MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Cool-er: light, trendy, inexpensive e-book reader

Robertb · 05-14-2009, 04:11 PM

Dear All:

It is an early version of the Astak Mentor Lite, built by Netronix, debuting next month BUT with no Netronix Software... it is their own and not as good. Suspect that this device also uses what is known in the panel business as a "B Grade Panel", cheap but fuzzy with lower resolution. A "B Grade" is a panel that was rejected by the factory as not good enough. Also will not have Adobe Digital Editions on it. There are numerous other differences, all of which are minuses and not additions.

Fictionwise has 100,000 eBook titles, Ingram Digital has about 130,000 titles, Overdrive has about 150,000 titles. THAT is essentially it for Digital Content unless you include the old classics from Google at 500,000. So, I think you are already seeing a bit of a sham regarding titles they claim.

If this is $250 (doubtful) and you can get a Mentor Lite WITH A-grade panel and Adobe Digital Editions and Netronix Software for $289... I would be careful about this one.

05-14-2009, 04:11 PM	#42
Robertb Astak Director, Bus. Devl Posts: 2,560 Karma: 2500000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Astak Pocket PRO	Made by Netronix BUT Dear All: It is an early version of the Astak Mentor Lite, built by Netronix, debuting next month BUT with no Netronix Software... it is their own and not as good. Suspect that this device also uses what is known in the panel business as a "B Grade Panel", cheap but fuzzy with lower resolution. A "B Grade" is a panel that was rejected by the factory as not good enough. Also will not have Adobe Digital Editions on it. There are numerous other differences, all of which are minuses and not additions. Fictionwise has 100,000 eBook titles, Ingram Digital has about 130,000 titles, Overdrive has about 150,000 titles. THAT is essentially it for Digital Content unless you include the old classics from Google at 500,000. So, I think you are already seeing a bit of a sham regarding titles they claim. If this is $250 (doubtful) and you can get a Mentor Lite WITH A-grade panel and Adobe Digital Editions and Netronix Software for $289... I would be careful about this one.