MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

Robertb · 07-23-2009, 02:24 PM

Dear All:

Thank you for keeping the thread alive and busy while I was gone. I appreciate that. Thank you specifically to Wallcraft and Dale who provided answers better than I could have done.

What has happened is that we have an NDA with our factories and while they can appreciate your excitement and your questions and your desire VERY MUCH... they want to be sure that we do not violate that NDA. I have been building up excitement far before the official release... and that is VERY uncomfortable for the factories. They feel I am holding their feet to the fire and theydo not want to disappoint you in any way... BUT problems can arise on new devices and it is not fair to them to announce before they want it to be announced. I think that is VERY fair and I understand that manufacturing is always difficult and sometimes does have delay.

Yes, the Pocket PRO will have the Epson controller!! Let us clear that up! AND... everything I have been saying about features on it is still as true now as ever. They just do not want me to lay out features before they authorize it... and I will comply wholeheartedly. I do apologize very, very strongly to the factory. They were right and I was wrong in speaking too soon.

The colors of the EZ Reader Pocket PRO are now set and approved... the same ones that you all liked!! Yes, Slate Blue is a reality as well as 5 other great colors.

The schedule has not been changed BUT I do not want to discuss the release date from now on until the release is eminent (meaning the factory tells us they have received our money and have started production). No more guessing on "when". I know of no delay... the factory, under the terms of the NDA, just has the right to tell Astak when to talk about release dates; and I will happily abide by their wishes. We will, as soon as we know an order is eminent, post up a pre-order sheet and tell you when the units should be shipping.

PLEASE do not feel that anything is wrong or that there has been delay... because all has not changed that we know of. I just need to abide by the NDA. Just as Griffonwing has enormously changed his appearance to suave and sophisticated... I am making a small change in appearance as well!! That is all.

That was quite a coincidence about leaving on post 666!! I can assure all that I am not Satin or I would have the power to make devices overnight. I cannot, so I am not Satin!! Anyway, Mr. Brocklundin, I appreciated your humour!!

Please give me credit for having everybody's best interest at heart! Violating an NDA just is really lousy practice and it slows down the factory. Working with the factory instead of against will mean more cooperation and better devices for you!!

The long-awaited website is essentially done and we are just working out the details of the contract! SOON!!

Again, thank you for keeping the discussion lively; and I am not Satin. Griffonwing may be Satin as he changes his appearance a lot!!

07-23-2009, 02:24 PM	#2836
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	RobertB is back! Dear All: Thank you for keeping the thread alive and busy while I was gone. I appreciate that. Thank you specifically to Wallcraft and Dale who provided answers better than I could have done. What has happened is that we have an NDA with our factories and while they can appreciate your excitement and your questions and your desire VERY MUCH... they want to be sure that we do not violate that NDA. I have been building up excitement far before the official release... and that is VERY uncomfortable for the factories. They feel I am holding their feet to the fire and theydo not want to disappoint you in any way... BUT problems can arise on new devices and it is not fair to them to announce before they want it to be announced. I think that is VERY fair and I understand that manufacturing is always difficult and sometimes does have delay. Yes, the Pocket PRO will have the Epson controller!! Let us clear that up! AND... everything I have been saying about features on it is still as true now as ever. They just do not want me to lay out features before they authorize it... and I will comply wholeheartedly. I do apologize very, very strongly to the factory. They were right and I was wrong in speaking too soon. The colors of the EZ Reader Pocket PRO are now set and approved... the same ones that you all liked!! Yes, Slate Blue is a reality as well as 5 other great colors. The schedule has not been changed BUT I do not want to discuss the release date from now on until the release is eminent (meaning the factory tells us they have received our money and have started production). No more guessing on "when". I know of no delay... the factory, under the terms of the NDA, just has the right to tell Astak when to talk about release dates; and I will happily abide by their wishes. We will, as soon as we know an order is eminent, post up a pre-order sheet and tell you when the units should be shipping. PLEASE do not feel that anything is wrong or that there has been delay... because all has not changed that we know of. I just need to abide by the NDA. Just as Griffonwing has enormously changed his appearance to suave and sophisticated... I am making a small change in appearance as well!! That is all. That was quite a coincidence about leaving on post 666!! I can assure all that I am not Satin or I would have the power to make devices overnight. I cannot, so I am not Satin!! Anyway, Mr. Brocklundin, I appreciated your humour!! Please give me credit for having everybody's best interest at heart! Violating an NDA just is really lousy practice and it slows down the factory. Working with the factory instead of against will mean more cooperation and better devices for you!! The long-awaited website is essentially done and we are just working out the details of the contract! SOON!! Again, thank you for keeping the discussion lively; and I am not Satin. Griffonwing may be Satin as he changes his appearance a lot!!