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

[BKeeper]

Wow, I know what I want for my birthday...
But let's keep in mind that good specs can be ruined by bad software/programming.

It'd be great if a mobilereader in the NY area could check it out.

And of course we all know what will happen weeks after the release: iLiad V3 a 9 inch cybook...

But if everything works out the mentor will be my next reader.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by leandroide

And does anybody know if they are going to be avalaible worldwide?

L.

Dear Leandroide:

Yes, they will be offered worldwide. My understanding is that our partners, Netronix in Asia and Longshine in Europe will be the distribution there.

Thank you for the interest!!

Robert Barry

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by BKeeper

Wow, I know what I want for my birthday...
But let's keep in mind that good specs can be ruined by bad software/programming.

It'd be great if a mobilereader in the NY area could check it out.

And of course we all know what will happen weeks after the release: iLiad V3 a 9 inch cybook...

But if everything works out the mentor will be my next reader.

Dear BKeeper:

Thank you for your text. I honestly believe that the Mentors when released (5 inch, 6 inch, and 9.7 inch) will be state-of-the-art and the Touchscreen and WiFi (802.11g) and Bluetooth will make them even better.

Robert Barry

[NatCh]

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear BKeeper:

Thank you for your text. I honestly believe that the Mentors when released (5 inch, 6 inch, and 9.7 inch) will be state-of-the-art and the Touchscreen and WiFi (802.11g) and Bluetooth will make them even better.

Robert Barry

I think you've already sold a dozen or more of these things. So, would you deliver them already. It's MAY!

BOb

[zelda_pinwheel]

i second that.

[aleks]

Price seems reasonable, has the features we want I think you have a winner there!

[camarotx]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think you've already sold a dozen or more of these things. So, would you deliver them already. It's MAY!

BOb

So where do I sign up .... I'm sure you have a waiting list going RIGHT !!!!!!!!

[CTH]

I really hope for a june-july release! If the price for the 9.7 is 350 I will buy one directly, what the hell I might even buy two

[renushan]

Hello Robert,

I work in a company one of whose activities is state-of-the-art Management Education. Right now, we are looking for a reader device that we could use as an academic tool (for textbooks and notes taking) and we had almost decided on iRex iLiad, when I found info about Astak Mentor.

I was pleased to find an A4 reader device at such an affordable price, and I would like to have more information about it, so that we can consider issuing Mentor to students this academic year (starts in July).

I am listing out a few doubts, and I request you to clarify them:

1. Does Mentor have plastic screen?
2. Does it support multi-folder management?
3. Does it have note-taking facility with stylus/touchscreen keyboard (touchscreen keyboard is preferable)?
4. What is the charge retention time with stylus and WiFi?
5. Can Mentor be shipped to India?
6. From when will A4 Mentor be commercially available?

4GB embedded is wonderful! Will this have internal speaker?

Please reply. you can contact me at: renushan@vestalcorp.com

Glad to see a great device at a competitive price. Good luck to Astak!

Best Regards,

Renu.

[NatCh]

Welcome to MobileRead, renushan!

You're not alone in looking for the sort of device you're describing, and should you find one, do please let us know about it too!

Originally Posted by renushan

I was pleased to find an A4 reader device ....

The Mentor does look promising, at least a step in the right direction, size-wise, but I did want to note one thing: A4 isn't 9.7" diagonal, it's closer to 14" diagonal, so A4 "pages" will still be a bit cramped on the 9.7" display.

[CTH]

9.7 is if my memory serves me correct a A5, half a A4, that should be pretty ok to view a A4 page on it if you can remove the margins from the A4.

[NatCh]

Good point.

[msundman]

Originally Posted by CTH

9.7 is if my memory serves me correct a A5, half a A4

Close, but not quite.
A4 is 210x297 (mm), so the diagonal is 364 mm = 14.3".
A5 is 148x210 (mm), so the diagonal is 257 mm = 10.1".

So, although 9.7" is smaller than half of an A4 it should still be able to display an A4 quite well if the resolution is at least 180 ppi.

[NatCh]

Originally Posted by msundman

... if the resolution is at least 180 ppi.

... and if your eyes are good enough.