Interesting Pixel Qi related tidbit from the MPA Summit

[Abecedary]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

PixelQi hasn't gotten anything into production. We have no idea if they are "above board and honest" yet; or, if they are, whether they can genuinely deliver half of what they claim.

People seem to be missing this point. Yes, Mary Lou Jepsen's ideas did bear fruit with the original OLPC project. However, there are two very important things to remember about that:

One, that wasn't Pixel Qi. Pixel Qi is the for-profit company that MLJ founded after the OLPC project got underway to continue developing the screen technology that OLPC used. So in that sense, it's absolutely true that Pixel Qi has not actually produced anything on their own, and we have no idea how honest and forthcoming they actually are as a company.

Two, the OLPC project ended up costing twice as much as they were aiming for, with the screen being one of the most expensive components. So one thing we do know for certain is that MLJ has a history of seriously underestimating the production costs of her product.

I'm not trying to belittle Pixel Qi in any way. I'm looking very forward to seeing this technology come to market, and I want to see how well it really works. It may very well be the screen technology that is needed in a wide range of products. But at the same time, I'm not buying into the hype about the product, which at its core always seems to go back to either videos or blog postings made by MLJ. I'm trying to keep everything in perspective based on the real evidence out there -- not based on what are essentially press releases and articles by the tech media who have a history of seriously getting things wrong.

[brecklundin]

Abecedary:

Fair enough to point out that the OLPC did cost more than hoped, but to place the blame on the display was not fair. There were many reasons the devices cost more and it went beyond the displays used and their production costs. Other companies pulled out, orders were slow at first and the economy of scale also was not there in the beginning...and other more political issues caused the price increase...it was the major netbook and laptop makers were ticked that there was a device people could buy for under $350 that could do almost everything the might want on the go...in fact at the 2-for-1 deal it was under $200/device...I say that was a win for OLPC.

But that was why I thought twice about mentioning the OLPC program...many simply have a lot of anger directed at the project, which I do not in any way understand...anyone can tear something down, few have the vision and strength of character to see the long term benefit and are willing to contribute in order to make the project a success.

As for finding Mary Lou trust worth....I personally do...she makes no grand promises, she has been very forthcoming on production, the economy and how it has slowed finding production and investors, as well as that there ARE device mfg's who have committed to the tech and display. But going to the boards to design a device around the features of the display will take a solid year at least. She mentioned that the first devices would be simple replace the existing LCD panel with the 3Qi panel adding some sort of switch to toggle the display modes. More advanced devices would follow as the device mfg's gained experience with the panels as well as PixelQi refined their panels in line with mfg's needs.

I just see a lot more positives and up-side to the tech of the 3Qi than any other panels that can be in production tomorrow. remember in the vids posted earlier this year, Mary Lou, talked about the need to convince a current LCD panel maker to produce the 3Qi panels on their current lines. I actually hoped a panel maker would go teats-up so the factory could be scarfed up and setup to produce 3Qi panels...back then they were using just a small test lab of one of the larger panel makers to product prototypes as well as refine the mass production process. All of that is directly disclosed by the people at PixelQi...it's more than we get from other mfg's...I respect that honesty. but I also see others can be more cynical, which btw, I usually am also as cynical, but I dunno PixelQi seems like it makes so much sense it's a no-brainer to become a significant player in the laptop and small device market over the next year...it all takes time. LCD's were slow to take over the notebook market over the OLD school plasma displays but they did...I see the same parallel, though OLED and just plain old LED displays could also be interesting now that full color is possible.

No matter what it's interesting and I feel, worth our support.

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

As for finding Mary Lou trust worth....I personally do...she makes no grand promises, she has been very forthcoming on production, [etc]

PixelQi is full of "grand promises" at the moment. That's why you are praising a company that hasn't sold a single screen to the public yet.

The real question is if the company can actually produce what it claims. Until then, it's your choice to spend (or waste) your time on every tiny PixelQi "tidbit" that hits the press.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

PixelQi is full of "grand promises" at the moment. That's why you are praising a company that hasn't sold a single screen to the public yet.

The real question is if the company can actually produce what it claims. Until then, it's your choice to spend (or waste) your time on every tiny PixelQi "tidbit" that hits the press.

Half empty world for you I see...eh, everyone has one...an opinion I mean.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

PixelQi is full of "grand promises" at the moment. That's why you are praising a company that hasn't sold a single screen to the public yet.

They are nothing but "grand promises" at this point.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

I wonder if I had anything to do with this?

That article starts with...

It's been far, far too long (read: four months) since we've heard a peep from the gentle souls over at Pixel Qi

That, IMO, is the #1 reason why we're hearing from them now. It was time to throw their name into the mix again so that people didn't start to forget about them with all of the other devices being released.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Not that I am disparaging them, but let's face it, hype is very common in tech and is treated as part of the game. Wake me when they have a shipping product that has been put through its paces.

Exactly. The more hype I hear about a company that hasn't actually released anything yet, the more skeptical I am. Pixel Qi has been putting out a LOT of hype.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Exactly. The more hype I hear about a company that hasn't actually released anything yet, the more skeptical I am. Pixel Qi has been putting out a LOT of hype.

And exactly how long did it take for eink to release a device based on their "promised" display tech, which they only had a couple of when it was announced?

How quickly people "forget" or choose based on personal biases...it seems you and others are rooting AGAINST them simply to be "fashionable" and follow the "cool kids"...

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

it seems you and others are rooting AGAINST them simply to be "fashionable" and follow the "cool kids"

It looks to me like it's the other way around. The fanboys who are rooting for them, when they really haven't done anything yet, are the "fashionable" ones basing it all on just hype.

I'm neither rooting for or against (not ever sure why anyone has to pick sides). I'm just saying that so far it has been nothing but hype (similar to a few other companies). It's a little early to be lavishing their device with praises, like some are, when it doesn't even exist yet in the consumer world.

When they actually show something real, I'll make up my mind. I'm not going to crown them kings (or queen) of the ereader world until they release a real product.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

And exactly how long did it take for eink to release a device based on their "promised" display tech, which they only had a couple of when it was announced?

But they actually released that tech at some point, which is when people should have started to make up their minds about them. If there were people out there (I wasn't one) talking about how great eInk was before it was a real product, then they're just as guilty of promoting hype as those talking about how great Pixel Qi is. I don't see your point.

[LDBoblo]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

It looks to me like it's the other way around. The fanboys who are rooting for them, when they really haven't done anything yet, are the "fashionable" ones basing it all on just hype.

I'm neither rooting for or against (not ever sure why anyone has to pick sides). I'm just saying that so far it has been nothing but hype (similar to a few other companies). It's a little early to be lavishing their device with praises, like some are, when it doesn't even exist yet in the consumer world.

When they actually show something real, I'll make up my mind. I'm not going to crown them kings (or queen) of the ereader world until they release a real product.

Like that 1600x1200 Seiko/Epson screen. Too bad nothing has come of that...though the contrast didn't look especially promising.

...or http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/28/h...lay-contender/

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

And exactly how long did it take for eink to release a device based on their "promised" display tech, which they only had a couple of when it was announced?

One of the upsides of this tech is that it is supposed to be able to be manufactured in existing LCD factories allowing it to come to market fast.