We got a plan!
Geez, another newspost already? Has something changed?
Yes, definitely :)
Thanks to a reply in the last newspost, we found a company which can do the bare CPU board within 5 days. Seems they got one special machine which can do that, as that speed is not common. It costs about 1500 EUR more, but we save 5 weeks which can be used for further testing - AND demonstrating the Pyra at the GamesCom!
Nikolaus already finished the CPU PCB layout, over 1000 traces have been laid. I received the final case design yesterday, with the last small changes we had, so that should be finished now as well.
So... it was time to create the final plan.
And here it is:
1. Early prototypes. --------------------
6 PCBs will be created before GamesCom. These will be used for testing and debugging purposes. Two of them will be shown at the GamesCom, completely assembled in printed cases (except for the keymat, which won't be ready at that time). After the GamesCom, when we also get the keymat, some of them will go to low-level devs to help with the hardware integration. Maybe I'll even sell one or two - but they will be a lot more expensive than the final unit. We will also test whether Pandoras audio circuit (which is still optionally included in these PCBs) will be needed or not. We'll also recheck the lead time of the Wifi Module - or change to a slightly bigger one (which can be done without Pandoras audio circuit) which is available within one month.
With those working prototypes, it's also time to start the preordering.
2. Pre-Production run ---------------------
When the last issues of the case and PCBs have been fixed and they are confirmed to be working, the moulds for the case will be made and PCBs will be ordered for a pre-production run.
The pre-production run will be produced under mass-production conditions - meaning: The same companies producing the final product will produce the hardware. This is to test, setup and tweak the machine and make sure everything is ready for the mass-production (remember the Pandora? That was the video I made shortly before christmas, the one where I looked like a dead Zombie in the end).
About 20 units will be produced here. Some will go to more devs to ensure we got a good software library to start, the rest can be bought as pre-production units.
3. Mass-Production ------------------
When the Pre-Production run has succeeded, parts will be ordered for the mass production, based on the amount of preorders we got. Those parts will probably take 2 - 3 months to arrive, and then it's time to mass produce, build... and ship it to you guys!
Some more information about pre-ordering: -----------------------------------------
As mentioned, a prepayment needs to be made. Not the full price and we'll try to keep it as low as possible.
Quite a few customers have asked how they can use their iControlPad2 voucher they got from Link and their Pandora voucher if they didn't get the Pandora yet: I will discuss that with Link and we'll find a proper solution. No worries, you WILL get the information before preordering starts!
Thanks for supporting us - and have a nice weekend :)
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