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

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by ahammer

im good with that. maybe add a replay button incase you want to see what you missed.

Dear ahammer, sweetpea, and many more:

I think I see the main point. Do not do away with the flash but slow it down and give the end user a chance to control it to some extent! Frankly, I like that.

For me, when I first saw it, I loved the way that the flash showed off the device's assets BUT found it frustrating as hell at how fast it was going. I could not keep up and tended to not bother as it was a blur in my eyes.

Eventually, when the EZ Reader Pocket PRO releases, we are going to have to do a simple flash that will say "FULL info and pictures of Astak eBook Readers available here. PRESS the Button and take the tour" or something like that. We could never do two or three products on the front page anyway.

Also I will recheck the book prices. I do hear also about PayPal. That was OUR first choice but Fictionwise insisted on using their system. We will retalk on this too.

I am grateful!!

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear ahammer, sweetpea, and many more:

Eventually, when the EZ Reader Pocket PRO releases, we are going to have to do a simple flash that will say "FULL info and pictures of Astak eBook Readers available here.

Do I take this to mean you will not sell the Pocket Pro on THIS site, but only from your Astak.com store?

AJ

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Also I will recheck the book prices. I do hear also about PayPal. That was OUR first choice but Fictionwise insisted on using their system. We will retalk on this too.

I am grateful!!

Robertb,

The Fictionwise site accepts Paypal also, so this should not be a problem.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Robertb

I think I see the main point. Do not do away with the flash but slow it down and give the end user a chance to control it to some extent! Frankly, I like that.

*THAT* is the way Flash should be properly used. Interactive, user driven way to discover features.
You should also prepare a plain html page with text description of things demonstrated in Flash animation and provide a small button next to the Flash saying "no flash description of EZ Reader"

There is one more thing.
When I click on a link on the main page there is no link to go back (**) to the main page. It is usually done by providing link "Home" and also linking main logo (in this case GoEZBook logo and green portrait of RobertB reading a paper(!?!?) book) to the main page.
When I click on main logo I expect i
t to take me to the www.GoEZBook.com homepage

(**) except for going back in history, but remember, some users might have arrived via a link to a specific page, for example from a Mobileread review, or via some search engine link. You should give those users chance to go to your main page.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

Do I take this to mean you will not sell the Pocket Pro on THIS site, but only from your Astak.com store?

AJ

Dear AJ:

We definitely WILL sell the Pocket PRO on the new website. That is what I mean about eventually we cannot just have a flash on the EZ Reader alone... we need to put 2,3 and more devices up there. As they cannot all fit on the front page... we will need a vehicle (a button) to take them automatically to subsequent pages!

The Pocket PRO is one of the big reasons we are doing the new website!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by kacir

*THAT* is the way Flash should be properly used. Interactive, user driven way to discover features.
You should also prepare a plain html page with text description of things demonstrated in Flash animation and provide a small button next to the Flash saying "no flash description of EZ Reader"

There is one more thing.
When I click on a link on the main page there is no link to go back (**) to the main page. It is usually done by providing link "Home" and also linking main logo (in this case GoEZBook logo and green portrait of RobertB reading a paper(!?!?) book) to the main page.
When I click on main logo I expect i
t to take me to the www.GoEZBook.com homepage

(**) except for going back in history, but remember, some users might have arrived via a link to a specific page, for example from a Mobileread review, or via some search engine link. You should give those users chance to go to your main page.

Dear Kacir:

I understand about the definite need for a "go to home page" tool. That is an elementary need and will be done.

Also understand about the "no flash... just info"button!!

All great suggestions!!

[Robertb]

Dear All:

Today I read the thread on the Ectaco Jetbook. Gee, it is so hard to bite my tongue and shut up.

I know the Jetbook well from FRY's Electronics. They tell me some about the unrush of returns on that model.

What I cannot figure out is WHY people rave about a device with an LCD screen that has 8 formats and sells for $259 (what they quoted in the thread) when the EZ Reader Bundle Pack is often selling for $229, has E-Ink, comes with free leather case and a free 2GB SD card and card reader/writer, and does 14 formats. I did NOT post on that thread; but it is VERY hard to hold back.

[griffonwing]

I suppose it's all up to preference.

Case Design - look and feel of the unit might be exactly what they want
LCD - perhaps they love the ability to read in darker areas, without the need for external light.
Format - Also, if the device reads the formats that they prefer, and can easily convert to, then there's really no need a device which reads more.

[ahammer]

LCD Can also do somethings that eink can not do without giving up some of the things that make it good. like show movies. dont know alot about jetbook to tell if that is the case here.

[AJ Starr]

Originally Posted by ahammer

LCD Can also do somethings that eink can not do without giving up some of the things that make it good. like show movies.

The only thing I would really want that eink cannot do is scroll the text. I love to just sit the device down, and have it scroll as I read.

Oh well, eink has so much more going for it.

AJ

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

I did NOT post on that thread; but it is VERY hard to hold back.

Yes, your restraint is just astonishing.

BOb

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by ahammer

LCD Can also do somethings that eink can not do without giving up some of the things that make it good. like show movies. dont know alot about jetbook to tell if that is the case here.

Ahh yes, movies/video. I was comparing simply e-reading only. I'm not familiar with what the jetbook, specifically, can do.

Regardless, it would seem that any LCD reader would generate more heat than an eink reader, since it has to power the screen 100% of the time. I love to read with a book in my lap. Heat and Lap to not mix well for me.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Regardless, it would seem that any LCD reader would generate more heat than an eink reader, since it has to power the screen 100% of the time. I love to read with a book in my lap. Heat and Lap to not mix well for me.

I've used the Jetbook, it doesn't get hot at all.

BOb

[griffonwing]

my current phone is a Sanyo SCP-5300 Dual Band. It gets very hot after a 5 minute phone call.

I can cook a pancake with a 30 minute phone call!!

This is the only LCD item of even remote similar size, except my laptop. Not really fair to compare a laptop to an ereader. I figured it was at least comparable to a fliptop LCD phone.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by Jellby

I HATE flash for normal site navigation (it's OK for games, video animations, etc.). Whenever I encounter a site that needs flash I just go somewhere else.

I feel there needs to be some perspective on this Flash thing.

Flash is here to stay, regardless of how much a few diehards kick and scream. It has extremely high market penetration, and provides some very exciting capabilities.

Implementation, however, is the key. Yours is a bit intrusive. At the least, don't loop the ad.