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

[Sweetpea]

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.

You can always declare something a present... I've had packages from the US, from reputable stores, that will declare it a present.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Mycropht

Well, here is some additional incentive to find that answer:

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/0...-2-displa.html

Of course, the problem described above would be smaller or nonexistent on higher resolution screens.

Since the problem is related to Kindle1 vs. Kindle2 this doesn't seem to be the case as they have exactly the same resolution. The problem seems to be over zealous anti-aliasing which could happen at any resolution.

Dale

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Justy

In message #1544 Robertb said:

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

Yes, the eReader that will be on the upcoming EZ Reader will also be on the Mentor. Yes, that eReader will support Mobi non-drm eBooks. That is my understanding. I will check with Fictionwise to be absolutely sure and will post it as absolutely sure.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

You're dodging the point. You said, and I quote:


You blamed the people at the factory -- *your employees* -- for NOT doing something you WANT to do.

There's a difference between something that's difficult to do and something that can't be done. If my boss asked me to do something impossible, sure, I couldn't do it. But if they asked me to do something I thought would be difficult and would interfere with other stuff, I'd say so. But then if he changed his mind and didn't want me to do it, that would not be me refusing to do it; it would be the boss deciding it wasn't worth it.

Now you're claimining that the factory management essentially "knows better". That's fine, but then it's still *YOU*, *YOUR COMPANY*, *YOUR MANGEMENT*, *ASTAK IN THE USA*, that's not willing to make a custom machine. Because you've made the judgement that it's not worth the effort because you believe factory management when they say the effort is too high. But you can't blame *them* for it. You can't say they *won't* do it unless you've ordered them to do it anyway and they still refuse.

You tried to deflect responsibility for your company's own decisions onto some faceless Asians, making it look like their lack of ability or willingness, and now you're claiming it's because you actually respect their judgement. Regardless, it's not their fault you're not making a custom Astak... it's your own.

There is a major difference between asking your factory to build in features and telling them to build a custom device. We have not gone near asking them to build a custom device for us yet. The devices we get out of Netronix are Netronix designs with our modifications. We are attempting to get Asian devices that are more in line with what the American marketplace seems to want. This is beneficial for the end user as the devices are thoroughly proven in Asia (and, in some cases, Europe) before we bring the models to North America.

I am sorry,Sir Bruce, that somehow you take offense over our own dealings with our factory. I was trying to provide some information that I thought may be useful. Apparently it was not, and I will cut down on such info in the future.

[snowgoose]

A Senior's View of E-reader sizes.

A 6" diagonal display just does not cut it. For the eagle eyed university crowd, these are probably just what they need, but for us older generation, the print is too small to read standard pdf full page documents.

Since I have about 20 GB of pdf and doc magazines, books, specs and much else waiting to be read, and that is too much to print, and too tiring to read on the computer screen, I with many others really need an e-reader that ready does display full page pdf documents without eyestrain, while using our glasses. Using landscape on smaller ereaders does not work where graphics are split between half screens, and no one wants to waste hours converting documents, while pdf files do not reflow properly anyway. Pdf files are in a print format, and not an editable format.

But how does one chose between the various available options and sizes? You try them out on your laptop first! Here is the method of setting the specification for the e-reader, and each senior should try this for himself.

1. Select a full page prf document from the web, preferably one with images and compact text such as a patent document or a magazine page from a pdf version of some magazine. I will use Page 3 from the current April 2009 PC magazine digital edition (the editorial) as an example pdf document sheet.

2. Display the page on a computer screen, using Adobe Reader or similar product, which allows one to scale the display size, but without reflow of the text. Typically, Adobe products allow scale factors for the display viewing of 25% to 300% at least

3. Set the display screen to typically 1152 x 864 pixels, and display the pdf page as large as possible on the screen; select each viewing percentage, and check the ease of reading that pdf page and its graphics.

Here are some typical results for a senior in his mid-70s; you may get different results. I have a nominally 17" display computer screen for the test (338 mm wide x 266 mm high, about 84 pixel/inch)), and found that 33% and 50% were too small to read comfortably, but "zoom to page" viewing or larger was reasonable . For this scaling, the size of the page displayed on the screen was 172 mm x 244 mm (for a diagonal of 11.75") with no clipping of margins. So I would really need a display with about 11.5" diagonal to view this admittedly very dense text magazine page.

So 6" diagonal displays do not cut it. Potentially useful screens include

Astak E-Z Reader True Diag = 9.7" marginal but possible
Irex reader Diag = 10.2" too expensive, and glass
Plastic Logic E-reader Diag = 10.7" ideal
Hearst E-reader Diag = 14.1” May be too large a unit for easy reading

However, as most of these are just vapourware as yet, I will be keeping an eye on all of them for a year, and perhaps the price may be a deciding factor, the ones with less bells and whistles. Hope this helps other seniors make up their minds. It should be an exiting next 12 months. In the next item I will address specifications for seniors.

[snowgoose]

What do Seniors Need in E-readers. The Bells and Whistles Review.

Seniors are making up an increasing fraction of most western nations these years so someone better wake up to the potential market. They also have pension money to buy reasonable priced e-readers, but they will be more selective, as wisdom increases with years on the job! One senior's e-reader specification now follows and I am definitely in the market for the right product at the right price..

Essential Features
1. Must be able to read full page pdf and doc files without reformatting
- as described previously, this means a diagonal of about 11 to 12" for most seniors
- must be able to read non DRM pdf files so as to access the vast library of books on the web in pdf format

2. USB or Card input.
- essential to be able to load and manage book transfers from web via computer to e-reader.

3. Robust Construction.
- preferably grandchild proof
- plastic screens better than glass
- a good case probably needed, to prevent accidental screen scratches from pets

4. Reasonable Price and modest performance.
- I consider $1000 for a reader to be too much, but a few hundred is not. Cut out the frills and give us a basic reader not a mini computer. To read books, magazines and newspapers would be useful as seniors perhaps have more time than younger people for reading.

Desirable Features but not Essential
- a detachable page turner control/cable for reading in bed, seems desirable
- ability to read while battery-charging is highly desirable
- reasonably long time between battery charges is useful, and larger cases can store larger batteries

Unnecessary Features.
1. Touch Screen
- touch screens reduce display contrast,
- greasy finger marks ruin the screen
- pointer stick writers could scratch or dent plastic display modules.

2. MP3 sound.
- younger people may enjoy having their ears blasted out by listening while they read, but I find it disturbs concentration while reading thought-provoking matter.
- you can always use a dedicated MP3 player if you must ruin your concentration
- one can use a laptop or similar if you need to listen to audio books, because you do not then have to hold the "book" for long times.

3. Page Print Outs
- scan and print on a main computer, or transfer the pdf to a computer and print with Adobe products

4. Wireless Inputs.
- some may want it for downloading books but most can transfer items from a laptop or desktop via USB
- Adobe DE allows for DRM transfers between computers/ereaders, or you can get rid of the DRM using the available Python programs (you paid for the book anyway, and most seniors are not into selling their books to unscrupulous end users).

5. Unnecessary dictionaries.
- most book reading seniors know what most words mean, and only use a dictionary very infrequently, or look things up on "Google" on their laptop computer if they need to. Younger people, and ESL students need this feature more than most seniors.

6. pdf reflow
- avoid the complexity of bad pdf reflow of text, by providing a screen to show full page pdf items directly, with scaling and scrolling for those seniors with failing eyesight. Adobe products do this scaling well, so use a similar method perhaps.

It looks likely that there may be e-readers available in 2009/2010 that will satisfy our needs, and I encourage all manufacturers such as Astak, IRex, Hearst, Plastic Logic and others to continue their valiant efforts. There is a market out there. We need a simple reader not one full of too many bells and whistles, and costing $1000 because of that. Please comment if you think anything is incorrect above. I too am in the learning phase about e-readers.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by snowgoose

A Senior's View of E-reader sizes.

A 6" diagonal display just does not cut it. For the eagle eyed university crowd, these are probably just what they need, but for us older generation, the print is too small to read standard pdf full page documents.

Since I have about 20 GB of pdf and doc magazines, books, specs and much else waiting to be read, and that is too much to print, and too tiring to read on the computer screen, I with many others really need an e-reader that ready does display full page pdf documents without eyestrain, while using our glasses. Using landscape on smaller ereaders does not work where graphics are split between half screens, and no one wants to waste hours converting documents, while pdf files do not reflow properly anyway. Pdf files are in a print format, and not an editable format.

But how does one chose between the various available options and sizes? You try them out on your laptop first! Here is the method of setting the specification for the e-reader, and each senior should try this for himself.



1. Select a full page prf document from the web, preferably one with images and compact text such as a patent document or a magazine page from a pdf version of some magazine. I will use Page 3 from the current April 2009 PC magazine digital edition (the editorial) as an example pdf document sheet.

2. Display the page on a computer screen, using Adobe Reader or similar product, which allows one to scale the display size, but without reflow of the text. Typically, Adobe products allow scale factors for the display viewing of 25% to 300% at least

3. Set the display screen to typically 1152 x 864 pixels, and display the pdf page as large as possible on the screen; select each viewing percentage, and check the ease of reading that pdf page and its graphics.

Here are some typical results for a senior in his mid-70s; you may get different results. I have a nominally 17" display computer screen for the test (338 mm wide x 266 mm high, about 98 pixel/inch)), and found that 33% and 50% were too small to read comfortably, but "zoom to page" viewing or larger was reasonable . For this scaling, the size of the page displayed on the screen was 172 mm x 244 mm (for a diagonal of 11.75") with no clipping of margins. So I would really need a display with about 11.5" diagonal to view this admittedly very dense text magazine page.

So 6" diagonal displays do not cut it. Potentially useful screens include

Astak E-Z Reader True Diag = 9.7" marginal but possible
Irex reader Diag = 10.2" too expensive, and glass
Plastic Logic E-reader Diag = 10.7" ideal
Hearst E-reader Diag = 14.1” May be too large a unit for easy reading

However, as most of these are just vapourware as yet, I will be keeping an eye on all of them for a year, and perhaps the price may be a deciding factor, the ones with less bells and whistles. Hope this helps other seniors make up their minds. It should be an exiting next 12 months. In the next item I will address specifications for seniors.

Dear Snowgoose:

Thank you for posting a Senior's point of view on eBook Readers. I think it is great that you did this.

Astak, of course, is trying to work thru various senior groups (such as Council on Aging) but NOT getting the info that you have furnished. Your discussion is well laid out, well thought out, and convincing.

Astak, as you know, is working with two factories to come out with an affordable device in the sizes you have named. We know that the main thrust is 9.7 inch: but we are also looking at 10.1 and 10.2 screens. I am looking forward to your specifications.

Keep in mind (I am sure you are) that price has a lot to do with devices for seniors also. While seniors supposedly have the largest amount of spendable cash for such things as eBook Readers... some do not. I believe that while a 10.4 inch screen by Plastic Logic may seem ideal... it is also a whole lot of money.

Also, keep in mind about REFLOW. The reflow of pdf pictures and newspapers can be accomplished just fine on a 9.7 inch device if the device has reflow. This would give you the same ability to "read true" on an 8 by 10 page with no discernible loss of picture quality. Certainly I do not in any way wish to disagree... I just hope that you will consider that if you have not yet.

In any case, Astak is very glad to get your feedback and we encourage other seniors to post also. This is a key segment of the populace that needs to be heard.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

I believe that while a 10.4 inch screen by Plastic Logic may seem ideal... it is also a whole lot of money.

Really, how much is it? I have not seen any pricing information. Do you have some insider knowledge that you can share?

BOb

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Really, how much is it? I have not seen any pricing information. Do you have some insider knowledge that you can share?

BOb

Dear Pilot Bob:

Only the tidbits that I have heard. Nothing concrete. I hear it is around $949.

By the way... Plastic Logic WILL be exhibiting at the eBook Pavillion at 2010 CES in early January. That is fact.

[sirbruce]

Originally Posted by Robertb

There is a major difference between asking your factory to build in features and telling them to build a custom device. We have not gone near asking them to build a custom device for us yet.

This seems to contradict your earlier statement:

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.

How could you know they will not design a custom machine unless you order 20,000, unless you asked?

Now, if you meant you haven't asked the factory you don't own to build a custom device yet, that's beside the point. I'm talking specifically about the factory you do own (or claimed to own at least).

Originally Posted by Robertb

I am sorry,Sir Bruce, that somehow you take offense over our own dealings with our factory. I was trying to provide some information that I thought may be useful. Apparently it was not, and I will cut down on such info in the future.

Wow, do you actually have a MarCom person advising you on these posts or are you just winging it? What you said there is a pretty ham-fisted attempt to turn the opinions of others against me by blaming me for your decision to now restrict the flow of information. "If it wasn't for mean old SirBruce, we'd be more forthcoming!" Yeah right. If you want to engage customers on the Internet you need to have a thicker skin; deal with your readers honestly and avoid such rhetorical tricks.

[Mitchll]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

This seems to contradict your earlier statement:


How could you know they will not design a custom machine unless you order 20,000, unless you asked?

Now, if you meant you haven't asked the factory you don't own to build a custom device yet, that's beside the point. I'm talking specifically about the factory you do own (or claimed to own at least).



Wow, do you actually have a MarCom person advising you on these posts or are you just winging it? What you said there is a pretty ham-fisted attempt to turn the opinions of others against me by blaming me for your decision to now restrict the flow of information. "If it wasn't for mean old SirBruce, we'd be more forthcoming!" Yeah right. If you want to engage customers on the Internet you need to have a thicker skin; deal with your readers honestly and avoid such rhetorical tricks.

Frankly, I think its your rhetorical tricks that should be avoided. Enough, you ceased scoring points and are simply being an ahole. IMHO

[Emu]

Originally Posted by sirbruce

This seems to contradict your earlier statement:


How could you know they will not design a custom machine unless you order 20,000, unless you asked?

Now, if you meant you haven't asked the factory you don't own to build a custom device yet, that's beside the point. I'm talking specifically about the factory you do own (or claimed to own at least).



Wow, do you actually have a MarCom person advising you on these posts or are you just winging it? What you said there is a pretty ham-fisted attempt to turn the opinions of others against me by blaming me for your decision to now restrict the flow of information. "If it wasn't for mean old SirBruce, we'd be more forthcoming!" Yeah right. If you want to engage customers on the Internet you need to have a thicker skin; deal with your readers honestly and avoid such rhetorical tricks.

You may be right with whatever you want to say, but it is difficult for me, NOT to be confused by your comment. Why don't you stay calm and have the thick skin? I don't want to offend you, but I really think that your critic isn't constructive - why don't you try to see roberts comments from a different angle and join the discussion about e-readers again

edit: comon Mitchll, don't feed the trolls

[Robertb]

Dear All:

Here are the pictures of the Mentor Lite that I promised.

The info is on my blog (listed below) on the Mentor Lite.

The left side 2 buttons are for the 8 choices of Font Size.

The right side 4 buttons are for "one touch" to take you to: main menu, Sudoku game, horizontal/vertical display, and the Library Menu (where you choose sort preference, view, language, auto-power off, and more).

Yes, it does have an SD card slot and a rechargeable, replaceable battery.

It weighs six (6) ounces. It is a 6 inch basic; but it is a clean and nice device that is easy to carry and is very easy to navigate upon.

[igorsk]

I don't see any photos... latest entry is from April 8.
One note: correct spelling is "Sudoku", not "Sodoku" (you have it correct in the post above but not in the blog).

[Mr. Dalliard]

RobertB

I know that the , highly anticipated, upcoming 9.7" model will thankfully come with a flexible plastic screen, but are there any plans for 6" models non-glass models?

I have a two-year-old gadget-obsessed son who I know will not be able to keep his hands off my reader when I finally get one. I fear a glass screen may not last long, unless I keep it under lock and key.

Anyway, don't worry about sirbruce, I'm sure most of us on here really appreciate you posts. There aren't many companies that engage with potential customers with the honesty and genuine desire to satisfy requests as you do.

--------------
Wow! while I was typing this post, BobbyB was uploading Mentor pics. Looking very nice!