better than the iPad in that it does all the iPad does and a lot more... yet it IS light enough for eBook Reading. Projected battery charge life is about 14 hours.

On the other hand, we are still hotly competing in the real eBook Reader market and trying to get a hot device (the EZ Reader PLUS was ordered today from the factory) to please those who want long battery life and do not care about color or browser.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Davimee

Looking through the options again I've decided this is pretty much an ereader, not MID, so I went ahead and voted in the poll. I still prefer the 5" screen of my pocket pro to a 6" screen, as it is so easy to take with me.

• Wi-fi doesn't really matter to me, either way. If it had wi-fi (or bluetooth) I can see myself using that to hook it up to my computer (in the same way I used to hot sync my palm), but I don't think I'd use that to go directly to a book store. It would be nice to be able to connect it to my computer without fishing around for the usb cord, but if that feature adds a lot to the cost, I'd prefer to not have it.
  
• Touch screen doesn't make any difference to me, either. If the touch screen has good contrast and looks good without adding a huge price to the tag, then sure, it would be nice. But when I saw the Sony touch screen at Borders, the screen looked washed out, compared to my Pocket Pro. So if I'd have to sacrifice quality of screen, then I definitely don't want touch screen. And if it adds a lot to the price (more than $10-$20), then I'd rather not have it.
  
• As far as the keyboard goes, from what I understand, the soft keyboard requires touch screen. I'm happy with the keyboard on the Pocket Pro. If it did have touch screen, then yes, the soft keyboard would be nice. That way it could have a bit of a larger screen without making too much larger of a footprint.
  
• A choice of colors is fantastic, but not completely necessary. If offering other colors increases the price, I'd be happy with black. Although I'd really prefer to not have white, as that would tend to show dirt easier, I would think.
  
• Dictionary support would definitely be a plus!
  
• I really like the visible clock in CoolReader, so I'd say a visible clock would be great. Actually, I like the entire status bar in coolreader, so if that was an option in the epub reader, that would be fantastic. It's great being able to see my progress into a book. And when I read several books by the same author, sometimes I forget which book I'm reading, so it's nice to have the title of the book. But I can see how some people don't like that, so it's great to have the option.
  
• I say ship it with the case... even though it adds a few dollars, it saves me from having to purchase something extra for my new toy. I'd rather have everything I need right in the box.
  
• Now as far as the screen display, e-ink, backlighting and battery life... I'd be curious to see one with a backlit display. That would be great for reading in the evening. However, I do like the look of the e-ink screen. I wouldn't mind sacrificing battery life for backlighting, as long as the display is still easy to read. Also, if it had this feature, would I be able to read it in direct sunlight, like I can my Pocket Pro? If I'd have to sacrifice that, I say skip the backlighting, stay with e-ink, and I'll continue using my book light at night. But if there's an option for turning off the backlighting and reading in direct (or bright) sunlight, I'd like the backlit option. That is, of course, if it doesn't add a hefty weight to the price tag. I'm also happy with a black and white screen.
  
• As far as weight, please keep it light! My purse gets heavy enough as it is, if I had to weigh it down with a heavier ereader, I'd end up leaving it at home.
  
• I don't know about the user replaceable battery... on paper it's a great feature to have, but like others here have said, I've rarely replaced a battery on an electronic device. Although I have a friend who's brand new Sony has a dead battery, and it's too much of a hassle for her to get a new one, so she's not using hers. So yeah, a user replaceable battery is good, as long as the battery itself doesn't cost a terrible amount.
  
• SD card slot is definitely a plus! And please do what you can to keep the cost down!

Thanks for your survey!

Dear Davimee:

Thank you so much for a thorough breakdown. I know you put a lot of great effort in it.

I left off the 5 inch in the survey as I do not see a new 5 inch on the horizon. I just do not think that ANY other 5 inch can top the Pocket PRO. Yes, we can still improve it; but IF only the rest of the world knew what a little gem the Pocket PRO really is.

[6charlong]

Originally Posted by Spiffy

None of the above.

<snipped>

That could be called expensive in terms of development resources, but its cheap in terms of actual effect on the hardware. Keep the hardware cheap, without unnecessary feature clutter. But file maintenance is less of a feature and more of a necessity. It's not like Wifi or 3G, which are total gravy which other companies are trying to persuade consumers are absolutely necessary. They aren't.

Spiffy reminded me of something I think should be mentioned. Book readers with Wifi or 3G and no SD slot (or any other way to load books on the device) do have a specific purpose: they are designed to force customers to buy all their books from the vendor that sold them the eBook reader. Some vendors use DRM for the same purpose.

It may be that future devices will have to support both secure Mobipocket AND Adept ePub in order to capture second-time buyers who already have a Mobipocket or Adept library. Amazon previously demanded exclusive access to any vendor's device or they refused to license secure Mobipocket for that device. However they are now supporting secure Mobipocket on the iPad even when the same pad hosts competitor's DRM encrypted books. It may indicate that Amazon is loosening their demand for exclusive access but it may also indicate that only devices with Wifi or 3G (i.e., access to buying eBooks from the Amazon store) will ever be licensed for secure Mobipocket.

My point is that I think any new device should support Adept ePub to allow customers to buy their books anywhere they like (except Amazon) while trying to negotiate with Amazon for a non-exclusive Mobipocket license--AND the manufacturer will have to plan to include Wifi to have any hope of winning an Amazon licensing agreement.

[SaraD]

Hi Robert,

I would like to add a "less fragile screen" option if that can be worked in somehow. The primary reason I have not yet purchased a reader is how expensive they are for how fragile the glass screen is and how nervous that makes me about using it on a daily basis. My baby boy is learning to stand up and yesterday discovered that he can now reach the kitchen table. Thank goodness he didn't grab anything breakable or my hot tea before I got there! I have not done much reading on the SiPix technology, but hopefully it is a little more robust than e-ink as well as less expensive. But I'll take enough cheaper that replacing a broken screen or buying a whole unit doesn't make me cry too much.

And I cannot stress the user replaceable battery enough! I am another person who uses my old electronics to the point where the batteries simply don't hold a charge very well. For example, I am still using a first generation iPod nano, but bought a second mp3 player becuase I was so frustrated with the battery going dead so quickly. Now I just can't make myself pay over $50 for something with a sealed battery. This and the factor of having to buy the chargers and cover seperate are the only reasons I do not have a silver Sony 600.

Yes, it actually did convert me to the touchscreen side! I tried the floor model and was shocked how much simpler it made navigation. The screen was just barely not as clear as the Sony 300 model next to the 600, but I found myself willing to accept the difference for the convenience. Until that moment I had been firmly against it as an un-necessary expensive add-on.

Overall I am still in the "keep it cheap, fast, light weight, and single function" camp. If it doesn't help the reading experience (including finding my books on the device) then I don't want to pay for it. Most of the choices that include 3G connectivity are noticably heavier than those without it and for that reason alone I would skip it.

For asking our opinions! I noticed your poll a few hours after it was posted and it has been nice watching the numbers climb to 45 by this morning, about 36 hours later. I'm sure you won't have a problem making to it 100 by the time it closes on July 5th. So far the choices are interesting to watch.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by SaraD

Hi Robert,

I would like to add a "less fragile screen" option if that can be worked in somehow. The primary reason I have not yet purchased a reader is how expensive they are for how fragile the glass screen is and how nervous that makes me about using it on a daily basis. My baby boy is learning to stand up and yesterday discovered that he can now reach the kitchen table. Thank goodness he didn't grab anything breakable or my hot tea before I got there! I have not done much reading on the SiPix technology, but hopefully it is a little more robust than e-ink as well as less expensive. But I'll take enough cheaper that replacing a broken screen or buying a whole unit doesn't make me cry too much.

And I cannot stress the user replaceable battery enough! I am another person who uses my old electronics to the point where the batteries simply don't hold a charge very well. For example, I am still using a first generation iPod nano, but bought a second mp3 player becuase I was so frustrated with the battery going dead so quickly. Now I just can't make myself pay over $50 for something with a sealed battery. This and the factor of having to buy the chargers and cover seperate are the only reasons I do not have a silver Sony 600.

Yes, it actually did convert me to the touchscreen side! I tried the floor model and was shocked how much simpler it made navigation. The screen was just barely not as clear as the Sony 300 model next to the 600, but I found myself willing to accept the difference for the convenience. Until that moment I had been firmly against it as an un-necessary expensive add-on.

Overall I am still in the "keep it cheap, fast, light weight, and single function" camp. If it doesn't help the reading experience (including finding my books on the device) then I don't want to pay for it. Most of the choices that include 3G connectivity are noticably heavier than those without it and for that reason alone I would skip it.

For asking our opinions! I noticed your poll a few hours after it was posted and it has been nice watching the numbers climb to 45 by this morning, about 36 hours later. I'm sure you won't have a problem making to it 100 by the time it closes on July 5th. So far the choices are interesting to watch.

Dear SaraD:

First off, thank you. You did a great job and your thoughts are good.

On a separate thread on here, several users have found warranty programs that will cover even a broken screen. They seem to report the cost is quite reasonable and they cover everything. Scroll down through the threads and you should find it easily. It is called Squaresomething.

Yes, a broken screen is a worry... but so is being hit by lightning. I think, of all the units we have sold in three models totaled together... less than ten had a broken screen. The standard case that comes with the Pocket PRO does a great job of protecting the screen. You can also opt for a Stylz case. That has a third flap that is beveled to exactly fit the screen. I have that and feel it is ideal on protection and you get glove-soft leather to boot in about five colors. I think itis still $24.99.

There is no way to ruggedize the screen itself that I know. Regarding Touch Screen. the Sony uses what is known as "Over the E-Ink " technology. The plastic touch goes over the E-Ink thus cutting resolution significantly. "Under the E-Ink" is coming and that will not lower the resolution. That is what I hope to see us move to. Keep in mind that "Touch" can add $80-$90 to the selling price. That is a big jump!

[MaggieScratch]

I've had my EZReader Pocket Pro nearly a year and the only thing I would change is to give the firmware a little eye candy. Some of the other readers have firmware that shows the book covers and the actual book titles instead of a list of filenames. And it's already been said, but bears repeating--give the user ability to control look and feel of the book while reading.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

I've had my EZReader Pocket Pro nearly a year and the only thing I would change is to give the firmware a little eye candy. Some of the other readers have firmware that shows the book covers and the actual book titles instead of a list of filenames. And it's already been said, but bears repeating--give the user ability to control look and feel of the book while reading.

Dear Maggie:

I will see what we can do. I agree that having book covers and real book titles would dress it up!!

Now, if the factory can just do this.

Bob

[Mr. Dalliard]

A minimalistic 9" model will do me fine - I just want to read....
My main requirement is that it goes on sale by the end of this year.

[citac]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dalliard

A minimalistic 9" model will do me fine - I just want to read....
My main requirement is that it goes on sale by the end of this year.

⇑ This! Only I'd like it sooner.

[Robertb]

Dear All:

We are about halfway to my goal of a sample size of 100 people. Please keep them coming.

Here are the conclusions I am drawing so far:

1. Overwhelmingly people feel that the fastest possible controller and processor are essential. No matter how 2 second page turns may seem no real problem to a few... the vast majority want to not even see their page turns... they just want the next page fast.

2. E-Ink is not going away. People really value long battery charge life and love to not have to keep recharging daily.

3. The SD card slot is also a keeper! People like being able to expand the memory and using a card to store their novels.

4. While the 6 inch remains incredibly wanted as the perfect size... there is strong support for a 9 inch that does not break the bank. Minamilistic is a good word. I take this to mean there is no need to glob on high-priced features to build a "King of all eBooks" that has everything on it. They seem to want a basically fast, E-Ink, larger screen for easier reading with an SD card slot and not much else. Most prefer Wi-Fi over 3G by a large margin and would like to see Wi-Fi models without a huge price increase (maybe $15 is acceptable).
5. They want Dictionary Support overwhelmingly and they are tired of sealed-in batteries.
6. There is some support for Touchscreen. I will do another poll on touchscreen alone so we can dive into that matter regarding resolution, extra cost, Over-the-E-INK versus Under-the E-INK technology, etc. Touchscreen seems nice but are people willing to pay $80-$90 more for it.
7. Most love that the protective case should come with it. They want to protect their investment and do not want to wait a month for a case to arrive.

If I can reach my goal of sample size 100 then I will send the poll off to the factories in advance of the new models while they have some time to change. It is also worth mentioning that people like their freedom!! They do not want to be forced to use 3G or Wi-Fi so they are forced to buy from one eBook Store and they sure do not want Astak or anybody else coming in the night and stealing their eBooks back or studying what they purchased by wireless. (This is why we have a great new Privacy Policy posted on EZread.com).