RobertB of Astak is back... let's talk!!

Robertb · 08-03-2010, 10:23 PM

Dear All:

For those who don't know... I have been gone from the forum for about 2.5 weeks recovering from a very painful and worse than expected knee surgery! For those who hate me>>> feel good as the suffering was dramatic and beyond the pain scale!

For those who do like me, luckily the vast majority, I arrive at work tomorrow in the afternoon and have a few appointments but will soon have the time to set this forum right again.

First off>>> we ARE going to have new models. You know the plus should be ready to release by now (I will know all tomorrow)! There are numerous other models we have looked at... with keyboard, without keyboard with Wi-Fi, faster than any other device I know of. We have looked at 9 inch. All of these are being examined for WHICH we want to bring to market. The 7 inch MID is also rolling right along! Now, we will NOT be able to sell these for $139!! We cannot take a loss like Kindle and B&N can do and are doing. They will be the finest devices on the market and competitively priced... but you will pay a bit more! However, you will continue to get the quality case and ear buds and other things included to make it the better VALUE!

Now, as soon as I get back and catch up on work I will tell you all I can. I already know the changes at EZRead.com are mindblowing!! I have been playing with the interactive forum every day while recovering and LOVE it!! It is only up for testing by staff right now... but it will be a butt kicker and it works great!! Reviews, recommendations, problem solving, author bios, and just idle chit-chat about eBooks... it is all about to hit!! As is a complete website redesign by a PRO and things like the Wish List finally coming and the agency model titles getting up also!! This much I already know... what is coming at www.EZread.com in the next three weeks should be incredible!!

Just realize that I have had NO correspondance with my fellow ermployees since July 15. They demanded that I get total rest and NOT work. Give me a chance to step back in and get up to speed!!

For all those who wished me well>>> thank you aLL!! I read every post and you know how worried I was! I made it thru, I have three months to go before the knee is 95% back>>> but I am so elated and so grateful!!

DixieGal · 08-03-2010, 10:32 PM

Welcome back!

Sylver · 08-03-2010, 10:36 PM

Best wishes Robert! I hope you take plenty of time to recover properly. There is a lot going on while you were away.

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-03-2010, 11:13 PM

Great to have back, Robert!

Solicitous · 08-04-2010, 01:28 AM

Good on you Robert, glad to see you back here and trying to keep us all in line

Can't wait for the forum to open up on ezread.com, hopefully be another great place to hang out (I miss having a REAL good place to talk about books).

neilmarr · 08-04-2010, 01:48 AM

Great to see you back on your feet, Robert. Take it easy, eh? Best wishes. Neil

Sweetpea · 08-04-2010, 01:58 AM

Good to hear you passed the surgery. I presume they didn't have to amputate

Take it easy, I bet your mailbox is filled to overflowing (I know mine usually is, after a holiday break...)

cvkemp · 08-04-2010, 07:56 AM

Great to hear that you are doing better and will be back on the forum.
We all missed you.

FizzyWater · 08-04-2010, 08:09 AM

Glad to see you back online, sir!

GA Russell · 08-04-2010, 11:07 AM

Robert, it's great to see that you are getting your energy back!

vgiridar · 08-04-2010, 12:06 PM

Robert

Welcome back after a well-earned rest. For sure you were missed in the forum.

The landscape has changed a bit in the last 2-3 weeks and hopefully you are rejuvenated to take them head-on.

I continue to love Astak products and look forward to new ones.

Best wishes

MaggieScratch · 08-04-2010, 04:22 PM

I've been good, Uncle Bob, I promise (and if anyone says different, I will PINCH you. Hard.)

Can't wait to hear more about new devices! I am most interested in the Pearl screen, if you know anything about that...

Robertb · 08-04-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Good on you Robert, glad to see you back here and trying to keep us all in line

Can't wait for the forum to open up on ezread.com, hopefully be another great place to hang out (I miss having a REAL good place to talk about books).

Dear Solicitous:

Thank you!! I am very happy to have recovered to this point. I am not perfect; but I can walk without a cane and the only pain is a dull ache. That will go away!

The new forum works beautifully. It has designated places for: favorite book, favorite author, news, general discussion, etc. You can start a new thread easily enough and catch up on the latest reviews and changes and cures and new authors. What I like best is the ability for members to chat with the "Renegade Intern" anytime about anything. I HATE buying from somewhere and then having to pick up a phone if there is any problem. I want to chat with a live person who can solve the problem.

I also think that the new overhaul to the website will ONLY get great when the forum is there to ensure all know how to use it. Mystery is NOT what you want when buying eBooks. The interactive forum lets people say: "How the hell do I search and WHY can I not find?" I think things are going to improve a lot when people can join into the discussions!

In effect, I want people to tell us WHAT they want on that site!

Thank you and great post!

Robertb · 08-04-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgiridar

Robert

Welcome back after a well-earned rest. For sure you were missed in the forum.

The landscape has changed a bit in the last 2-3 weeks and hopefully you are rejuvenated to take them head-on.

I continue to love Astak products and look forward to new ones.

Best wishes

Dear vgiridar:

Yes it has!! This morning I read where there is a Kindle that has Wi-Fi and sells for $139. What is happening here is Kindle could end up (yet) having a monopoly on eBooks. It is NOT only their device sales that grow... it is their format that grows. Mobipocket may yet take over the entire world. If everybody who buys the new Kindle HAS to have it with Mobipocket... and Kindle becomes the ONLY source for Mobi eBooks... where does that leave Astak?

So, yes, I have a lot of thinking to do on this entire subject. The landscape HAS changed. Short run.. good for consumers. Long run... could be a disaster for consumers as one massive monster controls everything they buy, see, read, and think they own.

Me? I like freedom of choice and value that highly. I see this as a threat!

Robertb · 08-04-2010, 05:04 PM

Dear GA, Maggie, Fizzy, CV, sweetpea,neilmarr, lady, sylver, dixie and numerous more:

Thank you, my great friends!!It is good to be back but also depressing too.

08-03-2010, 10:23 PM	#1
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	RobertB of Astak is back... let's talk!! Dear All: For those who don't know... I have been gone from the forum for about 2.5 weeks recovering from a very painful and worse than expected knee surgery! For those who hate me>>> feel good as the suffering was dramatic and beyond the pain scale! For those who do like me, luckily the vast majority, I arrive at work tomorrow in the afternoon and have a few appointments but will soon have the time to set this forum right again. First off>>> we ARE going to have new models. You know the plus should be ready to release by now (I will know all tomorrow)! There are numerous other models we have looked at... with keyboard, without keyboard with Wi-Fi, faster than any other device I know of. We have looked at 9 inch. All of these are being examined for WHICH we want to bring to market. The 7 inch MID is also rolling right along! Now, we will NOT be able to sell these for $139!! We cannot take a loss like Kindle and B&N can do and are doing. They will be the finest devices on the market and competitively priced... but you will pay a bit more! However, you will continue to get the quality case and ear buds and other things included to make it the better VALUE! Now, as soon as I get back and catch up on work I will tell you all I can. I already know the changes at EZRead.com are mindblowing!! I have been playing with the interactive forum every day while recovering and LOVE it!! It is only up for testing by staff right now... but it will be a butt kicker and it works great!! Reviews, recommendations, problem solving, author bios, and just idle chit-chat about eBooks... it is all about to hit!! As is a complete website redesign by a PRO and things like the Wish List finally coming and the agency model titles getting up also!! This much I already know... what is coming at www.EZread.com in the next three weeks should be incredible!! Just realize that I have had NO correspondance with my fellow ermployees since July 15. They demanded that I get total rest and NOT work. Give me a chance to step back in and get up to speed!! For all those who wished me well>>> thank you aLL!! I read every post and you know how worried I was! I made it thru, I have three months to go before the knee is 95% back>>> but I am so elated and so grateful!! Last edited by Robertb; 08-03-2010 at 10:29 PM.

08-04-2010, 12:06 PM	#11
vgiridar Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 12 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: EZReader	Welcome Back Robert Robert Welcome back after a well-earned rest. For sure you were missed in the forum. The landscape has changed a bit in the last 2-3 weeks and hopefully you are rejuvenated to take them head-on. I continue to love Astak products and look forward to new ones. Best wishes

08-04-2010, 05:04 PM	#15
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Thank you, all, so much!! Dear GA, Maggie, Fizzy, CV, sweetpea,neilmarr, lady, sylver, dixie and numerous more: Thank you, my great friends!!It is good to be back but also depressing too.

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08-03-2010, 10:32 PM	#2
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Welcome back!

08-03-2010, 10:36 PM	#3
Sylver Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 40 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: The Nook, iPad	Best wishes Robert! I hope you take plenty of time to recover properly. There is a lot going on while you were away.

08-03-2010, 11:13 PM	#4
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	Great to have back, Robert!

08-04-2010, 01:28 AM	#5
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	Good on you Robert, glad to see you back here and trying to keep us all in line Can't wait for the forum to open up on ezread.com, hopefully be another great place to hang out (I miss having a REAL good place to talk about books).

08-04-2010, 01:48 AM	#6
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Great to see you back on your feet, Robert. Take it easy, eh? Best wishes. Neil

08-04-2010, 01:58 AM	#7
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Good to hear you passed the surgery. I presume they didn't have to amputate Take it easy, I bet your mailbox is filled to overflowing (I know mine usually is, after a holiday break...)

08-04-2010, 07:56 AM	#8
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,412 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 5,iPhone 13, IPad, MacBook Air	Great to hear that you are doing better and will be back on the forum. We all missed you.

08-04-2010, 08:09 AM	#9
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Glad to see you back online, sir!

08-04-2010, 11:07 AM	#10
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Robert, it's great to see that you are getting your energy back!

08-04-2010, 04:22 PM	#12
MaggieScratch Has got to the black veil Posts: 542 Karma: 2144168 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2	I've been good, Uncle Bob, I promise (and if anyone says different, I will PINCH you. Hard.) Can't wait to hear more about new devices! I am most interested in the Pearl screen, if you know anything about that...

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