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

[roncri]

I had eInk, the Cybook Gen3. Sure it looks nice but frankly I think backlit, faster page turns and less fragile screen would work better for me.

[SaraD]

Originally Posted by roncri

I had eInk, the Cybook Gen3. Sure it looks nice but frankly I think backlit, faster page turns and less fragile screen would work better for me.

Yes, those are all great (especially the less fragile), but personally I'm really looking forward to the much less tiring to my eyes factor that e-ink will bring and willing to give up a little to have it. I've only been able to read for a few minutes on the store models (many thanks to Borders and Target), but it does feel more restful based on the limited experience than my LCD monitor does. Since reading from a computer monitor or a printed paper in a dim environment gives me a headache the backlight feature is a big so-what since I must have lots of light anyway.

By the time my gadget piggybank has enough for a dedicated reading device I'm hoping that the technology will have evolved to be a bit sturdier. I picked a less expense and somewhat less capable digital camera partially so if/when I do something to break it I won't have quite so much to cry about. The current price tags on readers and how fragile they are makes me a bit nervous. If I can't aford to lose something I won't buy it, but even after the 2 year contract is up and I retire a cell phone it often looks like new because of the care I take.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by roncri

I had eInk, the Cybook Gen3. Sure it looks nice but frankly I think backlit, faster page turns and less fragile screen would work better for me.

As has been said about a million times on this forum, you CANNOT backlight eInk screens for the simple reason that the screen is opaque. You can sidelight it, as the Sony PRS-700 does, but you cannot backlight it.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by HarryT

As has been said about a million times on this forum, you CANNOT backlight eInk screens for the simple reason that the screen is opaque. You can sidelight it, as the Sony PRS-700 does, but you cannot backlight it.

Harry, I don't think the person's comment showed a lack of this knowledge, but rather that a different screen technology might be a better choice for him/her at present.

[roncri]

Originally Posted by HarryT

As has been said about a million times on this forum, you CANNOT backlight eInk screens for the simple reason that the screen is opaque. You can sidelight it, as the Sony PRS-700 does, but you cannot backlight it.

I'm not asking for a backlit eInk. What I'm saying is that I think a backlit LCD may work better for me than eInk. eInk may look more like paper but mine proved to fragile and I like my backlit eBookwise for reading in the dark.

[Chuckwade87]

Well it seems that the Astak Mentor project is on the back-burner or the moment, which is probably for the best, after all what kind of product could any company come up with in only 6 months of developing and what not. So I kind of disappointed, But I still have questions about the future products that Astak plans on selling in early "09".
Robertb stated earlier that they were still going to come out with EZ Reader Plus (WiFi in March), and EZ Reader Pro (Touchscreen and Note Taking in March). So what are the plans for prices for these wonderful machines? I cant say that I was very happy with the around 300 price tag for the Ez reader being released in November. So plz Robertb/Astak can you give us at least some competitive prices for the next models?

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Chuckwade87

Well it seems that the Astak Mentor project is on the back-burner or the moment, which is probably for the best, after all what kind of product could any company come up with in only 6 months of developing and what not. So I kind of disappointed, But I still have questions about the future products that Astak plans on selling in early "09".
Robertb stated earlier that they were still going to come out with EZ Reader Plus (WiFi in March), and EZ Reader Pro (Touchscreen and Note Taking in March). So what are the plans for prices for these wonderful machines? I cant say that I was very happy with the around 300 price tag for the Ez reader being released in November. So plz Robertb/Astak can you give us at least some competitive prices for the next models?

I'm as disappointed with the changes as anyone - but $300 for an Eink reader is competitive pricing. It's the same as the PRS-505 which is the cheapest model readily available in the US. Both the Gen3 and the Kindle are usually more.

[Chuckwade87]

I dont think that the $300 price tag is very competitive, considering that there are Sony PRS 505's on ebay for around $275.W/free shipping, and the kindle is around $350. on ebayW/free shipping, So then my question would be is the Astak's Ez Reader(hanlin V3) that much better (or should I say "competitive") than the Sony PRS 505? Is the V3 really going to be as competitive as we think?
Still I would like to know what the prices will be for the future models, I cant say that im very interested in the Ez Reader that is being released next month.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I'm as disappointed with the changes as anyone - but $300 for an Eink reader is competitive pricing. It's the same as the PRS-505 which is the cheapest model readily available in the US. Both the Gen3 and the Kindle are usually more.

The Gen3 costs the equivalent of $240 in the UK at present.

[Chuckwade87]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Gen3 costs the equivalent of $240 in the UK at present.

So whats the name of the store or site ??

[Slite]

Originally Posted by Chuckwade87

So whats the name of the store or site ??

Thats would be W.H Smith, but they only ship to UK addresses unfortunatley

[HarryT]

It's also the price from Bookeen themselves, except that WHS include a case in the price, and Bookeen don't.

[HarryT]

To amend the above: I've just checked on Bookeen's web site and, although Bookeen recently made a pretty drastic reduction in the Pound and Euro price of the Gen3, they don't seem to have changed the US$ price. I've no idea why not.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by HarryT

To amend the above: I've just checked on Bookeen's web site and, although Bookeen recently made a pretty drastic reduction in the Pound and Euro price of the Gen3, they don't seem to have changed the US$ price. I've no idea why not.

Its funny you should say that.

I just saw that Bookonboard reduced the price of the Basic Cybook package, but only by $10 to $289 in the last day or so.

You still need a cover so the saving is not that great, but any price drop is nice. Also the US prices were previously quiet a lot cheaper then the Euro prices, so perhaps they're slowly going to come to par.


Still I wonder if Bookeen is playing it safe till the economy & the dollar to euro rate stabilises before making any price reductions.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

You still need a cover so the saving is not that great, but any price drop is nice. Also the US prices were previously quiet a lot cheaper then the Euro prices, so perhaps they're slowly going to come to par.

I think the BoB CyBook comes with a cover.

BOb