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

[Over]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Over,

Not wishing to be a "spoilsport", but falsely declaring the value of an item on a customs declaration is a crime. No reputable seller is going to do it. Besides which (something to consider!), if you have insured delivery (as one would for an item such as this), you can generally only make a claim up to the declared value. Do you really want to take that chance? Unfortunately packages can and do go "astray" in the post.

I'm not talking about declaring a false value... Just not declaring it. At least not outside the box.

Here customs tax is very random. Before those two imports, it never happened to me. It's not a tax applied to all incoming imports. (Since they were books, I guess the size and weight made them charge me the tax, I don't know).

Anyway, after some research, these transporters means 100% sure I'll pay customs and a much heavier tax: UPS, DHL or FedEx.

It's unfair, as I should only pay the IVA (VAT) 21% and a symbolic customas tax, but with these carriers I can end up paying more than 80%!

[HarryT]

Unfortunately I don't think one can post a package from the US to Europe without a customs valuation form stuck on the outside of the box; you certainly can't do it the other way.

The way it works in the UK is that if a parcel is received via the normal postal service, it's pure "pot luck" whether you get charged VAT on it or not (seems to be about 50/50 for me). If it's sent via a courier company (FedEx, DHL, etc), then the courier pays all the duties on your behalf and then sends you a bill, with a hefty "processing fee" added on - I think that's what must have happened to you.

So what I think you're actually asking Robert is to please send parcels through the post, rather than using a courier .

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So it's going to support Mobi, then? Weren't you having some sort of licensing issue with that?

Only pressure from Amazon for DRM mobi. If you notice the DRM is for eReader and ADE.

[HarryT]

So it will support non-DRM Mobi?

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So it will support non-DRM Mobi?

I think that is likely. Something like FBReader can be used for that. I haven't seen the product yet but I would expect the big 10 to include mobi.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by Over

I'm not talking about declaring a false value... Just not declaring it. At least not outside the box.

Here customs tax is very random. Before those two imports, it never happened to me. It's not a tax applied to all incoming imports. (Since they were books, I guess the size and weight made them charge me the tax, I don't know).

Anyway, after some research, these transporters means 100% sure I'll pay customs and a much heavier tax: UPS, DHL or FedEx.

It's unfair, as I should only pay the IVA (VAT) 21% and a symbolic customas tax, but with these carriers I can end up paying more than 80%!

Maybe you can request the package to be hand-written instead of machine-printed. If everything is hand-written, it would be more likely to be conceived as a present from a friend, and not an order or sale.

Also, you can have RobertB write in a black marker on the outside of the box.

"Happy Birthday, Junior! From Your Uncle Bobby!!"

[tirsales]

To answer the question "Would you be interested in a 6'' device with touchscreen" - yes, I would. IF it supports ePub, HTML and PDF.
I'd be more interested in a device with touch (if it can be switched off) then w/o touch. Still: For a 6'' device its not the most important part.

I'd love to have a small (say: handy sized) e-reader with a foldable display (say: 5'' or 6''), without any extras (nope, don't want UMTS, just gimme a good reader) - for simple reading on the train. Oh and please with a big "turn page" button on each side of the device! Replacable battery is a "must-have". (Fine-tuning font-sizes would be nice, but is not needed). The foldable part would be nice, but is not a must-have.

Then I'd love to have a ~10'' (or A4 foldable to A5, if possible with "two A5 display option" ) with touch screen. In addition WLan is a must-have, 3G (UMTS) would be very, very good. Feel free to put in whatever else you can fit (Minivan, stargate, fusion reactor, ..)
I'd very much like to see some "font-size fine-tuning" (you need nothing more then 4 'direction' buttons for this...)
I don't really care about "cheap umts" or "built-in free internet access" for a professional device - just let me insert whatever SIM card my company provides, and it's okay. (Of course, it would be acceptable to be able to plug in 3G modems via USB, but I doubt that anybody could (reliably) solve the related software problems (in a generic 'all modems, all providers' way).

And while Santa is listening: I'd really love to see a device that packs two displays (alternating reading) with the option to link them together. Even better: Make that two readers which can be linked together to form a single unit with two screens or one large screen.
Must go now, the Easter bunny is calling

[Emu]

I just thought about a perfect 6" reader. And what is missing is better resolution. So robert, do you know about any plans for e-ink displays with higher res. comming? While 6" is a perfect pocket format, 800x600 is sometimes just not enough for comics and mangas. And normal text would look even better on a high-res screen....

A high-res 6" would be something I would buy for sure. maybe with touch? A 9" is a difficult decision as long as it is expensive. and it would be more bulky than a 6"

[Over]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Unfortunately I don't think one can post a package from the US to Europe without a customs valuation form stuck on the outside of the box; you certainly can't do it the other way.

The way it works in the UK is that if a parcel is received via the normal postal service, it's pure "pot luck" whether you get charged VAT on it or not (seems to be about 50/50 for me). If it's sent via a courier company (FedEx, DHL, etc), then the courier pays all the duties on your behalf and then sends you a bill, with a hefty "processing fee" added on - I think that's what must have happened to you.

So what I think you're actually asking Robert is to please send parcels through the post, rather than using a courier .

Thanks for translating me. That should do it.

[oggelbe2007]

Originally Posted by Over

I'm not talking about declaring a false value... Just not declaring it. At least not outside the box.

You may have to wait until these babies show up on Ebay. That sort of...ah...work-around happens all the time. (Marking stuff as a gift, book, kid's shirt, insure it for less than $20, etc). Just make sure HarryT doesn't find out.


Crime does not pay....as well as politics.
A.E. Newman

[Justy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

So it will support non-DRM Mobi?

In message #1544 Robertb said:

The firmware that supports eReader/ADE DRM will support reading mobipocket ebooks that are non-DRM on the EZ Reader. Got this straight from the head tech who admonished me for not knowing. I figure I would rather be completely sure.

I hope that it will be the same for the Mentor.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by oggelbe2007

You may have to wait until these babies show up on Ebay. That sort of...ah...work-around happens all the time. (Marking stuff as a gift, book, kid's shirt, insure it for less than $20, etc). Just make sure HarryT doesn't find out.

It doesn't "bother" me in the slightest. I just don't want anyone to have a $400 device mailed to them, try to make a claim on it because it goes missing in the mail, and be told "it was declared to only be worth $10, so that's all you can claim" .

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Daer pkovak:

Thank you for your response!!

IF eBook Readers were made in the USA... this could be done. Potentially, a line could be done to sort of build-to-suit. BUT, allowing for manufacturing costs in USA and that all panels and parts are made in Asia... likely this would not happen.

In our case our factories are in China and Taiwan as labor rates and engineering are low. A skilled engineer maybe gets $500 a month. Also, everything is done on conveyorized assembly lines where workers are expected to keep up with the flow. There is never the thought to do one person at one desk doing custom orders. If they did, that $300 device may cost you $700.

Your idea is very well-intentioned and I know that... but in today's mass production with end users screaming about wanting an under $200 machine if they could get it... everything is far too automated.

Look at Astak. We OWN the factory in Taiwan and even for us they will NOT design a custom machine unless we order 20,000. I would love to have a North American Special built precisely as most have stated on Mobileread Forum... an "Astak Dream" model. Instead I harp and plead and beg them to USE an Epson Controller NOW and not next month! To them it is all about: "we make machine, you buy major quantity maybe, shut face and shoehorn fit into North America". Eventually I yell enough that I get some things done the right way.

Robert B

Seems you hit the point where you are out of your depth here. I am surprised at your comments since they really are very contradictory.

OK, so engineers get paid NOTHING by your company, yet because you want your cut it is impossible to deliver sub-$200 devices to us "whining" consumers?

Also, Lenovo, Dell, HP and others ALL manage to build CTO laptops all built outside the US. This is especially true for HP & Lenovo.

As for modular it only needs be CTO if it is not modular in design and the components do not have user accessible slots for installation. Yes this would mean going back to the boards but it may be a fatal mistake to force a one-size-fits-all family of devices when we are all being far more sensible with our cash these days. Staying behind the curve rather than proactively going beyond run of the mill will be a mistake in the long run. That is not to say these need to be this way now, but rather it should be the goal in the near term. Make the features available as accessories not integral to the device. This is bound to happen anyway as the eink improves to actually be of any real use so the devices will merge with the idea of a netbook.

But for now we should all never believe what marketing spins before our eyes. At this point I am seeing more and more that I am very likely not to ever be an Astak customer. The spin is simply starting to trip over itself.

[arioste]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think that pretty much everyone who's actually used an eInk device will say that the "flash" as the page turns is a complete non-issue. After an hour of using the device you don't notice it any more - your brain just "blocks it out". It's no more distracting than having to turn the page of a physical book is.

Hello Harry T !
I completely share your opinion when you say that you prefer a device with two or three very good functions instead of four or five. It's the strong point of the Sony : It's made for reading, and as far as I have been using it does not deceive me....and I am since a very long time a very very great consumer of books.
What could I get from a new one ?
- Only fundamentals....like a little more surface of reading (maybe a centimeter, not much more)
- Access to all formats
- And (that's only for the Frenchman and fan of your culture I am) an immediate access, word by word, to an Anglo-french dictionnary.

JD

[sirbruce]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Look at Astak. We OWN the factory in Taiwan and even for us they will NOT design a custom machine unless we order 20,000. I would love to have a North American Special built precisely as most have stated on Mobileread Forum... an "Astak Dream" model. Instead I harp and plead and beg them to USE an Epson Controller NOW and not next month! To them it is all about: "we make machine, you buy major quantity maybe, shut face and shoehorn fit into North America". Eventually I yell enough that I get some things done the right way.

How can you claim to own the factory, but then claim your employees won't do what they're told to do? Then fire them and hire someone else who will do it. No, rather I think it's something *your* CEO or VP or whomever doesn't actually want to do. So stop trying to foist your management's incompetence off on the "dumb asians"'. I know you weren't trying to look racist; I understand the difficulties you're encountering having done business with such people before. But you make them do it, or you get someone else to do it.