tema ([info]tema) wrote in [info]optimus_project,
@ 2007-03-27 01:05:00
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Bad News and Good News
Bad news come just after the CeBIT - our OLED manufacturer has some serious financial troubles and is not able to deliver displays at all. That is really bad, because we have to search for a new factory and spend some three months making new OLEDs.

Good news is that we will start tooling processes without waiting for the displays to arrive. This way we'll be able to insert OLEDs into the keyboard case with electronics (which is a bit risky - displays could be bigger or smaller or whatever, so potentially we can face additional retooling charges which are big) and stay within our schedule.

Anyway, our managing/engineering team is already on Taiwan. They will send us some news which will let us figure exact date for starting pre-orders (est. April) and shipping (est. December this year).

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[info]nuns_islander
2007-03-26 09:34 pm UTC (link)
OLED manufacturing - is it complicated? Can you organize your own production line?

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[info]xydoi4ert
2007-03-27 08:33 pm UTC (link)
???? try to do it yourself. you will see.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-26 09:42 pm UTC (link)
what about Samsung SDI

(Reply to this)

Lost Money on OLED Tooling?
[info]redheadedguy
2007-03-26 10:21 pm UTC (link)
Were you able to get any money back on OLED tooling from the manufacturer or was that lost in their financial troubles?

(Reply to this)


[info]davethegr8
2007-03-26 10:22 pm UTC (link)
That really is terrible. Good luck finding a new manufacturer.

(Reply to this)

OLED is easy ...BUT...
(Anonymous)
2007-03-26 11:43 pm UTC (link)
@ nuns_islander...

OLED is quite easy to manufacture, and can be inkjet-printed onto substrates including flexible ones.

Only problem is all the Organic OLED chemicals are patented, and to enter into manufacturing with these chemicals requires huge IP investments. Nothing's free.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: OLED is easy ...BUT...
[info]sockatume
2007-03-27 12:25 am UTC (link)
Also bear in mind that it would involve tooling up, hiring and training staff, and establishing a QC system, management etc. for a process which frankly I don't think design firms really do. All of which adds time, money, and inertia (they would be doing OLED production until the hardware and staff paid for themselves, regardless of the Optimus' success) to the product and the company.

From what I've picked up, they're outsourcing the production of the various components of the Optimus, and the assembly of the final unit, to specialists, with Art Lebedev (apologies for sp. if I got that wrong) responsible for the design and prototyping side.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: OLED is easy ...BUT... - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 03:44 pm UTC
OLED is easy ...BUT...
(Anonymous)
2007-03-26 11:43 pm UTC (link)
@ nuns_islander...

OLED displays themselves are quite easy to manufacture, and can be inkjet-printed onto substrates including flexible ones.

Only problem is all the Organic OLED chemicals are patented, and to enter into manufacturing with these chemicals requires huge IP investments. Nothing's free.

(Reply to this)

Coincidence?
(Anonymous)
2007-03-26 11:54 pm UTC (link)
Is it just me or does it seem a bit fishy that just after CeBIT and re-hyping the keyboard you would throw up yet another issue? Maybe there never was a manufacturer.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Coincidence?
[info]sockatume
2007-03-27 12:27 am UTC (link)
They were honest about the use of renders throughout, their far-from-popular temporary switch to monochrome OLEDs, the cost of the machine, and many other things which have caused them PR headaches. I doubt they'd start inventing things at this late stage of the game.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 04:31 am UTC
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 04:55 am UTC
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 09:53 am UTC
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 12:31 pm UTC
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 12:17 pm UTC
Re: Coincidence? - (Anonymous), 2007-03-28 03:04 am UTC

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 04:47 am UTC (link)
"This way we'll be able to insert OLEDs into the keyboard case with electronics (which is a bit risky - displays could be bigger or smaller or whatever, so potentially we can face additional retooling charges which are big) and stay within our schedule."

I really don't understand something here. You pay for the manufacturing and then wait three months like an imbeciloid until the party is completed and your contractor pompously and finally lets you observe how the FIRST Oled they made looks like? Would a much better idea be to have the first sample done A.S.A.P. and then check if it fits the tooling hole right away?


Also...
Do you work with the companies that don't have fucking RULERS? DAmnation, ask them to go to the nearest school and ask the kids to where to get them one! Fucking metric system has been invented three centuries ago!!WHat THE HELL IS GOING ON?!!!!!!

"Anyway, our managing/engineering team is already on Taiwan. They will send us some news which will let us figure exact date.."

DREAM ON! They'll go to the very group that screwed you, naturalize Taiwan's citizenship, and the former workers// local mafia/karate association will work such diabolical tricks upon you that YOU'LL BE WALKING TO THE TOILET WITH YOUR CAPS LOCK ON.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 12:33 pm UTC (link)
haha. this is something an undergrad student can do in two quarters as a final project. competence is really lacking in this company

(Reply to this) (Parent)
I call BS
(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 05:25 am UTC (link)
This is exactly what I expected would happen, and firmly puts this product back in the vaporware category. I just wish I understood how anyone was profiting from this scam at this point. It seems the pre-orders is where the money will be made...THEN another problem and *poof* everyone's money will vanish.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: I call BS
(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 08:07 pm UTC (link)
its not like the optimus is the only source of income for the lebedev group. they do many other projects for many different people...

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 06:01 am UTC (link)
Sorry to hear this. Good luck ....

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I don't call BS
[info]replaysmike
2007-03-27 06:42 am UTC (link)
These guys already have a few products out and they're good. Anytime you come out with a product this innovative, especially when your not a huge company, troubles will come hard. Let's face it, the parts they need aren't available at your local OLED shop. Tooling is expensive $$$

I'm here rooting for ya, one because I totally want one (for xmas would be awesome, though I dont expect you will actually make that deadline), and two I'm hoping I can buy stock in the near future :)))

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: I don't call BS
[info]markusk
2007-03-27 07:38 am UTC (link)
@replaysmike:

YOU ARE RIGHT!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: I don't call BS - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 12:09 pm UTC
Re: I don't call BS - [info]markusk, 2007-03-27 05:43 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 06:53 am UTC (link)
What is 'tooling', anyway? And why is it so expensive?



(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 11:06 am UTC (link)
its the machinery & "tools" required to make the parts. it is expensive because you generally want as close to an automated system as possible to keep the costs down, but at the same time the initial investment of such a system is big $$$

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 12:19 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]markusk, 2007-03-27 05:45 pm UTC
Re: What is Tooling - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 04:52 pm UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-28 02:56 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 06:56 am UTC (link)
What you idiots who keep bashing this project don't realise is that there is no project like this which has complete transparency with the developers/designers. This stuff happens all the time, you just dont have it announced because the company doesn't want people to know all of the hurdles they have had. Stop coming to this blog if you think it is bullshit, you dont have to waste your time here.

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 07:13 am UTC (link)
imagine that a girl in chat sends you her photo, you take an inst like in her, smashing your current wife with a hammer, saving money for the wedding ceremony and then finally it turns out that that girl who were chatting with was in fact tema and her beautiful face is a computer hydrid of his daugter he's only planning to conceive!! this is how we feel!!!!!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 07:22 am UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 08:57 am UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 09:59 am UTC
Smashed your keyboard - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 06:49 pm UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 12:23 pm UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-27 02:21 pm UTC
(no subject) - (Anonymous), 2007-03-28 12:57 am UTC

[info]zhff
2007-03-27 08:14 am UTC (link)
This Maximus is really difficult child.
Keep overcoming!! :)

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 12:27 pm UTC (link)
overcome what? overcoming is when they actually release the product. there the keyboard has not even near being a final product. all they do is make posts to hype it and come out with excuses beyond their control to delay the project. whatever, i hope the keyboard craps out on you in the first week. but i guess it's good for the company, since half brain consumers like you will always buy crappy products.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 11:17 am UTC (link)
Sounds a bit like what went on with West Racing, doing a game for the PC. Some 8 years ago (although they seemingly still work on the product).
Giving too much insight into what's going on raises a lot of expectations, and when some or most of those don't get delivered in due time, you get a lot of flack. May be better to lay low for a while and do the hype when you've got something to show. Easier for your own rest. :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 12:41 pm UTC (link)
why are you trying to help them? it's better to see them fail.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 12:13 pm UTC (link)
i don't care what people say, you guys are doing a great job. but now that you lost your oled provider, i think you should just delay it for another year. these suckers, i mean faithful followers, are still gonna buy anyways right? just delay it again and add another $1,000 to the price tag to make up for your "losses." by losses, i mean the effort you spent hyping up a nonexistence keyboard.

oh also, you need to keep hyping this up every other week. optimus could only gain from more publicity.

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haha this is funny
(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 12:39 pm UTC (link)
look at their pictures here: http://www.artlebedev.com/studio/

notice how the first is a fat stoner, the second looks like a convict, the their is a freaking one eyed pirate, fourth is a bear, and the fifth one looks like he's recovering from a car accident. umm no wonder they can't release a damn keyboard on time.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: haha this is funny
[info]floatingpoints
2007-03-27 01:08 pm UTC (link)
lolz, and look at this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

He looks so funny, I'll bet he'll never amount to anything.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: haha this is funny - (Anonymous), 2007-03-28 02:07 pm UTC

[info]threepineapples
2007-03-27 01:13 pm UTC (link)
I find it amusing that 90% of posts bashing Art and the optimus are from anonymous users. There haven't been this many anonymous users since the B&W LCD thing :P

Looking on the bright side, by the time we actually get to buy the keyboard it might be cheaper because OLEDs manufacturing will "hopefully" come down in price :)

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 04:40 pm UTC (link)
Why wast our time registering just to point out what everyone but you guys sees?

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Setbacks
(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 03:00 pm UTC (link)
Hey, a project isn't a project without any setbacks... ESPECIALLY IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY!!

ps - if you dont have a deadline to meet involving millions of dollars with one customer, dont make the unneccesary expenses.

Good luck and keep up the good work!!

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 03:04 pm UTC (link)
Good luck guys,
hope you'll overcome production difficulties

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 04:36 pm UTC (link)
instead of talking alot of sh*t like some of you guys doing here, Tema and the team actually do something and trying to get this product done. I respect what these guys doing

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-28 06:42 am UTC (link)
Agreed.

Some of the AP's above should really learn to STFU and be thankful that Artemy even shares news with us. Most projects of this caliber are developed under closed doors...

Some of these people really are clueless as to how H/W manufacturing actually works.

Oh well, it just seems like most of the "haters" simply want to see someone "fail" because they couldn't do anything with their own pathetic lives.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2007-03-27 04:45 pm UTC (link)
Indeed bad news. I hope you are able to find a new supplier. I just hope it doesn't affect the price too much. But who knows, in the end it might be a tad cheaper after all.

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(Anonymous)
2007-03-28 02:09 pm UTC (link)
Sorry to hear that, keep it up guys!

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[info]adaptorix
2007-03-28 03:09 pm UTC (link)
Hi, Tema!

Happy to meet with you during CeBIT 2007!

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[info]obox
2007-03-28 03:15 pm UTC (link)
It's interesting what the company can't deliver displays for keyboards for 1490 USD?

(Reply to this)

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