Astak eReaders

MaryV · 04-13-2011, 01:15 AM

Hey guys, what is going on with Astak? I look online for their eReaders and I keep getting messages that they are discontinued. I have two of these in our family and think they are great but I now wonder what is happening with this company. I logged on to their website and they don't list any eReaders. Anyone out there who can provide some updates? Thanks

Solicitous · 04-13-2011, 06:00 AM

Unfortunately no-one knows (well those that do aren't talking). They havent had ereaders for sale since IIRC Aug/Sept last year, but apparently are still in the ereader business according to their rep who used to visit on occasion.

So no news for a good while and from all perceptions it looks like game over for the Astak ereaders.

nimblem · 04-13-2011, 08:56 AM

The rep is no longer responding to anyone. I even sent her a private message about two months ago and still haven't heard back.

HarryT · 04-15-2011, 08:44 AM

There appear to be on-going legal issues underlying this. I'm sure that Astak are just as frustrated about it as we are, but unfortunately they can't discuss such matters in public.

nimblem · 04-15-2011, 03:52 PM

Meh... they could at least respond to post not related to legal problems, or at the very very least just let us know that they are still alive....

polly · 04-15-2011, 06:51 PM

There's a report on this thread that PocketBookReader.com will start carrying the L-Book V5 at their store. With Astak, that was the 5" PocketPro, still the most ergonomic reader I've had. I wonder if we'll ever hear what's really going on behind the scenes.

MaryV · 04-16-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polly

There's a report on this thread that PocketBookReader.com will start carrying the L-Book V5 at their store. With Astak, that was the 5" PocketPro, still the most ergonomic reader I've had. I wonder if we'll ever hear what's really going on behind the scenes.

Thanks for responding. I agree that the pocket pro is the best. Great size and I love the three ways to move the page forward and back. It is the most ergonomic reader on the market that I have seen. It would be nice to have it in color but not a requirement as I use it only for books. Thanks again.

MaryV · 04-16-2011, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

Unfortunately no-one knows (well those that do aren't talking). They havent had ereaders for sale since IIRC Aug/Sept last year, but apparently are still in the ereader business according to their rep who used to visit on occasion.

So no news for a good while and from all perceptions it looks like game over for the Astak ereaders.

Thanks Solicitous, Polly and Nimblem. I guess we all feel the same about the Astak e reader. Hopefully we will have some good news in the future.

Solicitous · 04-18-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryV

Thanks for responding. I agree that the pocket pro is the best. Great size and I love the three ways to move the page forward and back. It is the most ergonomic reader on the market that I have seen. It would be nice to have it in color but not a requirement as I use it only for books. Thanks again.

Well you could go and have a look at BeBook. They are back in stock of the Mini (same as the Pocket Pro).

SDRebel · 04-26-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaryV

Hey guys, what is going on with Astak? I look online for their eReaders and I keep getting messages that they are discontinued. I have two of these in our family and think they are great but I now wonder what is happening with this company. I logged on to their website and they don't list any eReaders. Anyone out there who can provide some updates? Thanks

back in december (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=110319) I implied the death of astak readers. The rep seemed upset about that, but then at the end stopped responding (and I forgot about it until now). I mainly did it because the margin was low already and with all the competition it would be impossible to compete. Amazon, B&N, and Sony are trying to make money off the books, no the devices, but Astak couldn't compete in that front...
With so many tablets out now, and cheap LCD readers ( I know it's not the same, but I did enjoy reading a lot at night, with the lights off, with my archos 70, while the wife and baby were sleeping, and I couldn't do that with the pocket pro), and the popular kindle, it's really hard to compete.

MaryV · 05-01-2011, 02:51 AM

I should not complain about the loss of Astak as my eReader is doing well. I bought one for my mom as well and we love them. The case seems ot have a problem as it is beginning to show small cracks at certain points but it is still the most ergonomical that I have seen. I dont understand why some of the other eReaders don't use some of the features on the pocket pro.

Thanks for responding to me and I will look up the other eReaders to recommend to friends.

nimblem · 05-06-2011, 01:35 PM

So.. is Astak not a member of the Mobile Forums any more?

pholy · 05-06-2011, 02:51 PM

None of their employees appear to be active at the present time. There seem to be a few owners who still check the Astak forum, and I still use my wrinkled blue (1st Edition!) PEZ, of course.

eGeezer · 05-07-2011, 11:52 PM

Yep, still here too reading up a storm with my Astak PPro. My brother is starting to look at ereaders, and it makes me sad being unable to recommend Astak.

Of course, when he expressed concern about the rising prices of pb books, I was obligated to point out that a (newly published) eBook is no bargain, either. Of course, some day soon, the $10 eBook may finally be cheap by default because paperbacks are $15 at even Walmart. But not yet.

HarryT · 05-08-2011, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eGeezer

Yep, still here too reading up a storm with my Astak PPro. My brother is starting to look at ereaders, and it makes me sad being unable to recommend Astak.

You could recommend any one of the identical devices sold under other brand names. Eg, the BeBook Mini is exactly the same device as the Pocket Pro, and it's still available.

04-13-2011, 01:15 AM	#1
MaryV Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Astak 5" Pocket Pro	Astak eReaders Hey guys, what is going on with Astak? I look online for their eReaders and I keep getting messages that they are discontinued. I have two of these in our family and think they are great but I now wonder what is happening with this company. I logged on to their website and they don't list any eReaders. Anyone out there who can provide some updates? Thanks

05-01-2011, 02:51 AM	#11
MaryV Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Astak 5" Pocket Pro	Astak eReader I should not complain about the loss of Astak as my eReader is doing well. I bought one for my mom as well and we love them. The case seems ot have a problem as it is beginning to show small cracks at certain points but it is still the most ergonomical that I have seen. I dont understand why some of the other eReaders don't use some of the features on the pocket pro. Thanks for responding to me and I will look up the other eReaders to recommend to friends.

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04-13-2011, 06:00 AM	#2
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	Unfortunately no-one knows (well those that do aren't talking). They havent had ereaders for sale since IIRC Aug/Sept last year, but apparently are still in the ereader business according to their rep who used to visit on occasion. So no news for a good while and from all perceptions it looks like game over for the Astak ereaders.

04-13-2011, 08:56 AM	#3
nimblem Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 7102 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Pocket Pro, Kindle Dx	The rep is no longer responding to anyone. I even sent her a private message about two months ago and still haven't heard back.

04-15-2011, 08:44 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There appear to be on-going legal issues underlying this. I'm sure that Astak are just as frustrated about it as we are, but unfortunately they can't discuss such matters in public.

04-15-2011, 03:52 PM	#5
nimblem Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 7102 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Pocket Pro, Kindle Dx	Meh... they could at least respond to post not related to legal problems, or at the very very least just let us know that they are still alive....

04-15-2011, 06:51 PM	#6
polly Evangelist Posts: 454 Karma: 270240 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS 650, PocketBook 360, Astak PocketPro (RIP), Tungsten T3	There's a report on this thread that PocketBookReader.com will start carrying the L-Book V5 at their store. With Astak, that was the 5" PocketPro, still the most ergonomic reader I've had. I wonder if we'll ever hear what's really going on behind the scenes.

05-06-2011, 01:35 PM	#12
nimblem Addict Posts: 304 Karma: 7102 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Pocket Pro, Kindle Dx	So.. is Astak not a member of the Mobile Forums any more?

05-06-2011, 02:51 PM	#13
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	None of their employees appear to be active at the present time. There seem to be a few owners who still check the Astak forum, and I still use my wrinkled blue (1st Edition!) PEZ, of course.

05-07-2011, 11:52 PM	#14
eGeezer NE1 seen my glasses? Posts: 396 Karma: 4864 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Nook Glowlight (following previous nook STR and STR w/GL)	Yep, still here too reading up a storm with my Astak PPro. My brother is starting to look at ereaders, and it makes me sad being unable to recommend Astak. Of course, when he expressed concern about the rising prices of pb books, I was obligated to point out that a (newly published) eBook is no bargain, either. Of course, some day soon, the $10 eBook may finally be cheap by default because paperbacks are $15 at even Walmart. But not yet.