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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by borax99

Robert,

It was mentioned in this forum that you were looking at big box stores for distribution. ** Selfishly, I have to hope that you will make the 6-inch model available for online ordering, ** since I live in Canada and have no desire to depend on the tender mercies of Best Buy, Future Shop, Staples, etc.

... All this predicated on ereader support for me. I have a few Mobi titles stored on my tablet, even picked up the brand new James Bond book - and it won't @#$#$ justify for some reason ! (of course this title isn't available in ereader, so the point is partially moot - still I don't have much faith in the Mobipocket format)

In any case thanks for being so forthcoming, I am eagerly awaiting release date !

Dear Borax:

We are looking now at ways to allow people to order online. The problem is that the retail stores insist that we do not compete with them on price. If they sell at $189 we need to sell at no less than $200. Still, I know some people do not want the hassle of the stores and want to get exactly what they want even if a tiny bit more, as the lack of aggravation is worth it.

We also have a distributor in Canada for the cameras and are asking them to carry the Mentor/LiteBook.

We will not forget your nice comments and will get something that works great by you.

robertb

[tirsales]

If there is any possibility of ordering online - and getting delivered to Germany - I wouldn't mind spending the additional $, so ... pretty please with sugar on top - allow ordering your very nice looking device online and deliver world wide

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Luigino

Hello robertb,

As far as I am looking for the 6" inch non-WiFi model of the Mentor, and I live in Italy, will it be shipped in that country if ordered from there through Astak's website too?...
Plus, as some people said, I'd like also to know about PDF support and zooming like when using Acrobat PDF Reader on a PC...

Thanks a lot for being with us,
Ciao!
Luigi

Dear Luigi:

Our partner in Europe is Longshine in Ahrensburg, Germany. They are great people and do a wonderful job and will have their own 3 models which are very, very similar. I am sure they are Mobipocket in format. All other specs should be the same... though it may look a tiny bit different as they customize the controls for European tastes.

All three sizes have a zoom in and zoom out feature... with the TouchScreen ones being auto and manual zoom (we believe). They are not monitoring this site yet; but I will ask them to start to do so.

I WILL urge Longshine to get involved with MobileRead forum directly!

robertb

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by tirsales

If there is any possibility of ordering online - and getting delivered to Germany - I wouldn't mind spending the additional $, so ... pretty please with sugar on top - allow ordering your very nice looking device online and deliver world wide

Dear Tirsales:

Please see above reply of mine. I wish I could mail out to Germany and help you out. Pretty please with sugar on top always twists my heart. I WILL ensure that BOTH of our European friends messages do get to Longshine!

I promise.

robertb

[ddimick]

Robert, I'm researching my first eInk device now and am going to hold off for a few more months to see what you guys ship. Very excited about your product.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Please see above reply of mine. I wish I could mail out to Germany and help you out. Pretty please with sugar on top always twists my heart. I WILL ensure that BOTH of our European friends messages do get to Longshine!

I promise.

Thanks!

[borax99]

Robert, I agree that it would be OK to pay a bit more to get rapid gratification, i.e. online ordering directly from you. Add Fedex and/or UPS to the shipping options (in addition to ereader support) and you have an instant deal for the 6-inch model ! (Both of these carriers have very streamlined customs procedures, works well receivings goods from the U.S.A.)

Cheers !

[vinicius0881]

hi robert and guys

is there a place where i could find some (anticipated)detail on the touch-screen/notes-taking feature/technology for the mentor? i'm mostly concerned with this subject.

thanks in advance

[dottedmag]

Originally Posted by Hadrien

How do you plan on implementing the GUI for FBReader then ?

We're in process of adapting & packaging EFL - set of ultra-fast and light libraries backing the Enligtenment DE. Actually, LunohoD, who does the port of FBreader to OI, is also responsible for EFL in his Google Summer of Code task.

[wallcraft]

Concerning FBReader's GUI. If the book selection is done outside FBReader, Integrated FBReader 0.8.14 with ePub and Registry Support demonstrates that no GUI is required if you have 11 distinguishable key presses. I think FBReader port to (Lbook|Hanlin) V3 works similarly.

If EFL can allow access to FBReader's GUI without a mouse/touchscreen that would be great. On an E-Ink screen, screen updates may be as much an issue as selection though. That is one reason why AdamB ditched FBReader's GUI on the iLiad, even though it has a touchscreen.

[Mindy]

Originally Posted by vinicius0881

is there a place where i could find some (anticipated)detail on the touch-screen/notes-taking feature/technology for the mentor? i'm mostly concerned with this subject.

Oooeeer, this would be a definite selling point for me too, since the ability to make notes is tempting me to the Iliad; the price is just as much of a disincentive though. The ability to read from a USB memory stick also appeals to me, but isn't a 'deal-breaker'.

So, my dream device would let me read and edit/take notes on a Word doc that I had saved on a USB stick! As well as reading my dozens of books of course (I'm not demanding at all!)

Another big query for me is: will there be a distributer in the UK? I know that 'technically' we're a part of Europe, and it appears that Longshine have relationships over here, but it's not always that straightforward so some reassurance would be nice.

It's my birthday at the beginning of July, so will hold off on my pressie to myself (which about an hour ago was going to be a Cybook) till there's some more news!
(wow, that went on longer than I intended)

[Luigino]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Luigi:

Our partner in Europe is Longshine in Ahrensburg, Germany. They are great people and do a wonderful job and will have their own 3 models which are very, very similar. I am sure they are Mobipocket in format. All other specs should be the same... though it may look a tiny bit different as they customize the controls for European tastes.

All three sizes have a zoom in and zoom out feature... with the TouchScreen ones being auto and manual zoom (we believe). They are not monitoring this site yet; but I will ask them to start to do so.

I WILL urge Longshine to get involved with MobileRead forum directly!

robertb

Hello Robert!

I took a look at their website of Longshine but as you said they have their own 3 models and I haven't found anything.... do you have maybe any references about those models of them?...Maybe a link?....

Thanks
Ciao,
Luigi

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by borax99

Robert, I agree that it would be OK to pay a bit more to get rapid gratification, i.e. online ordering directly from you. Add Fedex and/or UPS to the shipping options (in addition to ereader support) and you have an instant deal for the 6-inch model ! (Both of these carriers have very streamlined customs procedures, works well receivings goods from the U.S.A.)

Cheers !

Dear Borax and all:

BEA is over and we have good news!! Astak WILL be establishing a new Mentor/LiteBook website where, when they are released, any end user from anywhere in the world can buy the device. Yes, we do expect it will be the FIRST place that you can buy... even before the retail store roll-out. Italy, Germany, Boznia, Peru or Scranton, Pennsylvania... you will be able to buy here with a VALID credit card!

So many of you have asked for this and I kept saying "no" but we have given into pressure and at BEA we got all the details worked out. You will be able to buy direct from us. It will be a small amount more cost than retail... but will still be a bargain and a value... and you will be able to decide how fast you want the shipping. Overnight is certainly possible. Yes, you will also be able to buy books there as well and the selection will be huge. It took a lot of maneuvering and talking to the publishers over the weekend. We found that the publishers overwhelmingly see us as bringing their eBooks to the masses for the first time... and so they are solidly lining up with us. Likewise, the retailers are not afraid of our own website either and think it will spur their own sales of Mentor/LiteBook.

Our normal website (www.astak.com) will have updates that will tell you when and where to go to (there will be a link). Remember... we are still looking at July for the launch of the 5 inch. Please do not email me asking to buy early. We will now go ahead and plan out the new device-selling online store and get that moving forward! Thank you for your patience!!

robertb

[pilotbob]

Excelent news Robert... bring em on!!! Maybe I'll return my Kindle... <G>

BOb

[tirsales]

Thats good news