Main > Main Forum

New Electric ICE Trackball Ver 2 - Announcement - GroovyGameGear

Pages: << < (12/31) > >>

RandyT:


--- Quote from: edge on February 06, 2008, 08:34:13 pm ---Are these balls heavier than the original Electric Ice ball?

--- End quote ---

Yes.  They are the same weight as the stock, opaque white ball, which is heavier than V1.  The version 1 ball weighed about the same as a stock translucent.

Performance is identical to the stock, opaque white ball


--- Quote from: patrickl on February 07, 2008, 06:04:40 am ---Do these balls show any color when lit during the day?

--- End quote ---

Absolutely.  See the first post.  As I'm sure you know, taking a photo of a light source is extremely tricky.  The darkening of the surroundings was done by the camera, which needed to have the light sensitivity adjusted down to keep the ball from overpowering the sensor.  That makes the areas surrounding it appear darker than they were.

These are the best balls you will find for this application.  I am not overstating this :)

RandyT

ahofle:


--- Quote from: RandyT on February 07, 2008, 10:28:56 am ---These are the best balls you will find for this application.  I am not overstating this :)

--- End quote ---

 :laugh2:
You so should have constructed your product announcement like this (minus the semi-NSFW stuff):
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33772


FrizzleFried:

...can someone post a comparison of the old ball vs the new?



RandyT:


--- Quote from: FrizzleFried on February 07, 2008, 11:42:46 am ---...can someone post a comparison of the old ball vs the new?

--- End quote ---

Yes, please do :)  They should be be in the hands of quite a few folks at this point.

I also would like to make a comment regarding a somewhat derisive post made in reference to V1 in a different thread, by patrickl.

V1, like version 1 of anything, was the best product it could be at the time, given the circumstances surrounding the development of a new "niche" product.  It was the first of it's kind ever, so we had to take a huge chance on our investment in the product.  I searched very hard for a ball made of a material that could be tweaked a bit in manufacturing to provide good functionality, but also one that didn't require us to spend many thousands of dollars on a product for an untested market.    I heard "impossible" or got huge price quotes from so many manufacturers that we were fortunate to be able to provide what we could.  Based on the majority of positive comments and the quantity we have provided, it's difficult not to think that V1 was a great success.  Even so, I never stopped looking to improve it.  Now that we have a solid indicator that the market is ready for such a product, we found a reliable manufacturer and have invested those thousands of dollars, making the product even better.  It also comes as no surprise that our lead is once again being followed after doing such. 

The fact that we were finally able to source these superb new items from a high quality U.S. manufacturer is just icing on the cake.  High profit for GGG on the balls isn't as important as the ability to establish a relationship with the manufacturer in the way of more orders, which helps to keep them and their employees around for the next time.  Something that is not "a given" considering the current state of factory jobs in the U.S.

These are the reasons why it is important to me that the V2 upgrade to be affordable to all who purchased V1.  V2 is the version I would have liked to have offered from the start, but it just was not possible at that time.

On another note, about 4 weeks ago I developed a new trackball mounting method, during the design phase of an upcoming control panel product that we hope to bring to market soon.  It is a "high-ball" installation for a 3/4" panel that requires only a few pieces of special hardware and a template (no mounting plate).  If you have a router, a drill and the the most rudimentary of skills with them, you will be able to install your EI trackball cleanly and with no big, ugly mounting plates or carriage bolts.  Only a small round bezel (in your choice of color) around the ball itself.

The kit will be inexpensive and will be available as soon as I can finish the prototypes.

RandyT

Level42:

Randy, good that you responded to that. I think Patrick should have mentioned that in this thread and not in the one about Andy's new balls. But I figure he thought you'd read it anyway there....

If you buy a product, there often is a mention in the manual that the manufacturer reserves the right to change or improve the product. If I buy a certain product now, I can bet that there will be an improved version in the near future. That gives the buyer no right to anything. This is just how it works in real-life.
Instead, Randy offers a very fair deal on the replacement for V1 buyers and I think that's a great thing. Shows how he thinks about customer satisfaction etc.

I hope we can keep this thread to talking about the product however !!!!!!




Pages: << < (12/31) > >>

Go to full version