This 9.7″ screen eReader has been ‘about to release’ since 2008. The new date on the website is Q1, 2010.
To be fair it seems they ran into a problem with the flexible screens being too fragile and decided to re-work these fragile screens into more sturdy screens (not a reliable source). The new screens are based on the same technology and they might be flexible or they might not (so very confusing).
The Astak Mentor Pro (or Netronix EB-900) is a collaboration between PVI (which makes the screens), Netronix (this page shows the entire Netronix line) and Astak (they only talk about their existing EZ Reader 6″ device here).
Netronix EB900 / Mentor Pro Features
The features for the 9.7″ Mentor Pro are pretty impressive -
- 9.7″ screen with 1200 by 825 resolution. That’s a screen nearly as big as A4.
- It’ll come with your choice of Linux or Windows CE.
- It’ll come with your choice of a color screen or 16 shades of gray-scale.
- There will be WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
- English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese are the supported languages.
- It comes with 4GB NAND flash memory, 64MB SDRAM and an SD Card slot.
- Two USB 2.0 ports (one of which like the Kindle 2 lets you charge the device).
- [unconfirmed] The touchscreen can only be used with the stylus.
- Plays Mp3 files.
- Here’s a picture -
Netronix Eb900 AKA Astek Mentor Pro
Astak Mentor Pro, Netronix EB-900 Technical Specifications
• Operating System WinCE 6.0/Linux 2.6 OS
• CPU 600MHz
• Screen: 9.7″ with either 16 level grayscale or 26K colors. (The screen may or may not be flexible).
• Supported format: txt, pdf, html, fb2, epub, prc, mobi.
• Supported Image formats: jpg, bmp, gif.
• Accompanying PC Application allows for multiple file format conversions and transfers.
• Power Efficient – Read 16,000 pages on one charge.
• Touch Screen with Touch Input.
• Hand writing note.
• WiFi.Bluetooth/3G Wireless connection
• Dimensions: 10″x7.68″x0.55″.
• Auto adjust screen layout.
At this point the Mentor Pro is hardly a Kindle Killer (it isn’t even available). CES 2010 is when they’ll probably unveil this color, 9.7″ screen wonder, and then we’ll get to see if it’s a threat to Kindle 2 (or perhaps, by then, Kindle 3).
Filed under: eBook Reader Devices Tagged: | astak mentor pro, kindle killer, netronix eb900
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[...] Astak EB-900 with 9.7-inch screen and hoped-for 2010 release date. This item mentions color, though I’m skeptical—at leat as far as Q1. See MobileRead [...]
I like the device but there are few issues which concern me:
1. Why in product which will be introduced to the market in Q1 2010 there is obsolete SD technology instead of SDHC? This is realy needless 2GB memory limitation. What about pdfs with graphics which are more than 50megs each?
2. Why one of the USB is only for charging? Many mobile phones have only one for both?
3. There are WiFi, HSDPA so why there is no web browser there? I do not want to watch youtube, grey scale web pages would be enough.
4. What this device has audio for? There are thousand of devices which does better mp3 and audio books, no one needs 11″ booklet to do it.
5. Bluetooth is only waisting the energy! If I have WiFi, HSDPA I can synchronize my account directly from internet.
So, I want buy this one but maybe the next generation.
cheers
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