eDGe inventories almost completed dried up

Regardless, I think it is telling that these critical supplies are out of stock. To me, it indicates that the sale of a company or the release of a new product are not on the horizon.

I'm not sure I understand your comment, Dr. T. If the company is being acquired with the intent of continuing operations, then one would expect the buyer to want enTourage to continue pumping out widgets (assuming cashflow isn't an issue). If the buyer is buying the IP (intellectual property, such as patents), then sales wouldn't matter and the buyer would probably encourage enTourage to clear out all inventory. If a new product release is on the horizon, then clearing out old stock is definitely highly desirable; i.e., flushing of stock suggests a new product release (in a well run company).

Originally Posted by jsfiller

Oh that was bad!

I thought it was inspired!

Originally Posted by borisb

I'm not sure I understand your comment, Dr. T. If the company is being acquired with the intent of continuing operations, then one would expect the buyer to want enTourage to continue pumping out widgets (assuming cashflow isn't an issue). If the buyer is buying the IP (intellectual property, such as patents), then sales wouldn't matter and the buyer would probably encourage enTourage to clear out all inventory. If a new product release is on the horizon, then clearing out old stock is definitely highly desirable; i.e., flushing of stock suggests a new product release (in a well run company).

Ah, I see. I was thinking that if the company wanted operations to continue, the lack of supplies is worrying. In addition, if a new device is on the horizon, my assumption was that it would still use wacom-type styli, thus the lack of those was concerning. Good points, though, and I apologize for my confusion.

If they're switching to capacitive touch screens on a new product, the old styli wouldn't be needed for them, but they'd still need to stock them for all existing customers... In any case, enTourage has run out of stock on various items, including the eDGes themselves, in the past, so it's not necessarily a problem. Usually within a couple of weeks they came back into stock in the past.

This could also be a very clever marketing plot designed to make us rush the store and buy up everything. *slinks off to buy an extra battery*

The AC adaptors for both sizes appear to be in stock now as well as EE batteries, but I don't even see a listing for the stylii.

While I do think something is up,has entourage ever, I mean even in the early days had a full stock of everything? It took like 3 months after the product first appeared for us to get batteries...

and what's so great about capacitive touch screens anyway? My phone has one and it's not that great... The glare sucks and they can'be used with a stylus. Some of the newer resistive touch screens even support multitouch

They were humming along in late summer up into December with good stock. If something went out of stock at enTourage or a retailer, it came back into stock within a week or so.

Has anyone considered the situation in Japan and the problems that is causing to the electronics industry for the lack of stock?

Inventories were running down and hitting zero before March 11.. It certainly won't help, of course, because enTourage would be something like a Tier 29 customer...

EDIT: If you want a steady supply, the units would have already been manufactured by March 11 and merely requiring shipping and redistribution in the US shortly thereafter. I.e., there's a lead time involved of at least a month I would say, so these supply issues were in the making already at the end of February...

Originally Posted by ivan

Has anyone considered the situation in Japan and the problems that is causing to the electronics industry for the lack of stock?

While the situation here in Japan is definitely affecting the electronics industry around the world, companies affected by it are saying so, i.e. they are communicating with existing and future customers. The total lack of communication by Entourage suggests that something much "bigger" is in the works (like the sale of IP, as above) and they are refusing to talk with existing and future customers. This appears to be much more than a company preparing for a new device, as in a company preparing to shut down operations.

ok...so I am a terrible poet. I was just trying yet another way to communicate my concern about Entourage's apparent lack of action.

Originally Posted by alefor

While the situation here in Japan is definitely affecting the electronics industry around the world, companies affected by it are saying so, i.e. they are communicating with existing and future customers.

Good point. A simple press release would have been expected.

Ok...so what would everyone want Entourage to do that would assuage all fears and concerns? I, for one, would like it is they just issued a statement or press release that explains approximately what is going on. They don't have to give details, but something explaining that they are selling the company or are having difficulties would be appreciated. Heck, we might even want to try to help, somehow!