New FAQ sheet up !! Metal PP skin?

[Robertb]

Dear all:

The Webmaster has posted the latest revised FAQ sheet at: www.theEZreader.com under "support". Please have a look-see. Most of you will not need it... but we have added a lot of new people to this forum and it may be very helpful to them.

I also met today with Sandvik. WOW!! These guys can make what is now the plastic main body in strip metal. All the technical properties of stainless with a vibrant, durable color coating that resists fingerprints.

In short, they could provide the body halves for the Pocket PRO in exciting colors and grains and patterns. Am I impressed? Yes! The colors are unbelievably vibrant and yet non-slip. They can be stamped with the logo and EZ Reader name. You can get them in tiny circle patterns, grained leather patterns, pixel pattern, diamond patterns and more. The patterns and colors are endless.

YET... and here is the kicker... the finished product is LIGHTER than plastic. The Pocket PRO would not gain weight or heft.

Why might Astak have an interest? Well, such units would have the pop and sizzle look to compliment the great inner workings and features of the Pocket PRO! We know the PP is a really nice device and it feels great in the hand... but this could make it capture attention like crazy. And... it should add structural rigidity and protect even better.

We are waiting for eval samples to be made and then I can provide some pictures. This is by no means certain or anything... it is only a possibility.

This is food for discussion!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear all:

The Webmaster has posted the latest revised FAQ sheet at: www.theEZreader.com under "support". Please have a look-see. Most of you will not need it... but we have added a lot of new people to this forum and it may be very helpful to them.

I also met today with Sandvik. WOW!! These guys can make what is now the plastic main body in strip metal. All the technical properties of stainless with a vibrant, durable color coating that resists fingerprints.

In short, they could provide the body halves for the Pocket PRO in exciting colors and grains and patterns. Am I impressed? Yes! The colors are unbelievably vibrant and yet non-slip. They can be stamped with the logo and EZ Reader name. You can get them in tiny circle patterns, grained leather patterns, pixel pattern, diamond patterns and more. The patterns and colors are endless.

YET... and here is the kicker... the finished product is LIGHTER than plastic. The Pocket PRO would not gain weight or heft.

Why might Astak have an interest? Well, such units would have the pop and sizzle look to compliment the great inner workings and features of the Pocket PRO! We know the PP is a really nice device and it feels great in the hand... but this could make it capture attention like crazy. And... it should add structural rigidity and protect even better.

We are waiting for eval samples to be made and then I can provide some pictures. This is by no means certain or anything... it is only a possibility.

This is food for discussion!

You are truly an evil

Next you will be showing us a fully ruggedized version that can being run over by a SUV or take a dunk'n in the tub.

[brecklundin]

metal dents and scratches...plastic might possibably crack and be a tad heavier (here is a hint, plastics are almost always heavier than a metal analog shell.) but you can refinish plastics but probably not these metal cases...though I could see a candy apple red reader as being pretty cool...especially if it was a rag top!

I will say I do not in any way like the metal back on my K2i's the feel is not, well, it just feels wrong.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

metal dents and scratches...plastic might possibably crack and be a tad heavier (here is a hint, plastics are almost always heavier than a metal analog shell.) but you can refinish plastics but probably not these metal cases...though I could see a candy apple red reader as being pretty cool...especially if it was a rag top!

I will say I do not in any way like the metal back on my K2i's the feel is not, well, it just feels wrong.

Dear Brecklundin:

Thank you. Yes , metal can scratch. I can only go by what they say right now... but this "harder, more elastic, and more ductile than anodized aluminum". It is also scratch-resistant and there are no fingerprints. It is 3.5 times stronger than aluminum. Could it scratch... possibly with carelessness and there is no satistfactory repair to the scratch except maybe nail polish.

Yes, what I am seeing is like a Candy Apple Red or Tangerine Orange like you would see on a Corvette Stingray.

I tried to dent my sample and it is strong.

But your points are very well taken!

[Davimee]

Would it feel like the Sony? The reason I ask is because I like the feel of the Pocket Pro so much better than the feel of the Sony pocket...

[rxsz]

"durable color coating".

Well, sure hope it doesn't succumb to wrinkling like on my black PP, which btw has never been used with the cover it came with. Ugly color!

And, would these new skins be available to current owners as a user-retrofit?

[Laura81]

Look forward to seeing some pictures of the samples! I don't feel I can really offer an informed opinion until then.

[IndecisiveMe]

Any idea when these would be implemented if you did decide to use them? I'm researching ereaders for my birthday in late March and am *trying* to hold out on ordering until a couple of weeks before that date. I can *try* to wait a bit longer

[Laura81]

Originally Posted by IndecisiveMe

Any idea when these would be implemented if you did decide to use them? I'm researching ereaders for my birthday in late March and am *trying* to hold out on ordering until a couple of weeks before that date. I can *try* to wait a bit longer

Good luck with that! I tried to hold out until Christmas... ended up getting it at the end of November! LOL!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by IndecisiveMe

Any idea when these would be implemented if you did decide to use them? I'm researching ereaders for my birthday in late March and am *trying* to hold out on ordering until a couple of weeks before that date. I can *try* to wait a bit longer

(Engineering lab tech hat on)
RobertB appears to be talking about Samples, Not Engineering Proto-types.
Lots of things need to be done before a product is Released to Manufacture. That takes time and refinement cycles.
The PEz is built in China. Where are thes new cases entering the Product chain? I would guess as either a Value-added step at Astak(move the guts of a Pez to the new case) or as After market equipment.
It won't happen close to March (unless this has been in the works for months).
Get your PEz now. You will enjoy it!
(I don't expect the new case will bring the price down :/ either)

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by rxsz

"durable color coating".

Well, sure hope it doesn't succumb to wrinkling like on my black PP, which btw has never been used with the cover it came with. Ugly color!

And, would these new skins be available to current owners as a user-retrofit?

Dear rxsz:

IF we were to go this route and get the metal body halves... yes, then, of course, I would want to make them available to people who had wrinkling problems.

Right now this is just idle thinking. But, that wrinkling problem, now past, is one of the things that got me to looking.

[IndecisiveMe]

Originally Posted by theducks

It won't happen close to March (unless this has been in the works for months). Get your PEz now. You will enjoy it!
(I don't expect the new case will bring the price down :/ either)

Thanks for that information, it makes a lot of sense that it wouldn't be quick implementation.

Originally Posted by Laura81

Good luck with that! I tried to hold out until Christmas... ended up getting it at the end of November! LOL!

I know! I feel like just buying it now and making my husband think up something else for my birthday. Somehow I don't think he'd be impressed! All my talk about ereaders is driving him batty.

[Laura81]

Originally Posted by IndecisiveMe

I know! I feel like just buying it now and making my husband think up something else for my birthday. Somehow I don't think he'd be impressed! All my talk about ereaders is driving him batty.

Just wait until you have it and he checks it out, he'll want one then!

[brecklundin]

if anyone does eventually produce a metal case device, this product is a nice option to add a very durable and renewable rubberized coating yourself. It's just like the grips you find on pliers, garden sheers or whatever and you can buy it at almost any hardware store, it's called Plasti-Dip:

http://www.plastidip.com/

I use it on almost all my tools to make them easier to grip. It cleans easy, is really durable, though it can show scuffs and what not over time but all you need do it rip off the old coating and re-dip the parts and it's just like new again. If the metal case was designed with screws holding it together people could do this themselves or pay to have their reader coated on a per-order basis. Anyone can do this, it's a true no-brainer modification.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

if anyone does eventually produce a metal case device, this product is a nice option to add a very durable and renewable rubberized coating yourself. It's just like the grips you find on pliers, garden sheers or whatever and you can buy it at almost any hardware store, it's called Plasti-Dip:

http://www.plastidip.com/

I use it on almost all my tools to make them easier to grip. It cleans easy, is really durable, though it can show scuffs and what not over time but all you need do it rip off the old coating and re-dip the parts and it's just like new again. If the metal case was designed with screws holding it together people could do this themselves or pay to have their reader coated on a per-order basis. Anyone can do this, it's a true no-brainer modification.

I use it for my hand tools also.
This is not "a light coating". I can't imagine a thin enough coating to be suitable on a PEz.
Dip and Drip.