DR800SG now listed on Best Buy web site

[Mr. Goodbar]

Originally Posted by badbob001

$399: DR800SG
$0: a ton of free content.
$30: Professional Stylus (assumes base unit contains $50 Advanced Stylus)
$20: Very nice collectible box that can 'origami' into a reading stand
-----
$449

Perhaps also:
$0: Sorry note on why Verizon connection is not ready yet so please enjoy the free content.
$0: Coupon for one complementary firmware upgrade within one year.
$0: Complementary diagnostic check of in-warranty device. A $75 value. Shipping to Netherlands not included.


I wonder what the free content is. Free for us, free for irex, or both? Most likely 150 Classic literature Books that makes one wonder if the $50 would be better spent on current books at Barnes & Noble. Self-help books? It could be something slightly better like a 30 day trial to PapersDirect (but be sure to cancel before 30 days or you'll get charged...).

I'm guessing it's primarily free classics like they've done before. Maybe a trial paper subscription or one backlist type of book, but mainly freely available content. Although, the general buying public is not going to be aware of all the free titles available from the web so this may appear to be a good value to the average buyer.

[badbob001]

Fox Business has a video about e-readers and actually shows the IREX product:
http://video.foxbusiness.com/1104536...fb92724c08f046

The funny thing is that the text says it's called the IREX PROTOTYPE. I would imagine that the one they have there is a non-working model, like what you would find in cell phone stores. It's hard to tell since they don't show it being used and they were showing clips of the Nook when they introduce the IREX. There was so much glare on the sony prs-600 they had to switch cameras. The IREX looks like a monster with the tiny prs-300 on top of it.

Previously demo'ed by the IREX CEO to Fox here:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/search-re...der.htm#q=irex

Could it be the same one?

[nikkie]

Originally Posted by Mr. Goodbar

I'm guessing it's primarily free classics like they've done before. Maybe a trial paper subscription or one backlist type of book, but mainly freely available content. Although, the general buying public is not going to be aware of all the free titles available from the web so this may appear to be a good value to the average buyer.

Let's face it - the general public isn't aware of the iRex. Or eInk, or eBook readers. Even those who have heard of the nook are still slim. And those who do hear of it wonder why the screen isn't color.

Really the market belongs to the early adopters right now. Our needs are the ones that need to be met first to sell anything and get the device into the public to increase understanding of the technology.

[zacheryjensen]

Originally Posted by badbob001

Fox Business has a video about e-readers and actually shows the IREX product:
http://video.foxbusiness.com/1104536...fb92724c08f046

The funny thing is that the text says it's called the IREX PROTOTYPE. I would imagine that the one they have there is a non-working model, like what you would find in cell phone stores. It's hard to tell since they don't show it being used and they were showing clips of the Nook when they introduce the IREX. There was so much glare on the sony prs-600 they had to switch cameras. The IREX looks like a monster with the tiny prs-300 on top of it.

Previously demo'ed by the IREX CEO to Fox here:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/search-re...der.htm#q=irex

Could it be the same one?

My gawd, could their reporting skills be worse? The Kindle the one that "started it all?" Where have they been for a decade? The "expert" seems to barely have a grasp on the facts of these devices and even less of a grasp on speaking for a camera. Terrible. I feel bad for the poor confused, fearful conservatives that actually watch FOX for this kind of "information."

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by nikkie

Even those who have heard of the nook are still slim.

I was in my local B&N yesterday to pickup some hardcovers I had ordered. Everyone who enters the B&N gets hit with nook information. There is a a nook-resembling pamphlet at the customer service and checkout counters. The pamphlet is the size and shape of the nook. And if you buy something, stuck in the bag is information about the nook.

In addition there have been several full-page advertisements in newspapers, including the New York Times, as well as in book review magazines, since the announcement. Every time you go to the B&N website, you get hit by nook. And if you are a B&N club member, every e-mail you get from B&N pushes the nook.

I think B&N is doing a good job getting the word out about the nook and that the number of people who have heard about it is far from "slim."

[Mr. Goodbar]

Not sure if anyone noticed, but they answered some questions on the iRex Blog which included the dimensions. Looks like they've done a great job in keeping the overall footprint small, while providing a much larger screen. Here are the dimensions:

Overall dimensions are:
Width: 14,7cm or 5,8 inch
Height: 19 cm or 7,5 inch
Depth: 0,9 cm or 0,35 inch

I'm also impressed by the thinness since it looked a little thicker than this from the various pictures floating around.

[Autarch1]

Where do you get the Irex Blog? I can't find anywhere where they have answered questions or given dimensions.

[mrscoach]

I want to know about the irex blog, too. Cough it up.

[pauli]

http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/2009/09/23...igital-reader/

[HarryT]

http://i-to-i.irexnet.com/

That was a Google search for "iRex blog". You could have done the same .

[mrscoach]

Thanks. I don't know what I typed in when I tried Google the first time, but I didn't get that. Tried it again, bingo. Hmm, maybe it's the cough syrup with codeine?

[badbob001]

Irex also has:
twitter: http://twitter.com/irexereader
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IREXeReader#/IREXeReader?v=wall
youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/IREXTUBE
forum: http://forum.irexnet.com/

I still think they need to get the people who did the kindle or nook web pages to reboot their own. A search result on the bestbuy website is not how to best way to market your product.

They have a tweet linking to a zdnet roundup of e-readers (nook, que, alex, and kindle) and asks what's missing. If never-heard-of Spring Design's Alex (the 'other' android reader with a color touch screen) gets a mention over the 9 year e-paper veteran irex, then there is clearly a marketing problem at play.

[Mr. Goodbar]

I would agree, their marketing is absolutely ridiculous.

[nikkie]

And by absolutely ridiculous, you mean: absolutely ridiculously non-existent.

As per the Nook info, I went to B&N yesterday and didn't see that big of a fanfare about it. That, and it has only been out for about a week. I don't watch TV or purchase newspapers at this point (hello internet?), so I can't comment on those things. My experience is mostly anecdotal: I talked to my coworkers, and none of them knew anything about it.

But definitely iRex info isn't out there. I've been following the Nook boards pretty religiously and I'd say about 90% have no idea that B&N has also partnered with iRex.

They probably just don't care though - $399 (or $449) is the wrong price point for normal fictional consumers.

[Mr. Goodbar]

Originally Posted by nikkie

And by absolutely ridiculous, you mean: absolutely ridiculously non-existent.

As per the Nook info, I went to B&N yesterday and didn't see that big of a fanfare about it. That, and it has only been out for about a week. I don't watch TV or purchase newspapers at this point (hello internet?), so I can't comment on those things. My experience is mostly anecdotal: I talked to my coworkers, and none of them knew anything about it.

But definitely iRex info isn't out there. I've been following the Nook boards pretty religiously and I'd say about 90% have no idea that B&N has also partnered with iRex.

They probably just don't care though - $399 (or $449) is the wrong price point for normal fictional consumers.

Non-existent about sums it up. Even if you can't afford to do print advertising focus on the online side of things with a good website, use cases, videos etc. Maybe trying to build momentum with some viral activity. I've done this stuff in the past and it's not that expensive anymore.