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

[Tectonic]

Thanks for all the information Robert. It's great to have someone work with their future customers and listen to our needs and desires.

A quick question for you. Will any of the big retail stores in Canada carry the Astak? ince many of the retail chains here are the same as the ones in the USA, I'm certain that this wouldn't be too hard to do.

[Spartacus2112]

Thank you so much. I believe I will hold out in purchasing my first device (unless I see a great bargain) until the Mentor is released!

[moz]

Excellent news!

{voice of evil}Heh heh heh, now we know that we can bully him... mwhahahahaha

[Walk Broad]

Originally Posted by emellaich

Robert,

I agree with Walk Broad. I am excited by your participation here, and excited by the things I hear you talking about. I am nervous that you may have a tough time delivering everything that you are working towards.

If your software engineers are worried about two reading apps, and a web app (and more), and they have to adapt to different physical interfaces (touchscreen versus buttons) then improvements will take forever.

I would rather see you push out a single, solid, but basic first gen device, and then see you improve that device steadily through software updates.

I've got to agree, yet again, to not overshoot with this device.

I think it would be far better to get to market on time at (or very near) the price that has been first mentioned, at least for the 5 inch model.

"Feature Creep" is very real. Just because you CAN do a thing doesn't mean you SHOULD do a thing.

This thread is already straining at 26 plus pages with everyone asking for their variation of the perfect e-reading device. As great as feedback is from the intended market group, we'll just keep on adding things to the wish list and Astak will keep trying to satisfy us and push more and more into the device.

Please, June has already turned to July. Stop before July becomes some other date in the future.

From my understanding, you already have Fictionwise on board. You already have had conversations (commitments?) with big box retailers. You have working units and I only assume the factory is gearing up for general production.

Go with what you have.

If Mobipocket comes around, great. If Microsoft comes around, great. If publishers, other formats come around, great. But stop trying to make this the perfect device and throw everything in it but the kitchen sink. It's like a third string rookie trying to hit a grand slam home with their first time at bat in the majors.

For the love of e-reading, get it out the door and into the hands of paying customers!

You can always firm-ware upgrade us to death at a later date

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Walk Broad

You can always firm-ware upgrade us to death at a later date

Though - to be fair - this can also lead to annoyed customers. It's a tough decision to get it all right

[CTH]

It could lead to annoyed costumers but this is still early adapters who will buy a ereader, and they have much more tolerance to small firmware bugs than the normal comsumer that don't even know what a firmware is...

[beachwanderer]

Originally Posted by Spartacus2112

Thank you so much. I believe I will hold out in purchasing my first device (unless I see a great bargain) until the Mentor is released!

Takes the words right out of my mouth. Will have to wait another few weeks then ...

[Walk Broad]

Originally Posted by CTH

It could lead to annoyed costumers but this is still early adapters who will buy a ereader, and they have much more tolerance to small firmware bugs than the normal comsumer that don't even know what a firmware is...

Heaven forbid, I wasn't suggesting "bugs" in the firmware.

Perhaps a better choice of words should have been software upgrades to take advantage of when new opportunities arise.

Primarily, I am advocating they get the thing out the door, even if Amazon/Mobipocket are late to the game or never join at all.

Corporate paranoia could be they are dragging their feet to delay the release date to keep the Kindle selling since the Astak basic model will be less than half the price of the Kindle. Who knows.

Microsoft, as much as I think they should/could have come out with a reader of their own a long time ago. (Windows Mobile Professional and Microsoft Reader on a HTC Advantage size device minus the phone capabilities and keyboard, but I digress), could also be "checking" out the device for their own entry. Again, who knows.

But the bottom line remains - a product on the shelf is better than 3 products going through endless tweakings or waiting for all of "pieces and players" to come together.

The basic 5-inch model sounded good when first announced. The only thing I would say is, yes, add the dictionary feature if possible without causing significant delays.

Or, offer the dictionary as a software upgrade but the main thing should remain the main thing - GET IT OUT THE DOOR!

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Walk Broad

Microsoft, as much as I think they should/could have come out with a reader of their own a long time ago. (Windows Mobile Professional and Microsoft Reader on a HTC Advantage size device minus the phone capabilities and keyboard, but I digress), could also be "checking" out the device for their own entry. Again, who knows.

Oh please NO.
No really - Microsoft has its rotten fingers in more than enough different markets. Let them miss this one. Otherwise we would never see the end of DRM and (in the not too far future) could read our books only on Windows Vista 2 pcs spotting more than 4 GB RAM, 40GB HDD and at least a dual-core cpu for the bare operating system ...

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by tirsales

Oh please NO.
No really - Microsoft has its rotten fingers in more than enough different markets. Let them miss this one. Otherwise we would never see the end of DRM and (in the not too far future) could read our books only on Windows Vista 2 pcs spotting more than 4 GB RAM, 40GB HDD and at least a dual-core cpu for the bare operating system ...

stop it, you'll give me nightmares.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Tectonic

Thanks for all the information Robert. It's great to have someone work with their future customers and listen to our needs and desires.

A quick question for you. Will any of the big retail stores in Canada carry the Astak? ince many of the retail chains here are the same as the ones in the USA, I'm certain that this wouldn't be too hard to do.

Dear Tectonic:

We are presently selling our Security Cameras through Future Shop, Costco of Canada, Walmart of Canada, and Office Depot of Canada. I would clearly love to get our Mentor/LightBook into all ... but that takes their blessing and we cannot approach them without a final working sample or twenty. When we have working samples we will send them to our Canadian Distributor (Samtak) and they will proceed to talk to them.

You will be able, of course, to buy from our new website (now being developed) in July. But, yes, we do want them onboard and expect them onboard.

Glad that you brought this up!

robertb

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Luigino

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

Dear Luigi:

Geez, I did not know. I just assumed they were up and going.

I can tell you that we do now have permission to sell via website worldwide. We are developing the new website now and it may take 6 weeks... but when it is done you will be able to purchase the Mentor/LiteBook and books for them from that new website.

I will try to get in touch with Longshine and see where they are on this project. I also did already ask them to join MobileRead Forum.

robertb

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by 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

Dear Vinicius:

I know Touchscreen very well because our POS Division sells the terminals with Touchscreen. I also admit that there are many different types of TouchScreen: resistive, capacitive, SAW and more. Let me see if the factory has this nailed down yet. They told me it was 5-wire resistive Touch at one point but that may have changed. They are at Computex Trade Show in Taiwan right now but I will get the info and post!

robert b

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Walk Broad

I've got to agree, yet again, to not overshoot with this device.

I think it would be far better to get to market on time at (or very near) the price that has been first mentioned, at least for the 5 inch model.

"Feature Creep" is very real. Just because you CAN do a thing doesn't mean you SHOULD do a thing.

This thread is already straining at 26 plus pages with everyone asking for their variation of the perfect e-reading device. As great as feedback is from the intended market group, we'll just keep on adding things to the wish list and Astak will keep trying to satisfy us and push more and more into the device.

Please, June has already turned to July. Stop before July becomes some other date in the future.

From my understanding, you already have Fictionwise on board. You already have had conversations (commitments?) with big box retailers. You have working units and I only assume the factory is gearing up for general production.

Go with what you have.

If Mobipocket comes around, great. If Microsoft comes around, great. If publishers, other formats come around, great. But stop trying to make this the perfect device and throw everything in it but the kitchen sink. It's like a third string rookie trying to hit a grand slam home with their first time at bat in the majors.

For the love of e-reading, get it out the door and into the hands of paying customers!

You can always firm-ware upgrade us to death at a later date

Dear All:

All points well taken and warmly received. YES... the time has come to do this thing. That is WHY we are setting up our own website to sell the Mentor/LiteBook... to at least get them onsale in July.

Yes, points also taken that we have to get this moving now. We understand... we just want to get it right the first time. Why?? Because we are not an Amazon or a Sony. If they make a mistake they can correct and all will be forgiven pretty quick. If Astak makes an error we will get ripped apart by sharks. Plus, our reputation is at stake here too. Our Security Cameras are the best in the world because we did them right first time. We have that same disposition with the Mentor/LiteBooks. Plus... Retail Chains are not very forgiving. You sell product thru them and it does not move or has high returns... your neck is cut off.

Yes, we need to get to market and yes we are now finalizing. But, we will take the time not to add additional features but to get them right. You think YOU are getting tired of waiting... I have moments where I would like to scream (and do)... but anything worth doing is worth doing well!

robertb

[Martok]

This is excellent news about the web site.

Thanks Robertb for keeping us in the loop. Looking forward to reading on the new Mentor.