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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pkovak

Con someone comment if Kindle is available in Europe? Does whispernet work there? What countries? I can easily imagine why whispernet is such a great success in USA, but it really, really depends on network working anywhere you are.

Modular design for eReader is very good idea. It would allow people to choose what they want / need - for example, you want touchscreen, but you don't need wifi and 3G, so these modules won't be included in your purchase. Someone else want wifi, not 3G, and there will be some who want 3G and not wifi.
I fear that in many Europe countries, 3G is far from ideal solution.
In fact there isn't any ideal solution, because there is no free worldwide "datanet" yet (I hope you all read your daily portion of Peter F. Hamilton ), so we have to survive with what we have now.

Dear pkovak:

Modular design works with external add-ons. You can, for example, bring out an eBook Reader and have a Wi-Fi dongle or Wi-Fi SD card as an option.

But, Touchscreen is not something that is as easy as just laying on the plastic overlay. I know from my days of selling POS terminals that there was talk of an IR Touchscreen that could be placed on a device later. BUT... the internal mechanics and GUI are the problem. You COULD possibly program all devices to take Touchscreen and then not put it on some... but the majority of the cost of Touchscreen is borne inside the machine and any savings (if any) would be eaten up by engineering costs.

Plus, modular would involve a potential nightmare for keeping things straight. You would have to have packaging with check boxes on them to tell what that particular package has. Marketing would also be a bit more difficult.

Also, if you give people the choice of going Wi-Fi or 3G, the wireless providers kick up a fuss. Prices for SIM cards require a cost PLAN and AT&T know they may not see the numbers they need so they jack up the cost of the plan. And what about retailers? COSTCO or Wal-Mart does not want choices... they want SALES. Bring them in... watch them fly out the door.

Now, this is only from the point of an eBook Reader manufacturer and not from the consumer... but we need both views I think.

Robert B

[rgeorg]

Hi Robert,
I appreciate the education and I will say in all honesty that I have NEVER actually seen an eInk device. I will be in Germany next month and will try to go and check out the demo Sony that someone told me are available (in another Mobileread thread).

I think that I was just a bit concerned that development attention seemed to be focused on the "wow-features" and large sizes - rather than a really good 6" model. I do read your blog - which I enjoy very much! This is certainly a novel way of communicating with a company representative. The Mentor Lite (with the Epson controller) sounds ideal. I remember that you said in one post that you might skip over it in favor of the "Intrigue" model that has touchscreen. I hope not.

All current 6" models have serious trade-offs. I just can't make up my mind on one model (for personal reading). I did try to purchase the EZreader at Frys when it was on sale - but that didn't work out. Like I said, I've finally decided to wait for more specifics on the Mentor Lite and see what the first wave of customers say - and then I'll jump in.

Regarding netbooks and tablet PCs:
I know that a tablet/netbook is not the same as an eReader, but it does boil down to a competition for the "computing-dollar" the consumer has to spend - and the perception of the value of the added features. I recently had the bad experience of trying to justify the purchase of a 8" or 10" eReader for work. It did not fly, even though I am a university tutor and the primary use will be for text/paper reviews. Finally, we purchased the 9" convertible/tablet/netbook for the same price as the 8" eReader but with many additional features. I can't say yet how well it will actually function as it hasn't even arrived at my desk yet.

Perhaps it's an education problem of demonstrating how much better the eInk is? Obviously, your pricing strategy will also play an important role. I'm not in any way qualified to debate the issue, I just wanted to present my experience. I hope that it helps your company in further development, because I love to read and I enjoy technology - so an eReader will be the perfect combination!

I just want to add that I appreciate you taking the time to write your informative blog and to reply to my posts and questions.

[pkovak]

RobertB, I really didn't mean to give choice about including / excluding touchscreen, I understand it would be close to impossible to make this work.
About the other "possibly modular" things: maybe, just maybe (I would like to know if it's doable, I don't have any experience in this field), if you have an online shop for there eReaders, there will be basic model, for example Mentor Intrigue, with touchscreen. And there will be accessories, I can buy in addition to it - wifi, 3G, leather case, choose from several colors etc.
I would like to know if it's possible from your point of view, you are the one with inside knowledge how this works.
Shops like walmart can have different packages, without this option, lets say they always get both wifi and 3G already installed.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pkovak

RobertB, I really didn't mean to give choice about including / excluding touchscreen, I understand it would be close to impossible to make this work.
About the other "possibly modular" things: maybe, just maybe (I would like to know if it's doable, I don't have any experience in this field), if you have an online shop for there eReaders, there will be basic model, for example Mentor Intrigue, with touchscreen. And there will be accessories, I can buy in addition to it - wifi, 3G, leather case, choose from several colors etc.
I would like to know if it's possible from your point of view, you are the one with inside knowledge how this works.
Shops like walmart can have different packages, without this option, lets say they always get both wifi and 3G already installed.

Daer pkovak:

Thank you for your response!!

IF eBook Readers were made in the USA... this could be done. Potentially, a line could be done to sort of build-to-suit. BUT, allowing for manufacturing costs in USA and that all panels and parts are made in Asia... likely this would not happen.

In our case our factories are in China and Taiwan as labor rates and engineering are low. A skilled engineer maybe gets $500 a month. Also, everything is done on conveyorized assembly lines where workers are expected to keep up with the flow. There is never the thought to do one person at one desk doing custom orders. If they did, that $300 device may cost you $700.

Your idea is very well-intentioned and I know that... but in today's mass production with end users screaming about wanting an under $200 machine if they could get it... everything is far too automated.

Look at Astak. We OWN the factory in Taiwan and even for us they will NOT design a custom machine unless we order 20,000. I would love to have a North American Special built precisely as most have stated on Mobileread Forum... an "Astak Dream" model. Instead I harp and plead and beg them to USE an Epson Controller NOW and not next month! To them it is all about: "we make machine, you buy major quantity maybe, shut face and shoehorn fit into North America". Eventually I yell enough that I get some things done the right way.

Robert B

[AbFabGab]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

Robertb,

about the Mentor Lite..
(excuse me if already answered, I'm getting confused with all the
different models being discussed)

Will it read DRM books? If so, what format?
Have a price yet?
Will be available when?

ps. I like your blog. That was a great idea!

oops.. nevermind.
your blog post answered me...

"Supports open-format. Download DRM from our www.goEZebook.com website. Planned formats are eReader and Adobe Digital Editions coming withinmonths via simple download. Supports the BIG TEN file formats!!"

"Pricing and more detail forthcoming soon!!"

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Dylrob:

Regular 5-wire resistive touchscreens cost the factory about $70 to add to a 6 inch device.

Again, people, please do not blame me saying I scoff at a cost of maybe $150 or so additional to get "under the E-Ink" Touchscreen. I do not scoff at any cost. I am just trying to keep you informed and be honest about it. I try to treat all of you as highly informed and involved people and I think it helps to attach dollars to something to aid in your discussions.

Robert B

[Whoops, somehow I missed this reply until now.]

Thanks for the information.

Hmm, that is quite a bit. But then it could still be well worth it depending on how the touch functionality was exploited.

[emellaich]

Robertb,

I know I should just bookmark your sites myself -- but here is a tip.

When I want to find your company's web site or blog I have to go back through this thread to find them. It would be helpful for me if you would add a signature to your posts with your web sites in the signature. Something like:

===================
Robertb, Astak
My blog: www.wherever.com/blog
Astak ebooks: www.wherever.com
Other Astak products: www.astak.com
===================

You can get your signature to automatically show at the bottom of all of your posts, by clicking on the "Quick Links" menu at the top of the bulletin board. This will cause a menu to drop down. In the second section (User controls) you will see a choice of "Edit Signature"

Michael

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by emellaich

===================
Robertb, Astak
My blog: www.wherever.com/blog
Astak ebooks: www.wherever.com
Other Astak products: www.astak.com
===================

Or something a bit more compact like:

RobertB, Astak
My Blog | Astak ebooks | Other Astak Products

with each of those items being a link.

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

"Supports open-format. Download DRM from our www.goEZebook.com website. Planned formats are eReader and Adobe Digital Editions coming withinmonths via simple download. Supports the BIG TEN file formats!!"

So it's going to support Mobi, then? Weren't you having some sort of licensing issue with that?

[igorsk]

Maybe Astak doesn't consider Mobi to be in "the big ten"?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by igorsk

Maybe Astak doesn't consider Mobi to be in "the big ten"?

It's a pretty wierd definition of a "big ten" that DOESN'T include it, considering that it's without any shadow of a doubt among the popular commercial eBook formats.

[igorsk]

Well, marketing folks can make you beleive almost anything...

[Over]

RobertB, back to my question (shipping to Europe):

Would it be possible to send in a discret box, with no indication that it's a sale? I'm saying this because I've stopped to import products from USA when I got to pay customs tax twice in a row (80$ for a 100$ package with books was the last time I've ever imported).

I don't wany to import an ereader and risk have to pay for it AGAIN if it gets caught in customs (it's very random).

[Over]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's a pretty wierd definition of a "big ten" that DOESN'T include it, considering that it's without any shadow of a doubt among the popular commercial eBook formats.

TXT
RTF
PDF
ePub
LIT
HTML
CHM
PDB
DOC
DOCX
LRF
IMP

It's certainly possible to conceive it... In a twisted way.

[HarryT]

Over,

Not wishing to be a "spoilsport", but falsely declaring the value of an item on a customs declaration is a crime. No reputable seller is going to do it. Besides which (something to consider!), if you have insured delivery (as one would for an item such as this), you can generally only make a claim up to the declared value. Do you really want to take that chance? Unfortunately packages can and do go "astray" in the post.