Astak Mentor e-book reader comes in at under $200

E-book readers are becoming quickly becoming the new cheapo MP3 player, what with unusual designs, promises of salvation from paper, and now diving prices. Enter the Astak Mentor. This series of readers comes in three sizes -- 5-, 6-, and 9.7-inch -- and is based on either Linux or Windows CE. So what's new here? A sub-$200 price tag for the 5-inch version, touchscreens, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Those three latter features come standard on the 9.7-incher, and are optional on the smaller two. Look for them in October from less-than-$200 to $350, or until someone else comes out with a $99 reader.

[Via Crave]

[rock99rock @ May 14th 2008 2:31PM]

Wow, its like the palm III never died. Just supersized :)

[Farris @ May 14th 2008 2:40PM]

I swear I saw "Astak" and read it as "AssTech."

[Brian @ May 14th 2008 4:12PM]

I do that all the time...I am such a lazy reader.

[Scott Culp @ May 14th 2008 2:42PM]

Like the $199 Eepc?? I'll believe it when I see it.

Press releases with pricing mean nothing until units are on the shelves!!

[Harkonian @ May 14th 2008 3:27PM]

I don't really think the barrier to entry for these devices is the price so much as the lack of titles. Until I can get any book on this device that I could get at B&N or Amazon it doesn't make sense. If I want an eReader, I want to be able to use it for _all_ my reading, not some small subset of titles.

[weg @ May 14th 2008 2:43PM]

It seems that this thing is able to display PDFs without converting them. If this feature works reasonably well, this is enough reason for me to buy this gadget.

And here's an argument from the Astak homepage that is so striking that nobody will be able to resist buying it:

"Parlez Vous Francois?" never looked so good!

*g*

[oGMo @ May 14th 2008 3:13PM]

But can you search? And is it displaying PDFs with layout or just the text? Both are critical for reference material.

[John Stracke @ May 14th 2008 3:37PM]

The Sony Reader can show unconverted PDFs, too. I've tried it.

[Superevil @ May 14th 2008 2:47PM]

Enough of this black and white screen crap, I'd like to be able to see my PDFs of Hustler and High Society in full color thank you.

[chay @ May 14th 2008 3:57PM]

with the added benefit of a wipe clean screen

[BoiNuge @ May 25th 2008 9:24PM]

You'll want a FLEPia, then.

[Backwards People @ May 14th 2008 2:53PM]

And that Astake homepage - by the way - is the reason most people are turning off Flash.

With Flashblocker going, I visited the website, got some good info on their products. Looks like some good stuff.

I tried the same website with IE7 and it was flashing all over the place. I wonder if these people even use the websites they create? Flash is a technology, it does not mean the graphics should be flashing in your face. *end of rant*

[Boarderwoot @ May 14th 2008 3:09PM]

Jeeze, I got so excited about the way you described their website as
if when I clicked on the link I would slip into a flas induced
epileptic seizure. How sad I was to discover the truth. Your mom's
myspace page is more visually intense than their vibrantly colored
banner ads.

[Wwhat @ May 15th 2008 8:23AM]

I think a majority of people support your rant, but we are powerless (except for flashblock/scriptblock)

[Xepol @ May 14th 2008 3:09PM]

Or if you already have a good cell phone - load mobi onto it for nothing extra.

And if you don't, chances are that someone will try to give one to you for the cost of signing a 3 year contract with them.

Me, I am still waiting for credit card pushers to start giving away 1 gb mp3 players just for signing an application. I figure its gonna start happening with in the next year.

[RikF @ May 14th 2008 3:49PM]

Good luck reading on your phone. The advantage of eink is that it is much easier on the eyes than a backlit phone screen. Plus of course the much longer battery life.

[Harkonian @ May 14th 2008 3:29PM]

These devices are targeted at replacing books and newspapers, not color magazines and comics.

[Harkonian @ May 14th 2008 3:31PM]

The above comment was in reply to Superevil.

Seriously Engadget. Is it so freaking hard to fix the reply bug? It's been there forever. It's generally reproducable. Fix it!

[carlwf @ May 14th 2008 3:31PM]

Kindle still owns, if only because of the EVDO connectivity. Being able to download a new book, or the Wall Street Journal, without being plugged into a PC or having to be within range of WiFi is my favorite feature.

[min @ May 14th 2008 3:57PM]

How does this compare with the reader? http://www.someonespoilme.com/gift-review/sony-prs-505sc-reader-digital-book-silver/

[Armen @ May 14th 2008 4:04PM]

The 6" model looks exactly like Bookeen's Cybook :|

[BoiNuge @ May 25th 2008 9:29PM]

They look the same probably because they came from the same OEM. There's also a rumor flying around that the manufacturer of the screens is pushing for cheaper devices and is pissed of at Sony et. al., thus explaining the price differences.

(Don't ask me how electronics importation works. I just buy the crap.)

I might as well note that the grayscale levels depend on the controllers that are installed on the devices. A custom controller can produce up to 16 levels while others produce 4 or 8.

[Xepol @ May 14th 2008 4:10PM]

Rikf -> Not a problem, do it all the time. Battery time? Again, not a problem - after all, if the cell phone isn't broadcasting a strong radio signal, it can last quite a while (and I can charge my phone from pretty much ANY usb port)

Also enjoy reading on my yp-p2, also USB carge-able.

[Atanas Boev @ May 14th 2008 4:44PM]

sub $99 = One E-book reader Per Child.

[Stephen Lang @ May 14th 2008 5:03PM]

Maybe we are finally starting to see some economies of scale on eink screens. The Sony 505 is a nice device, once that is under $200 then I might be a real prospective customer.

Now we just need Blu-Ray player prices to drop as well.

[Unknown @ May 14th 2008 5:37PM]

If it doesn't support PDF, it will go in the sh*tpile withe rest of them...

[izuker @ May 14th 2008 5:43PM]

The 6" device looks like a rebadged Bookeen Cybook, which currently sells for $350 + shipping.

[Stan Winsome @ May 15th 2008 4:54AM]

Very cool- if only Amazon had done their Kindle in color and with WIFI from the get go- not too mention half the price they'd have had so much more than a niche market item.

[Chris Johnston @ May 15th 2008 7:14AM]

"Parlez Vous Francois?" never looked so good!

... am I missing the joke? All I see is a mis-spelt "Français". Hmm. I feel left out.

[stromm @ May 15th 2008 7:46AM]

I use a Tapwave Zodiac 2 for reading books. Not much else anymore though. It has a great 480x320 color, BACKLIT screen. I can fill 2 SD cards with books in just about any format including PDF.

The screen is crystal clear, even when auto-scrolling. I can easily adjust the brightness so I am able to read in bed while the wife is sleeping.

The form is small enough to hold easily in one hand and put in a pocket when done. It's not heavy at all and I get at least 12 hours of reading with the backlight at 50% and auto-scrolling enabled.

Here's my problems with ebook specific devices.
1. Too large. Contrary to what non-ebook readers may think, one does not need "book size" screens. There's this wonderful thing called scrolling (even auto-scroll). Also, font sizes can be changed, so don't tell me the text is too small.

2. No backlight. ??? Ok, so the "e-paper" is good for power saving, but it also means that you need plenty of ambient lighting. Not good for reading in bed.

3. Limited formats (usually). Many times you have to use a specific provider or go through a converter to get your old books on it.

4. Cost. WAY to expensive. These should cost less than $150us. Especially when their books cost $10/each and are locked in format to that device. What happens when the device is no longer made - We won't be able to use those books.

5. Too complex. They need to make just simple book readers. I have my WM6 cell phone for everything else. I don't need BT, WiFi, EVDO, Music, etc. Just give me a card reader, USB port and user replacable battery.

[Wwhat @ May 15th 2008 8:25AM]

I never had much trouble reading books (look it up) in bed, and they don't have (-get ready for a shocker-) backlighting.

[Walt @ May 15th 2008 9:13AM]

I have a Tapwave Zodiac sitting on my nightstand for exactly the same purpose. Will move up to the XPERIA when that comes out.

[Wwhat @ May 15th 2008 8:26AM]

So does the cheap one have a real e-paper display or is this again a cheat with a B&W LCD?

[Jan @ May 23rd 2008 1:23PM]

As stated earlier, this type of eink/epaper is not a screen. It will not replace monitors, it's purpose is to serve as an alternative to ordinary paper.

Although backlight is not an absolute requirement for primitive function, an LCD display does need backlight to be readable at normal levels. And with much ambient light, sunlight etc - its almost unreadable without strong backlight. Thus, to stay readable the backlight needs to be "on" continously, largely limiting battery capacity. Again, causes much strain on eyes. And, when battery is empty - the unit is useless.

E-paper doesn't work this way. It's like paper - in utter darkness you can't read it - just like any other paper. But with ambient lighting, or sunlight - it just gets more readable. It does not cause more strain on eyes than an ordinary book of same font size. Power requirements are very low - as it only needs power to "change page". When battery is empty, the last "page" viewed will continoue to stay "on screen".

WiFi, bluetooth, mp3 and such might not be neccessary for some - but then again, it does not come standard with any but the 9,7 inch model. Don't want it? Don't buy it. With todays growing WiFi coverage, it could greatly improve usability for the unit without the need for modifications. For instance, getting the local paper directly to your E-book on the go.

Handling TXT, PDF, RTF, HTML/CHM, BMP, JPG, GIF and MP3 without needing converting - should make the unit cover most needs. I'll be getting one of these, but who knows when they'll be up for sale in Europe.

[tourinio @ May 31st 2008 8:27AM]

Is it so difficult to make an 8-inch color e-book reader that can handle pdf?
I don't need windows ce or mp3 player or wifi in this device. And I don't care if I have to charge it every 2 days. Enough with the black-white readers..Do we leave in the 1950s?