Quote:
Originally Posted by pilotbob
Ok, this is a little suspicious to me. I'm not saying that they are lying but changing the material the shell is made out of a few months before release is not just a major change, it is a monumental change. This means reworking all the manufacturing lines. Getting new material providers set up. Doing CAD/CAM work to create the new shell. Getting it approved. Retraining the manufacturing line employees. New assembly methods and training. Also, don't you have to re-go through FCC certification if you change the case material.
BOb
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Dear Pilot Bob and all:
Our partners in this Astak venture are in Taiwan. They did a test OEM project to see how the units would be received. They sold like crazy and there were no problems reported other than the fact that there were some comments made that as peoples sleeves and skin came across the lower right edge, the paint on the metal started to gloss. It was not a particularly major problem but enough that the OEM wrote back to the factory asking them to solve that problem. Look at the space key on your computer keyboard and you will see that worn and glossed effect (are you aware that computer notebook refurbishers change that space key every time to make the machine look barely used?).
On computer keyboards it is acceptable I suppose. On the Mentor/LiteBook it is not. We addressed this situation with industry experts at IDPF and the BEA show too and they also recommended that we make the switch before release. They also suggested a dictionary, a mountable light, larger buttons, and getting a .pdf format (all things we are doing). SO... rather than shipping out product that looks bad after a few months to make a few quick bucks we did the honorable thing and went back to redesign for a resin plastic solution. It is lighter weight and will solve the gloss problem.
Yes, I am aware that the Mobileread Forum crowd is tired of waiting. SO AM I. I hate writing and saying there will be a delay. But... it is better to delay and do it right than ship and have you comment negatively after it ships. I am emailing today, honestly, to try to set things straight. It is not suspicious or anything else... it is just a sign that we are trying still to do this right. Progress is being made and we will have firm release dates coming up with new pictures and more things you have all asked for.
RobertB