Astak first prototype of Mentor Intrique TOUCH

Robertb · 06-19-2009, 08:05 PM

Dear All:

Hours ago we got our first look at the new Mentor "Intrique". We are impressed as it has removed all the tiny little buttons on the side. moved the Omni-Direction and OK wheel to the middle of the bottom for both left and right handers, and has really well placed advance/regress page turn buttons on the top edges on both sides about halfway up.

It has Touchscreen. What I LOVE is that the resolution remains bright and clear.

Please read the story on my Blog: www.robertbEZ.blogspot.com

This is not a full review as we just received it. But... I think you will find the preliminary review "INTRIQUING"!

griffonwing · 06-19-2009, 08:22 PM

PICS!!

derrell · 06-19-2009, 08:27 PM

It's sort of a nit but guess I'll pick it anyway. Why did they go to a micro sd card? My paws have a pretty hard time managing those tiny little things. There is a point where smaller really isn't better in some cases. As the man with the parrot said pics please, if your agreement with netronics allows it.

Cabe · 06-19-2009, 08:32 PM

SD Cards are about as small as my meat hooks allow too, although as a photographer if its not Compact Flash I usually don't want to know

Side note.....anyone else here think most eReaders too thin without some kind of cover? I hate holding my 505 without it as I find I have to hold it in some kind of death grip.

derrell · 06-19-2009, 09:00 PM

Yep too thin and very uncomfortable to hold for extended reading with one hand. The cover on my EZ-Reader helps some but my old eb-1150 is much easier to hang onto.

DaleDe · 06-19-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

PICS!!

Here is the Netronix web site with all the new products they are working on.

http://www.netronixinc.com/product_e-book.htm

Right click and select view image for a bigger view of the pictures.

Dale

cheese bogart · 06-20-2009, 09:40 AM

Robertb on your blog you state the following:

"The device has a replaceable and rechargeable battery!! It also is unique in taking a micro-SD card instead of regular SD."

Just to let you know the up coming Wizpac Txtr will also be using a micro-SD card. Thought you might want to alter it, just in case people come back to you saying that you had mis-informed them.

Musicman · 06-20-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrell

It's sort of a nit but guess I'll pick it anyway. Why did they go to a micro sd card? My paws have a pretty hard time managing those tiny little things. There is a point where smaller really isn't better in some cases. As the man with the parrot said pics please, if your agreement with netronics allows it.

I suspect they may have gone to the mirco SD Card so they could add wireless/blue tooth to the mother board.

I agree that smaller does not always equal better. I'd rather have the larger cards SD Cards than wireless.

manifestor · 06-20-2009, 10:35 AM

I never liked the mini SD, let alone the micro one.

DG25 · 06-20-2009, 10:59 AM

Video and pics please.

Canuck_in_Japan · 06-20-2009, 11:40 AM

How could you write about this and not take a single picture? The only valid reason I can think of is that there is some kind of NDA.

Over · 06-20-2009, 11:52 AM

Looks nice, although I confess I prefer to grab the devices on the inferior corner, not on the center bottom.

Lbooker · 06-20-2009, 12:27 PM

Interesting!
Since you are open to the suggestions of the members of this forum: here are my personal ideas for the ideal reader:
- 7.5" screen in the size of a 6" screen device
- put the controls on the sides and (little revolution) on the back; it would only take a few days to get used to buttons on the back (without looking at them); of course they would need to be hard buttons like those on the Hanlin V3 to avoid pressing them inadvertently when holding the device; give the possibility to disable any button
- add a mini solar panel on the back
- replace the very uncomfortable/unpleasant to hold (compared to a paper book) hard plastic used in today's devices with some gel enclosed in some comfortable silicone/plastic, like in some chairs or mouse pads (remember that reading has always been a sensual/pleasantly tactile experience)
- touch screen only if reflectivity and contrast are as good or better as today's screens
- LEDs on each of the four sides of the screen sending light at different angles for a better result
- no wi-fi/3g/bluetooth; it takes room for no real reason since only Amazon with Whispernet use it, and anyway we need to connect our readers to our computers to recharge them (so at the same time we load books), and it is bad for health, and costs money

junkyardwillie · 06-20-2009, 03:59 PM

#1 comment, get rid of micro SD and go back to SD, its so annoying to have to have converters for micro and mini SD cards, I love just taking a SD card out of my device toss it on my computer and drag and drop. Micro SD throws a wrench in that process and lets be serious SD is small enough, eReaders need to get bigger screens not get thinner (totally agree that they are very uncomfortable to grip without a cover). Good stuff on the touch screen, I'm holding out for that 9.7 in Q1'10

Lbooker · 06-20-2009, 05:25 PM

No need to be a genius/engineer to understand that in such a small device it is very important to reduce the size of every component to make the e-reader lighter, to make space for a new component (be it wi-fi, integrated light,...), to reduce energy consumption,...

06-20-2009, 10:35 AM	#9
manifestor Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 39 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Astak EZreader, Aluratek Libre Pro	I never liked the mini SD, let alone the micro one. Last edited by manifestor; 06-20-2009 at 10:37 AM.

06-20-2009, 12:27 PM	#13
Lbooker Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 1021312 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1	Interesting! Since you are open to the suggestions of the members of this forum: here are my personal ideas for the ideal reader: - 7.5" screen in the size of a 6" screen device - put the controls on the sides and (little revolution) on the back; it would only take a few days to get used to buttons on the back (without looking at them); of course they would need to be hard buttons like those on the Hanlin V3 to avoid pressing them inadvertently when holding the device; give the possibility to disable any button - add a mini solar panel on the back - replace the very uncomfortable/unpleasant to hold (compared to a paper book) hard plastic used in today's devices with some gel enclosed in some comfortable silicone/plastic, like in some chairs or mouse pads (remember that reading has always been a sensual/pleasantly tactile experience) - touch screen only if reflectivity and contrast are as good or better as today's screens - LEDs on each of the four sides of the screen sending light at different angles for a better result - no wi-fi/3g/bluetooth; it takes room for no real reason since only Amazon with Whispernet use it, and anyway we need to connect our readers to our computers to recharge them (so at the same time we load books), and it is bad for health, and costs money Last edited by Lbooker; 06-20-2009 at 05:27 PM.

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06-19-2009, 08:05 PM	#1
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Astak first prototype of Mentor Intrique TOUCH Dear All: Hours ago we got our first look at the new Mentor "Intrique". We are impressed as it has removed all the tiny little buttons on the side. moved the Omni-Direction and OK wheel to the middle of the bottom for both left and right handers, and has really well placed advance/regress page turn buttons on the top edges on both sides about halfway up. It has Touchscreen. What I LOVE is that the resolution remains bright and clear. Please read the story on my Blog: www.robertbEZ.blogspot.com This is not a full review as we just received it. But... I think you will find the preliminary review "INTRIQUING"!

06-19-2009, 08:22 PM	#2
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	PICS!!

06-19-2009, 08:27 PM	#3
derrell Jack O' Apes Posts: 227 Karma: 1939 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Device: Ebookwise 1150, Nokia N810, EZ-Reader, HTC Droid Incredible, Archos 70	It's sort of a nit but guess I'll pick it anyway. Why did they go to a micro sd card? My paws have a pretty hard time managing those tiny little things. There is a point where smaller really isn't better in some cases. As the man with the parrot said pics please, if your agreement with netronics allows it.

06-19-2009, 08:32 PM	#4
Cabe Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 403 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone	SD Cards are about as small as my meat hooks allow too, although as a photographer if its not Compact Flash I usually don't want to know Side note.....anyone else here think most eReaders too thin without some kind of cover? I hate holding my 505 without it as I find I have to hold it in some kind of death grip.

06-19-2009, 09:00 PM	#5
derrell Jack O' Apes Posts: 227 Karma: 1939 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Device: Ebookwise 1150, Nokia N810, EZ-Reader, HTC Droid Incredible, Archos 70	Yep too thin and very uncomfortable to hold for extended reading with one hand. The cover on my EZ-Reader helps some but my old eb-1150 is much easier to hang onto.

06-20-2009, 09:40 AM	#7
cheese bogart Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brighton, England Device: prs-505 (Silver), Ipad	Robertb on your blog you state the following: "The device has a replaceable and rechargeable battery!! It also is unique in taking a micro-SD card instead of regular SD." Just to let you know the up coming Wizpac Txtr will also be using a micro-SD card. Thought you might want to alter it, just in case people come back to you saying that you had mis-informed them.

06-20-2009, 10:59 AM	#10
DG25 Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: EU Device: none	Video and pics please.

06-20-2009, 11:40 AM	#11
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,475 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	How could you write about this and not take a single picture? The only valid reason I can think of is that there is some kind of NDA.

06-20-2009, 11:52 AM	#12
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	Looks nice, although I confess I prefer to grab the devices on the inferior corner, not on the center bottom.

06-20-2009, 03:59 PM	#14
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	#1 comment, get rid of micro SD and go back to SD, its so annoying to have to have converters for micro and mini SD cards, I love just taking a SD card out of my device toss it on my computer and drag and drop. Micro SD throws a wrench in that process and lets be serious SD is small enough, eReaders need to get bigger screens not get thinner (totally agree that they are very uncomfortable to grip without a cover). Good stuff on the touch screen, I'm holding out for that 9.7 in Q1'10

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06-20-2009, 05:25 PM	#15
Lbooker Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 1021312 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1	No need to be a genius/engineer to understand that in such a small device it is very important to reduce the size of every component to make the e-reader lighter, to make space for a new component (be it wi-fi, integrated light,...), to reduce energy consumption,...