Astak PocketPRO in Europe?

wmjoers · 12-09-2009, 03:49 AM

Hi,

Anyone know if it's possible to buy a Astak PocketPRO from anywhere in Europe?

I know the BeBook is roughly the same (differs in firmware I think) but it doesn't include a case and the Astak unit does.

Any ideas?

Best Regards
/John Eriksson

Solicitous · 12-09-2009, 04:05 AM

You can buy directly from Astak, they provide a link on their website for international orders.

mtravellerh · 12-09-2009, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjoers

Hi,

Anyone know if it's possible to buy a Astak PocketPRO from anywhere in Europe?

I know the BeBook is roughly the same (differs in firmware I think) but it doesn't include a case and the Astak unit does.

Any ideas?

Best Regards
/John Eriksson

Please do not forget that the BeBook carries warranty while I am not so sure about this concerning Astak!

wmjoers · 12-09-2009, 04:19 AM

I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US.

/john

mtravellerh · 12-09-2009, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjoers

I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US.

/john

Oh absolutely guaranteed, they will! 16%, if I don't err!

Dave_S · 12-09-2009, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjoers

I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US.

/john

I was impatient waiting for BeBook to bring out their Hanlin V5 (BeBook Mini - Astak PocketPRO), so I ordered a PocketPRO from Astak. Astak charged 40 US dollars for shipping, and then I had a weeks worth of transactions with customs here, which added customs fees and valued added tax to the purchase. So if Sweden has similar customs rules to Germany, you will probably be better off ordering from the BeBook vendor, Endless Ideas. They both use the same Jinke/Hanlin firmware with their own add on boot screen logos. At any point in time there might be slight differences in the firmware as they do not always get the updated firmware out at the same time. A very nice thing is that you can use any firmware made for the same Hanlin device, so you are not tied to the firmware from the vendor that you purchase from. In my case, I use OpenInkpot on my Hanlin V3, and the Lbook firmware on my Hanlin V5.

Ea · 12-09-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

Oh absolutely guaranteed, they will! 16%, if I don't err!

There's also VAT and the carrier will most likely want a fee for handling these payments. It's most likely that it will end up being more expensive, plus, if you have to return the device for some reason, shipping will likely be more expensive.

kennyc · 12-09-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjoers

I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US.

/john

I'd go for that...

BeBook or Sony.

jusmee · 12-09-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmjoers

I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US.

/john

For me, a Bebook bought locally was about 50% more expensive than buying from the US, and that includes postage.

Ea · 12-09-2009, 04:59 PM

If I add 0% duty, 20% VAT and a 125 DKK fee to the Astak price it would be 15% cheaper than the Bebook incl. a Stylz cover. I think VAT in Sweden is 20 or 22%(?), and I had to guess about the postal service fee, but it's probably in the same ballpark.

If the Astak cover is the same quality as that of the 6" Hanlin V3, then it's not real leather. For me, that would be an extra consideration.

jusmee · 12-09-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

If the Astak cover is the same quality as that of the 6" Hanlin V3, then it's not real leather. .

What's an easy test for real leather?

kennyc · 12-09-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusmee

What's an easy test for real leather?

If you can't tell, it's real.

Ea · 12-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusmee

What's an easy test for real leather?

Sight and feel goes a long way (perhaps with the help of a magnifying glass), especially if you have some samples of real leather on hand to compare with. Else one can cut it up to see what the backing looks like, and if you burn a sample, plastic should have both a different smell (more 'sour') and leave different ashes (a little soft ball of melted plastic) than leather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

If you can't tell, it's real.

That's certainly also a way to tell

The Hanlin cover I've seen was definitely nice, it didn't look 'cheap', it just wasn't real leather. It was well made and designwise it's one of the nicer covers I've had. I'm not dissing it, I just like real leather more than synthetics

Real leather has a different 'feel', different surface, different elasticity, but it's difficult to describe

A good quality synthetic leather is not as noticeable when it has a hard backing as in this cover, as it would be if it were used for a purse or something like that.

jusmee · 12-09-2009, 06:35 PM

Yes, I can't tell

It really seemed like leather to me, but if it's not, then it's as good as the real thing. Might even have some advantages as real leather can damage and watermark. This one might not.

Robertb · 12-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusmee

Yes, I can't tell

It really seemed like leather to me, but if it's not, then it's as good as the real thing. Might even have some advantages as real leather can damage and watermark. This one might not.

Dear All:

I work for Astak and may be biased!

To tell the truth, I could not tell. The factory assured me it is leather. My boss smelled it and said THAT is the test... it smelled to him like leather so it must be leather.

Regarding buying the BeBook Mini or the Pocket PRO... both have identical warranties and both are fine companies. The only real differences I can see is that our price includes the case and our Pocket PRO comes in your choice of six colors. The colors are terrific and capture attention.

I do not want to persaude anybody here... just saying it as I see it with no offense to BeBook!

12-09-2009, 03:49 AM	#1
wmjoers Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sweden Device: none	Astak PocketPRO in Europe? Hi, Anyone know if it's possible to buy a Astak PocketPRO from anywhere in Europe? I know the BeBook is roughly the same (differs in firmware I think) but it doesn't include a case and the Astak unit does. Any ideas? Best Regards /John Eriksson

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12-09-2009, 04:05 AM	#2
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	You can buy directly from Astak, they provide a link on their website for international orders.

12-09-2009, 04:19 AM	#4
wmjoers Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sweden Device: none	I guess a can buy an BeBook and a separate case. It would be little more expensive. But when thinking about it I don't know how it works with the customs. They may add some extra fee when ordering from US. /john

12-09-2009, 04:59 PM	#10
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	If I add 0% duty, 20% VAT and a 125 DKK fee to the Astak price it would be 15% cheaper than the Bebook incl. a Stylz cover. I think VAT in Sweden is 20 or 22%(?), and I had to guess about the postal service fee, but it's probably in the same ballpark. If the Astak cover is the same quality as that of the 6" Hanlin V3, then it's not real leather. For me, that would be an extra consideration.

12-09-2009, 06:35 PM	#14
jusmee Wizard Posts: 1,047 Karma: 203682 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Libre 2	Yes, I can't tell It really seemed like leather to me, but if it's not, then it's as good as the real thing. Might even have some advantages as real leather can damage and watermark. This one might not.

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