The market for eReaders is an active one, as by last count, more than 25 companies have commercialized their eReaders. These devices have their respective advantages and disadvantages, and the consumers are sorting them out.

Astak, a subsidiary of Team Research Inc., a San Jose, CA-based flash memory and security device group, is among the companies making headway in the eReader market. The Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO 5” is taking on the more well-known entries in the field, including the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble nook and the Sony eReader, by offering convenient features and a relatively low price point ($199, which makes it the first device to break the $200 barrier). The Pocket PRO 5 has eight levels of gray scale. The company also offers its the 6-inch EZReader Basic, which has four levels of gray scale, but has the larger screen.

Bob Barry, director, global eBook and security camera business development for Team Research Inc., noted that Team Research had made its mark in areas as diverse as memory, flash devices and security cameras, all of which helped in the development of the Astak EZ Reader.

“We brought a lot of our technology over to our eBook readers,” Barry said. “Because we made memory and flash, it was a very easy transition. We worked with E-Ink on the technology, which we then manufactured with our partners in China and Taiwan.”

The Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO 5 was first introduced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, and Barry said it received much positive attention.

“The Pocket PRO 5 is a very unique, very good product,” he noted. “The reviewers said it was a wonderful device.”

One aspect the Pocket PRO 5 does not have is wireless capability, but Barry said, “The target audience did not show a need for that aspect, as a simple USB cable from your computer gives you a permanent library.”

“The reality is that most people don’t want wireless features,” he said. “We focused on these consumers, and it has worked out really well for us.” Barry added that a wireless model is in the works.

Barry said that the Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO 5 has a number of advantages over its competitors. At 5.8 ounces, it is lightweight, and it fits in a suit pocket or a clutch purse. It holds up to 8,000 eBooks as well as music.

The Pocket PRO 5 comes with a crush-proof leather case and ear buds at no additional cost, and also offers a host of convenient features that Barry said most other eReaders do not have.

“We created three different setting buttons to turn pages,” Barry said. “Most eReaders have their buttons on the right side, which is not easy for left-handers. We set up buttons on the right and left sides, as well as on the bottom, and added a scroll wheel on the right as well. We also put in a text and speech feature, which a lot of other eReaders lack. Then we added Text-To-Speech (it reads to you), MP3 music (plays while you read), an SD card slot to easily expand memory, eight level gray scale screen, and a User-Replaceable rechargeable battery. We did not scrimp on features at all.”

“We utilize 20 different formats on the Astak, while many leading devices only use one format,” Barry noted. “That gives readers the ability to purchase books from more than 400 websites, and we have Adobe Digital Editions from DRM or EOUB and PDF. Our eReader displays in 26 languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, which is also unique, as most eReaders only use a handful of languages.”

Barry is bullish on the future of eReaders, and he pointed to the environmental advantages of these devices.

“White paper is not natural,” he said. “Tree pulp has to be bleached, which creates paper mill sludge, which has 32 known carcinogens. eReaders don’t contribute to landfills, and our rechargeable batteries last up to 8,000 page turns, which averages out to two weeks for most people.”

Barry pointed to the trends for eBooks, as sales revenue has shot up from $4 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $38 million in the second quarter of 2009, as an increasing number of eBook apps and millions of titles become available.

“What effect are items like the Pocket PRO having on the public?” Barry asked. “Those who only scoffed before are seeing they must have one. They are light, fast, hold an entire library, and even read to you. From an environmental standpoint, people are realizing that they make total sense, and they give a better reading experience.”

Interested people can see and purchase the Pocket PRO in six colors at www.theEZreader.com. Astak will open its own eBook website for purchasing eBooks at www.MyEZeBook.com this week.