P2 Console System Idea

[Chris Savage]

P2 Console System Idea

This thread on the Parallax Forums reminds me of where things really went wrong with the company back in 2016. I've seen this whole discussion years earlier about the P1, yet it never really happened. Even the development of the P1 and the subsequent design of the P2 seemed to nearly put Parallax out of business. I mean, the company appears to be a shadow of its former self. So many people were laid off by the end of 2017 (myself included), that I am shocked they're still in business.

I don't really use Parallax products anymore, although I have purchased little things like pluggable wires, hardware and even anti-static foam blocks. But the BASIC Stamp and Propeller MCU line, as well as the accessories have all gotten too expensive, have almost no support, and I honestly question how long they can stay afloat with the current business model.

EDIT: Update, the voice of reason!

[granz]

I don't know about the voice of reason. The way that I read it is that Chip designed a board (I wasn't able to see what it was for - just another P2 dev board?) but didn't know who he had designed it for (my biggest trouble too.) When Ari asked who the customer would be, Chip asks if anyone else could answer that question!?!?

Chip is a lot like me, lots of engineer, not enough businessman (ironic considering my degree in business. )

[Chris Savage]

I don't know about the voice of reason. The way that I read it is that Chip designed a board (I wasn't able to see what it was for - just another P2 dev board?) but didn't know who he had designed it for (my biggest trouble too.) When Ari asked who the customer would be, Chip asks if anyone else could answer that question!?!? Chip is a lot like me, lots of engineer, not enough businessman (ironic considering my degree in business. )

I think part of the problem from way back when is feature-creep. Ever since the P1 the forum has voiced what they want to see and over time there have been delays because of changes. It was so bad on the P2 that the cost of making this MCU forced the company to lay off more than half the company. Meanwhile many products were discontinued and the forum participation virtually vanished over the course of a year. Look at the profiles of some of the popular people, many of who used to be on Savage///Circuits as well. Most haven't been online since 2016 or thereabouts. I remember when the Parallax forms was the busiest forums I was aware of. All those people were customers, potential customers, and referrals to Parallax products.

Then it seemed like the initial design of the P2 was scrapped and rebooted at some point. The design presented is a concept at this point. But Ari had a good point, I thought. This post indicates that there is a question as to the direction of the design. But if it will be a product, it is important to know who the target customer is, especially when the forum members are a big part of the design process (changes via feedback / suggestions).

This is just my opinion, but considering what the P2 cost the company (I'm referring to what was lost), I'm just wondering how long they can hold on without widespread adoption of the technology. It's a legitimate concern, especially considering what it cost me. 

[granz]

With the loss of a lot of the people on their forum, there is less input for the feature creep. So, in that way this project is protected from that type of damage.

And, yes, it is important to determine their market. Without that, Chip is just playing around- my trouble too.