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

[PKFFW]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Wow, it's actually working! I guess some people would just rather believe Astak wants to make them their custom ebook but can't because of some faceless Asian factory workers than believe Astak simply doesn't want to do it for business reasons.

Believe whatever you like mate but get at least a working knowledge of how businesses operate in this day and age before you accuse someone of racism and lying.

Cheers,
PKFFW

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dalliard

To Griffonwing: Mr. Dalliard and I offer our most green-felt apologies for our, it has to be said, inadvertant, near-inducement of nasal spillage of your carbonated beverage.

I can hear Mr. Fry actually saying this. I hear his voice. Creepy.
(But I just wanted to buy a pair of shoes).

--------------

Originally Posted by kacir

Well, there are at least two of us ;-)
I want my reader for reading fiction. PERIOD.
I would very much prefer to have a "next page" button on every side and every corner of device.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants a reader ONLY to read ebooks.
Here's hoping the button can be remapped.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Mr Dalliard, I saw your name and almost spilled coke out of my nose. I can almost hear Stephen Fry calling towards the back of the shop "Mr Dalliard, I'll meet you at the peephole!"

Anyway, I digress. Now to the main point of this post.

RobertB -- Is there a way to uninstall Sudoku and remap the Sudoku button? I, for one, abhor the game. Having one button, of which there are only a few, assigned as a hotkey to a game, on a device that is intended to be a book reader?

I think that is a waste of a brainstorming session. Now, I may be in the vast minority on this. But just because one is an avid reader doesnt mean that one is also a pencil-puzzle fan. Now, I do love a good crossword now and then, but I would never play a crossword game, or any related pencil game.

When I first heard/saw mention of Sudoku on your posts, I assumed it was only in the 'talks' stage. If this aspect of Mentor cannot be uninstalled and rekeyed, then perhaps I will have to pass on the reader and wait longer.

Dear Griffonwing:

I always love your posts and I laughed out loud on the "Mr. Dillon, ah left the horses down by the reever" take-off... to borrow from Gunsmoke.

First off, the Sudoku is very unobtrusive on the Mentor Lite. If you do not push that top button on the left side you will never, ever run across it. It is not on the main menu or anything.

Second, I respect your opinion. I know there are "purists" (only respect intended) on eBook Readers. Some absolutely hate the MP3 player on some devices and just do not have that need.

Thirdly, I know you would like to use that button for other things more important to you. Dale DePriest is always reminding me that user-programmable buttons would be really nice.

Truthfully, I have no idea about this. The engineers are in Taiwan and they would know. Let me email them and see if we cannot post a way of doing this. As you may have noticed elsewhere in this thread lately... our factory in Taiwan is not like Jinke yet. I can ask Jinke and positively get at least acknowledgement in 24 hours. The Taiwan factory is not quite as responsive yet. They are not set up for questions... only production and design and engineering. If you do not speak Mandarin (no offense to great Mandarin speakers everywhere) then you are limited on contacts.

But I will ask today and hopefully they will get back to me. I am understanding as to what you want to do. They will not totally understand why everyone does not just love Sudoku. I will try, sir!!

For all those who DO love Sudoku, my blog today talks about that Sudoku feature and how it plays.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by PKFFW

Believe whatever you like mate but get at least a working knowledge of how businesses operate in this day and age before you accuse someone of racism and lying.

Cheers,
PKFFW

Dear PKFFW: thank you for your comments very kindly.

Dear Sir Bruce: it is obvious that you are a learned man. I do not have a P.R. person. There is just me and I am just trying to let people learn about our devices and maybe answer a few questions about the industry in general with insider knowledge. As a Sagittarius, I am prone to sticking my foot in my mouth fairly often. What you might think is poor management practices is largely just my inability to communicate in Mandarin. I hope that you can drop the hatchet and participate on our thread. Your views are important too and sometimes criticism can be proper.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by kacir

It was useful and very interesting.
An insight to the process of how generic device is being born is something that an outsider as myself can only very rarely see.

I see why some people do not understand how it is possible that *Your* factory refuses to make device that *you* ask them to. Such is the economic reality. Bean counters step in and say, "OK. If you really, *really* want us to do this, put $XY,000,000 in escrow to cover our loses this will cause at the end of the fiscal year." Because even if factory is yours, their highest responsibility is still producing profit. Enough money to pay for workers, material, [thousands of other things] and, preferably, some money for the owner or for expansion of facility.

Dear Kacir:

What happens is that any factory in Asia has the ability to sell devices they build in Asia, Russia, etc. It so happens that in Russia, for example, there is a huge demand for ANY eBook Reader but little competition. So... they get orders for 10,000 or 20,000 at a shot. They don't want changes... just build them. Then we step in and say: "let us have an order of 1,000 units and make a ton of changes". That is essentially the problem. The factory, like you said, has a profit motive. We, despite part ownership, are not a big profit for them... but a nightmare of questions and changes and lack of speaking the language fluently.

We are learning to make things work and they are trying too.... but, for them, it is hard to imagine that North America has such fearsome competition and such a market that can be particular. That is what we are up against.
When someone in Russia wants particular units they do an NRE fee of $10,000-$50,000 paid up front. We are trying to get changes without the NRE fee so we keep our price to the end user down. This is what is hard to explain... it is not management... it is culture. They do not face Amazon and Sony there... and we do. They cannot imagine it.

Anyway, thank you for your post and your comments!!

[maynard]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Second, I respect your opinion. I know there are "purists" (only respect intended) on eBook Readers. Some absolutely hate the MP3 player on some devices and just do not have that need.

mp3 player and full page PDF support with pen annotation is critical for me. One project I'd use both for is to copy my foreign language textbooks and audio supplement to the reader in order to do homework. Folks seem to think audio support is only useful for listening to music while reading. Not so. There are plenty of good academic reasons why a language student would want mp3 support in his or her ereader.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Griffonwing:
First off, the Sudoku is very unobtrusive on the Mentor Lite. If you do not push that top button on the left side you will never, ever run across it. It is not on the main menu or anything.

Second, I respect your opinion. I know there are "purists" (only respect intended) on eBook Readers. Some absolutely hate the MP3 player on some devices and just do not have that need.

I suppose I can see the addition of an MP3 player as a viable option of inclusion for an ereader. After all, audio books would fall under this category. I originally was among those that did not like the idea of mixing the two, and for the most part, I see if as mostly fluff. Would I need an audio player for my reader? No. Would I listen to it if I had it? Possibly.

But, to me, this differs considerably to installing a game on the reader. Which is what the SuDoKu technically can be called, as it is an interactive activity (interactivity? hehehe). When you look at the amount of memory that is on these machines, and you find out how much memory it takes to install the firmware, the reader program, the music player, the game, the more fluff you add into the system, the fewer books you can install.

If you want to include SuDoKu or crosswords, or find-a-word or anything else, then you might want to have a way for users to purchase these separately as a download, and have them able to be either run from an SD card, or 'installed' by flashing, or what-have-you.

The idea of having this as an option, I highly merit that idea, and to me, that part of the brainstorming session was brilliant. Where it went downhill was having it already installed (whereas I do hope I can uninstall it) and have a button whose sole use is to play the game. But I repeat myself here.

I suppose I could condense this as, the idea was good, it's implemetation was bad, and it could very well cost some sales.

Keep us informed as much as you can! The more we know, the better decisions we can make for our shopping dollars.

gw

[Emu]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

If you want to include SuDoKu or crosswords, or find-a-word or anything else, then you might want to have a way for users to purchase these separately as a download, and have them able to be either run from an SD card, or 'installed' by flashing, or what-have-you.

The idea of having this as an option, I highly merit that idea, and to me, that part of the brainstorming session was brilliant. Where it went downhill was having it already installed (whereas I do hope I can uninstall it) and have a button whose sole use is to play the game. But I repeat myself here.

I suppose I could condense this as, the idea was good, it's implemetation was bad, and it could very well cost some sales.

Keep us informed as much as you can! The more we know, the better decisions we can make for our shopping dollars.

gw

I don't like Sudoku either. How about Nonograms / hanjies ? I like them!
(http://www.puzzle-nonograms.com/)

But I too would prefer NOT to have a button for that stuff. (Oh no, I pressed the 'doku button again. SH***. ). Reminds me of the "direct print" button on the canon cams I never used before I had the CHDK hack

[SaraD]

But I too would prefer NOT to have a button for that stuff. (Oh no, I pressed the 'doku button again. SH***. ).

Hi Robert,

I have to say I'm in this camp along with Griffinwing and Emu - no thank you to a button that only brings up a game that I can't stand. For me the idea of playing with numbers for fun is somewhere between insanity and self torture.

However, the idea of a user programmable button that you say DaleDe keeps bringing up is wonderful! One of the first things I do with a new cell phone is choose new options for the up/down/right/left menu keys and it makes them actually useful to me instead of an irritation. I also look forward to an answer coming back from the factory and engineers to see if this can be done.

Thank your for listening!

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by SaraD

I have to say I'm in this camp along with Griffinwing and Emu - no thank you to a button that only brings up a game that I can't stand. For me the idea of playing with numbers for fun is somewhere between insanity and self torture.

Actually you can play suduko with letters or symbols too... it doesn't have to be numbers. You know there is no math involved at all right?

BOb

[SaraD]

Hi Robert B,

I have lost track of when you mentioned the new website with all the nice specs for the new units would be up and running, but I think it was supposed to have happened by now per the initial estimate. By chance is there a new one yet? I appreciated the pictures you posted of the Mentor Lite, but would like to have them more readily accessible along with the list of specs. I keep checking, but it's getting to be a little disappointing to see the placeholder page each time...

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by SaraD

Hi Robert B,

I have lost track of when you mentioned the new website with all the nice specs for the new units would be up and running, but I think it was supposed to have happened by now per the initial estimate. By chance is there a new one yet? I appreciated the pictures you posted of the Mentor Lite, but would like to have them more readily accessible along with the list of specs. I keep checking, but it's getting to be a little disappointing to see the placeholder page each time...

Dear Sara:

Thank you for asking as an update is overdue. They are close. The only holdup is trying to do the math for shipping. They need to get rates in there and we want a choice for people buying. This will not be a problem for eBooks but must be figured out for the EZ Reader and Mentor lines. Their people are working with our people to make everything right.

Also, I want a section for comments on there. We do not want to seem offish at all and want people to bring problems and compliments and news to our attention!

Also, I want to have a section where people can download free first chapters on some of the hottest titles.

So, we are close but the damned fine tuning takes a while. The website, folks, we are discussing is the new Astak site: www.goEZebook.com where you can buy both books and our devices and a whole lot more. Sara is right, we are a week or two behind and I want us to catch up!

Robert B

[Robertb]

Dear All:

Some good news for what we love!! Finally, after years of failed promise, the public seems to be rabid for eBooks and their Readers:

eBook Sales Statistics

The association of American Publishers estimates that net sales for U.S. Publishers last year fell $700 Million, or 2.8 percent, to $24.3 Billion. Audio book sales fell by 21 percent to $172 Million.

Meanwhile, eBook sales grew “significantly” up 68.4 percent to $113 Million, the association said.

What this means is that we have turned the corner in the publisher's eyes. We are now worth going after. This means more and more books will be turned into eBooks and costs should start to go down a bit.

Congratulations!! People like you have made this possible. Your collective voices will now be heard a bit more.

So, WE are a bright spot in a dismal economy. That is reason enough for Griffonwing to almost blow coca-cola out his nose! (HA)

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by SaraD

Hi Robert,

I have to say I'm in this camp along with Griffinwing and Emu - no thank you to a button that only brings up a game that I can't stand. For me the idea of playing with numbers for fun is somewhere between insanity and self torture.

However, the idea of a user programmable button that you say DaleDe keeps bringing up is wonderful! One of the first things I do with a new cell phone is choose new options for the up/down/right/left menu keys and it makes them actually useful to me instead of an irritation. I also look forward to an answer coming back from the factory and engineers to see if this can be done.

Thank your for listening!

Dear Sara, Griffonwing, and all:

Well, I will relay your feelings to the factory in one day. Anybody who just loves the idea of GAMES on eBook Readers please stand up and post.

Yes, Dale DePriest knows his stuff. Programmable buttons ARE wanted. The problem is they are wanted in North America and not in Asia. NOW, I have to get our factory to pay some damned attention. I want some type of answer on three questions from the factory:

1. Can we make the top button programable and how hard is it gonna be?

2. Can we make other buttons programmable by the end user and how hard will that be?

3. Can we have a model with programmable buttons offered without a major adjustment?

I am listening but will they listen??

[Emu]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Sara, Griffonwing, and all:

Well, I will relay your feelings to the factory in one day. Anybody who just loves the idea of GAMES on eBook Readers please stand up and post.

no problems with games why not. sudoku? why not (if the price is the same). no problem, as long as i don't have to use it. some games might be really fun on a reader, as you don't have too look on a screen.

but if there is a button just for sudoku... imagine a car with a free chessboard in the trunk. and then with the board fixed on the front of the car. I think you get the picture

someone mentioned extra games and stuff available as extension (like ringtones ) - that or a programmable button gives the decision back to the customer.