07-18-2009, 02:04 AM | #1 |
Addict
Posts: 230
Karma: 1290
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane Australia
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Just got my Astak EZ Reader..Advice?
Hi everyone,
Thanks to an MR'er, I am now "in" the e-reader club! My EZ Reader arrived today via post.... Now I need hints and tips..... Bring it on! I've been using an HP Jornanda for bit, but the real-estate on the EZ reader is great, and I already have read more on the Astak than I would on a PDA without getting sleepy like I normaly do..... I've changed the font to a Droid font, but is there something better? What's THE best format to convert to for the EZ reader to handle? Should I end my love affair with PRC and switch to a new, 'exciting' format? Any hints and tips I need to know? I've found that LIT is supported, but heaven help you if you change the font size, you end up with the most odd formatting! Last edited by mtravellerh; 07-18-2009 at 10:59 AM. |
07-18-2009, 10:47 AM | #2 |
reader
Posts: 6,975
Karma: 5183568
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mississippi, USA
Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD
|
A complicating factor is that the EZ Reader (and almost all other Hanlin V3s) are about to switch from MOBI DRM (encryption) to Adobe ePub and PDF DRM, see Adobe Digital Editions for EZ Reader. This means that, if you upgrade to the new firmware (once it is available), the MOBI reader will be diferent. It obviously won't read DRMed MOBI ebooks, but it will also be a 3rd party reader which will probably be about as good as the current LIT reader.
A format that will stay the same is FB2, which works well on the EZ Reader. The calibre 0.6 beta can convert DRM-free ebooks from many formats to many formats, and it supports FB2. Since Calibre makes it easy to format shift, you could instead convert LIT to MOBI now and to ePub later when the firmware switches over. |
07-18-2009, 11:59 AM | #3 | |
Evangelist
Posts: 448
Karma: 364
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New York
Device: EZ-Reader - Samsung Nook's- Nook S/T w/Glow - Kindle Fire - Nova 2
|
Quote:
I also played with converting books to PDB format with Calibre and that worked well. My version of the EZ-reader would not read DRM Mobi at all.... |
|
07-18-2009, 12:15 PM | #4 |
reader
Posts: 6,975
Karma: 5183568
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mississippi, USA
Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD
|
If you want to keep MOBI support, see EZReader Firmware. Many EZ Readers came with MOBI DRM, support but I see that the firmware at the new http://www.theezreader.com/index.asp does not. I suggest the Lbook firmware if you want MOBI DRM, but remember that all future firmwares will support Adobe DRM instead (so you are stuck with any bugs in that firmware).
|
07-19-2009, 08:17 PM | #5 | |
Evangelist
Posts: 448
Karma: 364
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New York
Device: EZ-Reader - Samsung Nook's- Nook S/T w/Glow - Kindle Fire - Nova 2
|
Quote:
|
|
07-20-2009, 08:23 PM | #6 | |
Addict
Posts: 230
Karma: 1290
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane Australia
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
Even then, I really don't tend to use a lot of DRM stuff, at least, not yet.... Also, downloaded Calbre, and it doesn't seem to convert TO FB2, or am I doing it wrong? |
|
07-20-2009, 08:29 PM | #7 | |
reader
Posts: 6,975
Karma: 5183568
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mississippi, USA
Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD
|
Quote:
|
|
07-21-2009, 01:02 AM | #8 |
Jack O' Apes
Posts: 227
Karma: 1939
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Device: Ebookwise 1150, Nokia N810, EZ-Reader, HTC Droid Incredible, Archos 70
|
The latest beta 15 of calibre will convert to fb2. Its not perfect yet but getting better. The books I've tested are readable but how they look varies between readers. FBReader in OI seems to do the best. Coolreader in OI and on the PC don't do such a good job. Don't know about the readers in the original manufacturer firmware.
|
07-21-2009, 01:10 AM | #9 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 75,912
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
If the EZ Reader supports ePub, I suggest using Calibre to convert to ePub since the EZ Reader is moving to ePub anyway.
|
07-21-2009, 03:33 AM | #10 | |
Addict
Posts: 230
Karma: 1290
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane Australia
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
Well, My EZ reader supports Epub, so this is a good start.. |
|
08-04-2009, 03:38 PM | #11 |
Astak Director, Bus. Devl
Posts: 2,560
Karma: 2500000
Join Date: Apr 2008
Device: Astak Pocket PRO
|
Just got my EZ Reader or Pocket PRO
Dear ALL:
The first step when you receive the EZ Reader Basic or EZ Reader Pocket PRO should be to charge the battery overnight. ALL battery charge indicators are only a rough guide. IF the EZ Reader or Pocket PRO acts sluggish or "freezes"... 99.9% of the time you are low on battery charge. SO... please charge up well! The second step is to go to:www.theEZreader.com and at the top you will see "support". Run your cursor onto there and you will see the FAQ sheet. Astak has one of the best... filled with tips and tricks and useful info! I strongly recommend that you go there and read thoroughly. Learned a tip or trick? Send your info to: support@teamresearchinc.com and address it to Robert B. I will get it added to the FAQ sheets! |
08-04-2009, 03:44 PM | #12 |
Astak Director, Bus. Devl
Posts: 2,560
Karma: 2500000
Join Date: Apr 2008
Device: Astak Pocket PRO
|
Astak has Adobe Digital Editions Firmware Upgrade
Dear All:
Astak has been approved for Adobe Digital Editions!! Add it to your EZ Reader!! You can do this easily by going to:www.theEZreader.com and hitting the download icon. NOTE: IF you already have Mobipocket pre-loaded on your EZ Reader Basic... you will lose the display of Mobi DRM when you do the download. This is Amazon's wish and not ours. Mobi is exclusive and will not allow other formats on the same device. Even after you add Adibe Digital Editions you will still be able to read Mobi non-DRM ebooks. |
08-04-2009, 03:50 PM | #13 |
Astak Director, Bus. Devl
Posts: 2,560
Karma: 2500000
Join Date: Apr 2008
Device: Astak Pocket PRO
|
Your EZ Reader supports a huge amount of formats
Dear All:
Your EZ Reader Basdic and Pocket PRO support: pdf,doc, jpg/bmp, txt, MP3, pdb, html, lit, prc, epub. In addition you can keep Mobipocket if you have that pre-loaded OR do a firmware upgrade to add Adobe Digital Editions at: www.theEZreader.com Soon, we plan to also offer Fictionwise eReader format!! Remeber: Mobipocket is exclusive and you cannot have other formats like ADE or eReader on the same device! |
08-13-2009, 09:11 PM | #14 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 222
Join Date: Jun 2009
Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, Astak EZ Reader
|
Quote:
PRC/MOBI files work quite wonderfully, the same in the old and new fw. (I don't use DRM'd PRC files.) PDF support seems better in the new fw -- some PDFs that looked slightly "off" in the old version look better in the new version. When I tried DJVU files at first, they crashed the device, but now they seem to be working quite well, so I'm happy with that. HTML and LIT support is still completely awful, though. The formatting is badly messed up, and LIT files often close at random times. FB2 support is okay but not really good. It splits words at the end of lines in completely random places. Otherwise I like it, but to me that problem is a deal-breaker, so I don't use the format. RTF support is quite bad: formatting is gone completely, it appears. End of line punctuation is often placed on a separate line. Even the default device font is ignored. DOC support is just as bad, execpt the default font size is microscopic; the text is readable only in landscape mode. TXT files are displayed with badly done justification. And don't even ask me about CHM files. Not good. These problems aren't mentioned on your FAQ page. |
|
08-13-2009, 10:08 PM | #15 | ||
Addict
Posts: 230
Karma: 1290
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane Australia
Device: Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
Quote:
I like the EZ reader, and enjoy mobipocket prc files, but the others are pretty hit-and-miss IMO. Epub support need to be dramatically improved so the font size steps up reasonably and amybe being able to change font style, though that's not a deal-breaker..... |
||
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
E-Reader Advice - Astak 6" or 5" | Freddy Bastiat | Astak EZReader | 31 | 03-31-2010 03:52 PM |
Advice for newbie please! Sony PRS505, Astak EZ reader, Hanlin V3, Cybook/Elonex 660e | Rojofo | Which one should I buy? | 9 | 02-12-2010 06:25 PM |
Should I buy an Astak EZ Reader? | Dan21 | Astak EZReader | 31 | 02-01-2010 12:14 PM |
Astak EZ reader rocks | Bookathon | Astak EZReader | 8 | 04-08-2009 06:04 PM |
Astak EZ Reader (Hanlin V3) | bgorda | Introduce Yourself | 3 | 11-06-2008 06:26 PM |