Hi.

This may sound completely stupid, but I really wonder if it would be possible to have say 500-1000 empegs manufactured by SonicBlue/somebody else, if someone (might even be me) came up with the necessary money. I mean, if SonicBlue drops the MkII, why shouldn't someone else step out, buy the design and keep producing them?
I do know that the machines would have to be re-tooled as the old molds etc. are worn out, and I do know perfectly well that this is an expensive task. However, I really would like to check the possibility to do so. If the numbers/costs should not be disclosed, this is fine with me, I would sign a NDA to get the basic info.
What I would like to know is:
How expensive would the re-tooling be, and for how many units would this be good? I would guess this is something along the 75,000UKP line and good for approx. 3000 units.
How expensive is the production of batches of 500 players, excluding the harddiscs? I would guess this is at about 300UKP per player, plus the shared cost of the retooling.
I am not looking for exact numbers (yet), but I would like to see some estimates for this. I might be able and willig to get the necessary funds, especially if we get the navigation software project going. An empeg with GPS and navigation software would really be a killer for any car. And it wouldn't look too expensive anymore either, as other nav systems are in the same price category and do not contain MP3 functionality (yet), especially not at that quality level.
If someone from SonicBlue/empeg would tell me those estimates, but doesn't want them to be discussed in the open, please contact me by email (preferably at empeg@incase.de).

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

In reply to:

---

I mean, if SonicBlue drops the MkII, why shouldn't someone else step out, buy the design and keep producing them?

---

That's just what I was thinking...

They'd have to licence the player software from SB/Empeg of course (unless they wrote their own from scratch!!).

[edited] Ahh... just seen the post in the Programming forum. Looks like people are already thinking about it.[/edited]

Marcus (beaker)
32 gig (various colours)

Edited by beaker on 28/09/01 12:59 AM.

you wouldn't have to remake molds you could change the style of the face back to like the mk1 or something similar

32Gig MK2 In 2001 VW Golf TDI

Well I happen to know that SONICblue have rather more than 500 - 1000 empegs that they would be very happy to sell to you right now for an excellent price

Rob

Hi.

Sorry, but I wouldn't want to go back to that design. The MkII fascia is far more appealing.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Hi Rob.

You know that I wouldn't want to buy them now, but am rather talking about a continuation of production after they became unavailable through the SonicBlue/empeg channel. But anyhow, If the price is really excellent, please tell me by email (sven.mueller-empeg@incase.de) which exact price we are talking about for a 500 and/or 1000 units' batch of the lowest currently available model (12GB) or even the units without any harddrive at all. It might be tempting anyway.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Sven,

I have passed your enquiry to the automotive product manager. He'll be able to help you both with a quote for existing stock, and the possibility of a future OEM arrangement.

Rob

Hi Rob.

Thanks.
Just as a note to everybody else: This is mainly an enquiry linked to my empeg nav-project. I really would like that to be a success, and I think it would be a possible boost to empeg sales (if the units were still available when it is ready). I will summarize the needs for such a system in the projects section pretty soon I guess.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

You're aware that Kim Salo is some way into a nav project also?

I keep promising to send him some UK map data so we can test out his system over here.

Rob

Hi Smu,


Would you like to have some founds.

I want to say that i will be ready to finance the devlopment of the GPS Nav by giving you some money (me and other people).

It could be reserving in advance the Software.


Is is a good Idea ?


Empeg II - 10 Gb - Red Fascia - 500 Songs -

- I Will Strike From the Grey -

This is what I call customer loyalty! If you can't have a product anymore... PRODUCE IT BY YOURSLEF! This is an amazing place, guys! Wow....

Taym
_________________________
MK II BLUE/RED 12GB #923

Hi Rob.

Yes, I am aware of Kim's project. It has some drawbacks though, and I was not able to get any source or other information from him other than the one that the type of maps he uses is not available for other parts of the world and some other, more discouraging infos like the restriction to use a PDA as the screen for his system etc. I would really like to cooperate with him though, because he already got many parts working that should be reusable for a more general-purpose nav system. Have a look at my post in the projects section this evening (well, actually I hope to get it done within the next 2 hours).

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

I think he had abandoned the PDA and moved to spoken prompts..

Rob

Hi.

I initially wanted to send this via private mail, but I think this is of interest for others, too.

While I would really appreciate some funding to help me getting the nav project started, I think this isn't as good as it sounds on first thought. Personal help would be appreciated a lot more. I will detail the ways people could help on the project section of this BBS soon.

Funding me (or others) in advance would create a lot of pressure on me (or others helping in the project) that I can't take currently, because I am in the middle of writing my diploma thesis (which will take quite a few more month, until approx. march 2002) . On the other hand, it would certainly help to get a few things needed for the project (like a new harddisc, a GPS receiver, some cables, map data etc.).

I'm in a somewhat paradox situation currently: I could relatively easy raise enough funds to run a production batch of 500-1000 MkII units, to sell them over the next few month, but I can barely raise enough funds to get those few things listed above. The reason for this is quite simple: The MkII is a product that is ready for the market (if the market is ready for the product is a different story), but the nav project is just starting, so it is hard to find a sponsor (sorry, don't have the right word in mind currently, but you get the picture).

Oh well: If someone really wants to help funding the nav system project, he/she could send money to paypal@incase.de through paypal, stating clearly what it is for, and to whom I should send a summary of how much money was spent for which items in the project. I certainly don't mind getting some money if this is the only way a person could help, but I strongly encourage you to offer personal help in the project rather than financial help.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Hi.

Cool, I will try and contact him for possible cooperation again then.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Nothing about the Subject :

He Taym did you receive my EMail ?


Empeg II - 10 Gb - Red Fascia - 500 Songs -

- I Will Strike From the Grey -

I'm also quite interested in the NAV project, and I'll help out in whatever way I can (How much do you want? What are your expenses going to be for the project?). I know that getting recent, detailed maps in the right vector format is one of the hard parts for developing a nav system, so if you need test data, my fraternity brother/roommate works in GIS and said he could get me vector maps from the local Sherrif's Department. Using ARCview, he can put them in whatever format you want.
Jason

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

I have suggested this before but i do it again. Maybe you should consider the place of production to be Estonia. I'm sure it's cheaper to produce them in here than in UK or Germany. I'm not able to support this effort with funds but i'm willing to help you with any other way i can. Maybe just doing background search for finding a suitable production plant and doing negotiations with them, or something like that. I think this bright idea of empeg should not die. Actually i would like it to become something like open source universial onboard computing platform, not just one standalone product, don't you see it that way? So maybe later third party companies could make accessories and software for it.

Veiko
veiko@lc.ee

MK1 #317 - 20GB green

Hi Veiko.

Sorry to say this, but the numbers you were giving in some other thread were not suggesting that it would be that much cheaper in Estonia. I will wait for the estimates from SonicBlue first, then I might want to check back with alternate production facilities, but I am certainly not talking about production within the next few month, more about production in a year or two.
If this ever really becomes a "now" issue, I will certainly check back.

For the time being, let's just help SonicBlue sell the stock they have left and get on with developing a navigation system software for it (and probably an open source player, too). BTW: It might be a good idea to get these two projects merged from the start, so that the navigation software is capable of interupting the player software to give instructions to the driver.

cu,
smu

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Hey Sven, where in the Ruhrgebiet are you living? I'm in Duisburg. May be able to help with the Nav project a bit ...

(list 6284, Mk1 S/N 00299 4GB blue [for sale]. Mk2 S/N 080000094 26GB blue)

Hi Derek.

I'm living in Dortmund, but currently work in Münster most of the time.

cu,
sven

proud MkII owner (12GB blue/green/smoked, was #080000113 is #090001010)

Sorry to say this, but the numbers you were giving in some other thread were not suggesting that it would be that much cheaper in Estonia.

The numbers i gave was about getting metalwork of 1 single sled made, i was not talking about production, it was just a guess. If you make several units, of course the price per 1 unit is much lower, and if you will make 1000 units or so it will be only a fraction of this. I guess rob misunderstood me. It was just answer to somebodys clame that you can't make the sled by jourself under $120 or something. Don't remember the discussion exactly. I don't know prices of production, i just assume that they will be lower than in most of the Europe.

My friend got his car back from repairs today. He had a little crash to the cars back end. There was a cut in the metal from fuelling hole to the rear light,like you can see from attached pic. I costed him 1500 EEK = 96 EUR to repare. That was the price for metalwork and the paint job. Isn't it cheaper than the same work would cost in your car service?

Of course i'm not saying that producing a car player and repairing a car could be compaired. Just the labour is cheaper here, i think it has to make a difference.

Veiko
veiko@lc.ee

MK1 #317 - 20GB green

I could'nt post the pic. Here is a link
Veiko
veiko@lc.ee

MK1 #317 - 20GB green

Edited by veixl on 29/09/01 03:12 AM.