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

[MaggieScratch]

I like the idea of saying it's more open source, because that's exactly why I bought it. While Mobipocket is proprietary software, and many of the books I've purchased have DRM (I mostly read free public domain books, though), I can read them on more than one device. That's what convinced me to get the Cybook over the Kindle and Sony*.

*The Sony still used a proprietary format when I bought my reader--it has since become more open with ePub, of course.

[Robertb]

Dear Everyone:

The new website (www.goEZebook.com) will be open only to MobileRead Forum from 6:00 p.m. PDT on June 23 until 7:00 a.m. PDT on June 25.

The user name you type in is: MobileReadGuest

The password is simply:forum

The idea is for you to be able to look around, fill out the free Member info if you want, try some of the links, and tell me what may be a problem or could be improved. You will have to send me a Private Message or post online for your comments. The message board is still under construction.

You will not be able to buy books yet but it should be a good tour.

Remember: right NOW we will have only Multi-Format eBooks up. As soon as the Fictionwise eReader SDK is done we will put it up on that site for a firmware upgrade and we will then have ALL the latest titles up and available. We expect this within a month or two. We also should have the Adobe Digital Editions up as a firmware download in about 6 weeks.

Sales of eBooks on the website help to support Astak. If you like what Astak is doing... we would appreciate the business.

Do NOT know yet if we will have the Google free library up. We have been approved but the website people and Google are trying to reach agreement.

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Everyone:

The new website (www.goEZebook.com) will be open only to MobileRead Forum from 6:00 p.m. PDT on June 23 until 7:00 a.m. PDT on June 25.

The user name you type in is: MobileReadGuest

The password is simply:forum

My Calendar has been marked!

I'm looking forward to giving your site a once over.

I warn you to be prepared... It may feel more like a drive by -- Members here do not hold back (which is a good thing)..

[Robertb]

Dear All:

It is hard to show colors accurately on an LCD screen. Please remember that what you are seeing may be a little off because of your computer screens.

Here are the color selections for the Pocket PRO. We do NOT have one of the White yet.

The blue is a Slate Blue and the pink is really a violet and not a pink!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Musicman

My Calendar has been marked!

I'm looking forward to giving your site a once over.

I warn you to be prepared... It may feel more like a drive by -- Members here do not hold back (which is a good thing)..

Dear Musicman:

Well, Griffonwing has stabbed me with that sword and Brecklundin has put me on a skewer almost daily... so a tasteful drive-by shooting should be no problem. I can only do the best I can do. I cannot please everybody; but I do listen and harsh criticism is, I guess, a part of being a person who posts.

I already have fears that very few will like it only because it is not perfect. We have purposely halted work right here on the website to get feedback. Kindle and Sony could, I think it fair to say, not care one iota whether you like their website or not. I am trying, as always, to make this a public event... to make it feel like YOU had a role in it... to make people look upon it a little as "my site".

There is potential here for the comments to really hurt us. People might say: "crummy, lousy, smells like three day old manure". BUT... I am counting on just as many to say: "friendly, colorful, a pleasure to be at... bring on the new titles". At least I am giving you all a chance to be a part of something and make it better.

[griffonwing]

I call first dibs on the Slate Blue! Hands off! It's mine!!

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Musicman:

Well, Griffonwing has stabbed me with that sword and Brecklundin has put me on a skewer almost daily... so a tasteful drive-by shooting should be no problem. I can only do the best I can do. I cannot please everybody; but I do listen and harsh criticism is, I guess, a part of being a person who posts.

I already have fears that very few will like it only because it is not perfect. We have purposely halted work right here on the website to get feedback. Kindle and Sony could, I think it fair to say, not care one iota whether you like their website or not. I am trying, as always, to make this a public event... to make it feel like YOU had a role in it... to make people look upon it a little as "my site".

There is potential here for the comments to really hurt us. People might say: "crummy, lousy, smells like three day old manure". BUT... I am counting on just as many to say: "friendly, colorful, a pleasure to be at... bring on the new titles". At least I am giving you all a chance to be a part of something and make it better.

Robert, I hope you know that most of us do not criticize merely to criticize. We truly want to help you sell more units. I am looking forward to the run through. Remember - though it has been years, I did previously make part of my living as a professional web designer. I may be out of the practice, but I hope I can say I've retained the eye for it.
The major failing I have seen in the mobiebook site is it's too "busy". Too much going on, too much "flash". If your designer can do something restrained, easy to navigate, with a web commerce side that is easy to use, I'll be all over it like white on rice. I have high hopes!

[AbFabGab]

Thanks for showing the colors, Robert.

The maroon is very red-looking which I happen to like
(I have a red Sony and a red NDS Lite.. lol)

The other colors are very nice as well. : )

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I call first dibs on the Slate Blue! Hands off! It's mine!!

Dear ALL:

A man with a sword and a parrot scares me. I would listen to him. Slate Blue is going to be a much-loved color!!

Griffonwing: thank you for mentioning our Pocket PRO on another thread today. I appreciate that!

[Mrgauth]

In four years when the warranty is up on my Sony, I will take a hard look at one of these for myself. In the mean time they might be a great gift for someone I know. Thanks.

[Robertb]

Dear ALL:

Somebody a few weeks ago kept saying that FRY's does not ship and they and Astak are losing money.

FRY's today responded!! They are demanding that all product shipped to them be in "single-unit reshippable cartons". There is only one dediction I can make: FRY's will soon be shipping !!!

Once again I am telling all that FRY's Best Price of the Year will be July 4 & 5 on the 6 inch EZ Reader!! We are giving them our biggest rebate. We are LOSING money on each sale; but can really use the volume to help secure the Pocket PRO!! PLEASE get the word OUT!! Tell family and friends and enemies and Paris Hilton that they need to get to their FRY's store early and buy the EZ Reader 6 inch at a superb price!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by AbFabGab

Thanks for showing the colors, Robert.

The maroon is very red-looking which I happen to like
(I have a red Sony and a red NDS Lite.. lol)

The other colors are very nice as well. : )

Dear AbFabGab:

Thank you. Yes, we were surprised the last time that Maroon is very pleasing to almost everyone. People have different feelings about a "red-red"... but Maroon gives you a richer red than a fire-engine red and catches the light well.

I am pleased with all the colors. I think we got a nice broad spectrum that people can now personalize as their own.

By the way, the leather crush-resistant case that comes with the EZ Reader Pocket PRO (included free) will come in both black and light tan. I do not know how we will work that but suspect we will pick the best color to go with each body color when they get here. Maroon will be tan and Slate Blue will be black case. Not sure yet about the others.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Robert, I hope you know that most of us do not criticize merely to criticize. We truly want to help you sell more units. I am looking forward to the run through. Remember - though it has been years, I did previously make part of my living as a professional web designer. I may be out of the practice, but I hope I can say I've retained the eye for it.
The major failing I have seen in the mobiebook site is it's too "busy". Too much going on, too much "flash". If your designer can do something restrained, easy to navigate, with a web commerce side that is easy to use, I'll be all over it like white on rice. I have high hopes!

We have to have a big Flash as we want to really show the EZ Reader and Pocket PRO and what they have. He worked very hard on it! I think the rest of the site is pretty restrained and easy to navigate... but we have to sell the devices and Flash makes it possible to show more details.

I am looking forward to your expertise and am open.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Mrgauth

In four years when the warranty is up on my Sony, I will take a hard look at one of these for myself. In the mean time they might be a great gift for someone I know. Thanks.

Dear Mrgauth:

I read every post and I appreciate every comment. Thank you for posting and I know that will make a great gift for that special someone!!

[ht1948]

Robert, is it possible to reveal the rebate amount to us? I have a guess but it would be nice to know in advance