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

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

A book reader doesnt need 16 shades of gray, nor the mp3 ability, nor the handwriting feature.

A "only used for recreational reading" reader doesnt need any of this. But it also needs no 9,7''.
A "reading technical documents" really SHOULD have a touchscreen. Being able to make notes is a very important function for most "studying" or "technical reading" uses.
I know, not everyone uses markers - but most people do. Heck, every "How to learn", "How to read scientific publications", etc paper states that you SHOULD make notes, annotations, mark important passages, etc
And there is the complete B2B-market - and this market also needs touchscreen.
Recreational reading is small displays, long battery, light.
Business and technical needs more.

But what are we discussing about? Astak wants to serve both markets - making two versions of that reader (with and without touchscreen,wifi,etc). So you pick your "reader only" and I pick my "touchscreen and wifi" device and everyones content.

[Luigino]

Tirsales, that's what I was saying for two posts where I replied... :-)

[HPG]

Does anyone have any views on the benefits of the 5 inch vs. the 6 inch devices? What considerations would weigh into your decision to go with one or the other?

[Lorion]

Benefit of the 6" is the possibility to choose it with wifi and/or touchscreen.
I think those feature will not come to the 5", will they?

[HPG]

Originally Posted by Lorion

Benefit of the 6" is the possibility to choose it with wifi and/or touchscreen.
I think those feature will not come to the 5", will they?

Yes, I think that's right. What about the difference in screen size? How might that affect the reading experience, do you think?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

"Patience is a virtue" huh ?

"Patience is a virtue,
possess it if you can,
seldom in a women,
never in a man."

The above little ditty my mom used... usually the night before christmas or some other such pending event time.

BOb

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by tirsales

A "only used for recreational reading" reader doesnt need any of this. But it also needs no 9,7''...

But what are we discussing about? Astak wants to serve both markets - making two versions of that reader (with and without touchscreen,wifi,etc). So you pick your "reader only" and I pick my "touchscreen and wifi" device and everyones content.

You are quite correct.

If Astak was willing to go the route we all would like, and come out with two different 9.7 devices, then I would heartily approve and pick my choice.

And do I really NEED a 9.7? No, not really. But, on the other hand, having a 9.7, as opposed to a 6, would allow me to read that much more before turning the page. It would also allow me to read my full-size pdfs.

Magazines are beginning to sell in pdf form. This will allow me to be able to carry around all of my current issues and read them without either shrinking the image or scrolling left right up down, like I would on the 6 inch models.

Besides, I would much rather mention to a lady that I sport a 9.7 inch device than a 5 or 6 inch one.

[nekokami]

Just a minor point: the iLiad does not have built-in handwriting recognition. I think they would be selling more units if they did. It's one of the first things people ask me when they see me using the stylus-- and they assume it does have HWR, and are very surprised when it doesn't.

The iLiad is certainly overkill for just reading, though. I got mine to do graduate work on. I'd have stuck with my eBookwise 1150, otherwise.

[theDwarf]

Hey Robertb,
My main thing about the 9.7" display is that I would want a reader that can handle documents from Project Gutenberg as well as standard sized PDFs I make myself using OpenOffice Writer as a pen & paper RPG designer I am primarily interested in accessing research away from my home computer and under normal light so it is easier to read and so forth. If it can handle PDFs and HTML as well as if not better than the current Kindle (Kindle "I" IIRC) and costs less AND has a full size screen then I am ecstatic

If one of the smaller, more durable units can handle both PDFs as well as allow for drawing on the machine/screen so I can take notes in the field then that may work well for appraisal work (especially if it is waterproof as paper definitely is not and it is difficult to write on an inverted clipboard! But to me that would be a more "down the line" type of usage. On that note, what about a two-screen display in the same device that allows for document viewing on one and data entry on the other? Just an errant thought ...

-Dwarf

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by theDwarf

pen & paper RPG

Oh yeah! A nice eReader for RPGs would be so nice

[theDwarf]

Originally Posted by tirsales

Oh yeah! A nice eReader for RPGs would be so nice

Yup, especially given the advantages the various features of PDF can bring to pen & paper RPGs. Given a good eReader and good index, tab and sort features in the PDFs I can see storing all the books for a particular game on a single 4Gb-8Gb SD card and then bringing them up, as needed, during the game. Good indexing would be necessary to allow for hitting the desired information in the fewest page refreshes, but it could work. Heck, the game I am working on takes up less than 4Gb on my hard drive and that includes all the documents, test versions in PDF, over 42Mb of just research material, tons of proto-documents, and every saved back-up (I save every version so as to have a continual record just in case (help curb version creep, etc).

Of course my main interest is to save my eyes a bit as after an hour or two doing work on the computer I need 15-30mins away from the monitors and that makes good time to read up on some old source material, wrack my brain for ideas, and take notes). I could also see an eBook reader taking place of the entire stack of books (aka, everything a GM needs except dice and maybe a GM screen) so as to be better in the field or at conventions where you can't just have a bookshelf or two full of books behind you (as I am wont to do when I GM).

One of my main goals in creating my own pen & paper RPG is to create a game that is easily portable and on minimal encumbrance ... something a soldier or a Boy Scout could easily take with them into the field and not be concerned about the weight and mass. Given the weights I keep hearing on these eReaders I see them being yet another weight-saving option.
I don't see soldiers taking them into the field quite yet, but the smaller paper-back sized eReaders could potentially be viable if they are down to at or below an Honor Harrington novel in size/weight. I can see a lot of usefulness in the smaller readers for carrying dozens if not hundreds of paperback formatted books on PDF, etc. (yup, I am a even if I do resemble more ...)
(/ )

[Luigino]

Oh well... no news about Astak Mentor's coming out this month?... :-)

[tirsales]

According to Astak's Homepage it will be late August (read: September)

Originally Posted by Astak Homepage

The projected retail price is less than $249 and we should be selling the 5 inch FIRST through our website: www.astakshop.com in late August. Later they will sell through the Retail Stores.

and the 6'' projected for September (read: October). The 9.7'' has somewhere been projected for next year (read: It's done if it's done)

[Mindy]

Well, I hope Robertb won't mind me sharing, but in a fit of impatience I emailed through the Astak site and this is the response I got:

"Sorry! Our website master was so slow in puting up what I wanted that I have not updated.

The latest release date is July 28 for the 5 inch and August 28 for the six inch.

Dates do often slip as changes are suggested by experts in the field. We went to IDPF and BEA (two giant trade shows for books) and they made these suggestions and we liked what they said. One suggestion was major in that they suggested using a fine-resin plastic for the shell and not metal. This would make it lighter and the paint would not slowly rub off as you use the device. Plastic resin is impregnated with color.

This is the biggest problem is that we are trying to get everything right and no matter how hard you try there are always things that have not been seen before pop up. Pre-launch is a real strain.

I pray your operation goes smoothly and easily!! I will try my hardest to get at least ONE of the six inch ready for you. Our website will be the first place to buy units when they are released: www.astakshop.com. So far it just shows our line of cameras"

I think it's safe to say I am now slightly smitten with him for being such a sweetheart.
Of course, still huge qualifications around what will happen when and plenty of scope for unforeseeable delays, but nevertheless, am still hopeful....

[Greg Anos]

As impatient as I am, I would still rather wait for one that works, rather than a rushed, half-baked release.