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

[kamm]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

I can't stand 60Hz referesh anymore.

I guess it's time to dump your CRT in 2009...

[sirbruce]

Originally Posted by kamm

I guess it's time to dump your CRT in 2009...

I don't use one because I can't stand it.

Well, my backup computer has a CRT, but it's at 85 Hz.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kamm

I guess it's time to dump your CRT in 2009...

If you have a 60Hz CRT monitor still, you need a new graphics card and a new monitor...

I'll not dump my CRT as I like its colours better than a TFT or LCD. And with a refresh rate of 85, you can't see the building up...

[wayspooled]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Oh, I agree, TFT is different from CRT. As for "anymore", I can't really say; back in the old days of computer monitors we didn't have much choice in refresh rates, and everything was 60Hz or below.

Edit: I'll leave this for info for someone else, but I've read further back into the thread and I see you're not talking about your CRT so, color me embarrased and ... I'll just slink off... *grins*

sirbruce,
Are you sure your monitor isn't just "set" at 60Hz? They used to come @60Hz from the factory so that they could be plugged into very and I mean very, old computers with very old adapters without damaging the adapter or burning out the monitor, before someone had a chance to set them correctly. But almost all color monitors made in the last 15 years so are capable of what was once considered the minimal refresh thought to prevent eyestrain of 72Hz. The monitor has to be capable of it - and the video adapter has to support it. I'm just saying... NEC Multisync's circa 1990 supported up to around 80 or 85HZ if I remember correctly, provided the video card allowed it.. Not saying every cheap piece of crap monitor back then did but most did.

I'm sure there are 15 year old monitors and older still working, it's just unusual so.. I realize you may already know all that and just have some "old" equipment but I'm just mentioning in case, to be helpful. Both the monitor and the video adapter would (in the case of that older equipment) need to be set correctly to get rid of the subliminal flicker (and with a CRT, that would normally need to be 72 or higher, 75HZ was a common safe setting). Standards now support changes to the video adapter (through Windows/Mac etc) passing through to the monitor transparently. But you used to have to change both long ago.

Note: 60Hz is not an unusual thing to see on an LCD. Apples and Oranges...

And if you don't know it's range and want to msg me with the make/model or post it, I'll be glad to look it up for you.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by catsittingstill

I thought the e-ink screen was suspected to be glass but hadn't yet been proven to be glass?

The crack in my PRS600 should confirm that it's glass.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

The crack in my PRS600 should confirm that it's glass.

there is no such device as a PRS600. If you mean a PRS500 then you had a really old unit (2006) and this is not necessarily indicative of 2009 products.

[Robertb]

Hi, everyone, Robert B is back from the IDPF show in New York.

I think you SHOULD care about what was discussed as that body represents the combined thinking of all the eBook Reader manufacturers, the publishers, the content providers, and everyone else connected to eBooks.

For the first time, Adam Smith of Google spoke at IDPF and spoke very well. There were actual panel groups of small publishers that tried doing away with DRM and had enormous success. They had a combined voice to do away with DRM! And, some major publishers are listening. It may not be this year, or next year, but the DRM wall is cracking and may come tumbling down.

Women now buy 50% of all eBooks and eBook Readers... yet several women-representing publishers spoke out on how they have tried for three years to get Amazon and Sony to pay attention to "what women want" and it has fallen on deaf ears.

Find out where most eBook reading people actually read eBooks: work, home, travel, bedrooms, planes, living rooms, etc.

Note that last year, 2008, Kindle sold 500,000 devices and Sony sold 400,000! Also learn on the impact of eBooks on the publishing industry!

This amounts to a relative 'UPRISING" for IDPF... a show that represents the major players in the eBook industry. I suggest that you all read my blog at: www.robertbEZ.blogspot.com.

This group consists of representatives from almost ALL of the major companies involved in the eBook Readers and eBooks that you want to make better. Yet,few of you even know that there is such a group and that it is changing things.

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

there is no such device as a PRS600. If you mean a PRS500 then you had a really old unit (2006) and this is not necessarily indicative of 2009 products.

You're right of course. I was getting readers mixed with flash guns. (when you're half asleep, what's the difference?)

EDIT: And being partially dyslexic, I misread both posts. *smacks head with a heavy book*

[Robertb]

Dear All:

We have restocked all FRY's stores with EZ Readers. We got in a large order so you should find no problems.

I am sorry for the delay; but we wanted to get them with the latest firmware.

You should, as of today, be able to buy the EZ Reader readily at any FRY's electronics store AND at FRYs.com

[phenomshel]

Robert, (OFF TOPIC WARNING) I did get a firmware update from Walter, which so far seems to have fixed the problem. I'm reading one of my .lit files, and about halfway through, no crashes, freezes, or going back to the index.
Just wanted to update you...
Shel

[derrell]

Robertb
Any word on when the firmware with support of the ereader format will be available? I know its been said that it is coming just wondering if you had any updates.

[catsittingstill]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Hi, everyone, Robert B is back from the IDPF show in New York.

(snip) the DRM wall is cracking and may come tumbling down.

Welcome back, and yay!

Originally Posted by Robertb

HiWomen now buy 50% of all eBooks and eBook Readers... yet several women-representing publishers spoke out on how they have tried for three years to get Amazon and Sony to pay attention to "what women want" and it has fallen on deaf ears.

? I don't know what I might want that would be different from what a man would want in an e-book reader...

Aside from the fact that I need the buttons to be easy to push, but all the readers I've tried so far have been fine regarding that. And I don't much care for military books, but I haven't noticed any shortage of good e-books out there :-)

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by catsittingstill

? I don't know what I might want that would be different from what a man would want in an e-book reader...

Aside from the fact that I need the buttons to be easy to push, but all the readers I've tried so far have been fine regarding that. And I don't much care for military books, but I haven't noticed any shortage of good e-books out there :-)

I can think of lots of things. Color, for one. Pretty cases, covers, skins....
I love that I can customize the boot screen on the EZ Reader, I've got a very "girly" start up screen.
None of those things would be a deal breaker if it wasn't present, but having the option would be great.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Robert, (OFF TOPIC WARNING) I did get a firmware update from Walter, which so far seems to have fixed the problem. I'm reading one of my .lit files, and about halfway through, no crashes, freezes, or going back to the index.
Just wanted to update you...
Shel

Dear Phenomshel:

That certainly brightens my day!! Thank you for the post.

Walter is just one of our technical advisors. We take a lot of pride in our devices and even more in our technical support. At Astak we HAVE to have end users happy about their purchase and spreading the word. We aren't like Amazon and Sony. Their names are enough. Here at Astak it has to be service.

So... thank you, Shel!!

[theDwarf]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

I can't stand 60Hz referesh anymore.

I have been setting my monitors to 72-75+ refresh rates for years and even then try to follow recommended techniques to minimize eyestrain.

To explain to one perso about the flicker (which they didn't otice) I had them move about 20 feet from the monitor and asked if they saw a flicker. They commented with "Wow, they do flicker!" at which point I said "yeah, and that is what I see sitting down in front of it and it takes up most of my field of vision, so I get headaches"

IIRC average human eyes border on just under the 60 refresh and maybe 25% of the population notices a flicker at that rate. For others 80 may not necessarily be fast enough.

So yeah, I agrer understand fully and am aslo one who will not purchase a device with less that 72Hz refresh rates and am looking forwrd to the day when I can purchase E-Ink computer screens for static data (my job requires bit of reading from the screen or printing out way too much paper ... currently I use too much paper).