Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.10.2011)


matzesu

Forum Addict!
Staff member
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
13,010
Age
39
Location
Germany,, Saarland, at home
EvilDragon said:
Whaaaat? Another news post? What's happening, so much to report?

Well, yes. :)
I'm actively working on a lot of things in parallel right now to get things moving.


1. Another visit at Global Components

Yesterday I had another loooong meeting (5 hours!) with Global Components.
We were discussing the production of the Pandora, how to proceed, etc.

The people involved in the meeting were the project manager (with whom I am in regular phone contact as well), the CEO, the parts buying agent and the population machine operator.
We were discussing and making a production plan, when to order what parts, what issues could occur with the production and how to prevent them, etc.

The bare PCB production will be started right away and takes about 4 - 6 weeks, which means: We could do a prototype production run in mid-November (15 PCBs).
I will be there for the whole day and will also do a FullHD video - so you can actually see a Pandora board being populated and born :)

After that, the full series of bare PCBs will be produced which takes another 4 weeks approximately.
So end of December / early January would be the production run with the first 1000 boards.
We are planning to produce 1000 boards per month from then on.

This is a plan - but for that to happen, a few things need to be taken care of:

The parts lying around at CC that were planned for Batch 2 need to be transported to Germany. That's one of the things I'll work actively on from tomorrow on.
The investments need to be done. I'll get the english contract within this week and will send that to the investors.
Then it's up to them to decide, whether they want to invest or not and how much. There's about 650,000 EUR from potential community investors, but you never know how much you'll get in reality.
Also, I don't want to annoy and push any investors. This needs time to be thought through, it's quite a bit of money. When enough money has been confirmed until the end of October and at least 100,000 EUR have been transferred until early November, then the plan will work out. Otherwise, the production will be delayed until the money is there.


These are two important things, and I really hope I can get them done in October. But I'm optimistic here.


2. Investors and funding

I'm not only depending on community investors (though with 650,000 EUR, a few could back out and there would still be enough left), I'm also working actively on getting major investors from my area involved.
I've got a few appointments within the next week as well, so it might be there's enough available without ANY community investors. Those kind of investors that said "Oh well, that's not that much money" when I told them how much I need ;)
Of course, community investments have a higher priority for me :) You all know what the Pandora is about.

So far, everyone who has seen the business plan told me it's very well thought through, which is a good sign.
Even my bank would offer me a loan for the full production - so in case something is missing, I could get a loan from then if needed.
Don't hope that'll be needed though.
But I'm working on various backup plans, just to be sure.


3. Parts, parts, parts

As mentioned, I need to move the parts from Texas to Germany. This will be one of my main priorities right now.
I've also setup a timeline on when to order the remaining parts from where.
I've got leadtimes, and I always add about 1 month to that leadtime so the parts will REALLY be here when needed.

The biggest thing is the order mentioned above from Global Components: The parts we need to order early November, the bill where I have to pay 100,000 EUR in advance.
The remaining investment money has time until a bit later. But that's one of the things I need to work on and hope, enough investors will have signed their contract until end of October.
I'll keep you informed :)


4. Website, Publicity and preordering

Preordering hast started, as you already know.
However, I'm keeping that pretty much internal so far, not going for the big publicity yet.
Many potential customers would go away because it's still a while until the Pandora is really in stock, so we would probably lose them.

Also, I want to work on the website.

My goal is to put all the nice projects on the website, as well as link to informations for users, developers, include a photo and video gallery for user uploads, etc.
Tidy it up, explain to new users, what the Pandora is about, tell them the history, the planned future, etc.

The main feature of the Pandora is the openness and the community - and that's what I want to show on the website as well.

Once that has happened, there will be a few more press releases to gain publicity. After the test production run, I plan on actively raising publicity by contacting various news sites, Linux magazines, giving interviews, etc.
That should be just before christmas and the Pandora shouldn't be too far away by that time. Perfect time to get more users interested :)

Maybe I'll also do a coding competition, where you can win one of the prototypes that is produced at Global Components. Signed by me in the battery compartment.
Sounds like a nice idea :)


Well, that's it for today.
I'll keep you informed about the various processes running in parallel right now, and hope to have good news soon.

I'm working as hard as I can on that, but I really think it's worth it.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them :)

http://boards.openpandora.org/index...an-taking-form-2011-10-05/page__fromsearch__1

Wer es übersetzen will kann es tun, für mich ist das viel zu viel text zum übersetzen..
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r><QUOTE author="matzesu"><s>
matzesu said:
</s>
Wer es übersetzen will kann es tun, für mich ist das viel zu viel text zum übersetzen..<e>
</e></QUOTE>

na da will ich <URL url="http://pandora-blog.de/5635/news/the-shape-of-things-to-come/"><s></s>mal nicht so sein<e></e></URL></r>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<t>Vielen Dank, übrigens ist eine gute Übersetzung für "Community" in dem Fall "Gemeinschaft" (und nicht Gemeinde)</t>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r>Soweit hört es sich ja ganz gut an.<br/>
<br/>
Eins verstehe ich aber nicht ganz:
<QUOTE><s>
</s>The biggest thing is the order mentioned above from Global Components: The parts we need to order early November, the bill where I have to pay 100,000 EUR in advance.<e>
</e></QUOTE>

Wieso müsst ihr von GC die Bauteile bestellen? Gehören die nicht sowieso euch? Oder müsst ihr noch für den Zusammenbau zahlen?</r>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r><QUOTE author="Mäh"><s>
Mäh said:
</s>Soweit hört es sich ja ganz gut an.<br/>
<br/>
Eins verstehe ich aber nicht ganz:
<QUOTE><s>
</s>The biggest thing is the order mentioned above from Global Components: The parts we need to order early November, the bill where I have to pay 100,000 EUR in advance.<e>
</e></QUOTE>

Wieso müsst ihr von GC die Bauteile bestellen? Gehören die nicht sowieso euch? Oder müsst ihr noch für den Zusammenbau zahlen?<e>
</e></QUOTE>
Bauteile wie die Sachen, die auf die Platinen gelötet werden. Der ganze Kleinkram, den man nicht so bedenkt. Widerstände usw.</r>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<t>und was hat das mit GC zu tun?</t>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r><QUOTE author="Mäh"><s>
Mäh said:
</s>und was hat das mit GC zu tun?<e>
</e></QUOTE>
Naja, GC brauchen die Bauteile um was Produzieren zu können. GC ist dafür verwantwortlich, die Einzelkomponenten zusammen zu bringen und dafür müssen erstmal *alle* Einzelkomponenten vorhanden sein.</r>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<t>ED hätte bestimmt auch selber irgendwo die Teile kaufen können, aber ich wette GC kriegt aber einen besseren Massenrabatt und gibt diesen an ED weiter.</t>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r>Sorry dass ich so perfektionistisch bin, aber sollte die Überschrift nicht 5.<B><s></s>10<e></e></B>.2011 heißen? Es irritiert halt.</r>
 
Re: Ein Plan nimmt Form an (EvilDragon News 05.11.2011)

<r><QUOTE author="Morchel"><s>
Morchel said:
</s>ED hätte bestimmt auch selber irgendwo die Teile kaufen können, aber ich wette GC kriegt aber einen besseren Massenrabatt und gibt diesen an ED weiter.<e>
</e></QUOTE>

Richtig. Pro Pandora sind 500 Bauteile verbaut <E>:)</E><br/>
Diese beschafft in der Regel der Platinenproduzent, in diesem Falle als Global Components.</r>
 
Also neue Pandys (Batch 2) erst Sommer 2012.
CC wird dir wohl kaum die Teile schicken und dann selbst weiterproduzieren. Das sie sich dann was von der Bauteilrolle abschneiden ist unrealistisch.
Ergo werden die ersten Boards noch für Batch 1 gebraucht und bis die alle aufgebaut und getestet sind dauerts erfahrungsgemäß.
Sorry, das ich mal wieder den Pessimist spiele.
 
Wieso Sommer? ED geht von einem Produktionsstart der ersten 1000 ab Anfang Januar aus. Danach laufen monatlich weitere 1000 vom Stapel. Ist doch geil! xD

Ich bin jedenfalls total happy. Im Sommer kann ich mich dann mit meiner Pandi in eine dunkle, schattige Ecke verkriechen HE HE HE! ; D

Das mit der überarbeiteten Seite hört sich auch ziemlich interessant an. Mal sehen, wann es die ersten gemoddeten Pandis gibt. Es wäre schön sie direkt auf die Seite uploaden oder per Link einbinden zu können ohne den Umweg über ein Forum gehen zu müssen.

Das Video über den Produktionsprozess klingt sehr spannend. Ich freu mich schon drauf ; )
 
stardroid said:
Wieso Sommer? ED geht von einem Produktionsstart der ersten 1000 ab Anfang Januar aus. Danach laufen monatlich weitere 1000 vom Stapel. Ist doch geil! xD
Weil bisher nahezu alles Erdenkliche und auch Unerdenkliche in diesem Projekt auf irgendeine mehr oder weniger schlimme Weise schief ging - und ED und Co meistenteils nicht mal was dafür konnten, sondern zusätzlich mit einem unheilvollen Quentchen Pech verflucht waren.

Ab Februar 2012 werde ich drei Jahre auf meine Pandora-Bestellung aus dem ersten Batch gewartet haben. Solange das gute Stück nicht bei mir ankommt, halte ich mich daher mit allzu euphorischen Erwartungen ob der neuen Pläne zurück. Ich wünsche natürlich trotzdem gutes Gelingen und hoffe das Beste.
 
Fennias Maxim said:
Also neue Pandys (Batch 2) erst Sommer 2012.
CC wird dir wohl kaum die Teile schicken und dann selbst weiterproduzieren. Das sie sich dann was von der Bauteilrolle abschneiden ist unrealistisch.

Die Bauteile für Batch 2 liegen bei CC unangetastet und originalverpackt rum, für Batch 1 werden die Bauteile für Batch 1 verwendet. Da muss nichts abgeschnitten werden.
CC wollte uns selber loswerden, nachdem Craig ihnen mit Klage gedroht hat.
Die Bauteile gehören ihnen nicht, also dürfen sie die auch nicht behalten, sondern MÜSSEN sie herausgeben.

EBV (der Distributor, von dem die Teile kommen), kümmert sich gerade selber um die Rückholung, und CC hat mir auch schon vor einer Woche bestätigt, dass diese Teile unangetastet rumliegen.

Wir haben auch schon die Bauteile für das iCP von ihnen nach Deutschland geholt, und das ging auch problemlos.

CC ist meiner Meinung nach mit der Pandora-Produktion vollkommen überfordert, das ist das Problem.

Die iControlPad-Produktion lief in Deutschland eigentlich auch genau nach Plan, die Deadline vom Werk wurde um eine Woche unterschritten.
Wenn das Investmentkapital bis 1. November zusammenkommt, sind wir im Zeitplan mit der Pandora.
 
EvilDragon said:
CC ist meiner Meinung nach mit der Pandora-Produktion vollkommen überfordert, das ist das Problem.
Baut CC nicht auch das Beagle Board? Davon hauen die doch aber Tausende raus und so viel einfacher als die Pandora ist das Ding sicher auch nicht. Ich vermute, die geben der Pandora einfach keine Prioritäten.
 
Tausende? Wo gibts denn tausende BeagleBoards?

Ich denke, es gibt davon weniger als Pandoras - denn das BeagleBoard ist wirklich nur was für Freaks... da muss man recht viel rumfrickeln.

Und oft wartet man auf seine Bestellung 3 Monate ;)
 
Infinity said:
3 Monate?
Wenn man bei CC direkt bestellt?

CC macht das nicht direkt, CC verkauft über DigiKey.
Im Moment sind 25 auf Lager, aber wenn es keine mehr gibt, kann das dauern...
 
Back
Top