Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

[Gester]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

What I'd probably like is a Iliad sized eInk Palm TX. A multipurpose device that has a killer reading app. Color would be nice but I can be happy with grayscale. To duplicate some of the TX functions on the Kindle I tried Google calender but making entries with the Kindle results in 30+ duplicate entries on the Google calender. At least I can view my calender on the Kindle. I converted my contact list into a .PRC file but I can't make entries.

The main reason I purchased the TX was for the large screen for reading and the TX was not that much less than the Kindle! I never was completely happy with reading on the TX, constant page turns, eye fatigue, and can't read outside but I liked it far better than toting around pbooks. The eInk screen is the best for me but I'm still searching for my perfect device. I realize that the controlling factor is battery size, the more functionality the larger and heavier the battery.

A dedicated reader is fine for now but one day I hope to have a PDA-like device.

I think I need to subscribe to your newsletter...that's exactly what I dream about.

First, I want to replace my TX with a good reader, but ultimately I want a PDA with a decent-size screen. I don't want a small laptop or even a UMPC, I want a reader that's easier on the eyes and with some notetaking, personal organization and, at most, easy text entry abilities.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

A dedicated reader is fine for now but one day I hope to have a PDA-like device.

Funny... I pretty much think of it in the opposite way.

I'd be good with a small b/w device for straight reading of books. In fact, for just books, I'm good with a PDA. For periodicals like magazines, I'd want a larger device, and I'd want color. So in terms of Astak's products, I might want the smaller device now, and hold out for a larger color device in the future (or once more magazines go online).

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Funny... I pretty much think of it in the opposite way.

I'd be good with a small b/w device for straight reading of books. In fact, for just books, I'm good with a PDA. For periodicals like magazines, I'd want a larger device, and I'd want color. So in terms of Astak's products, I might want the smaller device now, and hold out for a larger color device in the future (or once more magazines go online).

There are actually a lot of magazines online already. But most are for online reading only. Check this page: https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Free...Online_Reading

In particular check http://issuu.com/
Dale

[seamusfp]

Originally Posted by radleyp

Query: eink is a technology developed, I think, by Philips and Sony. How can this company produce eink screens, as seems to be implied, quite easily? Wouldn't it need a license and, if so, how can it be sure to get it?

Since you asked, here's a brief history lesson

Electrophoretic displays were first developed in the 70's, at MatsushiIta Electronics. However they were abandoned because of various problems.

A group at MIT's Media Lab developed a means to solve many of those problems and spun out to form E Ink in 1998. Philips partnered with E Ink to develop and manufacture the displays used in the Sony Librie, however Philips has gotten out of the display fab business, and licensed/sold the electrophoretic backplane technology to PVI, who is currently the sole* production manufacturer of the bare panels used in the Sony PRS, Amazon Kindle, Bookeen, etc. So anyone is free to buy displays from PVI provided they jump through whatever hoops PVI requires of their customers. This company is simply buying screens from PVI attaching them to whatever embedded computer they chose, and putting it all in a nice package**.


*Irex being a Philips spinout has a different OEM for their backplanes (I'm not sure who it is).
** Gross understatement of the work and effort required to produce an ebook.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by radleyp

TallMom, I don't understand how you can say that the TX is not that much different from the Kindle, the screen is much much smaller and for me at least there is a world of difference, which is why I don't mind carrying the Kindle around in my hand (as it does not fit in a pocket).

I don't think I said that but I would like to have a combo of a Kindle/Iliad and a TX.

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Funny... I pretty much think of it in the opposite way.

I'd be good with a small b/w device for straight reading of books. In fact, for just books, I'm good with a PDA. For periodicals like magazines, I'd want a larger device, and I'd want color. So in terms of Astak's products, I might want the smaller device now, and hold out for a larger color device in the future (or once more magazines go online).

Right now I carry around a cell phone, PDA, and a reader (mostly the Kindle). Since I refuse to carry a backback or a large purse my small purse is over full. But the reading experience with an eInk reader is so superior to the PDA I'm willing to carry around an extra device .....for now.

That's why I never went with a smartphone such as the Treo, too bulky for a cellphone and too small a screen, at least for me, for a PDA.

I really want to see the Astak devices.

[Gester]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'd be good with a small b/w device for straight reading of books. In fact, for just books, I'm good with a PDA. For periodicals like magazines, I'd want a larger device, and I'd want color. So in terms of Astak's products, I might want the smaller device now, and hold out for a larger color device in the future (or once more magazines go online).

I think I have arthritis in my right thumb because of all the scrolling on my TX. And while color would be wonderful, it is on my list of things I'm willing to forgo. (Granted, my TX also doubles as my baby-pictures-shower-offer -- coming soon twice the kids, triple the action!) If I would want a larger-than-6" device it would be fore PDFs, but I'm happy to go smaller if there's an acceptable work-around.

I like the freedom of surfing on the TX (although, I admit it is a bit of an extravagance, I can accompany my toddler in her alloted TV-viewing time without having to shoot myself...unless it is Arthur or Yo Gabba Gabba, but I digress), but even with the TX I still could use much more screem space.

And to digress further , after playing with my friend's OLPC XO, I think an LCD screen with an XO-like ebook mode would read nearly as well as eink, would do color when necessary and be much cheaper. Color eink is, of course, inevitable, but I'm talking about what I'd be willing to pay for now.

[msundman]

Originally Posted by Gester

I think I have arthritis in my right thumb because of all the scrolling on my TX.

Now that is why it's important for readers to have page-flip control(s) for whichever hand you're holding the device with. It doesn't have to be thumb-buttons either, but could be other fingers too (or nose or elbow or whatever body parts you manage to poke the device with (now stop thinking dirty)).

[radleyp]

Seamus, thanks for the history lesson, I needed it. What you say then makes me doubt the claims now made by Astak of being able to produce a large amount of readers at their price point: one of their partners may well be a screen manufacturer but can it produce these screens, and can it get rights from PVI?

TallMom, sorry if I misunderstood, but that's how I read the following sentence you wrote: "The main reason I purchased the TX was for the large screen for reading and the TX was not that much less than the Kindle!"

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by radleyp

Seamus, thanks for the history lesson, I needed it. What you say then makes me doubt the claims now made by Astak of being able to produce a large amount of readers at their price point: one of their partners may well be a screen manufacturer but can it produce these screens, and can it get rights from PVI?

One of Astak's partners is PVI. see the wiki

Dale

[radleyp]

You're right, I should have checked that. It will be interesting to see what happens here, since if these devices appear at these prices, Amazon and Sony will not, to say the least, be happy. It looks 1) as if PVI is going into competition with its main customers and 2) possibly seriously overcharging them.

[NatCh]

The Astak/PVI connection was only briefly touched on, more than anything the comment is on DaleDe's diligence getting the detail in the Wiki, than anything else.

There is a recent item (like, today, actually) on PVI doubling their production capacity, that could have some bearing on the price drop, or anticipated price drop in the panels that Astak seems to be anticipating.

One thing's for sure, if Astak does manage to bring out devices as cheaply as they're claiming to expect, then Sony, Bookeen, iRex, et. al. will be feeling some pressure to drop their prices too. Hopefully that'll be because the costs drop.

We've been speculating around here for two years (that I've been a party to) about what happens when the economies of scale start to kick in on e-ink, maybe we're reaching some sort of transition point where that's starting to have some effect.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by radleyp

TallMom, sorry if I misunderstood, but that's how I read the following sentence you wrote: "The main reason I purchased the TX was for the large screen for reading and the TX was not that much less than the Kindle!"

I meant pricewise. A TX is $300 and a Kindle $399.

[slayda]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

I meant pricewise. A TX is $300 and a Kindle $399.

I knew what you meant.

Just for comparison I created this image of a 8.5x11 sheet. The grid represents where the text would appear with a one inch margin all around. Each of the colors represents a different diagonal screen measurement while keeping the 8.5x11 aspect ratio for diagonals of 4", 5", 6" & 9.7". The 4" diagonal is roughly the size of my Palm TX.

This may be of no help to others but it helps me understand the relation between the various sizes.

[moz]

Originally Posted by slayda

Just for comparison I created this image of a 8.5x11 sheet. The grid represents where the text would appear with a one inch margin all around.

Cool. It might be useful to add 8" since that seems to be another popular size.

But for me, I'm "least unhappy" with the current 6" as a balance between a bit too small for reading on and uncomfortably large in my pocket.

[JSWolf]

I'd be fine with 9.7" as I carry my reader around in my bag and it would fit fine.