How good is the Astak readers?

Steven Lake · 10-09-2009, 11:17 PM

I'm looking for some new Linux powered hardware to review and happened to stumble onto the Astak readers. Does anyone know how good they are quality wise in comparison to other readers?

theducks · 10-09-2009, 11:51 PM

There have been some speed bumps along the way.

Paint coating--The new batches claim to have it corrected. Time will tell

USB 2.0 connectivity to some systems? (Connecting to USB 1.1 seems solid)
Battery charge life ... Seems to be hit or miss. I get lots of pages over a week.
It is a new model and we were early adopters

There are things I wish that were better, but if nothing got fixed, I could live with what I got

as I have work arounds for most issues.
Give it another month for the Paint to dry

wallcraft · 10-10-2009, 12:00 AM

Almost all the EInk readers are Linux-based.

The EZ Reader Basic (Hanlin V3) can run the OpenInkPot firmware, which is completely OpenSource (release candidate 0.2-rc1). OpenInkPot does not support DRM-ridden ebooks, but it otherwise a improvement on the original Jinke firmware. If you do try OpenInkPot, its big advantage is a wide range of user selected options for how ebook text is displayed. However, this means that you have to actually setup the device to your liking (don't just take the default setup).

Overall, I would characterize the EZ Reader (Hanlin) line as good middle of the road no-frills ebook readers. Their primary advantages over other readers is their outstanding battery life (about 3 weeks), and support for a wide range of ebook formats. However, with the Jinke firmware, the level of support varies between ebook formats and I would say that it only really supports four formats well: FB2, MOBI, ePub and PDF. The last two using mobile Adobe Digital Editions, which is also now on several other EInk readers.

The 5" EZ Reader Pocket Pro is similar but newer design, with a few teething problems. It isn't supported yet by OpenInkPot, but future support is probable because Jinke does not lock down their firmware or use any binary-only device drivers.

erosco · 10-10-2009, 12:23 AM

Very happy with my Pocket Pro!

UchihaNaru · 10-10-2009, 02:41 AM

i dunno about others.. but im pretty satisfied

Javed · 10-10-2009, 04:39 AM

Very happy so far with my Pocket Pro!

Handles lots of formats and has a great charge length.

HarryT · 10-10-2009, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Raiden

I'm looking for some new Linux powered hardware to review and happened to stumble onto the Astak readers. Does anyone know how good they are quality wise in comparison to other readers?

Astak sell rebadged versions of devices made by Jinke, one of the largest manufacturers of eBook Readers in the world. They are a perfectly acceptable manufcturer, quality wise, and sell all over the world.

superstitious · 10-10-2009, 05:23 PM

I had the paint issue for my first one but recieved a brand new one which is from the first batch of the colored units all within a week and a half. Have it for a week now and have no more paint issue. IMHO, great product and great customer service. I am very happy with my Pocket Pro.

oncdoc · 10-10-2009, 05:36 PM

its darn good for the price. forget the sony 300

Phogg · 10-10-2009, 06:40 PM

I like mine a lot. the paint is beginning to go in places on mine, but that is not the unit's fault in this case. (I have acidic skin oils that destroy everything

)

Kent Walters · 10-10-2009, 07:28 PM

I have exactly zero complaints about my 6 inch EZReader (Hanlin V3); it's performance is excellent, and it is reliable.

Relative to me, a fast reader with old eyes, and the font/font size I need for comfortable reading, I find myself 'turning' pages faster than I'd like. This is something fast readers might consider in their buying decisions; a larger screen displays more text. (BTW, I use 12 point Times on the 6".)

The company's next larger screen offering will likely be my next eBook reader, but I think I might miss the handy size of the one I have.

Kent Walters

theducks · 10-10-2009, 08:30 PM

The PEZ was my first e-book reader.

My only gripe is all the models all use a 4:3 ratio display (a standard TV/computer ratio rotated portrait) and I find I break readers trance by all the page turns (with black flashes). For me, that is 2 or 3 PEZ page turns a minute. Anoying.

I measured (the printed area) one of my 1000 or so dead tree paperback books.
The text is formatted 9:16 (

Wide screen TV, rotated).

Are you listening, product designers 600x1066 (check my maths?) would allow the same width, but slightly longer display a full paperback page with very little reduction in font size and we would have the page formated.

wallcraft · 10-11-2009, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

600x1066 (check my maths?) would allow the same width, but slightly longer display a full paperback page with very little reduction in font size and we would have the page formated.

The 7" diagonal Sony Daily Edition, due in December, is probably 600 × 1024. As you note, a wide screen has some advantages, but it isn't yet clear if this will become a popular screen size or not.

Steven Lake · 10-11-2009, 08:09 AM

Wow, great feedback guys! Thanks!

On a side note, wallcraft, is thie Sony Daily Edition reader Linux powered? Being that my site is a Linux site, one of our stipulations with any review is that it needs to be somehow connected with either Linux and/or open source software, so it would have to meet one of those two criteria for us to be able to review it.

JSWolf · 10-11-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Astak sell rebadged versions of devices made by Jinke, one of the largest manufacturers of eBook Readers in the world. They are a perfectly acceptable manufcturer, quality wise, and sell all over the world.

Their version of ADE still has some issues such as no history.

10-09-2009, 11:17 PM	#1
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	How good is the Astak readers? I'm looking for some new Linux powered hardware to review and happened to stumble onto the Astak readers. Does anyone know how good they are quality wise in comparison to other readers?

10-10-2009, 12:00 AM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Almost all the EInk readers are Linux-based. The EZ Reader Basic (Hanlin V3) can run the OpenInkPot firmware, which is completely OpenSource (release candidate 0.2-rc1). OpenInkPot does not support DRM-ridden ebooks, but it otherwise a improvement on the original Jinke firmware. If you do try OpenInkPot, its big advantage is a wide range of user selected options for how ebook text is displayed. However, this means that you have to actually setup the device to your liking (don't just take the default setup). Overall, I would characterize the EZ Reader (Hanlin) line as good middle of the road no-frills ebook readers. Their primary advantages over other readers is their outstanding battery life (about 3 weeks), and support for a wide range of ebook formats. However, with the Jinke firmware, the level of support varies between ebook formats and I would say that it only really supports four formats well: FB2, MOBI, ePub and PDF. The last two using mobile Adobe Digital Editions, which is also now on several other EInk readers. The 5" EZ Reader Pocket Pro is similar but newer design, with a few teething problems. It isn't supported yet by OpenInkPot, but future support is probable because Jinke does not lock down their firmware or use any binary-only device drivers. Last edited by wallcraft; 10-10-2009 at 12:03 AM.

10-10-2009, 07:28 PM	#11
Kent Walters Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 92 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern California, USA Device: iRex DR1000S, Astak EZreader (Hanlin V3)	The six inch EZReader is great I have exactly zero complaints about my 6 inch EZReader (Hanlin V3); it's performance is excellent, and it is reliable. Relative to me, a fast reader with old eyes, and the font/font size I need for comfortable reading, I find myself 'turning' pages faster than I'd like. This is something fast readers might consider in their buying decisions; a larger screen displays more text. (BTW, I use 12 point Times on the 6".) The company's next larger screen offering will likely be my next eBook reader, but I think I might miss the handy size of the one I have. Kent Walters

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10-09-2009, 11:51 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,939 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	There have been some speed bumps along the way. Paint coating--The new batches claim to have it corrected. Time will tell USB 2.0 connectivity to some systems? (Connecting to USB 1.1 seems solid) Battery charge life ... Seems to be hit or miss. I get lots of pages over a week. It is a new model and we were early adopters There are things I wish that were better, but if nothing got fixed, I could live with what I got as I have work arounds for most issues. Give it another month for the Paint to dry

10-10-2009, 12:23 AM	#4
erosco Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle PW2	Very happy with my Pocket Pro!

10-10-2009, 02:41 AM	#5
UchihaNaru Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 64 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Astak Pocket Pro	i dunno about others.. but im pretty satisfied

10-10-2009, 04:39 AM	#6
Javed Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,270 Karma: 1126878541 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Astak Pocket PRO, iPod Touch, PRS-650	Very happy so far with my Pocket Pro! Handles lots of formats and has a great charge length.

10-10-2009, 05:23 PM	#8
superstitious Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 7270 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: K3 wifi	I had the paint issue for my first one but recieved a brand new one which is from the first batch of the colored units all within a week and a half. Have it for a week now and have no more paint issue. IMHO, great product and great customer service. I am very happy with my Pocket Pro.

10-10-2009, 05:36 PM	#9
oncdoc Addict Posts: 299 Karma: 300 Join Date: May 2009 Device: kindle, pocket pro	its darn good for the price. forget the sony 300

10-10-2009, 06:40 PM	#10
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I like mine a lot. the paint is beginning to go in places on mine, but that is not the unit's fault in this case. (I have acidic skin oils that destroy everything )

10-10-2009, 08:30 PM	#12
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,939 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The PEZ was my first e-book reader. My only gripe is all the models all use a 4:3 ratio display (a standard TV/computer ratio rotated portrait) and I find I break readers trance by all the page turns (with black flashes). For me, that is 2 or 3 PEZ page turns a minute. Anoying. I measured (the printed area) one of my 1000 or so dead tree paperback books. The text is formatted 9:16 ( Wide screen TV, rotated). Are you listening, product designers 600x1066 (check my maths?) would allow the same width, but slightly longer display a full paperback page with very little reduction in font size and we would have the page formated.

10-11-2009, 08:09 AM	#14
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,158 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Wow, great feedback guys! Thanks! On a side note, wallcraft, is thie Sony Daily Edition reader Linux powered? Being that my site is a Linux site, one of our stipulations with any review is that it needs to be somehow connected with either Linux and/or open source software, so it would have to meet one of those two criteria for us to be able to review it.

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