Seems like if there are additional costs the responsibility is on the shipper.
Fixed.
If only that were the case. It's not my opinion that the keyboard was fully working and ready for mass production in February but the developers - "Long story short, this all means that now we’re ready to produce the keyboard, case and ship them over to get the Next assembled and sent to the backers."
This is possibly the one and only time a real case like this can be made for a spectrum. It's better to get the job done right if you can. However the main issue has been key responsiveness. There's no question it can be fixed up but the problem is the zx next project is tiny and is at the bottom of every supplier's to-do list. It can take weeks for a supplier to even look at a reported issue.
I absolutely agree with that. My POV though is that some of these reported "issues" are entirely down to the choice and hubris of the developers rather than necessary changes in order to turn a non-working product into a working one.Alcoholics Anonymous wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 5:27 am It can take weeks for a supplier to even look at a reported issue.
Update 43 had photos of the "real thing", not sure what a video would add to that.Bizzley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:46 pm
I think a Youtube video or two of that finished keyboard, the completed case, those super glossy keys, heck even one of the "almost there" prototypes that have been announced in the last few months would go down a treat. Nothing Hollywood, just a minute or two of footage so those of us who actually paid for it can get a hint or two of what our money has bought (sorry contributed.) Apart from a video from June last year showing the (now outdated and incorrectly coloured) case components that's it, there are more videos of people showing off their custom-created Next cases than there is of the official plastics.
For starters we could see how it looked in real life rather than in carefully lit, posed and photographed shots. We could see if it still had those awful feet, the kind that always break on PC keyboards. We could see how things have changed in the last 8 weeks since those photos were posted. We could see how the shiny, sharp glossy keys actually looked after being handled (not well if the photo you reposted is anything to go by, just look at the scratches, marks, uneven top edge and hair visible on the Number 3 key.) We could see how well peripherals plugged in, get a better idea of the keyboard response, how easy the opening and closing of the case is going to be.
Seems a bit OCD.Bizzley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 3:27 pmFor starters we could see how it looked in real life rather than in carefully lit, posed and photographed shots. We could see if it still had those awful feet, the kind that always break on PC keyboards. We could see how things have changed in the last 8 weeks since those photos were posted. We could see how the shiny, sharp glossy keys actually looked after being handled (not well if the photo you reposted is anything to go by, just look at the scratches, marks, uneven top edge and hair visible on the Number 3 key.) We could see how well peripherals plugged in, get a better idea of the keyboard response, how easy the opening and closing of the case is going to be.
But perhaps more importantly we could actually see video of an "almost ready" case, keyboard and PCB assembled and working rather than just being told it does month after month.
That's some of what I think a video would add.
Maybe...I don't see it shipping by end of 2nd quarter as they said...it's about 5 weeks on the boat/customs etc. Even if it shipped tomorrow that would only leave 4 weeks for getting everything else together, assembly, testing and so on, and that assumes SMS even have a window open to do it all, I'm sure they are not sitting around doing nothing till the NEXTs cases show up.Bizzley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 5:41 pm It's all immaterial anyway, shortly we'll know for certain about everything. Because sometime in the next 10 weeks time a completed, boxed, no problems fully manualled Next along with with a spanking new firmware and all those stretch goal games will be coming through my door as promised.
Won't it?
The lead time is very short on the manuals. They won't be printed until just before they are needed to avoid having to pay storage costs.
I've got a spare bedroom, and my attic is only half full, so if they need somewhere to store a few boxes of manuals until they're needed then I reckon I could do it for them for a fiver. Or a pint down the pub.Alcoholics Anonymous wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:39 pm The lead time is very short on the manuals. They won't be printed until just before they are needed to avoid having to pay storage costs.
Most people's homes can't support 3500 lbs or so of material unless it's on a floor directly on the ground. If you're willing to pay for insurance (there won't be money to do it again) and then deliver on the day, all is good
I can vouch for this. I work in publishing and can confirm that the manuals (even big, chunky, spiral bound ones) can be printed, bound and shipped to SMS or wherever for packing in just a couple of days. It's the one thing about the Next that doesn't worry me. The hardware manufacture, whipping from China and final assembly - that is the bit that I'm more nervous about given how far behind schedule they are on this. Having backed for a fully-specced unit, in hindsight I wish I had gone for a dev board and then put it in a rubber keys case.Alcoholics Anonymous wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:39 pmThe lead time is very short on the manuals. They won't be printed until just before they are needed to avoid having to pay storage costs.
That's good to know.chrisgreen wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 5:03 pmI can vouch for this. I work in publishing and can confirm that the manuals (even big, chunky, spiral bound ones) can be printed, bound and shipped to SMS or wherever for packing in just a couple of days. It's the one thing about the Next that doesn't worry me. The hardware manufacture, whipping from China and final assembly - that is the bit that I'm more nervous about given how far behind schedule they are on this. Having backed for a fully-specced unit, in hindsight I wish I had gone for a dev board and then put it in a rubber keys case.Alcoholics Anonymous wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:39 pm The lead time is very short on the manuals. They won't be printed until just before they are needed to avoid having to pay storage costs.
From the Specnet website expo page - "our wonderful backers who got to see a prototype cased Next for the first time"