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Subject: 
Re: Service pack 5111 - Wires - no longer available
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics
Date: 
Tue, 3 Sep 2002 18:05:32 GMT
Viewed: 
848 times
  
I just decided to post a "everyone please calm down" message when yours came
through.  I am pleased that someone, somewhere, moved to stop the alarm.  Of
course, I wish I knew what they said!

There just isn't a lot of evidence that MindStorms is going away.  There is
evidence that a new one is coming.  But unfortunately, it is already
September, and it doesn't appear that it will be coming this year.
Literally every article and mention of the MindStorms speaks of its sales
far surpassing expectations.  While we like to knock the bean counters who
make decisions, I don't think they have missed a money-maker like
MindStorms.  I hope that they also didn't miss the failures of the
microScout sets (and RDS), as evidenced by their fire-sale pricing, while
the RIS held its price for a very long time.  The latest apparent
clearancing of sensors and such may just be clearing the decks.

In this particular case, I would not be surprised to see a new connector.
The 2x2 (by 2/3) is a pretty bulky thing for small robotics applications.  A
1x1 or Technic pin or axle-sized plug would be nicer.  They don't really
have to be concerned with compatibility for their main market, so this all
seems to fit, so to speak.

--Jack Gregory


"John Barnes" <barnes@sensors.com> wrote in message
news:H1vGr7.3pE@lugnet.com...

To follow up on my initial post;

I have received information from LD today which indicates that Mindstorms
and other sundry 9v bits and pieces are not in immediate jeopardy. (Wipes
brow...)

Quite what has happened to 5111 is still a mystery. In the short term, I
will investigate the other options, such as Pitsco. They don't have a
picture of 970041 on the website but it is in the catalog and it seems to • be
three of the very short wires which is of no use to me unfortunately. So I
will have to settle for 2 wires for $13.50 which is $3.38 per end, until • the
fate of 5111 becomes clear.

So, on balance, I'm upbeat about the news that Mindstorms will be around • for
a while. The representative from TLC who was at BrickFest to provide an
introduction to Spybotics went to some length to indicate that Spybotics
should not be confused with Mindstorms - "it doesn't say Mindstorms • anywhere
on the box" he pointed out. I hope this means that whatever TLC may have • up
its corporate sleeve for Mindstorms in the future remains true to the same
philosophy - "look, its the new Mindstorms, it doesn't say Spybotics
anywhere on the box!".

... and that we'll still need 9v wires to hook it all up with.

JB


I was very upset to discover that LD have withdrawn 5111 worldwide, when • I
recently tried to place an order for more.

Please note that this puts an end to 3rd party sensors :(

I had asked LD to be polite enough to email me a warning that they were
going to do this and they had verbally agreed to do so. They did not! I • am
disappointed that they could not have extended me that simple courtesy.

JB



Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Service pack 5111 - Wires - no longer available
 
To follow up on my initial post; I have received information from LD today which indicates that Mindstorms and other sundry 9v bits and pieces are not in immediate jeopardy. (Wipes brow...) Quite what has happened to 5111 is still a mystery. In the (...) (22 years ago, 3-Sep-02, to lugnet.robotics)

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