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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

I should have clarified a bit further..
I meant a comparison among Astak devices only.
Like what makes the Mentor Lite different than
Pocket PRO, etc.

Dear AbFabGab:

I will try. Understand that I like both the Mentor Lite and the Pocket PRO. I have to sell both. But here is a comparison:

The Mentor Lite uses a cursor to make selections which is very natural and easy to learn. It has "REFLOW" on it for .pdf documents which will resize a document to fit the screen. It has four small buttons on the left side that are "one-touch". You press one and no matter where you are now it takes you to the Main Menu... a real great feature. You press another button and it displays horizontally. Press another button and it opens up the Sudoku game. These are small and unobtrusive buttons so they will NOT be hit by accident. Yet, I think all of these buttons are a real PLUS. And... Sudoku can be a great game. It is a 6 inch device. It comes with a leather pouch.

The Pocket PRO is the "offspring" of the EZ Reader Basic, a device with incredibly strong reliability that was proven by FRY's Electronics and by huge sales in Europe. The Pocket PRO is only a 5 inch but exceedingly robust. It has the Epson Controller for almost instantaneous page turns. It supports an SD card up to 16GB. It has a larger processor at 400MHz. It comes preloaded with Adobe Digital Editions. It has MP3 stereo with equalizer! It comes with a crush-resistant leather case. It uses a by-the-numbers (matching numbered keys to selections) interface.

I cannot tell you which one to buy. They both are excellent devices. However, the Pocket PRO has MP3 with an equalizer and for a teen that should be a huge vote in its favor.

[Musicman]

Robertb,

As I am learning my EZ-Readers' capabilities, I moved books and music to a 2 gig card which worked flawlessly.

I decided to see what would happen if I popped in an 8 gig SDHC card full of music into my EZ-Reader, and to my surprise it worked.

Your docs on the EZ-Reader say up to 4 gig cards, but it seems like 8 gig SDHC Cards will work! The one I used was purchased at Micro Center (their brand Class 6).

The more I play with the EZ-Reader, the more I like it.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Ooopsie! I misread your post. I read it as "I do know that Astak will bring.." instead of "I do not know..."



Woo! Good luck with that! I've seen almost a dozen people clammoring for a slate blue reader. Seems to be a very popular color choice. Hopefully they will agree.

I did get PMS2955 Slate Blue with no problem. That was a cake walk. Everybody loved that. We eliminated the Lime Green that nobody wanted and chose a Metallic Purple (a really beautiful color PMS8081), we went a shade lighter on the violet to PMS231, and we finalled the Maroon at PMS187. Of course, black and white will be in the mix also. These ARE our colors.

You have GOT to let the parrot (really a puppet) do the reading. He is better at it. As Dirty Harry said: "A Man's got to Know his Limitations". Your parrot is just stronger than you at reading. Your strength is designing graphics!!

I wrote to my great friend at CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) today about Jimmy Fallon and O'Brien today to ask for him to get an EZ Reader into their hands. He is the top Media Relations guy at CEA and knows everybody by first name. Let us see.

I am still waiting for Griffonwing regarding Paris Hilton. While it is rumored that she likely cannot read and likely thinks a Reader is a Psychic... she can sell EZ Readers to celebrities.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Musicman

Robertb,

As I am learning my EZ-Readers' capabilities, I moved books and music to a 2 gig card which worked flawlessly.

I decided to see what would happen if I popped in an 8 gig SDHC card full of music into my EZ-Reader, and to my surprise it worked.

Your docs on the EZ-Reader say up to 4 gig cards, but it seems like 8 gig SDHC Cards will work! The one I used was purchased at Micro Center (their brand Class 6).

The more I play with the EZ-Reader, the more I like it.

Dear Musicman:

I am hearing that same rumor about the 8GB card. We have confirmed that an 8GB WILL work on the EZ Reader. Even a 16GB may likely work. The problem is that if you really need 8GB and 16GB cards it may really be slow in making selections. THAT is why the factory suggests 4GB cards on the EZ Reader and 16GB on the Pocket PRO with Epson Controller and 400 MHz processor.

Keep loving that EZ Reader!! There are still lots of people who stop by this thread and think I am lying. I believe what I say cause I have proven it to myself. That is a great device!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Musicman:

I am hearing that same rumor about the 8GB card. We have confirmed that an 8GB WILL work on the EZ Reader. Even a 16GB may likely work. The problem is that if you really need 8GB and 16GB cards it may really be slow in making selections. THAT is why the factory suggests 4GB cards on the EZ Reader and 16GB on the Pocket PRO with Epson Controller and 400 MHz processor.

Keep loving that EZ Reader!! There are still lots of people who stop by this thread and think I am lying. I believe what I say cause I have proven it to myself. That is a great device!!

To ALL:
I got a perfect private message from a young lady who works near our offices and would live to test drive the EZ Reader Pocket PRO. I am waiting for new samples and then will invite her down. I will not give her name here but she knows a lot about eBook Readers and should do a great job. Look for her post in about three weeks!

[robvarga]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear AbFabGab:

I will try. Understand that I like both the Mentor Lite and the Pocket PRO. I have to sell both. But here is a comparison:

The Mentor Lite uses a cursor to make selections which is very natural and easy to learn. It has "REFLOW" on it for .pdf documents which will resize a document to fit the screen. It has four small buttons on the left side that are "one-touch". You press one and no matter where you are now it takes you to the Main Menu... a real great feature. You press another button and it displays horizontally. Press another button and it opens up the Sudoku game. These are small and unobtrusive buttons so they will NOT be hit by accident. Yet, I think all of these buttons are a real PLUS. And... Sudoku can be a great game. It is a 6 inch device. It comes with a leather pouch.

The Pocket PRO is the "offspring" of the EZ Reader Basic, a device with incredibly strong reliability that was proven by FRY's Electronics and by huge sales in Europe. The Pocket PRO is only a 5 inch but exceedingly robust. It has the Epson Controller for almost instantaneous page turns. It supports an SD card up to 16GB. It has a larger processor at 400MHz. It comes preloaded with Adobe Digital Editions. It has MP3 stereo with equalizer! It comes with a crush-resistant leather case. It uses a by-the-numbers (matching numbered keys to selections) interface.

I cannot tell you which one to buy. They both are excellent devices. However, the Pocket PRO has MP3 with an equalizer and for a teen that should be a huge vote in its favor.

Hi RobertB,

does the above mean that the Pocket Pro will not have PDF reflow?

If it does mean and it will not have, will it be possible to have it with a (quickly coming) firmware update?

Thanks and best regards,

Robert

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by robvarga

Hi RobertB,

does the above mean that the Pocket Pro will not have PDF reflow?

If it does mean and it will not have, will it be possible to have it with a (quickly coming) firmware update?

Thanks and best regards,

Robert

Dear robvarga:

The EZ Reader Pocket PRO has Adobe Digital Editions. That software gives you excellent reflow so there is no need to also have it built into the device.

Good question and thank you!!

[AbFabGab]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear robvarga:

The EZ Reader Pocket PRO has Adobe Digital Editions. That software gives you excellent reflow so there is no need to also have it built into the device.

Good question and thank you!!

Thanks, Robertb, for your post comparing the Mentor Lite
and Pocket PRO.

My two main concerns regarding a reader:

1) I like to check out ebooks via public library
so I want a reader to be able to use either
DRM adobe (ade) or DRM mobi.

2) I find a lot of non-drm pdf's online to read so
pdf reflow is needed.

It looks like both Mentor Lite and Pocket PRO
both will do those two things?

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

Thanks, Robertb, for your post comparing the Mentor Lite
and Pocket PRO.

My two main concerns regarding a reader:

1) I like to check out ebooks via public library
so I want a reader to be able to use either
DRM adobe (ade) or DRM mobi.

2) I find a lot of non-drm pdf's online to read so
pdf reflow is needed.

It looks like both Mentor Lite and Pocket PRO
both will do those two things?

Dear AbFabGab:

Yes, both will do the reflow but Pocket PRO will come with Adobe Digital Editions ported already and it will be a firmware upgrade on the Mentor Lite. Thanks to the Mind of Amazon, neither can have Mobi as they seem to think having it all to themselves will somehow help them. We applied and they said : "Only ME".

[phenomshel]

Robert: I swear I should have you send me a pile of your business cards so I can hand them out at doctor's offices. More appointments today, no, not serious, my husband's hearing needed to be checked. But every nurse, doctor, secretary, etc. in the place had to see and hear about my EZ Reader. This one doctor was absolutely hilarious. I'm sitting in the chair right outside the door he was going in, and he stopped short and said, "Is that one of those new-fangled reading things? Can I see it?????" Like a little kid, I swear. I handed it over and he had a ball pushing all the buttons.

[AJ Starr]

I'm confused. I understand that Adobe DE will reflow files. But don't they have to be set up for ADE, not JUST plain pdf.

As I read it, the last two posts say that ADE will take a plain PDF and reflow it. Is that correct?

AJ

[AlfonsVH]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

As I read it, the last two posts say that ADE will take a plain PDF and reflow it. Is that correct?

I think it is. I've seen programs that are capable of reflowing "normal" text PDFs.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

I'm confused. I understand that Adobe DE will reflow files. But don't they have to be set up for ADE, not JUST plain pdf.

As I read it, the last two posts say that ADE will take a plain PDF and reflow it. Is that correct?

AJ

ADE is not a format but a tool. It can support PDF and ePUB as well as a special DRM for both of those file types. Companies purchase an API to incorporate these features on their tool. They can leave out some features if they wish as Amazon has done on the DX.

Dale

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Robert: I swear I should have you send me a pile of your business cards so I can hand them out at doctor's offices. More appointments today, no, not serious, my husband's hearing needed to be checked. But every nurse, doctor, secretary, etc. in the place had to see and hear about my EZ Reader. This one doctor was absolutely hilarious. I'm sitting in the chair right outside the door he was going in, and he stopped short and said, "Is that one of those new-fangled reading things? Can I see it?????" Like a little kid, I swear. I handed it over and he had a ball pushing all the
buttons.

Dear Phenom:

I think you are right on. IF we could only set up a booth in doctor's offices we would capture attention. Maybe I should try a medical convention or something.

For me it is when I am on a plane. Stewardesses and passangers alike all are quizzical and then finally break the stares with questions and they all want to push the buttons. I still think that maybe 5% of the American public knows what an eBook Reader is and less than 2% have ever tried one. There is a lot of closet interest. People would love to try them but where? CES was great last year as, just like little kids, people were having a blast pushing buttons, switching languages, changing font sizes, etc. Unfortunately, you cannot SELL at CES. We must have gotten at least 1,000 people who said where can I buy, we provided the website, and almost none finally bought. YET, if I could have sold right there we would have sold to almost all. People just see SO much fascination at CES that they collect cards and brochures and then never look at them. CES estimates that 95% of the brochures people take never leave Las Vegas... they grab them but never look at them and do not want to pack them.

I am still trying to come up with something better to let people try them. An interactive video might help.

I thank you, AstakShel, for your comments and I wish I could get business cards in your hands.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Robertb

I thank you, AstakShel, for your comments and I wish I could get business cards in your hands.

Just make a pdf with a handful on it. People can download and print them out.