What electronics do people want?
- Thread starter Darthmagpie
- Start date
ThermalShock
Active Member
So Defstartrooper, I'm a little confused by the excersise of this thread. Are you planning on doing electronics for cheapper than what's currently available? Or are you just rying to get our hopes up? 
Darthmagpie
Well-Known Member
Thermalshock, mostly just trying to get your hopes up...ouch. Seriously though. I am promising nothing right now other than an opportunity.
This offer was presented to me and I in turn decided to go with a project that would most interest/bennefit our community. It could have been new or lower cost. My purpose is not to undercut someone elses product.
I am just listening to the "Voice of the Customer:. The same thing that anyone can and should do.
Yes, tommorrow the guy could say forget it and that would be it. Just asking for input.
Thanks, Ben
This offer was presented to me and I in turn decided to go with a project that would most interest/bennefit our community. It could have been new or lower cost. My purpose is not to undercut someone elses product.
I am just listening to the "Voice of the Customer:. The same thing that anyone can and should do.
Yes, tommorrow the guy could say forget it and that would be it. Just asking for input.
Thanks, Ben
defstartrooper
Sr Member
Yeah its him up there not me its not my thread :confused :lol
:lol
ThermalShock
Active Member
Whoops. Yes that question was directed at Darthmagpie. I wouldn't call it undercutting anyone. It's good to have options. There's no reason why only one person should supply all electronics in this hobby. I cannot afford the higher prices of the current (and only) electronic supplier and I for one would welcome another maker who could possibly offer the same products for a more resonable price.
Darth Domain
Well-Known Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boba Frett @ Mar 27 2007, 08:05 AM) [snapback]1448963[/snapback]</div>
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Here too, one's that's resonably priced
SAME HERE.A real time Vader voice changer would be nice.
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Here too, one's that's resonably priced
GeneralMayhem
Sr Member
I have to agree. Competition is good for the consumer.
Anima
New Member
I'm with Darth Lars, on the versatile sound board. I'd love to see a package with speaker outputs, some flash memory with a USB interface for adding sound files from a computer, and some way to configure the package to trigger different sounds with the tripping of different switches.
A USB mp3 player/flash-drive is halfway there already, but there's no way to set those up to play certain sounds on demand with a single button-press or switch-toggle. Not a problem if there's only one sound, of course. (Maybe a mod kit for a common model of USB mp3 player/drive would be the best way to go?)
Any package like this with versatility would be infinitely more valuable than a package with programmed and unalterable sounds. It wouldn't be cheap, but it would have a huge market. Time circuit sounds, proton pack sounds, stormtrooper blaster sounds, Alien hissing sounds... All from the same unit. Reusable, quick to reconfigure.
Integrating something like this into smaller props would be a problem, of course. The less room you have to work with, the more sound quality you'll be forced to sacrifice. Because of this, I don't suggest packaging this proposed unit with amplification equipment or speakers. That will have to be sorted out on the user's side.
A USB mp3 player/flash-drive is halfway there already, but there's no way to set those up to play certain sounds on demand with a single button-press or switch-toggle. Not a problem if there's only one sound, of course. (Maybe a mod kit for a common model of USB mp3 player/drive would be the best way to go?)
Any package like this with versatility would be infinitely more valuable than a package with programmed and unalterable sounds. It wouldn't be cheap, but it would have a huge market. Time circuit sounds, proton pack sounds, stormtrooper blaster sounds, Alien hissing sounds... All from the same unit. Reusable, quick to reconfigure.
Integrating something like this into smaller props would be a problem, of course. The less room you have to work with, the more sound quality you'll be forced to sacrifice. Because of this, I don't suggest packaging this proposed unit with amplification equipment or speakers. That will have to be sorted out on the user's side.
hyperdyne
Sr Member
Great, another person speaking of "high prices" and wanting some more "reasonable". This hobby is expensive in of itself.
I suggest you go out and make it yourself, then tell me how much you spent on it. Some people just dont understand the costs involved with making custom, low-quantity electronics. And some just wont ever understand. But that doesnt give them the credibility of claiming "high prices". High compared to what, a tank of gas, a bag of bread? I dont see anyone complaining about the 300% markup on some props - gee I wish my margins were that good. :unsure I make a measly amount comparatively, but alas there is always someone willing to cry wolf. Whatever.
Anyway, good luck to you. If you can do it cheaper or better you go tiger. Glad you were able to use me as a stepping stone to prove whatever point you were after. :rolleyes
I suggest you go out and make it yourself, then tell me how much you spent on it. Some people just dont understand the costs involved with making custom, low-quantity electronics. And some just wont ever understand. But that doesnt give them the credibility of claiming "high prices". High compared to what, a tank of gas, a bag of bread? I dont see anyone complaining about the 300% markup on some props - gee I wish my margins were that good. :unsure I make a measly amount comparatively, but alas there is always someone willing to cry wolf. Whatever.
Anyway, good luck to you. If you can do it cheaper or better you go tiger. Glad you were able to use me as a stepping stone to prove whatever point you were after. :rolleyes
ThermalShock
Active Member
Hyper, I'm not here to start a flame war. That's not what I'm about. So I'm going to address what you posted with respect and I hope you will reciprocate.
There is nothing wrong with people wanting/having choices and options. I have no need to "go out and make it myself" as you suggest. And when you say, "..But that doesnt give them the credibility of claiming "high prices". High compared to what..." That's my point, there is no one else to compare with and we're asking for that comparrison. But to think that no-one else can do it just as good and costs less is not realistic thinking. I myself have shown your website to friends of mine who are electronic engineers and they say that it could be done cheapper. But they are not interested in supplying or starting a business to support us geeks hobby. So I welcome the opportunity for someone else to put their hat in the ring and give us an alternative.
And when you say, "...I dont see anyone complaining about the 300% markup on some props -..." I see people complain all the time when the markups are unreasonable. You know that just as well as I. And your margins are your own business, not ours.
I understand this kind of thread can be a little ego-busting for you since you've been the standard of prop-electronics for as long as you have been. And I respect that. But instead of lashing out (like the comments in your last post), perhaps you should be listening to what people are saying. It may be bennificial to your business.
There is nothing wrong with people wanting/having choices and options. I have no need to "go out and make it myself" as you suggest. And when you say, "..But that doesnt give them the credibility of claiming "high prices". High compared to what..." That's my point, there is no one else to compare with and we're asking for that comparrison. But to think that no-one else can do it just as good and costs less is not realistic thinking. I myself have shown your website to friends of mine who are electronic engineers and they say that it could be done cheapper. But they are not interested in supplying or starting a business to support us geeks hobby. So I welcome the opportunity for someone else to put their hat in the ring and give us an alternative.
And when you say, "...I dont see anyone complaining about the 300% markup on some props -..." I see people complain all the time when the markups are unreasonable. You know that just as well as I. And your margins are your own business, not ours.
I understand this kind of thread can be a little ego-busting for you since you've been the standard of prop-electronics for as long as you have been. And I respect that. But instead of lashing out (like the comments in your last post), perhaps you should be listening to what people are saying. It may be bennificial to your business.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darthmagpie @ Mar 29 2007, 08:12 AM) [snapback]1450949[/snapback]</div>
What I've been waiting for in a trooper voice amp is having it completely contained in the helmet. Mic, speakers, amp, power source, etc. If you could do this I'd be thrilled to buy one. The headset look when the helmet comes off has always bothered me.
Just my $0.02.
What I've been waiting for in a trooper voice amp is having it completely contained in the helmet. Mic, speakers, amp, power source, etc. If you could do this I'd be thrilled to buy one. The headset look when the helmet comes off has always bothered me.
Just my $0.02.
TheDisturbance
Well-Known Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ThermalShock @ Mar 30 2007, 08:29 PM) [snapback]1452169[/snapback]</div>
What I don't understand is that you have more then one electronic engineer friend who says they can do it cheaper, but they are not interested. Not interested because they can't compete in price with Hyperdyne? Or not interested because they'll loose their shirts? What's that you say? Your engineer friends can make the same stuff Hyperdyne does for 1000 times cheaper. Yet they don't want in on the action? Did all your engineering friend's win the showcase showdown on "The Price is Right."
Sorry I got carried away. Seriously though. Why are your Electronic Engineering friend's not interested in supplying or starting a business to support a geek's hobby? If they can do it a hell of a lot cheaper then they have the potential to make a bigger profit for themselves and provide us geeks with cheaper products. Everybody's happy. They don't know we'll pay $2,000+ for a glorified paperweight that's bigger then a desk? Are they designing the new shopping cart for hobos? It can't be because they see no money in it.
One time I got a free fortune cookie. It said, "You'll never get a free fortune cookie made out of real gold. If you do don't eat it, because it's most likely painted."
What I don't understand is that you have more then one electronic engineer friend who says they can do it cheaper, but they are not interested. Not interested because they can't compete in price with Hyperdyne? Or not interested because they'll loose their shirts? What's that you say? Your engineer friends can make the same stuff Hyperdyne does for 1000 times cheaper. Yet they don't want in on the action? Did all your engineering friend's win the showcase showdown on "The Price is Right."
Sorry I got carried away. Seriously though. Why are your Electronic Engineering friend's not interested in supplying or starting a business to support a geek's hobby? If they can do it a hell of a lot cheaper then they have the potential to make a bigger profit for themselves and provide us geeks with cheaper products. Everybody's happy. They don't know we'll pay $2,000+ for a glorified paperweight that's bigger then a desk? Are they designing the new shopping cart for hobos? It can't be because they see no money in it.
One time I got a free fortune cookie. It said, "You'll never get a free fortune cookie made out of real gold. If you do don't eat it, because it's most likely painted."
defstartrooper
Sr Member
Just because someone can do something doesn't mean they have the need or desire to do so i could easily bake my own bread for example but i choose to buy it.
his engineer friends could just be making a good a living doing other stuff and dont want to spend their spare time building electronics ?
his engineer friends could just be making a good a living doing other stuff and dont want to spend their spare time building electronics ?
SaberFreak
Sr Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheDisturbance @ Mar 31 2007, 04:55 PM) [snapback]1452231[/snapback]</div>
So when you find an engineer who is willing to make stuff for the geek market, treat him like a God.
Its because they feel its 'degrading' to make stuff for the geek market. Thay don't want their peers and costumers to think they're making 'toys', instead of serious products.
So when you find an engineer who is willing to make stuff for the geek market, treat him like a God.
Darthmagpie
Well-Known Member
Gentlemen, There is something very great going on here :thumbsup and something very very bad :thumbsdown .
The great thing is gathering the voice of the customer. The guys who want electronics(in this case) telling the guys who make electronics, or want to start, what they want. we don't do this enough here in my opinion.
The bad is this buisness with hyperdyne. He is clearly feeling alienated here. I am not sure if it is from me asking what "electronics" people want with the underlying possabilty of taking buisness from him. Or if it is from references that seem or are reflecting on him because (and I guess I now realize) he is the only game in town so therefore it must be refering to him.
I guess first off, you need not tell me/us what you want by explaining why you cant get it now or afford it now. Lets just say with the "I would like...." and leave it there. Again I think hyperdyne would appreciate this and I think everyone can respect this.
Regarding the other, I will tell you the story that led to this and maybe a new understanding will be realized.
I told you all that I started bringing in props on Friday to work. I am sure you all have experienced people asking"does it turn on? does it do anything?....drives me crazy. This engineer always swings by and says you could add a diode here and a IC here and BLAH BLAH BLAH. And i say no thank you. Well, when I brought in my stormtrooper helmet he started playing with it. It has the newer style Radio shack amp, removed from the case an taped inside the helmet. I have 3/4" train speakers in the airators and a cheep mic mounted in the inside mouth area. I can only turn it up half way becuse it feedsback like crazy. So the engineer swung by and told me it sounded like crap. Asked me what I paid. I said something like $100. He said I could help you make somthing much better than that.. I had remembered a thread in which people were saying that they wanted a static burst without doing it with their mouth and explained the application to him. He said we could do that. He asked waht other people do and I said in this price range close to the same thing(correct me if I am wrong here but at one time this was true). I said if you can do that I think others would want it too. So he left and came back excited saying that he had not done anything fun like this for a while(I wish I could impress upon you how good and smart this guy is). He said lets work on a project. I said ok and made a few suggestions(see first post). Then he gave some prices on printed circuit boads. The board is cheap the setup charge is expensive, like everything elso. So I said wait, let me see what others would like.....
If i was trying to compete with anyone it was a Radio Shack wiring wonder :lol . Hyperdine was not in my mind. Please don't say that I am using you as a stepping stone. My stepping stone is an engineer on my left hand and the community on my right. The existance of hyperdine or other or not makes no difference on the three step path I took.
Bottom line...I don't want to have conflict with anyone here, in fact i think this thread is a great resource for electronics guys, not a negative. I understand the frustration but if this isn't going to be civil than I will shut it down. My intentions were true and I just wanted to help people in there enjoyment of this hobby. The look people have on there faces on Friday when I bring something in, is amazing. The better the prop the better the reaction.
Ben
The great thing is gathering the voice of the customer. The guys who want electronics(in this case) telling the guys who make electronics, or want to start, what they want. we don't do this enough here in my opinion.
The bad is this buisness with hyperdyne. He is clearly feeling alienated here. I am not sure if it is from me asking what "electronics" people want with the underlying possabilty of taking buisness from him. Or if it is from references that seem or are reflecting on him because (and I guess I now realize) he is the only game in town so therefore it must be refering to him.
I guess first off, you need not tell me/us what you want by explaining why you cant get it now or afford it now. Lets just say with the "I would like...." and leave it there. Again I think hyperdyne would appreciate this and I think everyone can respect this.
Regarding the other, I will tell you the story that led to this and maybe a new understanding will be realized.
I told you all that I started bringing in props on Friday to work. I am sure you all have experienced people asking"does it turn on? does it do anything?....drives me crazy. This engineer always swings by and says you could add a diode here and a IC here and BLAH BLAH BLAH. And i say no thank you. Well, when I brought in my stormtrooper helmet he started playing with it. It has the newer style Radio shack amp, removed from the case an taped inside the helmet. I have 3/4" train speakers in the airators and a cheep mic mounted in the inside mouth area. I can only turn it up half way becuse it feedsback like crazy. So the engineer swung by and told me it sounded like crap. Asked me what I paid. I said something like $100. He said I could help you make somthing much better than that.. I had remembered a thread in which people were saying that they wanted a static burst without doing it with their mouth and explained the application to him. He said we could do that. He asked waht other people do and I said in this price range close to the same thing(correct me if I am wrong here but at one time this was true). I said if you can do that I think others would want it too. So he left and came back excited saying that he had not done anything fun like this for a while(I wish I could impress upon you how good and smart this guy is). He said lets work on a project. I said ok and made a few suggestions(see first post). Then he gave some prices on printed circuit boads. The board is cheap the setup charge is expensive, like everything elso. So I said wait, let me see what others would like.....
If i was trying to compete with anyone it was a Radio Shack wiring wonder :lol . Hyperdine was not in my mind. Please don't say that I am using you as a stepping stone. My stepping stone is an engineer on my left hand and the community on my right. The existance of hyperdine or other or not makes no difference on the three step path I took.
Bottom line...I don't want to have conflict with anyone here, in fact i think this thread is a great resource for electronics guys, not a negative. I understand the frustration but if this isn't going to be civil than I will shut it down. My intentions were true and I just wanted to help people in there enjoyment of this hobby. The look people have on there faces on Friday when I bring something in, is amazing. The better the prop the better the reaction.
Ben
TheDisturbance
Well-Known Member
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darthmagpie @ Mar 31 2007, 07:00 AM) [snapback]1452343[/snapback]</div>
Ben,
Sincerely...I'm not being sarcastic here. I wish you and your engineer friend the best in your endevours. Fair competition in any field is always good for the consumer. Is your friend aware of Hyperdyne's trooper amp and what it can do? I'm curious to know if he saw it or not. If he did, did he say he can do everything Hyperdyne's trooper amp does for under $100.00. I'm excited to see if he can incorporate everybody's requests: Anti-feedback, voice-modulation, auto static burst, universally programmable, flash memory, USB connection, all inside a self-contained helmet. All for under $100.00. I'd buy one if it exceeded Hyperdyne's quality trooper amps. If your engineer friend can do all that at the $100.00 mark with equal or better quality then go for it. Hopefully your friend finds a way to do it better. I hope he doesn't run into any roadblocks and discover it's not cost feasible for him to do it. Or that he doesn't have the same passion for props that Hyperdyne does. Hopefully he won't eventually be accused of charging to much for his product. Hopefully he'll have the time, interest, and passion to do other projects. Does he even have a passion for props? Because if one doesn't have any passion in what they do it's easier for them to cut corners and compromise. It's the passion that gets you through and makes you do what you love despite what the naysayers say. It's the passion that makes you say it's still worth it when few people think it is. Like it's been said before it's a rare combination to find an engineer willing to make toys for geeks. In addition it's also rare to find an engineer willing to make toys for geeks and be able to put up with the lack of appreciation and understanding for their work. I'm sure you let your friend know what he's getting into though. At least I hope you did. We could use another engineer in this arena to help show everybody that Hyperdyne's costs are jusitfiably fair.
Ben,
Sincerely...I'm not being sarcastic here. I wish you and your engineer friend the best in your endevours. Fair competition in any field is always good for the consumer. Is your friend aware of Hyperdyne's trooper amp and what it can do? I'm curious to know if he saw it or not. If he did, did he say he can do everything Hyperdyne's trooper amp does for under $100.00. I'm excited to see if he can incorporate everybody's requests: Anti-feedback, voice-modulation, auto static burst, universally programmable, flash memory, USB connection, all inside a self-contained helmet. All for under $100.00. I'd buy one if it exceeded Hyperdyne's quality trooper amps. If your engineer friend can do all that at the $100.00 mark with equal or better quality then go for it. Hopefully your friend finds a way to do it better. I hope he doesn't run into any roadblocks and discover it's not cost feasible for him to do it. Or that he doesn't have the same passion for props that Hyperdyne does. Hopefully he won't eventually be accused of charging to much for his product. Hopefully he'll have the time, interest, and passion to do other projects. Does he even have a passion for props? Because if one doesn't have any passion in what they do it's easier for them to cut corners and compromise. It's the passion that gets you through and makes you do what you love despite what the naysayers say. It's the passion that makes you say it's still worth it when few people think it is. Like it's been said before it's a rare combination to find an engineer willing to make toys for geeks. In addition it's also rare to find an engineer willing to make toys for geeks and be able to put up with the lack of appreciation and understanding for their work. I'm sure you let your friend know what he's getting into though. At least I hope you did. We could use another engineer in this arena to help show everybody that Hyperdyne's costs are jusitfiably fair.
WebChief
Sr Member
Why is it such a bad thing for someone to look for a cheaper alternative? Its not about competition for some booby prize here... its about giving people choices.
A perfect example is Fett chest lights. When I was looking to acquire a set for my costume there were two widely available options. One was higher priced, one was lower. Both were great options but depending on your budget, your importance of screen accuracy etc... you had a decision to make. A third option came out and was priced in the middle... that was the option I took. Price was fair and accuracy was good for me.
What's so wrong with a guy trying to do this here without people jumping up and saying that its putting down someone else's work?
If he can make a static burst kit that amplies for cheaper than Product X than that's great for the consumer. If it doesn't do all that Product X does but does some of it... well, that's still a good option for some people.
People here have to stop taking everything so much to heart. This isn't a popularity contest here.
A perfect example is Fett chest lights. When I was looking to acquire a set for my costume there were two widely available options. One was higher priced, one was lower. Both were great options but depending on your budget, your importance of screen accuracy etc... you had a decision to make. A third option came out and was priced in the middle... that was the option I took. Price was fair and accuracy was good for me.
What's so wrong with a guy trying to do this here without people jumping up and saying that its putting down someone else's work?
If he can make a static burst kit that amplies for cheaper than Product X than that's great for the consumer. If it doesn't do all that Product X does but does some of it... well, that's still a good option for some people.
People here have to stop taking everything so much to heart. This isn't a popularity contest here.
