Phoenix project Message #1 Posted by Jean-Michel on 11 Nov 2007, 2:07 p.m.
Hi all,
I read frequently and with great interest most of the threads related to the Open45 project, also know under the name “Phoenix”.
I find the proposal for the project itself and especially the design of the calculator very nice and very appealing.
This being said, it remains something I don’t understand: what are we talking about exactly?
Do we talk about a calculator made by some HP fans :
- for themselves and some others, that means about a few hundreds of persons,
- or for every person in the world who could buy this product instead (or in addition !) of another real HP, that would means several thousands of people ?
If I ask this question, that is because in terms of design of the casing, you sure know that it would be totally different according to the number of products you hope to sell.
If this calculator is only to be produced in few quantities, then moulded plastic parts, that gives the machine its nice and “professional” aspect and contributes mainly in its appeal, have to be forgotten. The price of the moulds would simply be out of reach.
Even if the rest of the project, especially the software, is wonderful, the result (the casing plus the software, the electronic, etc…) will be even if not totally ugly, at least very far from what Pal G. and others have drawn and from some of us are already dreaming about.
Machined aluminium parts, which could be an alternative solution for moulded parts, would also be very expensive.
On the contrary, if this project can be made professionally enough for everything else than, say, the casing and the keys, and if it appears that it only remains to be done an appealing casing to permit to sell it to very much people, then a mass production tool for moulded plastic parts can be used with less fear to loose a huge amount of money.
I hope I haven’t missed something in the previous threads which would answer this question. My personal point of view is the following:
- I’m interested by this project enough to invest, first of all, time to help in designing the plastic parts (if required)
- I would buy the calculator at a price of about US$100 IF this calculator has a nice aspect. This point is very important for me, as much as the capabilities (in term of computing, programmability and so on) of the calculator.
- I have a slight preference for a portrait form factor
Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Jean-Michel.
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