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

[NeweReader]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

OH, and please become a regular on my blog. So far, only 15 great people have signed up as regulars and I can use a little growth there.

I join the ranks of those Regulars that visit your Blog faithfully every day (even days when there is no new blog) but just don't want to sign up. Don't let the number of "Signed up people" dictate the success of your blog. You should try a "hit" counter. That should give you a boost.

Thanks,
NeweReader

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Jellby

Please confirm. Mobi non-DRM and ADE DRM can work with the same firmware at the same time? Do you use Mobi reader code (without DRM) or do you write your own reader from scratch?

That could be good news for us Cybook users awaiting a new firmware that could support at least non-DRM Mobi and ePUB...

I cannot say about Cybook. MobiDRM is exclusive. Non-DRM Mobi is PRC and our EZ Reader Supports that. That is non-DRM. ADE is non-exclusive.

I hope that this helps.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by dodoflying

Hello Robert, I find that there is a good price of EZ Reader in FRY's. Can I order this reader online or I have to go to the store to buy one? In addition, does EZ Reader can clearly show the meta type of PDF document? like the pic ect. I'm a student and I just want to ust eReader to read Text book and some novel. By the way, do you think I should wait for the Pocket PRO? When can I buy a Pocket PRO?

Sorry for so many questions.

Dear dodoflying:

I do not work for FRY's itself and they do their own rules; BUT it is totally my understanding that FRYs.com will have about 30 EZ Reader units to sell online during those two days. There should be no problem from what I know.

By the way, the FRY's sale is indeed July 4&5, both days!! It is the ideal time to get the EZ Reader!!

Yes, the EZ Reader will display the meta type of .PDF BUT it does not reflow. When you load ADE onto it (will be an upload from our new website) then you get Adobe's reflow. Loading a .pdf without reflow means it will not resize the picture to fit the screen.

Wallcraft or Dale: Please correct me if I am wrong but my tech says I am right.

[ahammer]

Originally Posted by Robertb

It is believed the Intrique will have wireless also, either built-in or dongle. OH, and please become a regular on my blog. So far, only 15 great people have signed up as regulars and I can use a little growth there.

I have your blog set up on my rss feed so I can read anything new that you post. but I never make an Id for a website till I want to post something.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by kacir

Thank you for the info.


Well, I do not care what they call it. I just want to see a picture ;-). You know, they say a picture is worth thousand fancy names.
You will not be able to put the genie back into the bottle, especially because Netronix has the name on its products page.
"cookie" is an English word, so it might have certain appeal in Asian market.

On the other hand, why would a manufacturer call their device a name that consists of FIVE words. And most of those words are frequently used words that you can find in a dictionary and millions of pages. Words like "pro" "pocket" "reader". ;-))
Not that I personally care what the device is called. When *I* own it, it will be referred to as Reader. The name is only important when you look for a new customer and you do not have persuade *me* about relative merits of various devices using fancy names. I look for technical specifications, design features.

In my humble opinion, the best name is something that is an unique word, so when somebody looks it up using internet search engine they come up with the only reference and that is YOUR device. Inventing a really, really, good name for your product is very difficult. Almost black magic. Intel has paid million dollars for name "pentium" when they lost a case and other manufacturers were allowed to call their processor [something]486 and Intel did not want to use 586 as part of the name for new processor.

O.K. I agree. EZ Reader Pocket PRO is a long name. This is because we carry two distinct lines... but your point is well taken. Five words is getting a little long. Of course most people will call it the "Pocket PRO" but we cannot. We have to keep the lines very clear to please both factories.

Trust me, the name "Black Magic" is one I love too and I am sure you will see that name on a Mentor Device eventually.

The naming process is out of necessity here at Astak. A new device arrives and is generally a model number. People start saying: "do you have the ST998-13" or "we need to do a User Manual for the ST998-13". SO, to avoid confusion, the second a new device arrives I give it a name. That way people can say: "I found a glitch in the menu of the Intrique". Initially, the name I picked was meant to be a codeword only... just a name for a device internally. But, the names stuck and went to market that way.

You MAY be right. Cookie was, we know, meant to imply the device was a cookie shape initially.

[Robertb]

Dear All:

We believe that we will need to do advertising for the 5 inch EZ Reader Pocket PRO.

Astak has never really done advertising before. My immediate thoughts would be that Wired Magazine and Engadget would be a good start. Maybe I am being too old fashioned with print magazines.

What are your thoughts? Where would you advertise if you were in charge of marketing for the EZ Reader Pocket PRO? Where can we reach a proven target audience for eBook Readers?

Thank you for your thoughts!

[griffonwing]

I think Maximum PC would be great, esp if you send them a review unit. Other mags would be Stuff (Maxim for gadgets), CPU magazine might also be an option. Also, you don't want to exclude PC Gamer!

But GW, why PC Gamer? the PcoketPRO is not a game?!

Right you are, young padawan! BUT, many games today do NOT come with a paper manual. The manual is on PDF which is located on the disk. And if you download the game via Steam or other similar services, then you definately will not get a paper manual.

The Pocket PRO, or other PDF-abled reader could be used to read the PDF while you are playing the game. No need to waste paper/ink to print it. Also, no reason to pause the game, or ALT-TAB out of the game to read up on the settings/controls. Just have the PDFs to all of your games on the reader, in a folder called Game Manuals, or such.

There is also Games For Windows (i think) who used to be called Computer Gaming World (i think), but it's been so long since I've read one, I don't know if they exist anymore.

[AJ Starr]

Don't forget internet web sites. I see the "other" units there, Astak should definitely utilize this avenue.

aj

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I think Maximum PC would be great, esp if you send them a review unit. Other mags would be Stuff (Maxim for gadgets), CPU magazine might also be an option. Also, you don't want to exclude PC Gamer!

But GW, why PC Gamer? the PcoketPRO is not a game?!

Right you are, young padawan! BUT, many games today do NOT come with a paper manual. The manual is on PDF which is located on the disk. And if you download the game via Steam or other similar services, then you definately will not get a paper manual.

The Pocket PRO, or other PDF-abled reader could be used to read the PDF while you are playing the game. No need to waste paper/ink to print it. Also, no reason to pause the game, or ALT-TAB out of the game to read up on the settings/controls. Just have the PDFs to all of your games on the reader, in a folder called Game Manuals, or such.

There is also Games For Windows (i think) who used to be called Computer Gaming World (i think), but it's been so long since I've read one, I don't know if they exist anymore.

Dear Skywalker:

Good thoughts but I think STUFF went out of business 16 months ago. Good info on the Gamers. I will check out Maximum PC.

I am looking at something new called Yahoo "My Display Ads".

So a "young padawan" is not an "escort"??

[AJ Starr]

Robert,
If you will notice on my "devices" I just received a Coby 725 w/txt ebook. This was a "gift" to my husband for 10 years at his job. The Company that provides these gifts is the "Michael C Fina Co", they have levels of gifts that can be chosen. I'm sure your Pocket Pro would fit with some of the more senior levels, like 20 years, or retirement. Advertisement for those whose companies use Michael C Fina's company at www.giftnetonline.com. Phone 800-999-3462.


AJ

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Where would you advertise if you were in charge of marketing for the EZ Reader Pocket PRO? Where can we reach a proven target audience for eBook Readers?

I know nothing about advertising, but teleread certainly meets your criteria. Many teleread regulars will already have a reading device, but a 5" reader is a good 2nd reading device.

Google is the king of internet advertising. You only pay when someone clicks though your ad, but the trick is to come up with good keywords to activate the ads.

[AJ Starr]

How about the magazines that are in the Airlines seats.

"Instead of reading this magazine, how about reading a book with ASTAK's EZ Reader and EZ Reader Pocket Pro"

[FizzyWater]

The first advertising I saw for an eBook Reader was in the SkyMiles catalog in an airplane pocket! Of course, it was $500 all those years ago and I said, "Huh, nice, but too expensive!"

Robert, don't know if you're planning to specialize your advertising at all. I keep reading that at least 40% of all paperbacks published in the US are romance novels. So why not direct some advertising there - Romantic Times has a monthly magazine (I think it's monthly).

[robvarga]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear All:

We believe that we will need to do advertising for the 5 inch EZ Reader Pocket PRO.

Astak has never really done advertising before. My immediate thoughts would be that Wired Magazine and Engadget would be a good start. Maybe I am being too old fashioned with print magazines.

What are your thoughts? Where would you advertise if you were in charge of marketing for the EZ Reader Pocket PRO? Where can we reach a proven target audience for eBook Readers?

Thank you for your thoughts!

Send a piece to test to Anandtech and Tom's Hardware and a couple of other hardware sites with large visitor base.

BR,

Robert

[mklynds]

Originally Posted by robvarga

Send a piece to test to Anandtech and Tom's Hardware and a couple of other hardware sites with large visitor base.

I second Tom's Hardware. They draw a huge amount of us hardware geeks. And geeks will spend their money on gadgets and with good pdf support they would have a way of carrying a ton of books and manuals all in there jeans pocket. Great idea robvarga!!