Delstar OpenBook at Walgreens

[bryanzs]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Are we sure this guy really is from delstar. He could just be someone jerking our chain. I'll be brutally honest, this device has so many shortfalls that it will take them weeks if nt months to correct them.

Well, I suppose it's possible that the email I sent to the specified email address really went to some random stranger and they just decided to pretend to be familiar with the product I was asking about, but that seems kind of far fetched, I'd think.

Unless you've got some evidence otherwise, I'd say it's safer to assume that Delstar really has been in touch with us, and is doing their best to respond.

[Katelyn]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Are we sure this guy really is from delstar.

As I said in a previous post, I spoke to a Delstar tech today who said he would like the link to this forum so he could join and assist users and answer questions. I emailed him at info@delstar.net and shortly thereafter, someone joined the forum and posted as being from Delstar. Gotta love the odds that it's the guy I spoke to.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by bryanzs

I was pleasantly surprised to get an email back from them (from that email address) earlier today, so at least we know that email address does work.


.

Yea, they probably just don't care for penguin impersonators with delusions of grandeur.

[pendragginp]

Good morning all,

Is the Delstar showing images within the books? And if the images are in color does it show them that way?

[JohnScarbi]

There is a review just posted on the OpenBook page:

http://delstar.net/multi-function-de...ok-reader.html

By SMeador on March 16th, 2010 at 11:08 pm

PROS: It was easy to download free ebooks and upload to the Delstar Reader. Some were .txt and others were .pdf. I liked the simple styling and not having too many buttons/keys to confuse a first-time eBook Reader user.

CONS: No bookmark option, No color or font choices, Manual indicates bookmark, Two menu options missing, Color photos but bw text.

Someone actually got one that works?

Originally Posted by pendragginp

Good morning all,

Is the Delstar showing images within the books? And if the images are in color does it show them that way?

I couldn't get it to display images within any eBook format I tried. It is a text reader like Notepad is for Windows, and that is all it is. See my thread for a longer list of issues: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77476

[pendragginp]

Yes, I saw your posts, thank you.

I'm wondering about this device simply as one to load my cookbooks onto and keep in the kitchen just for that, but I do want the color pictures.

[pendragginp]

Further thought - could we use Calibre with this?

Has anyone seen the new firmware yet? I still get a forbidden message on the delstar web link.

To be honest folks, I don't think this device even has standard eBook reading software on it. I think it is a very simple plain text only reader. If there is no firmware upgrade by tomorrow, or if the release a firmware upgrade that is lackluster, I will return mine. The screen really is the wrong size for a reader anyway as it was obviously designed for widescreen video, which the OpenBook doesn't do. Instead of the traditional 3 x 4 ratio of W x H used on readers, this screen is has about a 2.5 x 4 ratio which is really too narrow for portrait reading, even if they do fix that huge right margin issue.

[Katelyn]

No downloads available yet. I really don't like like being told that an upgrade would be posted on the site yesterday - this morning at the very latest...and nothing. I will also return mine this weekend if there is no software upgrade and/or if the upgrade doesn't correct the major issues.

If they don't turn this around - like yesterday - they are really screwed themselves since this is being advertised all over the place. At least it is supposed to be an easy return. Just walk into your local Walgreen's with the box and receipt.

Originally Posted by Katelyn

No downloads available yet. I really don't like like being told that an upgrade would be posted on the site yesterday - this morning at the very latest...and nothing. I will also return mine this weekend if there is no software upgrade and/or if the upgrade doesn't correct the major issues.

If they don't turn this around - like yesterday - they are really screwed themselves since this is being advertised all over the place. At least it is supposed to be an easy return. Just walk into your local Walgreen's with the box and receipt.

It really is ashame they didn't do better with the firmware/software. I think the hardware is pretty good for the price. If I was a hacker type, I would keep it and try to hack into the OS to see if I could install reading apps. I wonder if it has Linux OS, if so some of our geek members could probably have a lot of fun with it. If it has a proprietary OS, then probably not. But I don't have those skills so I will have to wait and see if they can fix it.

Originally Posted by Delstar Info

It will be available on our site www.delstar.net, you received that message because we were in the middle of loading it onto the website. It should be there soon!

Freddy M
Delstar

Soon came and went a LONG time ago! In another post you stated the update would be available Tuesday night are Wednesday morning. Nothing is available and we cannot get the download link to open. Are you going to release an update or not?

[Highroller]

This is the reply to an email this morning concerning the promised firmware update...

Sir,
I apologize for the inconvenience. I ensure you that we are in the
middle of getting the upgrade on our site as we speak! We have been
experiencing difficulties with our server since yesterday afternoon. I am
positive that it should be there within a few hours. Please be patient
during this process, I know it is a huge inconvenience but I am just asking
you bear with us for a few more hours.
Thank You

Delstar

My reader is sitting in my living room still in the box. It was delivered by UPS this morning as promised. I see no point in opening it unless we get a firmware that fixes at least the majority of this mess. SORT of displaying text is a long way from their website promises ie

eBook file formats supported:

* ANSI
* UNICODE TXT
* DOC
* PDF
* HTML
* FB2
* PDB
* EPUB

[intobooks]

Originally Posted by Highroller

This is the reply to an email this morning concerning the promised firmware update...

Sir,
I apologize for the inconvenience. I ensure you that we are in the
middle of getting the upgrade on our site as we speak! We have been
experiencing difficulties with our server since yesterday afternoon. I am
positive that it should be there within a few hours. Please be patient
during this process, I know it is a huge inconvenience but I am just asking
you bear with us for a few more hours.
Thank You

Delstar

Well at least they are aware that people are getting frustrated with the lack of update. I won't be able to play with my reader until after work. Hopefully it will be up by then.

Originally Posted by Highroller

This is the reply to an email this morning concerning the promised firmware update...

Sir,
I apologize for the inconvenience. I ensure you that we are in the
middle of getting the upgrade on our site as we speak! We have been
experiencing difficulties with our server since yesterday afternoon. I am
positive that it should be there within a few hours. Please be patient
during this process, I know it is a huge inconvenience but I am just asking
you bear with us for a few more hours.
Thank You

Delstar

Well you like to give people the benefit of doubt, but I have to say that this sounds very similar to dozens of other stalling techniques I've encountered in my 50+ years. If their server is having problems why is their website usable except for the download link? I see this as nothing more than a stall. I just reboxed mine and I'm heading to a walgreens two blocks away.