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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by NeweReader

Hi Robert,

Can you give us any more information on the differences between these 3 EZ Readers, the EZ Reader that is coming out soon (the Hanlin V3) and the EZ Reader Plus and the EZ Reader Pro?

I didn't know that there would be more than one EZ Reader. I was planning on purchasing the 6" EZ Reader that is coming out soon, but if the others will have more functionality that might appeal to me, I will wait.

Will the Plus and Pro also be 6" or will they be a different size?

Thanks for all the time you have put into answering everyone's questions.

The EZ Reader Plus will add Wi Fi. The EZ Reader Pro will have Touchscreen and WiFi. There may well be other improvements but we do not know yet. January is not far off anymore. From my own perspective, I am buying the EZ Reader without Plus or Pro. I prefer to download books onto my computer and then to the EZ Reader. I would not use WiFi. Touchscreen is a great feature but you are looking at release in March, 2009... and you KNOW how projects can slip. To my own needs... the EZ Reader alone is fast, easy, light, and works GREAT.

Robert B

[NeweReader]

Originally Posted by Robertb

The EZ Reader Plus will add Wi Fi. The EZ Reader Pro will have Touchscreen and WiFi. There may well be other improvements but we do not know yet. January is not far off anymore. From my own perspective, I am buying the EZ Reader without Plus or Pro. I prefer to download books onto my computer and then to the EZ Reader. I would not use WiFi. Touchscreen is a great feature but you are looking at release in March, 2009... and you KNOW how projects can slip. To my own needs... the EZ Reader alone is fast, easy, light, and works GREAT.

Robert B

Robert - Thank you so much for your quick reply. You have set my mind at ease and confirmed my choice to get the EZ Reader (without Plus or Pro). I am like you, I wouldn't use WiFi and the Touchscreen is nifty but not critical for me. Thanks again for your answers. I am getting more and more excited about getting my EZ Reader!

[Emu]

Originally Posted by Robertb

I guess music is in the ear of the beholder. I thought with my Noise Canceling headphones it was a bit better than with my iPod.

You are, however, absolutely right and anew tag line is needed. I was trying just to make people realize that the EZ Reader does both and although I know that Forum Readers are brighter than me on this stuff.

Hey Robert, I really was laughing about the fact that you could listen to music while reading books in the 1800s

Maybe you try something like:
"Hundreds of books and your favourite music - In one device that fits in your pocket."
or something which has the books and not the music in the foregrund...

Good Luck on the CES! I'm really looking forward to the generation comming AFTER the EZ

[ddimick]

Robert, although I'm sure the picture I saw doesn't represent the final product, please work on the aesthetics some more. The logo in particular looks a bit cheesy. A small, tasteful logo is preferred. One of the main reasons I don't like the Kindle (besides their DRM model) is it got whacked repeatedly by the ugly stick.

Take some design cues from Sony on this one, when it comes to style they know what they're doing.

[Brazos_Jack]

This may have already been answered, but will the Astak Mentor support folders?

My CyBook, which I bought as an interim device while waiting on the Astak Mentor 9.7”, does not, so while I can use 2 Gig SD cards, if I put even a fraction of that many books and pictures on it there are too many pages to look through to find what I want. It only supports 3 main folders – eBooks, which can only contain supported document formats, Pictures, which can only contain JPG’s, and Music, which can only contain MP-3’s. If you create any sub-folder under, say, the eBook main directory, it ignores the sub-folders and lumps their contents into the main eBook directory. Same for Pictures or Music.

I have a Creative Zen MP-3 player, which also uses 2 Gig SD cards and so I put Music, Pictures, and eBooks folders on each card and use in both devices. Both devices also can use the same mini-USB 5 volt charger and computer interface port. Very handy for traveling. One set of SD cards, one charger, and one cable for both. And my digital camera also uses 2 Gig SD cards and the same USB to mini-USB data transfer cable.

I use sub-folders to organize the Music and Pictures into sub folders, which the Zen supports. The CyBook ignores the subfolders and lumps all the pictures in the main “Pictures” folder, as I said above.

I hope the Astak supports file sub-folder structures because that will make things much easier and allow me to utilize its full storage potential. I'm definitely glad that the Astak is using SD cards because I prefer to not have anything in the device's on-board storage, prefering to be able to completely change libraries by changing SD cards.

I still don’t have headphones with the small jack to try the MP-3 capability of the CyBook. So I don’t know if it will multitask – play music while I simultaneously read a book. The Zen will not allow you to multi-task – i.e. play music while browsing pictures. You can only do one or the other. Since I’ve got the MP-3 player, I don’t really need this capability in the Astak, but I hope it uses a standard headphone jack so I can at least try it.

So I’m hoping, for convenience, that the Astak:

A. supports file sub-folders (most important)
B. uses a standard USB or mini-USB for data transfer and charging (both the home and car charger have no permanently attached cable – only a standard USB port – the USB to mini USB cable is separate and it's easy enough to carry 2 cables)
C. Standard headphone jack port (not that important)

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Brazos_Jack

I still don’t have headphones with the small jack to try the MP-3 capability of the CyBook. So I don’t know if it will multitask – play music while I simultaneously read a book. The Zen will not allow you to multi-task – i.e. play music while browsing pictures. You can only do one or the other. Since I’ve got the MP-3 player, I don’t really need this capability in the Astak, but I hope it uses a standard headphone jack so I can at least try it.

It does, but I really wouldn't bother with it. Even the most basic MP3 player is better than any eBook reader at playing music.

Note, by the way, that the 2.5mm jack of the Gen3 is a standard, albeit a considerably less common one than a 3.5mm jack. 2.5mm sockets are very commonly found on mobile phones. You can get a 3.5mm to 2.5mm converter from pretty much any store that sells cables, etc..

[ddimick]

I told my wife I want the new Sony reader for Christmas... elegant form factor, touchscreen interface, integrated LED night light. A lot of the things the Mentor was supposed to be, except the Sony is a lot more expensive at $400. But I can't wait forever.

[HPG]

Originally Posted by ddimick

I told my wife I want the new Sony reader for Christmas... elegant form factor, touchscreen interface, integrated LED night light. A lot of the things the Mentor was supposed to be, except the Sony is a lot more expensive at $400. But I can't wait forever.

Yes, it's an elegant device. What I've noticed about the Sony bookstore, though, is that there are a lot of titles that are "US only" -- i.e. not available to non-US buyers. That's what's stopped me (a Canadian) buying a Sony.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HPG

Yes, it's an elegant device. What I've noticed about the Sony bookstore, though, is that there are a lot of titles that are "US only" -- i.e. not available to non-US buyers. That's what's stopped me (a Canadian) buying a Sony.

So you just buy the ebooks elsewhere. There are plenty of sources for ebooks.

What did you end up with instead?

BOb

[dki]

Hi Robert,

I would be interested in Astak, mainly because of the USA support, and also natively read formats. I assume there will be a few of those, as opposed to what Sony offers. So far I have had four devices (not counting my PC or Mac) that I used as an ebook reader in the last year, and I am getting to the point when constant converting and formatting takes almost the same amount of time as reading. I want to avoid that. So I would like to know what are the formats planned for the first software release? Also, how soon it will be updated?

Will EZ Reader support any fonts other than basic English (Polish in my case)? Would I be able to load my fonts onto the device (as with Cybook?).

Another very important issue - you mentioned the beating that the reader took - was this only the software? eReaders tend to be rather on the flimsy side (that's where the US support comes in). And I don't mean I intend to sit on it, or throw it at my near and dear, but I certainly do intend to carry it with me in my bag with my lipstick and a pen and a packet of tissues, and maybe even a compact. Are you going to offer a protective cover, or is there a cover on the market that would fit? Titanium ecaddy for PRS-505 would probably fit, but I don't really know for sure, and something custom made for specific reader would be better - protection wise - no sliding inside of the cover etc. Also screen protector would be good. As I found out to my great annoyance, the cover offered by Cybook is probably not enough to protect device in the course of normal usage.

Also, I noticed "thinner and lighter" - and I have to say - HOPE NOT!!! Thinner & lighter does not protect the screen to a sufficient degree. Most people really do not carry eInk devices in their pockets (hell, I don't even carry a PDA in my pocket, and cell phone only rarely), and they don't need to be tiny. Until the screen is sufficiently resistant, the device construction should be well able to protect the screen. Until the foldable/rollable screens come into a picture as something other than vaporware.

And, last but not least, are you planning on having a distributor for your product (I mean a chain of real stores, like Target for Sony), now or in the future. J&R (they distribute JetBook & Sony). I am asking because of the warranty and fixing device problems that are usually easier solved with a retailer chain.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Dorota

[HPG]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

So you just buy the ebooks elsewhere. There are plenty of sources for ebooks.

What did you end up with instead?

BOb

Ah -- interesting. Here's my ignorance showing: I thought that the Sony only took Sony's own DRM stuff, and that I couldn't read DRM'd e-reader or mobipocket or suchlike on it. Am I wrong in that? Or was your point that one can read non-DRM material from many sources on the Sony?

Actually, I didn't end up with anything -- I'm still using my ancient, but still functional, Clie.

[ddimick]

Originally Posted by HPG

Ah -- interesting. Here's my ignorance showing: I thought that the Sony only took Sony's own DRM stuff, and that I couldn't read DRM'd e-reader or mobipocket or suchlike on it. Am I wrong in that? Or was your point that one can read non-DRM material from many sources on the Sony?

Actually, I didn't end up with anything -- I'm still using my ancient, but still functional, Clie.

No, you aren't wrong. It will read non-DRM ePub, PDF, etc. but it only works with its own DRM format. As far as I can tell, no reader supports more than one DRM format.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HPG

I thought that the Sony only took Sony's own DRM stuff, and that I couldn't read DRM'd e-reader or mobipocket or suchlike on it. Am I wrong in that? Or was your point that one can read non-DRM material from many sources on the Sony?

No, you are correct. However, there are 2 options. 1)Buy ebooks that do not have DRM on them. 2) Buy a format that has DRM which can be removed. Option 2 is really what I meant.

While the legality of 2 is not clear depending on the country you are in as long as you are converting a book that you bought for yourself and you aren't distributing it with everyone then your not denying anyone any revenue. Many don't have a moral dilemma with this. But you have to make up your own mind.

BOb

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by ddimick

No, you aren't wrong. It will read non-DRM ePub, PDF, etc. but it only works with its own DRM format. As far as I can tell, no reader supports more than one DRM format.

The Sony does in that is also supports Adobe DRM for ePUB and PDF. This is especially important for Public Library checkout.

Dale

[HPG]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

The Sony does in that is also supports Adobe DRM for ePUB and PDF. This is especially important for Public Library checkout.

Dale

Thanks for the helpful advice, but I guess that's why so many of us feel like giving up from time to time. This format confusion is just baffling for those of us who aren't immersed in the technology. I take Pilotbob's point, that DRM can be stripped out, although I'm not at all sure about the legality of that in Canada, and, again, it's an example of the kind of complication that gets in the way of what needs to be a transparent technology for it to gain widespread acceptance. If that's not too tangled a sentence.

This all reminds me so much of the early days of personal computing, when the decision about which machine to buy was tied up with what software was written for it, so it was very much a game mainly for enthusiasts and gamesters. Then along came the technically awful IBM PC, powered by the even more ghastly MS-DOS, and because it was IBM everyone bought it, creating this vast market for software. Authors found ways of living with the ludicrous limitations that MS-DOS imposed, the market grew, and the rest, as they say...