Find The Astak Pumpkin... WIN a free Pocket PRO!

[kacir]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Yes, unfortunately, you do need to be a member of Facebook to get in. BUT, It is FREE.

I have entered the contest within 5 minutes of your first post.
I do not have Facebook membership. I am not going to get one. Period.
Thank you.

I think you should have mentioned that we will have to subscribe to [free] facebook membership in order to qualify. I would not have bothered participating.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by kacir

I have entered the contest within 5 minutes of your first post.
I do not have Facebook membership. I am not going to get one. Period.
Thank you.

I think you should have mentioned that we will have to subscribe to [free] facebook membership in order to qualify. I would not have bothered participating.

Exactly!

[tamzilla]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Yes, unfortunately, you do need to be a member of Facebook to get in. BUT, It is FREE.

What is the benefit to you? You can become an "Astak Fan" and recieve news of Firmware Upgrades, new products, new promotions and stuff to make your Pocket PRO even more of your life. Yes, I know how many will say "I do not want to be bothered". But, knowing about things that pleasurably impact your Pocket PRO or EZ Reader Basic should not be considered a bother (we sincerely hope). Astak is not like other firms. We are smaller, do NOT even consider "selling " your name and contact info, and do VERY few notifications.

We hoped this would be looked upon as good news. You have already purchased the product (most of you) so why not become an Astak Fan.

By the way, you CAN enter the contest and decline becoming a fan. But, why would you??

Oh well, I don't really want to sign up for Facebook (or Myspace or Twitter). I don't have much use for the social networking sites and I've seen reports of home owner's insurance companies raising the rates on people who are members of those sites (some people tend to provide too much info making easier for thieves to target their homes when they are out of town).

I was mainly interested in sending this to my sister, who was very interested in my Pocket Pro. She may already have a Facebook account, so I'll go ahead and send her the information.

edit - There isn't (or wasn't yesterday when I looked at it) anything on the sweepstakes page that says you have to be a member of Facebook to participate in it until you fill out all of the info and try to submit it which then just takes you to a log in page. In the future, you may want to add something stating that you have to be a member of Facebook to participate. Since I wasn't hoping to win one for myself, I'm not all that annoyed, but I would have just sent the link to my sister instead of trying to enter myself if that had been clear beforehand.

[UchihaNaru]

Originally Posted by tamzilla

Oh well, I don't really want to sign up for Facebook (or Myspace or Twitter). I don't have much use for the social networking sites and I've seen reports of home owner's insurance companies raising the rates on people who are members of those sites (some people tend to provide too much info making easier for thieves to target their homes when they are out of town).

I was mainly interested in sending this to my sister, who was very interested in my Pocket Pro. She may already have a Facebook account, so I'll go ahead and send her the information.

edit - There isn't (or wasn't yesterday when I looked at it) anything on the sweepstakes page that says you have to be a member of Facebook to participate in it until you fill out all of the info and try to submit it which then just takes you to a log in page. In the future, you may want to add something stating that you have to be a member of Facebook to participate. Since I wasn't hoping to win one for myself, I'm not all that annoyed, but I would have just sent the link to my sister instead of trying to enter myself if that had been clear beforehand.

I think the sweepskate is like an application/feature on facebook. So I guess that facebook assumed that you are a member... But yeah, I guess that RobertB should mention in the first post that you must be a member to participate. Didn't know that insurance companies come up with such ideas to make people pay higher premium -.-

[bookfanmd]

I just signed up with the email address I always use for probable junk mail. No big deal.

[Siwickimom]

Ok, I have no problem w/ the Facebook aspect. And I dig the opportunity to win.

Please, the flash is bad and the music sounds like Porn music (bad Porn music). How about something cerebral like classical or something? It doesn't set a good tone, I automatically want to DISlike the site and everything on it because of that damn music. Seriously, if you were watching a TV Show and a character entered the room to that music, what kind of character would it be? Someone sleazy, lol. Or a caricature of someone sexy.

Just my 2 cents, lol. And no, I won't volunteer how I know what bad Porn music sounds like.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Siwickimom

Ok, I have no problem w/ the Facebook aspect. And I dig the opportunity to win.

Please, the flash is bad and the music sounds like Porn music (bad Porn music). How about something cerebral like classical or something? It doesn't set a good tone, I automatically want to DISlike the site and everything on it because of that damn music. Seriously, if you were watching a TV Show and a character entered the room to that music, what kind of character would it be? Someone sleazy, lol. Or a caricature of someone sexy.

Just my 2 cents, lol. And no, I won't volunteer how I know what bad Porn music sounds like.

I hate auto-sound on websites in any case regardless of what type.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by UchihaNaru

I think the sweepskate is like an application/feature on facebook. So I guess that facebook assumed that you are a member... But yeah, I guess that RobertB should mention in the first post that you must be a member to participate. Didn't know that insurance companies come up with such ideas to make people pay higher premium -.-

Dear all:

In the future we will warn you if you have to be a member of Facebook to join the contest! I got the ad copy from graphincs, posted it, and did not know it would cause such a problem!

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

New contest! Find the Pumpkin Poo! It'll be on MySpace!

found it:

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I hate auto-sound on websites in any case regardless of what type.

What is the first thing they tell you in all the seminars and what not about web design...those auto-play animated/music/flash pages are one of the biggest reasons people just hit the back button and never come back to your site.

For products people want nice simple but professionally designed sites that to not take over their computer or force feed them those gawds-awful flash intro pages. It's my only prob with the current site, otherwise I actually like it well enough.

As for the Facebook thing, I don't care one way or the other, but a better job, as usual with Astak it seems, would be to cross promote the service and give users a reason beyond the chance and "winning" a supposedly "random winner" contest (what independent auditing company is overseeing the "contest"?...California has laws regulating such things when a company is holding a contest with prizes...you know just so you are aware of it and in case you get a call from them about it)...I just see it as another ill conceived Astak blunder...it's gotten fun really...but they keep trying gawds bless them.

[theducks]

I am with you.
Astak, Lose the Flash only front door.
You have 15 seconds to make a good impression
"Loading" or a Jingle does not make it unless you are announcing a Harry Potter movie.
The page after "Skip Intro" is a proper Front Door Page.

Music is bad, if we are taking a peek while at work

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

found it:

.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by theducks

I am with you.
Astak, Lose the Flash only front door.
You have 15 seconds to make a good impression
"Loading" or a Jingle does not make it unless you are announcing a Harry Potter movie.
The page after "Skip Intro" is a proper Front Door Page.

Music is bad, if we are taking a peek while at work

There is also the fact that some of us still use dial-up (I know, I'm in the dark ages - that's what I get for living in the boonies). What's the point of a "skip intro" option that doesn't even come up until AFTER the page is loaded, which took several minutes when I tried it yesterday. If I have to go through that every time I visit the site, I can guarantee I won't be visiting again except when I'm out and able to tap into someone else's high-speed connection (and then probably only when necessary to download firmware updates).

Edit: I did find the pumpkin though, once I finally got the site loaded!

[Faenad]

Thanks for the contest Robert

I understand why it's better to do it on Facebook, as this way there is the chance of reaching many peoples that never heard before of Astak (contrary to a contest that would be announced on your website only). Even if : "Allowing Promotions access will let it pull your profile information, photos, your friends' info, and other content that it requires to work."

But I doubt that you will reach the most potentially interested audience on Facebook (ie heavy readers). You should try to partner with websites like goodreads or shelfari for your next contest.

ps : I also second the critics on your website. Please, please turn off the auto-music. And I think you would be better served with some real pictures than with the current computer generated 3D images (or at least have both). This set of pictures look real good for example, you should have something similar :





http://www.ebouquin.fr/2009/10/07/te...-mais-austere/

Or look at the Kindle Page on Amazon. Some close up shots, some pictures of nice looking peoples using the Kindle, a couple video. Really well made.

[abrizz]

I am in! Would love to get a reader, they look great in all the colors!