Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

I do NOT run FRY's deals or pricing BUT they have done the unbelievable!!

Right now they are selling the EZ Reader Bundle Pack at $249!! This cannot last very long. Anybody that was kicking about high prices on eBook Readers... here is an unreal deal I just found out about by accident. Yes, it has the 200 free classics and 2GB SD card and SD reader/writer and everything else.

This deal is ONLY through www.frys.com and not the stores.

Robert B

Robert, I can't find anything about it on the Fry's web site. What would be a good search term?

Found it!
http://shop2.frys.com/product/583463...PDA%20Pod:Pod1

[giddion]

Fry's deal:
http://shop1.frys.com/product/5834633

[dcalder]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

I just wanted to agree with Harry.
"you don't realise the value of until you have it"

I have the 505 and I absolutely LOVE it
but I can see where the dictionary feature
would enhance my reading experience.

Just had to add a word of caution from the opposite point of view: IMHO, the dictionary feature (I have the OED plus another dictionary - I don't even remember which - on the Cybook) is of very limited value. I think that I may have used it once or possibly twice in total, other than when I've been demonstrating the Cybook to someone. That's over the year plus that I've owned and used my Cybook. In that same time period, I've probably referenced my hardcover OED half a dozen times. So... I don't think that someone who doesn't already regularly reference a dictionary while reading would necessarily do so on their ebook reader. It's definitely not a deal-making-or-breaking selling point, as far as I'm concerned.

I'll also note that I happily turned my Cybook over to my mother once I received my BeBook. The Cybook's software may be slightly more stable - and the ability to read Overdrive Mobipocket library ebooks is a rather nice bonus - but the BeBook's hardware (which is the same as the Astak EZ Reader's) beats the Cybook hands down. The buttons are much more comfortable to use, either left- or right-handed and I actually *like* the fact that it's slightly heavier - it feels significantly less fragile and also a bit more familiar, like holding a paperback. It takes the best part of the Sony - the multiple buttons - and the best part of the Cybook - a wider range of format support - and combines those features.

When I gave my Cybook to my mom, it replaced a Sony 505 that she'd been using. The Sony's buttons were nicer - and I'll probably upgrade my mom to a BeBook or EZ Reader eventually to make up for that - but the Cybook feels much more comfortable to hold because it *isn't* cold metal. If only I could get the Cybook software and the BeBook/EZReader hardware, I'd have a nearly ideal device...

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by dcalder

I'll also note that I happily turned my Cybook over to my mother once I received my BeBook. The Cybook's software may be slightly more stable - and the ability to read Overdrive Mobipocket library ebooks is a rather nice bonus - but the BeBook's hardware (which is the same as the Astak EZ Reader's) beats the Cybook hands down.

Wait, doesn't the BeBook support mobipocket too. You can use library books on it also.

BOb

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Wait, doesn't the BeBook support mobipocket too. You can use library books on it also.

BOb

That remains to be verified. It is one of the tasks I intend to do at some point when I get time. Note I have found that if you load an eBook in FB2 format you will get the FBReader application to read it and there is an option in this reader to set and display the time. This overcomes one limitation in that if you can't set the time it is unlikely that the library book feature will work. Hopefully we will get some verification of this. My local library does not support eBooks so I have to find another one and get a library card (probably Sacramento) in order to try this.

Dale

[dcalder]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Wait, doesn't the BeBook support mobipocket too. You can use library books on it also.

BOb

The BeBook does support Mobipocket but the library books don't work. You may recall that the Cybook requires a "fix" to make the library books work - well, said "fix" does not (yet?) exist for the Bebook, unless I've missed a recent development. As of the last time that I tested it (about two weeks ago), the library books do not work on the BeBook. The issue isn't the Mobipocket format but rather the time-limited checkout.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

I do NOT run FRY's deals or pricing BUT they have done the unbelievable!!

Right now they are selling the EZ Reader Bundle Pack at $249!! This cannot last very long. Anybody that was kicking about high prices on eBook Readers... here is an unreal deal I just found out about by accident. Yes, it has the 200 free classics and 2GB SD card and SD reader/writer and everything else.

This deal is ONLY through www.frys.com and not the stores.

Robert B

The ones they have, are these the readers with the new, faster chip? Or will I have to wait longer to get a newer updated EZReader?

[artlynn]

Hello guys...i am new here..
i am interested on turbines and instrumentaiton and control systems

[tneken]

Hi. Im very interrested in getting an ebook reader, and have followed this thread for some time. I have a question for robertb:
Is there any european online shops where you can buy the ez-reader. It's pretty expensive to buy stuff from usa because you have to pay import duty (12%). After that you have to pay 25% vat also for the shipping fee. And Last you have to pay the postal service a +20$ fee for collecting the vat. So if the reader cost 300$ and shipping is like 10$ i'll end up paying 432,5$ which is quite a lot. at least for me :-)

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by tneken

Is there any european online shops where you can buy the ez-reader.

Another brand name of the same device that you can get in the UK in the Pixelar reader.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41235

BOb

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

The ones they have, are these the readers with the new, faster chip? Or will I have to wait longer to get a newer updated EZReader?

these are the existing ones, not the new touch screen.

Dale

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

these are the existing ones, not the new touch screen.

Dale

Actaully, I am not wanting a touch screen.

All I require is the faster processor. No touch, no wifi, no GSM, no bluetooth, no little fairies... well, ok. If they had fairies, I would like that, but I probly couldnt afford the extra fee.

So if all they have now is the slower ones, it looks like i'll be waiting.

[cerement]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

All I require is the faster processor. No touch, no wifi, no GSM, no bluetooth, no little fairies... well, ok. If they had fairies, I would like that, but I probly couldnt afford the extra fee.

The next generation isn't looking promising. The next generation is too busy throwing in everything AND the kitchen sink, every little piece of hardware gimmickry they can think of and in the process basic graphic design and software improvements are getting thrown to the wayside. The developers are too busy creating an eInk iPhone and not enough time creating a better eInk reader.

[pkovak]

There are several versions of new generation devices, at least from Astak. Basic one is really basic.

[cobalt8]

Originally Posted by cerement

The next generation isn't looking promising. The next generation is too busy throwing in everything AND the kitchen sink, every little piece of hardware gimmickry they can think of and in the process basic graphic design and software improvements are getting thrown to the wayside. The developers are too busy creating an eInk iPhone and not enough time creating a better eInk reader.

I agree. I do want a touchscreen model due to the interface possibilities it creates and I wouldn't mind wifi for ease of transferring files and accessing blogs, newspapers, etc. But, I think that the majority of efforts at this point should be applied to a) hardware design (screen quality, etc) and b) software improvements (directory support, expanded dictionary support and integration, [for the models currently lacking in those areas], etc, as well as general improvements in rendering the variety of formats available on the market today).

I could care less about having an e-ink based device read books to me. Although, I can understand the importance of this technology to the disabled. I definitely wouldn't want to pay extra for the cost of 3G integration, especially in the case where I would have to pay extra for the service.