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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Gladtobemom

OK, I tried one for a day. My husband bough one and he traded with me (mine's a Cybook).

Nice, faster than my Gen 3 (not the newest, not the oldest).

Clear, easy to use, easy to read, no complaints whatsoever. Also, it will fit in the same compact zip folio as my cybook.

This is a very sweet unit.

Dear Gladtobemom:

You know, it is the emails like yours that make me love MobileRead Forum! I appreciate your comment. It lets me know that others share my view that this is a great little eBook Reader. I often think that the world gets so carried away with wanting features, features, and more features that when a simple, easy-to-use, easy to enjoy device comes out... they knock it! Not everybody wants wireless and not everybody wants touchscreen. For sure, some do... but it is nice to know that people can just enjoy a good device for what it is... a great companion!!

Yes, you said it right: "A very sweet unit!".

[cvkemp]

RobertB
I never leave home without My EzReader. I love it and have become a reader again to the point that I could careless about TV. Give me a good book or a Tech Doc and I am happy.
Chuck
PS I am on pins and needles waiting from the new website and firmware.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by snowgoose

Robert,
Any news yet on the 9.7" plastic screen readers. Have the screens yet been delivered to your Chinese factory?

When can I pre-order my deep slate blue 9.7" prf reader, that of course deletes read books, and permits reloading with lots from a PC? (Tongue firmly in cheek!)

Keep up the good work, within your NDA limitations. Thanks

Dear Snowgoose:

I had dinner with PVI a very short while back. I asked this exact question point blank. The Flexi screens should hit the full manufacturing floor in early Fall. NOW... this could change but it seemed pretty sure when I heard it. Then they go to the factory!

What I cannot say because of NDA is when the factories will give release on the units. Please remember that GOOD factories do beta-tests even after they build some "finished" units. They do this not to delay but to be sure that YOU have no problems when you buy one. They are coming and will be worth the wait.

I like your tongue-in-cheek and love any humour. Of course I will push that the 9.7 inch offer colors too. I also am begging the factory to include a "delete book" function for already read books. I also find that it seems so natural to have such a function.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by cvkemp

I am on pins and needles waiting from the new website and firmware.

There are some great pictures of mobile ADE rendering an ePub on a Hanlin V3 in Not an easy choice. Having 5 font sizes is going to be a big improvement for the EZ Reader (assuming it runs similar firmware), and ePub is going to be more customizable than MOBI if your ebooks are DRM-free and you use Calibre to tune the ebooks to your preferences.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by cvkemp

RobertB
I never leave home without My EzReader. I love it and have become a reader again to the point that I could careless about TV. Give me a good book or a Tech Doc and I am happy.
Chuck
PS I am on pins and needles waiting from the new website and firmware.

Dear Chuck:

Hey, that is great!! Two happy customers in one morning!!

Yes, me too!! I use to read all the time when young and then lost the urge. When I was in the Army in Germany (Nike Hercules) we had guard towers. I think we might forget ammunition before we would forget to bring a book. We would devour books in one four hour sitting!! Books were passed from one soldier to another endlessly. We would even write critigues of each book in the book. IF we would have had an EZ Reader we could have stored 500 books and passed that around. We were SO hungry for books that we reead the same book ten times. Then I finally found a way to buy twenty Travis McGee paperbacks by mail. WOW!! It was amazing. People went crazy for Travis McGee. I set up a library in my locker and loaned them out!

After the service I lost the habit. Now, with the EZ Reader I am again ravenous for good books. I am happy that you are losing your TV interest and loving a good book.

The website (agreement) is making progress. We are much closer to opening.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

What! And here I always test out the sturdiness of any device by dropping it to a tiled floor, from about 1m high. Even my PDA survived it


(the one time I didn't have it in its case, I accidentaly pushed it off a closet, about 1m high, on a tiled floor... Luckily, only the SD card was dislocated...)

Dear Sweetpea:

See, YOU got it right. The key word is "accidently". Mistakes do happen and the crush-resistant case for the EZ Reader is a very good protection. You just would not believe, though, what some people try to pass off as "accidental".

I have gotten wise now at trade shows. I tether the EZ Reader to a shelf with a wire so it cannot hit the floor.

It is always great to hear from you!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

HA! You can speak for everyone, but unfortunately Bob's NDA keep him from it.

Griffonwing, alas, has signed an NDA with his parrot (Griffon) and cannot say much lately. The parrot loves slate blue reading devices and has emailed me to send Griffonwing's unit to him.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Griffonwing, alas, has signed an NDA with his parrot (Griffon) and cannot say much lately. The parrot loves slate blue reading devices and has emailed me to send Griffonwing's unit to him.

It's a good thing we have the same address. And it's also a good thing that I am the one who checks the mail.

[emellaich]

Robertb, someone had a question for you in another forum. Check it out here:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52056

[Robertb]

Astak has been Approved to sell eBook Reader Devices with Adobe Digital Editions

Astak of San Jose, California, has been approved by Adobe to sell devices with Adobe Digital Editions on them. Astak, a Team Research Inc company, is only the second manufacturer to gain such approval. Their factories will now be able to pre-load Digital Book Readers with Adobe Digital Editions and to offer Adobe Digital Editions Firmware Upgrades that will place Adobe Digital Editions onto all previous models of the EZ Reader Basic.

The EZ Reader basic is a 6 inch device that offers a fabulously EASY reading experience for the end user. The device uses E-Ink technology allowing 8,000 pages to a single charge and reading without eye strain (a problem with backlit devices). Able to store thousands of eBooks and MP3 music… the EZ Reader bests the competition by weighing less than 7 ounces, being about as thin as a pencil, and displaying in 12 formats and 20 languages. The crush-resistant case and earbuds are INCLUDED!

Adobe Digital Editions on the device will allow end users to purchase the very latest eBook titles from hundreds of websites. This is a huge advantage, as Astak supports the Open Format concept, allowing end users to shop for eBooks almost anywhere. Adobe Digital Editions allows both EPUB formatted document control and a much-enhanced PDF experience with “REFLOW” of the PDF picture.

Astak is very proud to offer this and sees this as another advantage of owning the most versatile of eBook Readers: EZ Reader!

We hope, by tomorrow, to provide a website where ALL EZ Reader end users can do a Firmware Upgrade to load Adobe Digital Editions onto their EZ Reader. IF you presently have Mobipocket and want to keep Mobipocket on your device... simply do nothing with this firmware upgrade. However, we think this is a very exciting addition to the capabilities of those who purchased EZ Readers! I will POST on this thread!

[griffonwing]

This is great news!

Now, I'm waiting for the announcement of the PEZ!

[photon17]

The addition of Adobe Digital Editions capability is good news.

Does that include the ability to read the version used on public library ebooks?

[slayda]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

This is great news!

Now, I'm waiting for the announcement of the PEZ!

I still like P-PEZR better. We wouldn't want to be confused with those Government 3 letter acronyms.

[Robertb]

Problem with P.O. Box.

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

Dear All:

I regret very much that the Post Office did NOT know that Astak is a Team Research company. As such, they would not deliver Astak rebates to Team Research and returned them.

This problem has been taken care of.

Please send your rebate materials to:

Astak/Team Research
1911 Hartog Drive
San Jose, CA 95131

Let me know if you have any further problem and I apologize for the confusion and the hassle.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Astak has been Approved to sell eBook Reader Devices with Adobe Digital Editions

Astak of San Jose, California, has been approved by Adobe to sell devices with Adobe Digital Editions on them. Astak, a Team Research Inc company, is only the second manufacturer to gain such approval. Their factories will now be able to pre-load Digital Book Readers with Adobe Digital Editions and to offer Adobe Digital Editions Firmware Upgrades that will place Adobe Digital Editions onto all previous models of the EZ Reader Basic.

The EZ Reader basic is a 6 inch device that offers a fabulously EASY reading experience for the end user. The device uses E-Ink technology allowing 8,000 pages to a single charge and reading without eye strain (a problem with backlit devices). Able to store thousands of eBooks and MP3 music… the EZ Reader bests the competition by weighing less than 7 ounces, being about as thin as a pencil, and displaying in 12 formats and 20 languages. The crush-resistant case and earbuds are INCLUDED!

Adobe Digital Editions on the device will allow end users to purchase the very latest eBook titles from hundreds of websites. This is a huge advantage, as Astak supports the Open Format concept, allowing end users to shop for eBooks almost anywhere. Adobe Digital Editions allows both EPUB formatted document control and a much-enhanced PDF experience with “REFLOW” of the PDF picture.

Astak is very proud to offer this and sees this as another advantage of owning the most versatile of eBook Readers: EZ Reader!

We hope, by tomorrow, to provide a website where ALL EZ Reader end users can do a Firmware Upgrade to load Adobe Digital Editions onto their EZ Reader. IF you presently have Mobipocket and want to keep Mobipocket on your device... simply do nothing with this firmware upgrade. However, we think this is a very exciting addition to the capabilities of those who purchased EZ Readers! I will POST on this thread!

Now if the OpenInkPot people can just figure a way to toggle between two or more "official" firmwares and OI then we can toggle between Mobipocket DRM, Adobe Digital Editions DRM, & OI.