WHAT, now I cannot do NEWS???

[ekaser]

Originally Posted by Patricia

Hello ekaser: that's not what we intended. We had agreed with RobertB that Pilotbob would do a news and front-page post as soon as the new devices had actually started shipping. That due to happen in a day or two.

Okay, that's cool. I HOPED that what Zelda had written was just "coming across wrong." Stand down.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ekaser

Okay, that's cool. I HOPED that what Zelda had written was just "coming across wrong." Stand down.

ekaser, I am sorry you misunderstood me. And thank you, Patricia, for clarifying the question. Please re-read my post though ; I didn't say that astak news doesn't belong in the news forum. In fact we had already offered, as I mentioned, to put a news item on the front page as soon as they start shipping. This was offered *before* Robertb posted his thread. I simply said that the thread Robertb posted, about *pending* shipping plans, is not really news, and therefore does not belong in the news forum, as I'm sure you can understand. Particularly in light of the plan (which, as I mentioned, Robertb knew already) to post the news on the front page, once they actually do start shipping. I think we can all agree that will be real news.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is that we've seen many announcements of things that are coming soon and that's all we've heard. Nothing after that. It's not that we don't trust, it's that we'd rather wait until the Pocket PRO are really shipping in case for some reason they don't ship on time. Look at Bookeen (for example). They've been saying soon with new firmware updates and yet nothing. So publishing what might or might not be happening as news is not a good idea. When it's really happening, then it's good to be news. Also, it means that other tech sites might pick up the news and run with it and if for some reason you had to be delayed, you would not look silly.

Dear JS:

You and Zelda and others make sense. I know all of you mean well so I will take it that way.

I will post in the Astak Designated Forum WHEN we start shipping and hope Pilot Bob or some moderator takes it to the NEWS area. I normally deal with Dale DePriest but know he is on a trip.

I will abide by the rules!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Also, having a representative of the Astak company posting the "potential" shipment of the self described "most powerful 5 inch" out there is just tasteless.

I know it has left a bad taste in my mouth concerning the Astak devices.

Dear Donnageddon:

I am sorry if you took it wrong. It really is the most powerful 5 inch and by any yardstick it measures up. And, I do not look at a shipment that is going out in 3 working days as "potential"... I feel that it is definite enough! I really have a high degree of confidence in that.

Regarding "powerful"... the processor is 400MHz and the controller is Epson. You may not be aware yet about that story. Before the Epson, 5 years ago, there was no installed base of eBook Readers... so PVI (the panel makers) went around and asked all the controller companies to design a controller and they would not. PVI had to design their own. So, the Epson is really the first controller that is specifically designed for eBook Readers. A controller goes into the memory and finds what you need. The Epson controller is far faster at this. That is most powerful. It was not a boast... it was fact!

[lisreed]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Also, having a representative of the Astak company posting the "potential" shipment of the self described "most powerful 5 inch" out there is just tasteless.

I know it has left a bad taste in my mouth concerning the Astak devices.

Yes, the way this company representative is pushy and frankly dissing sony & kindle was reason enough for me not to ever consider one. If I wanted this design and I considered it, I was going to go with the Bebook instead.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Regarding "powerful"... the processor is 400MHz and the controller is Epson. You may not be aware yet about that story. Before the Epson, 5 years ago, there was no installed base of eBook Readers... so PVI (the panel makers) went around and asked all the controller companies to design a controller and they would not. PVI had to design their own. So, the Epson is really the first controller that is specifically designed for eBook Readers. A controller goes into the memory and finds what you need. The Epson controller is far faster at this. That is most powerful. It was not a boast... it was fact!

Yes, it is true, the epson controller is fast. However the Hanlin devices are not the only ones using it. A quick look in the Wiki at the E-book_Reader_Matrix turns up :
5" : Hanvon, AzBooka,
6" : Sony, Kindle, Pocketbook, and Txtr.
There may be more which I don't know about.

[Robertb]

Dear All:

I have already said that I now understand and am pleased to abide by the rules of MR Forum. I appreciate those who straightened me out AND those who rose to defend me. However, I (me, myself, and I) made a big deal out of this and I regret it.

Please... let us get back to relishing the fact that the Pocket PRO is finally about to ship and that MR is a great vehicle and has rules I was not aware of. I learned and I now know. Let's put out all fires, hold a party burning the barricades, and get on with the fact that a damned good device is coming to market and will be shipping!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by lisreed

Yes, the way this company representative is pushy and frankly dissing sony & kindle was reason enough for me not to ever consider one. If I wanted this design and I considered it, I was going to go with the Bebook instead.

Dear Lisread:

I never dissed Sony and Kindle. They are great devices, just huge. IF you do not want this design... do not read about it and do not buy it. Nobody is forcing you. I think you are mistaken and well-intentioned, but at least I am here to accept the criticism as well as the praise.

The BeBook is a great device! You will give up USA support and warranty and the colors... but that is about it. I am pleased that you like the BeBook.

You call this being pushy?

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

Yes, it is true, the epson controller is fast. However the Hanlin devices are not the only ones using it. A quick look in the Wiki at the E-book_Reader_Matrix turns up :
5" : Hanvon, AzBooka,
6" : Sony, Kindle, Pocketbook, and Txtr.
There may be more which I don't know about.

Look, this is the Astak Designated Forum. I do not think we need to plug other devices. The fact is the Pocket PRO has the Epson and the 400MHz processor working in tandem in a FIVE inch device.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Look, this is the Astak Designated Forum. I do not think we need to plug other devices. The fact is the Pocket PRO has the Epson and the 400MHz processor working in tandem in a FIVE inch device.

I am not expecting you to plug other devices, however MobileRead owes it to all our readers to give accurate information. People come here to learn about the various devices available. It's misleading to say that the Astak is "the most powerful" because it uses the epson controller, if it is not the only device using that.

[rixte]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Look, this is the Astak Designated Forum. I do not think we need to plug other devices. The fact is the Pocket PRO has the Epson and the 400MHz processor working in tandem in a FIVE inch device.

This may be the Astak forum, but it's hosted on the mobileread site, which is about ebooks and ebook readers in general - it's not about about product promotion. In every one of the device forums there are people explaining and comparing to other devices, as a tool to inform others. This is NOT an advertising site but an informational one.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by rixte

This may be the Astak forum, but it's hosted on the mobileread site, which is about ebooks and ebook readers in general - it's not about about product promotion. In every one of the device forums there are people explaining and comparing to other devices, as a tool to inform others. This is NOT an advertising site but an informational one.

Riste, I agree but I remember some very dogmatic statements in favor of some devices. I'll not call names but the posts were almost catching fire. Of course, they were posted by just normal folks who owned and loved their device, as I do mine (all of them). I don't remember any "official" objections and, in fact, was beat up (verbably) by other posters for even objecting to them myself.

I think we all have very strong opinions on the subject, even company reps.

[rixte]

Originally Posted by slayda

Riste, I agree but I remember some very dogmatic statements in favor of some devices. I'll not call names but the posts were almost catching fire. Of course, they were posted by just normal folks who owned and loved their device, as I do mine (all of them). I don't remember any "official" objections and, in fact, was beat up (verbably) by other posters for even objecting to them myself.

I think we all have very strong opinions on the subject, even company reps.

Oh, I agree - and I think the forum is richer for the people who love (or hate!) their devices! I don't mind RobertB talking about how much he loves the Astak readers (particularly on a personal, rather than professional level) - I just don't want balance distorted. I think the one thing that he needed to be more careful of is any potentially denigrating talk of competitor devices - just as a mark of professionalism.

As strictly consumers, most of us have a bit more freedom on that front - as long as we're bashing devices and not their owners

[slayda]

Originally Posted by rixte

Oh, I agree - and I think the forum is richer for the people who love (or hate!) their devices! I don't mind RobertB talking about how much he loves the Astak readers (particularly on a personal, rather than professional level) - I just don't want balance distorted. I think the one thing that he needed to be more careful of is any potentially denigrating talk of competitor devices - just as a mark of professionalism.

As strictly consumers, most of us have a bit more freedom on that front - as long as we're bashing devices and not their owners

Agreed. Only device I still bash is the Sony PRS-500 which was a pretty good device except, IMO, Sony abandoned it and left us first buyers hanging. But that problem has been solved for me since I no longer own it.

I do think that Robert forgets that MR is an international BLOG and that there are other Hanlin clones available in other parts of our world. However, that said, I'm glad that there is now a US company carrying that general set of readers.

I think that the reason Sony & Kindle are on the MR front page more than any other is that there are more media types who are willing to mention the big name companies (maybe just because they are not aware of the others). That is lamentable and omits a lot of very good reading devices. It's just another example of "The rich get richer ...l"

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by rixte

As strictly consumers, most of us have a bit more freedom on that front - as long as we're bashing devices and not their owners

Your CyBook is stoopid. and You're stoopid!

Gee, that brings me back to 3rd grade, and memories of me crying in the corner...