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

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

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

I agree.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

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

Particularly if the resin hasn't set up.

Dale

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Particularly if the resin hasn't set up.

Dale

silly detector* : ding ding ding


(*a perfectly serious detector, for detecting the silly.)

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

(*a perfectly serious detector, for detecting the silly.)

Are you abso-fragging-lutely sure 'bout that detector? Because he's starting to make funny noises ...
*beeps Ententanz*

[Luigino]

uh well... adopting some similar-resin should cost less than metal and it would help to cut down the price... and I hope they will make ABSOLUTELY a version of the 6" model WITHOUT any whistles or bells, just with an usb port and microSD slot and I'll be happy for ASTAK... :-)

Uhm, zelda, wouldn't detector really find a resin box when the detector looks for metal?... ;-)

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Particularly if the resin hasn't set up.

Dale

I never deal with a stuck-up vendor....

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Mindy

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.

Ok, this is a little suspicious to me. I'm not saying that they are lying but changing the material the shell is made out of a few months before release is not just a major change, it is a monumental change. This means reworking all the manufacturing lines. Getting new material providers set up. Doing CAD/CAM work to create the new shell. Getting it approved. Retraining the manufacturing line employees. New assembly methods and training. Also, don't you have to re-go through FCC certification if you change the case material.

BOb

[seajewel]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok, this is a little suspicious to me. I'm not saying that they are lying but changing the material the shell is made out of a few months before release is not just a major change, it is a monumental change. This means reworking all the manufacturing lines. Getting new material providers set up. Doing CAD/CAM work to create the new shell. Getting it approved. Retraining the manufacturing line employees. New assembly methods and training. Also, don't you have to re-go through FCC certification if you change the case material.

BOb

I agree. This is a major change. and we were supposed to be getting them this month or next month.. and since they're changing the case, they can't have produced many. The Astak Mentors don't seem to be coming any time soon, if at all.. I'm really starting to lose confidence in this.

[Luigino]

Uhm, what if they have already a support for resin-plastic material they use for their cameras?...
if true, they have only to give the form of the case to the CNC machine that makes the materials for cameras and then build cases box.... that means less time in this way because the material is already approved for the cameras they sell...
OBVIOUSLY is only an hypotesis.... ;-)
Let's ask RobertB to give us latest news about dates and materials and possibile VERSIONS... ;-)

[ddimick]

Originally Posted by seajewel

I agree. This is a major change. and we were supposed to be getting them this month or next month.. and since they're changing the case, they can't have produced many. The Astak Mentors don't seem to be coming any time soon, if at all.. I'm really starting to lose confidence in this.

It's not really that big of a change. It's unlikely they would contract to manufacture all the components in one place. It's fairly easy to send your specs to a shop that specialized in making this type of case and get them to start producing.

It's likely that the screens are made in one factory, the electronics in another, cases in a third and all assembled and packaged in a fourth. Not to mention batteries, software CDs, paper manuals, etc.

[Walk Broad]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok, this is a little suspicious to me. I'm not saying that they are lying but changing the material the shell is made out of a few months before release is not just a major change, it is a monumental change. ... Also, don't you have to re-go through FCC certification if you change the case material.

BOb

Well said PilotBOb, well said.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok, this is a little suspicious to me. I'm not saying that they are lying but changing the material the shell is made out of a few months before release is not just a major change, it is a monumental change. This means reworking all the manufacturing lines. Getting new material providers set up. Doing CAD/CAM work to create the new shell. Getting it approved. Retraining the manufacturing line employees. New assembly methods and training. Also, don't you have to re-go through FCC certification if you change the case material.

BOb

Dear Pilot Bob and all:

Our partners in this Astak venture are in Taiwan. They did a test OEM project to see how the units would be received. They sold like crazy and there were no problems reported other than the fact that there were some comments made that as peoples sleeves and skin came across the lower right edge, the paint on the metal started to gloss. It was not a particularly major problem but enough that the OEM wrote back to the factory asking them to solve that problem. Look at the space key on your computer keyboard and you will see that worn and glossed effect (are you aware that computer notebook refurbishers change that space key every time to make the machine look barely used?).

On computer keyboards it is acceptable I suppose. On the Mentor/LiteBook it is not. We addressed this situation with industry experts at IDPF and the BEA show too and they also recommended that we make the switch before release. They also suggested a dictionary, a mountable light, larger buttons, and getting a .pdf format (all things we are doing). SO... rather than shipping out product that looks bad after a few months to make a few quick bucks we did the honorable thing and went back to redesign for a resin plastic solution. It is lighter weight and will solve the gloss problem.

Yes, I am aware that the Mobileread Forum crowd is tired of waiting. SO AM I. I hate writing and saying there will be a delay. But... it is better to delay and do it right than ship and have you comment negatively after it ships. I am emailing today, honestly, to try to set things straight. It is not suspicious or anything else... it is just a sign that we are trying still to do this right. Progress is being made and we will have firm release dates coming up with new pictures and more things you have all asked for.

RobertB

[Walk Broad]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Pilot Bob and all:

Yes, I am aware that the Mobileread Forum crowd is tired of waiting. SO AM I. I hate writing and saying there will be a delay. But... it is better to delay and do it right than ship and have you comment negatively after it ships. I am emailing today, honestly, to try to set things straight. It is not suspicious or anything else... it is just a sign that we are trying still to do this right. Progress is being made and we will have firm release dates coming up with new pictures and more things you have all asked for.

RobertB

Case cleared up as far as I am concerned RobertB

I guess we've all been burned by vaporware and promises of new technologies at more affordable prices and didn't want to see Astak go the same route.

Plus, as I'm learning as well, e-book readers seem to be a pretty dedicated group of folks.

Thanks for taking the time to set the record straight.

(Still think you should get some of those units used in Taiwan into some reviewers hands. You can label them prototypes but, with your release date(s) coming up soon, you could start generating some positive pre-launch buzz. But skip that noob Walt Mossberg, unless Apple makes it, he hates everything. I've got some suggestions if you need them. And no, I would not include myself)

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Pilot Bob and all:

As I said, I didn't think you were lying, was just surprised that you could make a major change so quickly... in other words, I think it will make you later than you think it will.

At this point you have already over promised and underdelivered... and the units aren't even out yet. While it is good to be transparent like Microsoft it is also good to be opaque like Apple.

You should work on underpromise and overdeliver!

So, yes, tell us your plans... perhaps be a bit generic about it. But, you have backslide on the date and the price. This personally doesn't look good. You wonder, gee, if they didn't get that right, what else is wrong that I don't know about.

While I am "waiting" to see what you guys come up with. I am not chomping at the bit. I already have a reader (two actually) that I am using. However, I would like to see a great 6inch device that supports eReader because I feel eReader has the least restrictive DRM.

Anyway, my comments are only meant to help.

BOb

[moz]

Overdelivery is such a basic thing... the alternative is the current approach of vapurware and empty promises. By the time any of us actually see one of these things a lot of us are going to be cynical about the company and the device. Currently we have somethin that's a few months late and twice the price with no extra features to justify either of those things.

I've changed from "buy one as soon as they're out" to "wait for service pack one". It's just not worth the hassle, anything that is so bad that they can't fix the problems without slipping the schedule I'd rather let someone else be the beta tester.

FWIW, I would much rather have a metal case than a plastic one. I don't care whether you call it resin, engineering plastic or GRR, I don't beleive it's as good as metal.