Astak Mentor at IDPF conference

[MaggieScratch]

How does the 5" model compare, overall size-wise, with a PDA?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by b0rsuk

Call me paranoid, but so far we have:

- some working 5" readers
- semi-working 6" reader

...and a word of marketing people that it will get better.

So far, vapourwave. It doesn't sound like they're going to start selling them soon. I'm not holding my breath. (Actually, I stopped holding my breath as soon as I heard they use Windows, but I digress ... )

You're paranoid. I said before that they had told me they were only bringing the 5" because the others didn't work. They have always been forthcoming about the status of their readers. I don't think this qualifies as vaporware.

[Jack B Nimble]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

How does the 5" model compare, overall size-wise, with a PDA?

Well, according to the web site, the measurements are 7.5”(H) x 4.75”(W) x 0.35”(D). My Tapwave, which many already consider too big for a PDA, is 5.6" x 3.1" x 0.55", smaller but not as thin. For comparison, the Palm TX is 3.08" W x 4.76" H x .61" D.

Jack

[M.H.]

Originally Posted by Jack B Nimble

Well, according to the web site, the measurements are 7.5”(H) x 4.75”(W) x 0.35”(D). My Tapwave, which many already consider too big for a PDA, is 5.6" x 3.1" x 0.55", smaller but not as thin. For comparison, the Palm TX is 3.08" W x 4.76" H x .61" D.

Jack

Don't trust the measurements for the 5" model since they show them as the same as the 6" model (which are correct). The 5" model is smaller than the measurements they quote.

[Walk Broad]

Nate;

Thanks for taking the time to snap these pics and give us more info from someone who doesn't work for the company.

I'm pulling for them to be able to bring these to market at the prices they've alluded to and really hope to be able to walk into my local Target to try one out and take it home.

Cheaper e-readers for the world!

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by Gester

Someone in the other thread mentioned that the design of the 5" model in particular leaves something to be desired.

I'm not sure about that. It looks relatively uncluttered and, unlike the Kindle, the buttons seem to be in a reasonable place.

I bet we'll hear complaints about one-handed reading...turning pages and all. You know, for all those that seem to require a device that will allow you to read easily while you're driving or juggling chainsaws.

Perhaps I am not seeing something that is there, but I do have a complaint about the button placement for page turning. I am simply unable to use my left thumb for page turning, and the 5 inch model does seem biased for left hand page turning.

All the other eReading hardware I have used has been configurable to right handed page turning. Actually, the eBookwise 1150 has the best design, in that the screen and button configuration is able to be completely reversed 180 degrees. But the Sony Readers do have easily used right and left page turning ability.

Thanks for the Astak update Nate!

[Jack B Nimble]

Originally Posted by M.H.

Don't trust the measurements for the 5" model since they show them as the same as the 6" model (which are correct). The 5" model is smaller than the measurements they quote.

Thanks for the correction!

So... who has the time/skills to take the photos, the known measurements of the 6" unit, adjust for perspective, and extrapolate the correct measurements for the 5" unit?

This would be a special challenge since the 5" and 6" units are never in the same picture! I suppose, knowing that the screen is 5", you could ratio out from there... Owww, headache.

Jack

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Perhaps I am not seeing something that is there, but I do have a complaint about the button placement for page turning. I am simply unable to use my left thumb for page turning, and the 5 inch model does seem biased for left hand page turning.

This is an assumption, but I expect that you can use the Left/Right arrow buttons on the 4 way button to turn pages also, just as you can on the Jetbook which has a very similar button layout.

BOb

[HarryT]

... and indeed on the Gen3 too.

[Tectonic]

I was really looking forward to read some details on a working model but by the sounds of it they are not nearly ready to mass produce these. I do hope that they take the time necessary to address all the software bugs before they decide to roll out some units still in 'beta' to the general public.

As for the price of the units I am confident that they can hit their targets. If you look at other handheld technology and what it offers for the price, a 9.7" eBook for $350 sounds reasonable. Currently a top PDA like the iPaq 210 can be purchased for under $350 and it has significantly more features than an eBook reader does. By mass producing devices for giant retail chains like Wal-Mart this should bring down the price of eInk to something more reasonable.

If Astak delivers on their promises then they're likely to cause a snowball effect and every other manufacturer will follow suit. The great thing about this is that we, the readers, are clear winners.

Cheaper devices, more selection choices, more features? Bring it on!

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

This is an assumption, but I expect that you can use the Left/Right arrow buttons on the 4 way button to turn pages also, just as you can on the Jetbook which has a very similar button layout.

BOb

That would certainly fit my needs.

[weatherman]

Originally Posted by M.H.

I think the metric measurements are correct. The imperial measurements were the same for all three units last time I looked.

Metric? Who reads metric!?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by weatherman

Metric? Who reads metric!?

Basically everyone but us, er US.

BOb

[igorsk]

Which one is the ETI model?

[Nate the great]

None of them. The ETI model is over in the other thread.