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

[frozennorth]

Originally Posted by Musicman

There is nothing new on Sony's two new models - they are just replacing their old ones with the same features except in a 5" size.

Not true. The 600 does have added features. But I do agree that the Pocket Pro should be on the front page also.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

MobiPocket uses the extensions .prc and .mobi interchangeably, so the Pocket Pro will support DRM-free MOBI. So far as I know, there will never be a Hanlin V5 firmware supporting MobiPocket DRM.

I have tried the DRM-free MOBI support in the latest EZ Reader firmware (the one with mobile ADE), and it works well with 3 font sizes and a choice of fonts (no landscape mode). The firmware for the Pocket Pro will presumably be very similar. In any case, once ebooks are DRM-free, they can be shifted to other formats using Calbre so you have the option of switching MOBI off-line to FB2 or ePub.

the latest firmware mobi support seems to be exactly the same as the previous version without the DRM support. This is good news since this was one of the best formatted formats available although some things such as TOC features are cumbersome. However, the ePUB is vastly improved providing another good format.

Dale

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by AJ Starr

Hey, moderators ----

How come Sony's proposed and rumored readers get front page status, twice over,

And Astak's EZ Reader and EZ Reader Pocket Pro, which are available, don't even get a mention.

Put the Astak's announce on the front page along with the Sony and Kindle, and Cooler, and all the other ones.

Let's be fair!!!!!!!

Regarding requests for an announcement of the Astak devices, Astak has previously been featured on the MobileRead frontpage. The MobileRead team has not so far seen the need for any additional announcements, because Robertb has been very active on MobileRead as an official representative of the Astak brand, which is a unique situation. Given his high activity here, we consider that it is superfluous to create an additional thread to duplicate his announcements which are already quite well publicised. MobileRead is an independent site, and we have to be careful to avoid showing favoritism to one company over the others. There are no Sony reps posting officially in Sony's name on MobileRead, that is why we do the reporting ourselves. We must think about a balance in the news here and Astak has already quite a high profile due to Robertb's presence. It's important we not neglect other brands which are not as actively represented here but which are important to our readers.

[Patricia]

Well said, Zelda.

[Emu]

Originally Posted by Patricia

Well said, Zelda.

second that

[tneken]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear tneken:

Our Mentor Lite is identical to the Cool-er as far as features and specs. That means it has the same processor.

Our EZ Reader Pocket PRO DOES have Epson controller and 400 MHZ processor, and 8 level grey scale, and ADE, and Text-To-Speech and 6 colors and a lot more... for $229!

Hi
Thanks for the clarification . English isn't my native language so some of the posts made me a little confused . I'm sorry to hear that the factory won't update the 6", because i think i'll prefere the larger screen. I don't need the portabillity of the 5" because i'll proberly do most of my reading at home. But on the other hand don't really want to miss the better hardware. Maybe i should just wait for the wireless device then

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

Regarding requests for an announcement of the Astak devices, Astak has previously been featured on the MobileRead frontpage. The MobileRead team has not so far seen the need for any additional announcements, because Robertb has been very active on MobileRead as an official representative of the Astak brand, which is a unique situation. Given his high activity here, we consider that it is superfluous to create an additional thread to duplicate his announcements which are already quite well publicised. MobileRead is an independent site, and we have to be careful to avoid showing favoritism to one company over the others. There are no Sony reps posting officially in Sony's name on MobileRead, that is why we do the reporting ourselves. We must think about a balance in the news here and Astak has already quite a high profile due to Robertb's presence. It's important we not neglect other brands which are not as actively represented here but which are important to our readers.

So, because Sony and Amazon chose not to particpate actively on this site (I am sure they are trolling) you penalize Astak because they do participate.

A new product being available no matter what manufacturer should be on the first page.

There certainly is enough interest in the EZ-Reader/Pocket Pro - just look at the number of reads and posts on the threads.

[SaraD]

Hold the horses! A few pages back when the ability to order a Pocket Pro slipped out early Robert B said that a formal announement was already planned for this next week around Wednesday after the ability for everybody anywhere to order was working. Give him a chance to make that formal announcement when the website is ready? And it will likely have a list of everything that will be in the box and all the details anybody could want. Maybe that will make the front page will everything nice and consise?

[Mr. Dalliard]

I'll start saving up for the 9.7" now.
BobbyB: Could you give us a rough idea of pricing for the big boy?

[Luigino]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

Regarding requests for an announcement of the Astak devices, Astak has previously been featured on the MobileRead frontpage. The MobileRead team has not so far seen the need for any additional announcements, because Robertb has been very active on MobileRead as an official representative of the Astak brand, which is a unique situation. Given his high activity here, we consider that it is superfluous to create an additional thread to duplicate his announcements which are already quite well publicised. MobileRead is an independent site, and we have to be careful to avoid showing favoritism to one company over the others. There are no Sony reps posting officially in Sony's name on MobileRead, that is why we do the reporting ourselves. We must think about a balance in the news here and Astak has already quite a high profile due to Robertb's presence. It's important we not neglect other brands which are not as actively represented here but which are important to our readers.

I agree with you, Zelda, in fact mainly this thread was sort of a "check-for-user-good-requests" to build a good product... which I think isn't so bad...starting from the principle for a good and universal use and yeah, there are also brands who points to the brandname like Sony, Apple just for marketing...
Obviously, EVERYONE, Astak included, has their interest to sell...it's pretty normal....each one in their way...

I could be wrong too...but this is actually my honest opinion...

See you around
Luigi

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by tneken

Hi
Thanks for the clarification . English isn't my native language so some of the posts made me a little confused . I'm sorry to hear that the factory won't update the 6", because i think i'll prefere the larger screen. I don't need the portabillity of the 5" because i'll proberly do most of my reading at home. But on the other hand don't really want to miss the better hardware. Maybe i should just wait for the wireless device then

Dear Tneken:

As posted prior, please remember that the difference in screen size between the 6 inch and 5 inch is one DIAGONAL inch. This means there is very little difference when you read. Secondly, the dpi remains the same in both the 6 inch and 5 inch... so things are clearer on the 5 inch. And, with far faster page turns (and 8 levels of grey scale), you may actually find you read faster and retain more.

Now, this is purely my feelings and I do not want to push anyone. You may find that you love the 5 inch.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Tneken:

As posted prior, please remember that the difference in screen size between the 6 inch and 5 inch is one DIAGONAL inch. This means there is very liottle difference when you read. Secondly, the dpi remains the same in both the 6 inch and 5 inch... so things are clearer on the 5 inch. And, with far faster page turns (and 8 levels of grey scale), you may actually find you read faster and retain more.

Now, this is purely my feelings and I do not want to push anyone. You may find that you love the 5 inch.

Actually the dpi (dots per inch) goes up on the 5". It is the number of pixels that remain the same, 600 x 800. The 6" is 167 ppi while the 5" is 200 ppi (pixels per inch). The dot size is smaller on the 5" due to the number of pixels remaining the same, this can be interpreted as clearer although the bigger pixels may seem darker. I don't have a 5" so I can't compare.

Dale

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Mr. Dalliard

I'll start saving up for the 9.7" now.
BobbyB: Could you give us a rough idea of pricing for the big boy?

Dear Mr. Dalliard:

Oh, if only I knew. I really do not. That is an honest answer.

The last I heard most people seemed to be thinking that anything higher than $399 would be a problem. This may have changed; and I really will not know until closer to release. However, that WAS the price point that was desired to hit. Whether that can, in fact, be hit is unknown.

Like I say, I am not violating the NDA as I am making a personal guess and NOT giving away anything I know.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Actually the dpi (dots per inch) goes up on the 5". It is the number of pixels that remain the same, 600 x 800. The 6" is 167 ppi while the 5" is 200 ppi (pixels per inch). The dot size is smaller on the 5" due to the number of pixels remaining the same, this can be interpreted as clearer although the bigger pixels may seem darker. I don't have a 5" so I can't compare.

Dale

Dear Dale:

We have two. More come in next two weeks. You will get one.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by SaraD

Hold the horses! A few pages back when the ability to order a Pocket Pro slipped out early Robert B said that a formal announement was already planned for this next week around Wednesday after the ability for everybody anywhere to order was working. Give him a chance to make that formal announcement when the website is ready? And it will likely have a list of everything that will be in the box and all the details anybody could want. Maybe that will make the front page will everything nice and consise?

Thank you, Sara. We are waiting for our graphics department now to do the following:

1. Make specs (we call it a brochure).

2. Have professional pictures taken of the Pocket PRO.

We are in addition waiting to get more Pocket PROs in so we can change them out of the standard black body and have professional pictures of them taken in all 6 colors.

The box will have, I am told, the same as the EZ Reader Basic. It still comes with a real leather crush-resistant case and the ear buds. It still has both the A/C charger and the USB cable. Ditto for the wrist leash and small battery-door screwdriver and a good user manual in English.