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

[phenomshel]

Robert, I took my EZ Reader to the doctor's office yesterday. We spent more time talking about it than we did me! My doctor was fascinated. I showed her all about how it worked, and she thought it was the coolest gadget she'd ever seen.

Yep, I hijacked it again...

[AJ Starr]

RobertB,
I am soooo confused... Could you possible create a matrix with expected Astak offerings:

I know you have EZreader, and a Mentor is coming. And apparently several variations of each. Along with the name, I would like to see, at least:

The size (5", 6", etc)
Controller
Superfulous features (in my opinion) like WiFi, touch screen, ...
Folders?
???Anything else???
etc.

I understand that any info in this type of matrix is subject to change (did everyone catch that..) but a matrix would help us visualize what is coming.

Thanks for all your honesty and speedy replies.

AJ

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

RobertB,
I am soooo confused... Could you possible create a matrix with expected Astak offerings:

I know you have EZreader, and a Mentor is coming. And apparently several variations of each. Along with the name, I would like to see, at least:

The size (5", 6", etc)
Controller
Superfulous features (in my opinion) like WiFi, touch screen, ...
Folders?
???Anything else???
etc.

I understand that any info in this type of matrix is subject to change (did everyone catch that..) but a matrix would help us visualize what is coming.

Thanks for all your honesty and speedy replies.

AJ

Arrgh! Now that be sounding likes a wunderfoole idea, matey!

What say ye to that, Barnacle Bob?

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Robert, I took my EZ Reader to the doctor's office yesterday. We spent more time talking about it than we did me! My doctor was fascinated. I showed her all about how it worked, and she thought it was the coolest gadget she'd ever seen.

Yep, I hijacked it again...

Dear Shel:

Hope you are fine and the doctor visit was nothing important.

We have actually had a number of inquiries from doctors wanting to put medical journals and prescription definitions on the EZ Reader. Still others have wanted to use them to entertain their patients while they wait. Me? I would like to see doctors prescribe EZ Readers to help cure depression.

I appreciate you taking the EZ Reader around like that. I think word of mouth is going to be our best advertising. FRY's loves it as it has almost zero returns which saves them time and money. IF I could only convince more people of just how great the EZ Reader is and has been. I took mine to New York and read and listened to music almost the entire flight. That instantly draws interest from the stewardesses and passangers alike and I hand out business cards.

Thank you and applause to your doctor!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Arrgh! Now that be sounding likes a wunderfoole idea, matey!

What say ye to that, Barnacle Bob?

Dear Griffonwing and AJ Star:

No need to walk the plank, Captain Hook.

The problem is that things will change and you and I both know people jump in and out of this thread often. Every now and again I still get irate posts wanting to fire all cannons at me as a model is late or delayed. Plus, the little Amazonists and Sonyists kidnap ideas (they still have my parrot).

Also, my two factories often mutiny and do not want too much online. Plus, the Captain of the Frigate Astak is one pegleg who does not like schedules and features announced until they are certain (meaning my neck on a serving platter with his grog).

Send me a note with your email and I WILL send you the latest schedule with all the info you seek. Just keep it confidential.

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Griffonwing and AJ Star:

...

Send me a note with your email and I WILL send you the latest schedule with all the info you seek. Just keep it confidential.

RobertB,
As far as for me, I wasn't needing any schedule or cost or anything like that. You have "teased" us with names and sizes and different ones coming out, that was what I wanted in a matrix, i.e., EZReader 5" named: ? , EZ Reader 6" named ?, Mentor 5" named ?Lite? ; Mentor ?" named "Intrigue???"

Whatever features allowed would be nice, but I'm just confused on how many different models are being planned.

AJ Starr [two r's as in tipping my hat to my infamous ancestors Tom Starr etc.]

[griffonwing]

Well, I'll be a happy pirate when the first batch of readers sporting the Epson controller comes out. I don't think it really matters whether it be the Mentor line or the EZReader line. Although, I think I would much rather have the Mentor.

Once I have it, I'm gonna have the Skull & Crossbones laser-etched into it.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

RobertB,
As far as for me, I wasn't needing any schedule or cost or anything like that. You have "teased" us with names and sizes and different ones coming out, that was what I wanted in a matrix, i.e., EZReader 5" named: ? , EZ Reader 6" named ?, Mentor 5" named ?Lite? ; Mentor ?" named "Intrigue???"

Whatever features allowed would be nice, but I'm just confused on how many different models are being planned.

AJ Starr [two r's as in tipping my hat to my infamous ancestors Tom Starr etc.]

Dear AJ:

Netronix makes the Mentor line for us. They have 5 models due. Those are comprised of four of the 6 inch (Mentor Lite is one, Mentor Invicta is two) and one of the 9.7 inch known as "Mentor Electra"(possibly a second will be color). They judge almost all of these to be out by Q2 of 2010, with four of them due by end of 2009. I am reluctant to promise this. My own experience is that there will be 2-3 by the end of 2009. Of these, Astak may or may not carry all of them... so this is why it gets confusing.

EZ Reader is due to release at least three devices by the end of 2009: 2 in 6 inch known as EZ Reader PLUS and EZ Reader PRO. The 9.7 (EZ Reader TRUE) is the third one and they have promised this in early September (but it can be delayed).

In addition to this, Astak itself is working on a 5 inch bare bones unit; and an 8.9 inch color unit will be coming with amazing charge life. The effort is to have working prototypes in October and show the device at CES in early January. Code name is Spectrum. Eventually Spectrum will also be offered in 10.1 inch.

Features?? I really don't know yet on any particular model. Suffice it to say that most of the new models will cover the full gamut of features (TOUCH is still a questionmark due to the problem of a Touchscreen severely impacts there solution). We may or may not go with a Touch that goes UNDER the E-Ink so there is no loss in resolution, but that costs more.

So... if you think you are confused do not feel badly. I am learning that what a factory plans and what actually comes out are two different things. The Mentor Lite was originally NOT going to have MP3. Now, the word is that it will. And THAT will release within 5 weeks and there still is this uncertainty. I apologize for the confusion; but none of this is ever easy!!

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear AJ:


In addition to this, Astak itself is working on a 5 inch bare bones unit...

Thanks, Robert, that's what I was looking for. Is the 5 inch not a Netronix or Hanlin? Personally, a bare bones 5 inch is very appealing to me. All I require is an SD card slot, and reasonable responses. Don't need wifi, 3g, touch, or mp3 (I have 5 mp3 players when I listen to my audio books)

AJ

[basschick]

me, too!

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

Thanks, Robert, that's what I was looking for. Is the 5 inch not a Netronix or Hanlin? Personally, a bare bones 5 inch is very appealing to me. All I require is an SD card slot, and reasonable responses. Don't need wifi, 3g, touch, or mp3 (I have 5 mp3 players when I listen to my audio books)

AJ

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

Thanks, Robert, that's what I was looking for. Is the 5 inch not a Netronix or Hanlin? Personally, a bare bones 5 inch is very appealing to me. All I require is an SD card slot, and reasonable responses. Don't need wifi, 3g, touch, or mp3 (I have 5 mp3 players when I listen to my audio books)

AJ

For $25 that seems reasonable...for $300, not so much. Adding several of those features cost around $35ish, totaled together, to the production of the device. And that includes 3G capability and/or wifi. A 3G USB dongle can be had retail for under $50 these days...

[CTH]

If the touchscreen is only for navigation or on screen keyboard then perhaps something like the Neonode is using could be good. Neonode is a cellphone manufacturer that promised touchscreen before more or less everyone else (2001 2002) thorugh using a optical matrix of leds. . Light beams form an invisible grid over the screen and finger location is detected as the beams are crossed. They was not first with this but I think that they are the only one that is using this right now.

The company itself is a mess and have had delays and do not have a good reputation but the technology could perhaps be useful for a ereader, it dosent affect the screen in any way.

Just a small potential tip

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Well, I'll be a happy pirate when the first batch of readers sporting the Epson controller comes out. I don't think it really matters whether it be the Mentor line or the EZReader line. Although, I think I would much rather have the Mentor.

Once I have it, I'm gonna have the Skull & Crossbones laser-etched into it.

I am SO tired of waiting for the Epson controller to show up on Astak eBook Readers. I KNOW what it does, I know both factories have it, and they just do not see the importance of rushing it up a little.

To be fair, it is not a straight-accross swap. You cannot just solder on the Epson where the old PVI controller use to be. There is a lot of work involved. But... I WANT it now!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by basschick

me, too!

Dear Basschick:

We are looking at alternatives this time. The EZ Reader 5 inch is a possibility... but are looking at perhaps a less expensive alternative.

It would not have much other than standard features. It would be a quality screen with great reliability... but nothing like Touch or Wi-Fi. It would just be designed as a good basic machine for reading books and that is its purpose.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

For $25 that seems reasonable...for $300, not so much. Adding several of those features cost around $35ish, totaled together, to the production of the device. And that includes 3G capability and/or wifi. A 3G USB dongle can be had retail for under $50 these days...

Touchscreen costs about $70 to a manufacturer.
Wi-Fi costs about $17 to a manufacturer
3G costs about $38 to a manufacturer without the PLAN COSTS or the SIM card

These costs are TO the manufacturer to actually install. The cost is magnified for retail price.