Astak announces 5 inch Pocket PRO for $199

[Stensie4JC]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Mklynds:

Yes, I concur. I would have loved to go to Jinke and see what they have. The problem is that I do not speak much Mandarin and they essentially only speak Mandarin. Besides, the Chinese can negotiate with the Chinese. My negotiation is very to the point and direct. This works well in America. It appears that expensive Chinese dinners and a bit more "beating around the bush" (no disrespect to anyone) are part of successful negotiation in China.

I am more along the lines of: "HI! It is great to meet you. We could sell a ton of your devices for you if you would just get them to us and cooperate with us. oH, LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PRICE. You want me to move volume and I do too. Give me a price to accomplish that."

In China this is NOT the way. Instead of ten minutes, they seem to negotiate over ten hours. It is a personal defect in me. I get to the point real fast and move quickly and eloquently... I give ground a bit to compromise but I arrive where both sides are happy and winners.

My husband is Chinese. I met him after living in China for two years, and I totally feel with you about 10 minutes versus 10 hours. The hardest thing for me is that not only do they take 10 hours to negotiate, but they genuinely believe this is a better method than our 10 minutes. They believe it as strongly as people like you and I believe the "Hi, let's do something" is better. Read the bestseller I will write on my 25th anniversary to understand why this is...I still need another 24 years to figure it out.

I know that was off topic, so here's something relevant. Am I the only one that reads in the dark? The big thing everyone says about eink is that it can be read in bright sunlight. But I read in low light conditions MUCH more often than bright sunlight. (I'm nocturnal.) I really enjoyed ereading on my backlit ipaq in the dark, but the features I want on a new device don't come on a backlit ereader. It's all eink. So what do you do in the dark with an e ink device? I'm sorry if this is a lowbrow comparison, but my brother's handheld video game thingy has a little light that plugs right into the device. Does ANY eink reader have something like this? Specifically, will the 5" pocket pro?

[basschick]

i hope it doesn't have a light. i'm excited to have a carry-around ebook reader that costs around $200 - adding more stuff adds to the price.

the sony PRS-700 has a light in front.

btw, some users here use a clip on light on their readers with success.

Originally Posted by Stensie4JC

I know that was off topic, so here's something relevant. Am I the only one that reads in the dark? The big thing everyone says about eink is that it can be read in bright sunlight. But I read in low light conditions MUCH more often than bright sunlight. (I'm nocturnal.) I really enjoyed ereading on my backlit ipaq in the dark, but the features I want on a new device don't come on a backlit ereader. It's all eink. So what do you do in the dark with an e ink device? I'm sorry if this is a lowbrow comparison, but my brother's handheld video game thingy has a little light that plugs right into the device. Does ANY eink reader have something like this? Specifically, will the 5" pocket pro?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stensie4JC

So what do you do in the dark with an e ink device?

Mighty Bright LED book light

http://www.mightybright.com/Book_Lig...uctDetail.html

Their "special lens spreads light evenly with no hot spots", and actually does what it says. An excellent product.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Stensie4JC

So what do you do in the dark with an e ink device?

I use a good lamp with a halogen lightbulb.

Do you mean what do I do when I need to read in the dark and I can not switch on the big light? Like when I read in a car?
Well, I have purchased a lamp for illumination of notebook keyboard. The lamp does not have light bulb or leds, it has CCFL - a very thin Compact Cold Flourescent Tube. I have made a 4 inches deep box. I put the reader on the bottom of the box, and I have fixed that CCFL on the top of the box so it lights the Reader. When I use this light I carry a big, heavy 6V lead-acid battery to power the light. This light is good enough for a week in a tent.

[rgeorg]

A quick question for Robertb,
I live in Europe (Greece). If my parents purchase the Pocket Pro for me as a gift from the USA and bring or send it to me - would I have any warranty protection? Options?
Thanks!

[6charlong]

Originally Posted by Stensie4JC

I know that was off topic, so here's something relevant. Am I the only one that reads in the dark? The big thing everyone says about eink is that it can be read in bright sunlight. But I read in low light conditions MUCH more often than bright sunlight. (I'm nocturnal.) I really enjoyed ereading on my backlit ipaq in the dark, but the features I want on a new device don't come on a backlit ereader. It's all eink. So what do you do in the dark with an e ink device? I'm sorry if this is a lowbrow comparison, but my brother's handheld video game thingy has a little light that plugs right into the device. Does ANY eink reader have something like this? Specifically, will the 5" pocket pro?

Sony makes a very good book light but it only works with their PRS505. You can find more about it here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26776.

[SDRebel]

funny I just found this thread.... when the other one for the pocket pro is very similar...

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by basschick

i hope it doesn't have a light. i'm excited to have a carry-around ebook reader that costs around $200 - adding more stuff adds to the price.

the sony PRS-700 has a light in front.

btw, some users here use a clip on light on their readers with success.

Dear Basschick:

Actually, 55% of the people polled by the IDPF (governing body for eBook Readers) say the bedroom is their principle palce to read! Most of those people have spouses, lovers, lovers and spouses, or dogs sleeping next to them... so you can bet that YOU are in the majority!

There is a MightyBright Extra Flex 2 in Silver selling right now on Amazon (OH, God,why am I recommending them) for $13.45!! Most of the people I have heard from recommend it!

What you do NOT want is a lite that takes its power from the eBook Reader! Get one that has LEDs and uses a small round battery of its own!

On the EZ Reader line you can clip this to your case (not to the unit) and that seems optimum!!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by rgeorg

A quick question for Robertb,
I live in Europe (Greece). If my parents purchase the Pocket Pro for me as a gift from the USA and bring or send it to me - would I have any warranty protection? Options?
Thanks!

Dear rgeorg:

You would have the same 1 year parts and labor warranty as USA purchasers have. The only problem would be freight to send it here abd back.

However, the EZ Reader and the Pocket PRO appear to be some of the most reliable and rugged eBook Readers on the market and both have user-replaceable rechargeable batteries!! THAT is the biggest reason people send for repair... they need a new battery installed for $100. You can buy the battery you need for the EZ Reader line, ONLINE, for around $9.99

You can also email easily to support@astak.com. Many problems can be fixed quite easily this way!

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by Robertb

What you do NOT want is a lite that takes its power from the eBook Reader! Get one that has LEDs and uses a small round battery of its own!

On the EZ Reader line you can clip this to your case (not to the unit) and that seems optimum!!

I user the mightybrite (the one with twin LED lights) and it works great. It uses three AAA batteries, and I clip it on the folded back case. I purchased it at Barnes & Noble.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear rgeorg:

You would have the same 1 year parts and labor warranty as USA purchasers have. The only problem would be freight to send it here abd back.

However, the EZ Reader and the Pocket PRO appear to be some of the most reliable and rugged eBook Readers on the market and both have user-replaceable rechargeable batteries!! THAT is the biggest reason people send for repair... they need a new battery installed for $100. You can buy the battery you need for the EZ Reader line, ONLINE, for around $9.99

You can also email easily to support@astak.com. Many problems can be fixed quite easily this way!

my gawds...does that even mean anything? how are they "rugged"? what proof of reliability exists? the statement implies long term reliability also, or does it? man, reading this section and make a person dizzy from all the spin...

[cvkemp]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

my gawds...does that even mean anything? how are they "rugged"? what proof of reliability exists? the statement implies long term reliability also, or does it? man, reading this section and make a person dizzy from all the spin...

I cannot believe that with today economy that people still believe that a product is nothing if it does not have a big brand name. I have worked in manufacture over 40 years and I can tell you that over 90% of all brand products were manufactured by a factory that makes clones and non name brand products on the same line as they do the name brands. And of course you pay more for the name.

Chuck

[griffonwing]

The only brand names that I purchase are Heinz (ketchup), Pepsi (cola), Hellman's (mayonnaise), and brand name pipe tobacco, not the bulk store-brand stuff.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by cvkemp

I cannot believe that with today economy that people still believe that a product is nothing if it does not have a big brand name. I have worked in manufacture over 40 years and I can tell you that over 90% of all brand products were manufactured by a factory that makes clones and non name brand products on the same line as they do the name brands. And of course you pay more for the name.

Chuck

and just what does that have to do with what I wrote?

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=191

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

With an even smaller screen, most comics are not going to be all that readable when the pages are reduced down to the screen size.

Actually some manga come in books slightly smaller than 5 inches. So you maybe able to get away with it. I'm hoping at least.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Frys does not ship the EZ Reader from frys.com. If I want to buy an EZ Reader from Frys, I have to go to a store that has it in stock. And as there are no Frys stores nearby, I am out of luck should I want an EZ Reader from them.

http://www.frys.com/product/5834633?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

3 months later they do.