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

[squonk]

...connect epaper device to microvision glasses .....

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I thought that the "Readius" was using a PlasticLogic screen. Is it not doing?

No, I believe that's using a screen developed by Polymer Vision.

AH, I was right. If you fast forward to around 2:55, that's when he starts talking about how flexible each display technology is:

[Skyblue]

Does anyone know if there will be a directory tree or anything like it, on this device (Similar to something like the Iliad)? I have 100s of books, and I'm going to need an easy way to sort them....

[tompe]

Originally Posted by axel77

Therre aren't any serious Linux handhelds...

Well, i think my N810 is rather serious.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

No, I believe that's using a screen developed by Polymer Vision.

AH, I was right. If you fast forward to around 2:55, that's when he starts talking about how flexible each display technology is:

Thanks! I got the two names mixed up.

[xor]

Well, I can not help it, but to me the Astak devices sound like vaporware: They have been announced a long time ago, the release date has been shifted and shifted again, the projected price went up and up some more.

And now I read here that Astak is waiting for a certain controller chip to come out?! Well, if after such a long time they still have not even gotten hold of a controller chip, then a final product is far away.

I hate to say it, but: these devices are to good and cheap to be true. I doubt they will get released anytime soon.

[HarryT]

So what if we have to wait 6 months? Does it matter? I'm sure they'll be released when they're good and ready. Every major eBook device has been months late to market - look at the original Sony Reader; that was close to a year late.

I really wouldn't read "sinister plots" into what I'm sure are no more than the inevitable delays that occur in bringing any complex product to the market.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So what if we have to wait 6 months? Does it matter? I'm sure they'll be released when they're good and ready. Every major eBook device has been months late to market - look at the original Sony Reader; that was close to a year late.

I really wouldn't read "sinister plots" into what I'm sure are no more than the inevitable delays that occur in bringing any complex product to the market.

Anyone want to take bets that the release of the Astak 5" will be delayed into September or October?

It's now August 28th. That most certainly qualifies as "late August". So one might ask, "Where's the 5"?" Of course, they didn't specify which *year*.

Derek

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Anyone want to take bets that the release of the Astak 5" will be delayed into September or October?

My interpretation of post #742 is that all the Mentors are delayed until after October. The info before that was (from this thread, which is way too long) that the 6" would be first, and available in late September. If Astak's web site still has delivery dates, they are probably out of date.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

My interpretation of post #742 is that all the Mentors are delayed until after October. The info before that was (from this thread, which is way too long) that the 6" would be first, and available in late September. If Astak's web site still has delivery dates, they are probably out of date.

Too true. However, it isn't *that* difficult to modify the webpages involved to match statements to reality.

And while we who hang out here at MR may well have run across post #742, the vast majority of visitors to their website won't have done so.



Derek

[Ea]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

T...

And while we who hang out here at MR may well have run across post #742, the vast majority of visitors to their website won't have done so.



Derek

Are you sure? I would guess this thread have generated a great deal of the visits - they're selling surveillance cameras, after all, and are not yet established as ebook reader sellers

[theDwarf]

Originally Posted by xor

Well, I can not help it, but to me the Astak devices sound like vaporware: They have been announced a long time ago, the release date has been shifted and shifted again, the projected price went up and up some more.

Let us suppose a manufacturer making a new computer is getting closer to release date when the chip manufacturer announces a new CPU chip will be out in X months and said new chip will say double the functionality ... is it better for a startup company to release a product that will be obsolete (or at least low-end) in 6 months or less OR try to hang together long enough to be on the cutting edge of the new chip technology?

Start-up companies (or divisions) have greatly increased lead times over existing companies and companies working "the cutting edge" also have much greater than normal delay times. One of the main differences is that startup projects need to start drumming up interest much earlier in the process whereas an existing company/product line is often better off delaying until much later in the process. To me the delays are reasonable and expectedgiven the nature of things.

-Dwarf

[Charybdis]

So we have to wait at least 2 months, before the first Astak Mentor model release?

[robvarga]

Hi RobertB,

I have a question for you (it may have been asked before, but I would like to have a latest status update).

I am at the moment eagerly waiting for the 9.7" Astak device, however there is one aspect I am a bit nervous about.

I seem to recall it being mentioned that the 9.7" device will not have replaceable batteries. Now, considering the price of this device, it seems a bit harsh necessity to have it replaced with a new device if the battery dies of old age.

What is the latest status of the following things:
- will the battery be user-replace-able?
- if not, then how many recharges can the battery have before its capacity or its operating time with a single recharge would reduce too much ?
- what is the operating time of the battery with a single charge with intensive usage (reading AND drain from other electricity consuming components)?
- what is the expected lifetime of the battery in the device considering the previous answers?

I really think that you should go with a replaceable battery. There is still some time until the 9.7" device appears, if it needs a redesign for this, it may still be doable in that time.


Thanks and best regards,

Robert

[alanastoz]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

My interpretation of post #742 is that all the Mentors are delayed until after October. The info before that was (from this thread, which is way too long) that the 6" would be first, and available in late September. If Astak's web site still has delivery dates, they are probably out of date.

I may be wrong in my interpretation but if the new chip is not available until October, how can the 6" come out in September?