Has mass production started?

[DJO]

Ergo I think Dr. Janko misspoke.

He also said he thought there's a market for 10 million of these beasties, at the current rate of production that'll take 1,500 years to roll out of the factory.Personally I reckon there's a market for no more than 250,000 assuming they can get them to market.
They need to increase production by a factor of 100 to stand any chance of success.

[andrewl]

Planet will need to schedule in a production slot with the factory to have their Geminis manufactured.
Let's say, for discussion, that the next production slot for Gemini begins 26th March (there has been some indirect suggestion that it will be around then).
So all components need to be ordered in, be checked and ready to start, including keyboards.  
Assuming they use the same production workers from the previous run, and they are mostly already trained.

So, depending on how much line time they have in the slot, perhaps another 1000-1500 Geminis are produced, which then go through the delivery logistics process, being delivered over a 2-3 week periods. How far up the order number list will be fulfilled for this is not easy to know, because most orders are 4G upgrades and accessories - each one of these takes one order number.

Then the same cycle will start again around the end of April.

[salvomic]

Ergo I think Dr. Janko misspoke.

He also said he thought there's a market for 10 million of these beasties, at the current rate of production that'll take 1,500 years to roll out of the factory.Personally I reckon there's a market for no more than 250,000 assuming they can get them to market.
They need to increase production by a factor of 100 to stand any chance of success.

I agree!
For the present backers at that rate of production probably they will deliver the 6000-8000 orders not in April but in May or June...
If there will be more backers the time increases and so on...
A not pleasant condition. I do hope they would plan something to solve.

Salvo

[speculatrix]

I think Planet will have to play the long game, to prove that there is a real market for this type of device.
The last time I recall a new phone-like device going on sale with a keyboard was the Samsung Galaxy Relay:
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_r...g_t699-4914.php

If Samsung and the carriers had achieved enough sales, I'm sure there would have been a follow-up.

The UMPC market also died.

I think we have to accept that while we hope there will be a keyboarded-device revival, it's always going to be a niche market.

[salvomic]

...
I think we have to accept that while we hope there will be a keyboarded-device revival, it's always going to be a niche market.

yes, indeed!

[Rahab D]

... I risk to will have a perfect Gemini for August!  

But how much we can definite a niche market?
10.000 pieces are nothing for a device that have a small group of dealers.
Also the Blackberry Passport was a product of a niche market, but .... whit 700.000 pieces.
 
We are so far from be a niche: also this game is open.

[Alius]

I think Planet will have to play the long game, to prove that there is a real market for this type of device.
The last time I recall a new phone-like device going on sale with a keyboard was the Samsung Galaxy Relay:
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_r...g_t699-4914.php

If Samsung and the carriers had achieved enough sales, I'm sure there would have been a follow-up.

The UMPC market also died.

I think we have to accept that while we hope there will be a keyboarded-device revival, it's always going to be a niche market.

I had a similar device released about a year prior, and used it as long as I could manage, the Samsung Captivate Glide: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i927_capti..._glide-4071.php

I love(d) my Psions and hope that typing on the Gemini will be every bit as satisfying as my 5mx (hopefully even more so while standing, rather than at a desk or on my lap, because of the new hinge design that is more like the 3a/3c, albeit the Gemini has sturdier material).  That said, I was infinitely happier doing texting and email on the go with the Captivate Glide device (despite its lackluster keyboard) than I am with my current screen slab phone.

Obviously I am not alone, and wish the best for all of us and for Planet as well!  *waits impatiently for the next batch*  

[depscribe]

I agree!
For the present backers at that rate of production probably they will deliver the 6000-8000 orders not in April but in May or June...
If there will be more backers the time increases and so on...
A not pleasant condition. I do hope they would plan something to solve.

Salvo

Based on the new video today the orders on hand comprise, in total (I believe including those already shipped), about 4200. Let us hope that there is some improvement on the ~800 every other month, because otherwise it will be early winter before everyone gets theirs. My sense is that they're kind of renting factory time, perhaps on an as-available basis, though this is surmise on my part.

[andrewl]

Based on the new video today the orders on hand comprise, in total (I believe including those already shipped), about 4200. Let us hope that there is some improvement on the ~800 every other month, because otherwise it will be early winter before everyone gets theirs. My sense is that they're kind of renting factory time, perhaps on an as-available basis, though this is surmise on my part.

It's more than a surmise, it's confirmed on the IndieGogo comments page.

The assembly/manufacturer production time has to be scheduled in between other clients and all components need to be available and operatives trained.
I don't think Planet are going to be one of the bigger accounts.