When I read that Bookeen has delayed the release date for the Cybook 3, I wasn’t surprised.  In fact, what would have surprised me is if it came out on time.  Back when they were still offering the Cybook 2, the scheduled update didn’t happen on time.  When it did get released, it was pulled after a few days , never to resurface.  Besides that, the sample devices have just come out and I am sure that they would want to have some feedback from the users.  At least when it does come out it will have support for pdf files.  I think that is worth waiting for.  You only get one chance for a good first impression, so the better the device at introduction, the better chance it has for success.  It doesn’t sit too good to get something that already needs an update. I hope the wait is worth it and that pdf files are actually readable on the device. Here’s another wish:  Please have a dictionary already installed and for free.  I read that customers will have to purchase their own.  Not good. I believe that a major feature such as word lookup should be working out of the box.  Not after I spend more money.  Remember the price is $350.  Even a small dictionary like a pocket size would suffice.  If the EBW1150 can do it… At times like this, Sony’s offer of $50 in books or 100 classics doesn’t sound so empty. 

I am not picking on Bookeen, on time release dates are seldom met with e-book devices.  Have we forgotten the Sony reader?  At first it was suppose to come out spring 2006.  That got moved to the end of summer.  Finally, it came out late September last year.  These things happen.  Yes, I got frustrated last year as I saved up to get my Sony reader several times (I kept spending the money at every release delay announcement). My only concern is that Bookeen doesn’t keep delaying and give the competition a chance to beat them to the door. The Kindle from Amazon is scheduled for October 15, but who knows?  Other than that really bad prototype photo, we are really in the dark.  Then there’s the new Sony reader that most expect to be out next month also.  I will probably get the Cybook 3, but it is not first on my list of gotta-have-it. Amazon’s reader is first on my list as long as it looks nothing like the prototype.  I am also in no rush for the Sony reader, but I could be persuaded if it turns out to be significantly better than the original. So it looks like October will be a hot month for E-books.

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