Spare Pocket PRO battery on website Friday!

[Robertb]

Dear All:

We will be selling spare Pocket PRO batteries on our website (www.theEZreader.com) as of this Friday. Cost will be under $18.

As you know, a huge feature of the Pocket PRO is convenience... size, weight, speed, and NO need to send the unit back to the factory for 4-6 weeks and $80 or so to change the battery when it goes bad. With the Pocket PRO you unscrew one screw and pop in a new battery. This means you can double the charge life of your Pocket PRO easily by carrying a spare.

The spare battery will be warranteed also... and as it is from Astak you can be sure it fits perfectly.

Please check our website this Friday!!

[Mnementh]

That's good news indeed Robert, can you also tell us the exact model number for us poor international souls?

I'd love to have a second battery but would prefer to get it from a European supplier so I don't have to pay the customs taxes and the £8 royal mail charge you just for picking it up.

[hare]

Are we going to be able to order these batteries internationally? Thanks.

[theducks]

The price sounds very reasonable.
RobertB for getting this on the order site.

[gargoyle67]

Originally Posted by Mnementh

That's good news indeed Robert, can you also tell us the exact model number for us poor international souls?

I'd love to have a second battery but would prefer to get it from a European supplier so I don't have to pay the customs taxes and the £8 royal mail charge you just for picking it up.

At that price there won't be any duty to pay, I think your allowed up to £20 or something before you have to pay import taxes.

[Javed]

Excellent! Robert B

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Mnementh

That's good news indeed Robert, can you also tell us the exact model number for us poor international souls?

I'd love to have a second battery but would prefer to get it from a European supplier so I don't have to pay the customs taxes and the £8 royal mail charge you just for picking it up.

Just a word about rechargeable lithium batteries...they still degrade over time even if not used. If you are going to not swap out the batteries on a rotation (that will give you a better lifespan where it will hold at least a 50% charge), but if you are going to just store the extra battery (as in for months at a time not a couple days or even weeks), make sure to charge it down to under 50%. I believe 40% is the ideal number for lithium-ion batteries, I am not certain if that number is the same for lithium-poly batteries. But for some reason that level of charge slows down the constant chemical reaction that occurs in these batteries and extends their shelf life by about 6-10months.

A two battery rotation and your batteries should last at least as long as your reader, or a good 3-5yrs before needing replacement. I replace any lithium batter once they only hold 50% of their original charge because I have found at that point, the battery can just become useless pretty much over night after that point.

[vgiridar]

Robert

While this is a good beginning, Astak web site should also have other accessories

Sleeves
Cases - preferably in colors
USB cables
AC adapter
Wrist leash
Battery Covers
SD Cards
Skin Covers
Book Lights

Just see B&N, all these are already available >1 month before they are going to be releasing the device. They may not sell in high volumes but at least the we customers would know that if we can't find it elsewhere we can get it from the source

The web site also should have latest user manuals for download. I had downloaded Sony manual and read them before astak purchase.

So far I am happy with device but not happy with offerings at web site

Best wishes

[theducks]

Originally Posted by vgiridar

Robert

While this is a good beginning, Astak web site should also have other accessories

Sleeves
Cases - preferably in colors
USB cables
AC adapter
Wrist leash
Battery Covers
SD Cards
Skin Covers
Book Lights

Just see B&N, all these are already available >1 month before they are going to be releasing the device. They may not sell in high volumes but at least the we customers would know that if we can't find it elsewhere we can get it from the source

The web site also should have latest user manuals for download. I had downloaded Sony manual and read them before astak purchase.

So far I am happy with device but not happy with offerings at web site

Best wishes

I will second the above

I would suggest that you post a updated versions of the manual for/by each firmware version.
There may be those who do not feel comfortable doing a Firmware update and need a older manual.

Please update the downloadable manual (I am sure this group can help).
A manual and also having to refer to errata in the FAQ is not cool to use.

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by vgiridar

Robert

While this is a good beginning, Astak web site should also have other accessories

Sleeves
Cases - preferably in colors
USB cables
AC adapter
Wrist leash
Battery Covers
SD Cards
Skin Covers
Book Lights

Just see B&N, all these are already available >1 month before they are going to be releasing the device. They may not sell in high volumes but at least the we customers would know that if we can't find it elsewhere we can get it from the source

The question, when comparing BN with Astak is this: What all will the unit be shipping with?

The EZ units both come with USB charger, USB cable, High quality crush-resistant leather case, wrist strap, earbuds, battery cover with screwdriver.

The BN unit might be a no-frills included device, which required a place to purchase those user-necessities.

However, I agree with your concept. I'd like to see different color options on cases, and I'd love to be able to purchase a sleeve and a booklight from Astak as well.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by vgiridar

Robert

While this is a good beginning, Astak web site should also have other accessories

Sleeves
Cases - preferably in colors
USB cables
AC adapter
Wrist leash
Battery Covers
SD Cards
Skin Covers
Book Lights

Just see B&N, all these are already available >1 month before they are going to be releasing the device. They may not sell in high volumes but at least the we customers would know that if we can't find it elsewhere we can get it from the source

The web site also should have latest user manuals for download. I had downloaded Sony manual and read them before astak purchase.

So far I am happy with device but not happy with offerings at web site

Best wishes

Dear vgiridar:

I totally agree!! No argument from me. I have been after this company to get up leather cases (in at least four colors) and sleeves and Reader Lights for 6 months. It falls a little on deaf ears. They do not see the value yet.

I KNOW that if we put this items up on our website they will sell. There is that degree of loyalty amongst those that own the EZ Reader line.

I had some success with the battery so I will ramp up efforts.

A division of our main company (Team Research)makes SD cards. So getting them at a great price is no sweat. The problem is pricing. Prices on SD cards when you are a manufacturer can change twice a day. THAT could make it hard on our web master. I agree the time has come!! Let me try to get SD cards up by next week.

I completely agree with you!! I am astonished how others here just ignore this logic.

Also right is the User Manual. As I explained several times, we get a poor-English User Manual 3 months before we get the device itself. I personally try as hard as I can to make it at least readable properly. However, there are always features that the factory did not explain at all in that draft user manual... so I have NO knowledge of how to utilize the feature... so I cannot write about it.

We TRY to use the FAQ sheet to catch the latest techniques and tips on features NOT in the User Manual. I do not like it... but it gets the devices to market a bit faster.

I will try to do better!

[hare]

Hi Robert, would you be able to confirm whether these batteries can still be bought if we are not located in the US? Thanks!!

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear vgiridar:


I completely agree with you!! I am astonished how others here just ignore this logic.

We TRY to use the FAQ sheet to catch the latest techniques and tips on features NOT in the User Manual. I do not like it... but it gets the devices to market a bit faster.

I will try to do better!

I have a feeling your team is used to doing Wholesale and not Retail, thus the different mindset.
SDcard memory sold wholsale needs to tightly follow costs to be competitive inbig lot sales.
SD card Retail sales do not (AND should NOT, because customers will get upset) get sold at a "average cost basis price" and do not need as frequent a price change.
I go to Fry's and buy a (slow grade) 4G SD card for $13. The price is the same for Months at a time. Some things are sold to customers as "convenience items" and not solely for the volumes or profit margin .

[gargoyle67]

Any news on international shipping of batteries yet Rob ?

[theducks]

I don't understand the difference in shipping a unit with the battery disconnected and shipping the battery with the unit disconnected? Really disconnected,
like in the owners possession across the globe