WayTools' TextBlade Keyboard to Start Shipping to Test Group Users Next Week

[dabigkahuna]

Got a little bit of clarification tonight. Changing the molds for the nano stand (to make them stronger) as well as the keycaps for the same reason is supposed to be done around the end of next week. Then testing the following week.

If you read the prior link I put up, you'd know that there was a considerable problem with the stands cracking. There were a very tiny number of cases (3?) where a narrow keycap cracked.

In both cases, they said they can turn out thousands a day. In the case of the keycaps, they actually said "many thousands". Don't know how many they can assemble in a day, but there was some stuff said recently that much of it is an automated process so that should speed things up.

We do not know how long testing will last if it all checks out, unfortunately.

They are bringing in some new TREG testers. They seem to do this whenever they've made some important adjustments. I think they want new people experiencing these things because the old testers may have gotten into some habits and not catch as many problems.

 

[redshifted]

Got a little bit of clarification tonight. Changing the molds for the nano stand (to make them stronger) as well as the keycaps for the same reason is supposed to be done around the end of next week. Then testing the following week.

If you read the prior link I put up, you'd know that there was a considerable problem with the stands cracking. There were a very tiny number of cases (3?) where a narrow keycap cracked.

In both cases, they said they can turn out thousands a day. In the case of the keycaps, they actually said "many thousands". Don't know how many they can assemble in a day, but there was some stuff said recently that much of it is an automated process so that should speed things up.

We do not know how long testing will last if it all checks out, unfortunately.

They are bringing in some new TREG testers. They seem to do this whenever they've made some important adjustments. I think they want new people experiencing these things because the old testers may have gotten into some habits and not catch as many problems.

My pre-order delivery status has now slipped to Jul-Aug as of today.
Two more months of the gnashing of teeth, burning of witches and summoning of lawyers I guess .

 

[jeremy3721]

Two years later and they haven't finalized the firmware or the hardware.

 

[henry2]

My pre-order delivery status has now slipped to Jul-Aug as of today.
Two more months of the gnashing of teeth, burning of witches and summoning of lawyers I guess .

I'm going to wait to the end of September then I make mind up to ask for a refund or not

 

[SuperMatt]

Start putting in orders now for your Mr. Fusion home energy reactor. It will probably ship before the TextBlade.

 

[dabigkahuna]

Some updates later, there were some delays. They had to make new molds for both the stands and keycaps. Originally planned to be done a couple weeks ago, I believe, but those for the stand didn't come out right the first time and the keycap molds took longer too. So they have just started test shots on stands a day or so ago and are supposed to start them with keycaps today. They said several days to make adjustments during these tests, but then can start producing thousands of full keycap secs a day. That we don't know is whether that will actually happen (assuming the tests are fine) or if there is anything else they will have to deal with first before ramping up.

 

[JSingr]

The company is just a Ponzi scheme. Glad I canceled and was able to get my money back before the collapse. I suggest everyone do the same while you still can

 

[dabigkahuna]

If it were a Ponzi scheme, they would be out advertising it. They aren't.

 

[JSingr]

If it were a Ponzi scheme, they would be out advertising it. They aren't.

No one advertises a Ponzi scheme. You think they survived two years with no product without income? Go ask them a simple question on Facebook or their forums. "How come youre still collecting money from a product with no release date?" Guaranteed you will be banned. Then again no believed it about Madoff either. Live and learn I guess.

 

[Kabeyun]

I just got a forum reply alert. Still hasn't shipped. LMAO! Have fun, Pollyanna Kahuna!

 

[dabigkahuna]

No one advertises a Ponzi scheme.

Of course they do - they just don't advertise it IS a Ponzi scheme.

Have fun, Pollyanna Kahuna!

Pollyanna? I have a TextBlade. It works. Has some quirks to work out but I still prefer it to any regular keyboard I've owned from Apple or Logitech. Has a better feel, I can type faster, and I don't have to look at the keyboard to find the exact number or symbols that are on number keys. Not to mention far less finger movement needed. And being able to connect to 6 devices, switchable in a few seconds, and each can have its own layout if desired.

 

[KaliYoni]

The company is just a Ponzi scheme.

I do not support WayTools' behavior or customer service practices in any way. Even so, what WayTools is doing isn't a Ponzi scheme.

A Ponzi or pyramid scheme uses funds gathered from later victims to pay earlier victims a promised return, in an insidious corruption of a virtuous cycle. WayTools' unethical activity, however, is presenting a speculative transaction or participation in an angel round of funding as the purchase of a product within a month or two of its imminent release.

Sleazy, yes, but in a different way.
[doublepost=1470110091][/doublepost]This post was written on 1 August, which means almost six months have passed since the joint MacRumors and Waytools announcement, WayTools' TextBlade Keyboard to Start Shipping to Test Group Users Next Week, was made.

It is more clear than ever that MacRumors made the correct decision to curtail its coverage of the TextBlade. Continuing to enable WT to exploit MR's reach, reputation, and readership would be folly.


----------
Anybody who has just discovered the TextBlade--or who has become lost in the lengthy bickering over minutia that has come to dominate this thread--should take a look at these links:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads...-users-next-week.1957232/page-5#post-22597429
https://forum.waytools.com/latest
http://www.zdnet.com/article/textblade-update-i-cancelled-my-january-order/
https://www.reddit.com/r/textblade/

In short: do not place an order for the TextBlade. There is no evidence whatsoever that the TextBlade will ever ship to retail buyers; WayTools collects payments upon ordering, not shipment; and there is no guarantee WayTools will be able to provide refunds on demand in the future.

 

[dabigkahuna]

There is no evidence whatsoever that the TextBlade will ever ship to retail buyers

No problem with most of your post, even in areas I don't agree with, except for the above statement. Because when talking about "evidence", I think there have been a number of things, primary at this point being the Treg testing units. We have a bunch of customers who have always been active on the WT forums - often complaining themselves - who have gotten one to test. I haven't seen even one who was critical of the device. In fact, those who have posted about it have raved. A good number have also altered SOME of their critical views - especially seeing why it hadn't shipped yet. They haven't changed their minds about the lack of communication from WT!

Frankly, I've been shocked at the consistency of it. I figured there were bound to be some people who just wouldn't like it. After all, you can't please everyone. Yet so far they seem to have done just that!

If I wasn't a tester myself, upon reading these comments from other testers, I would consider it good "evidence" that it will ship. If I heard lots of criticism and fundamental problems existing, I would be worried. That isn't the kind of stuff I'm hearing - or experiencing.

 

[MentalFloss]

I don't think that they are cheating people on purpose by collecting money for a product they know they will never ship. I think they truly believe this product will ship at some point. They are just suffering from a problem that many developers have who are creating a professional product for the first time: They have no clue how to properly estimate shipping dates, and they have no clue how to bring a product from first prototype to the finished version. So they are not criminals. Perhaps criminally stupid, but that is a different issue.

However, if you check their website, they are claiming that if you order today, they will ship you a Textblade in the week of Sep 25, even though they know that is most definitely not true. That is not stupidity. That is a point blank lie.

I had said before in this thread that I consider this kind of lie to be a "normal" thing of the early access/crowdfunding/Kickstarter age, where everyone has to advertise their products as "nearly ready", or else they feel they won't get any funding. But I have changed my mind in the meantime. Companies who lie like this can only do it because they still get the support from customers like me. Companies lie, but people still buy their products, so hey, it seems to be ok to lie. So ultimately, the customers are the ones who are to blame for the behaviour of these companies.

So I did cancel my preorder. I don't want to encourage this kind of behaviour anymore.

I am supporting quite a few new companies at the moment, and all of them have at some point lied to their customers. And once again, I can differentiate between "Well, our estimates were off by two years due to our lack of experience" and "We know it won't ship in two months, but we'll claim that it will ship in two months anyway." I am sick of these lies, and I will not support it anymore.

I would actually strongly encourage the TREG testers to also stop supporting this kind of company, because essentially, they are doing a job that WayTools should be a doing, a task that WayTools originally didn't even realize would be necessary, and they are also activale supporting and encouraging WayTools' immoral behaviour. But I guess the Stockholm syndrome is now in full force with the TREG testers, so WayTools will not get the kick in the behind that they deserve. Too bad.

 

[Kabeyun]

Of course they do - they just don't advertise it IS a Ponzi scheme.



Pollyanna? I have a TextBlade. It works. Has some quirks to work out but I still prefer it to any regular keyboard I've owned from Apple or Logitech. Has a better feel, I can type faster, and I don't have to look at the keyboard to find the exact number or symbols that are on number keys. Not to mention far less finger movement needed. And being able to connect to 6 devices, switchable in a few seconds, and each can have its own layout if desired.

That's awesome. Enjoy it. I'm sure you've had the typical WayTools customer experience.

 

[dabigkahuna]

I would actually strongly encourage the TREG testers to also stop supporting this kind of company, because essentially, they are doing a job that WayTools should be a doing, a task that WayTools originally didn't even realize would be necessary, and they are also activale supporting and encouraging WayTools' immoral behaviour.

Nope. Don't agree with your assumptions about intent - which is darn critical to your whole view.

But I guess the Stockholm syndrome is now in full force with the TREG testers, so WayTools will not get the kick in the behind that they deserve. Too bad.

Ah, the old stockholm syndrome card. Heard that one before. Amazing not a single TREG tester seems to be immune

But then, there is also the fact that I and others regularly criticism them for things that they are clearly wrong about. Sorry to cancel your meme.

That's awesome. Enjoy it. I'm sure you've had the typical WayTools customer experience.

Of course it isn't typical. But I was addressing the "pollyana" comment. You know, the idea that we are optimistic without cause. But since I've seen and used the device, I have plenty of "cause" to be optimistic.

BTW, people who get their regular orders will logically have a better experience than me since so many problems I dealt with will have been fixed.

 

[Kabeyun]

Of course it isn't typical. But I was addressing the "pollyana" comment. You know, the idea that we are optimistic without cause. But since I've seen and used the device, I have plenty of "cause" to be optimistic.

BTW, people who get their regular orders will logically have a better experience than me since so many problems I dealt with will have been fixed.

I don't care anymore about the product. Pollyanna re WayTools, the misunderstood, upstanding company whose delays are completely reasonable and who are sarisfactorily managing product rollout. Hey, somebody's got to be their biggest fan. May as well be you.

 

[temna]

The thing I don't see is, if they are retooling all these devices, that means they are trashing old parts. And if they are redoing the firmware.. Why can't they ship the devices out, as and issues arise, deal with them after the ship. I think they would get better press and a better community feel if they shipped and proactively supported them after the ship.

 

[dabigkahuna]

the misunderstood, upstanding company whose delays are completely reasonable and who are sarisfactorily managing product rollout. Hey, somebody's got to be their biggest fan. May as well be you.

Nothing quite like making a straw man argument you can then knock down. Reality is that I make all the rational complaints about WT that exist. I just don't make the irrational ones.
[doublepost=1470337967][/doublepost]

The thing I don't see is, if they are retooling all these devices, that means they are trashing old parts. And if they are redoing the firmware.. Why can't they ship the devices out, as and issues arise, deal with them after the ship.

Ultimately it is a business decision - and thus their decision whether any of us agree with it or not. I suspect they don't want a lot of failures out there, even if they will fix/replace them later. Those failures are still going to be bad publicity. We may not agree with where they draw the line, but it isn't our decision.

 

[temna]

Ultimately it is a business decision - and thus their decision whether any of us agree with it or not. I suspect they don't want a lot of failures out there, even if they will fix/replace them later. Those failures are still going to be bad publicity. We may not agree with where they draw the line, but it isn't our decision.[/QUOTE]

This whole product is a failure. And waiting over two years to ship isn't bad publicity? This product is a joke, the company is a joke, and I'm kicking myself for trying to buy it.

 

[henry2]

Think about this one statement why are reworking everything all the time .so was a good product or is there major problems that they seam to not be able to fix

 

[dabigkahuna]

And waiting over two years to ship isn't bad publicity?

Of course it isn't good publicity. But getting lots of bad reviews would be far worse publicity.

Think about this one statement why are reworking everything all the time .so was a good product or is there major problems that they seam to not be able to fix

Well, they aren't reworking "everything", though I can understand why it may sound like it. From my testing experience, I don't know if I'd say there are major problems they don't seem able to fix. Rather, there are little issues that pop up, that do matter and which, typically, they fix quite fast - I've gotten more than one firmware update in the same day! But then some other problem comes up.

Now, it could be viewed as a "major" problem in one way - IF it happens that these little problems are all connected to the basic application of this new tech. It may be that some little issues in magnets that sense is just too finicky to get right every time. I don't say that is the case, but it is a possibility. If so, then you have one fundamental issue which spawns all the little ones.

I thought months ago that this could be an issue - consistency of each and every magnet, how well they maintain their attractive force, etc. But I now know that the TB is constantly adjusting itself - necessary since it may be put down on wood or a magnetic surface. So while it is theoretically still a problem, they are accounting for it. so, for now, I think it is something they are solving.

We are supposed to get an update this week. Based on past experience, that means either late tonight, late Saturday or, unfortunately, possibly waiting for Monday night (because they do a review of things each Monday anyway). Maybe we'll get good news!

 

[henry2]

Then why have they not shipped out on time then by fixing the SoCalled problems in the next genterion of the product
All we know it that they have not or will not ship out on the time they have said they would when you bought your unit from them

 

[dabigkahuna]

Then why have they not shipped out on time then by fixing the SoCalled problems

Uh, I explained in my prior post.

 

[henry2]

No you just keep saying they are working out the problem what is the problem that they are trying fix something that can be fixed on the next generation of the unit or the SoCalled engineering types are over doing it again trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist

My last job was to figure out was wrong with the unit then try and break the living crap out it then go back the engineering types try them this is what wrong with the unit .sometimes the SoCalled peers of the unit being tested was there own worst enemy in the problem