Phantom Lapboard Delayed

JamesO writes "The unique keyboard and mouse combo finds a manufacturer, but slips from its Q2 release date." From the article: "Infinium Labs' Phantom game service may never see the light of day, but at least something positive will come from the project in the shape of the system's keyboard and mouse combo. What makes the Lapboard interesting is that it features a keyboard that can be angled upwards to reveal a surface on which a mouse can operate. This means the device is perfect for use on your lap (hence the name) and ideal for those who no longer sit at a desk when using their PC."

Comments

Shocked.

[Thanatos]

I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

I never would have guessed....

[Total_Wimp]

that this would be delayed. Just goes to show that even a fine company like this can make its share of time-to-market mistakes. I just hope it comes out in time to play Duke Nukem Forever. I couldn't envision playing the game any other way.

TW

Re:I never would have guessed....

[elrous0]

Last I heard, Atari was looking to use this keyboard/mouse setup on their new "Atari 26000" console. I hear they optimized "E.T. 2010" to really make the most of it.

-Eric

Wait a minute...

[geminidomino]

Something's jabbing into my gums...

MOOOOOMMMMMMM! Did you put a fishhook in my PB&J again?

Don't Worry

[American AC in Paris]

Given Infinium's track record, I'm sure this is just a small bump in the otherwise smooth road to an exceptional and decidedly existent product.

Re:Don't Worry

[spezz]

Given Infinium's track record I wouldn't be surprised to see their CEO wrap his Ferrari around a tree.

To Infinium... and Beyond!

[Orrin Bloquy]

Cut them some slack. It takes a lot of R&D to make a lapboard truly cheeto-proof.

Re:To Infinium... and Beyond!

[Austerity Empowers]

I'd think in lapboard design, particularly with Phantom exec's being what they are, cheeto's are the least destructive substance to contend with.

More phantom coverage???!!!!

[techstar25]

They say there is no such thing as bad publicity. The /. editors much be on Infinium's payroll.

Re:More phantom coverage???!!!!

[Tolookah]

yeah, they are, but it's a commission job...

Re:Thanks for the update!

[AKAImBatman]

Somehow I missed the earlier posts on this fine peripheral! I hope they got a patent on this. It's going to take over the world!

Exibit A: An Infinium Shill trolling the message boards, just as they promised in their financial briefings. Cool, huh?

Damn,

[MrCopilot]

Damn, Where can I cancel my preorder?

They seemed so reputable.

chances are

[radical_dementia]

Probably when this thing is actually released we'll be plugging our computers directly into our brains and won't need something as primitive as a mouse and keyboard to play games.

Sales to Geeks

[JabberWokky]

At this point anything the company releases with their logo on it will have instant sales to any geek who either collects videogame consoles or just likes esoteric hardware. It's the equivalent of a car collector owning an Edsel or having a dinner plate from the Titanic.

--
Evan

Clue me in

[Opportunist]

After reading some (and watching it fly over my head).

Is that akin to the "emacs or vi" flamewar on a core level progger scale?

Re:Clue me in

[Eideewt]

No.

(I find myself predisposed to one-word comments these days.

Re:Clue me in

[porcupine8]

Not at all. Because, see, emacs and vi actually exist, and so people can argue about which existant text editor is better *cough*emacs*cough*.

Infinium has been claiming for some time now to have a new console in the works, appropriately titled the Phantom. There is little to no evidence that this console will ever actually be produced, but they put out "updates" on it now and then, and have even managed to sucker in a new round of venture capital recently. So people are less shocked to hear that another product of theirs is "delayed" than they would be to hear that it's actually in stores.

Blast.

[Thad Boyd]

The one thing from Infinium that I might actually like to get my hands on, and now IT'S becoming vaporware. Oh, and I should probably throw in a reference to Duke Nukem Forever and some sort of stupid comment about how unsurprising it is that an Infinium product would be delayed, because I'm an unoriginal moron and think I'm clever.

Editors miss a fine opportunity

[Lupulack]

This headline could be so very much improved. For instance, "Phantom Lapboard Nowhere to be Seen!"

Or maybe I've been reading too much Fark.com
Your dog wants a trackball!

Odd

[Lord_Dweomer]

Not to troll or anything...but did anybody else find it a bit odd that the whole blurb was basically a press release? In fact, I read the headline, then read the blurb, and had to REREAD the blurb to realize that I missed the first bit about it being delayed. Rather than explain about Phantom and their lapboard, which most of Slashdot is very familiar with...wouldn't it have been more useful to say something...i dunno....maybe about WHY it is delayed?

Since this is basically the Vapourware Company Of The Year, I think most readers would find that info a bit more interesting.

I won't need the desk anymore!

[cryptomancer]

Cool, a *lapboard*! I've wanted to join the throngs of users who don't sit at a desk anymore! Finally I can rid myself of the large, cumbersome desk! ...So after this first offering, when are they going to come out with the hardware for holding my drink?

Spring time for ... Oh Never Mind!

[blueZhift]

OMG! I guess the Producers scenario continues to play out wherein, it may be worse for Infinium to actually produce a real product than to fail outright and liquidate. I imagine there's probably a battle within the company right now between those whose pride demands that they produce something tangible and those who know the probable truth that liquidation is the best way to stay out of jail!

It's really sad because I think this lapboard is actually a good idea. Hopefully they can sell it to someone like Logitech, or Microsoft to at least get this in the hands of gamers.

I wish I had the balls these guys had

[SlappyBastard]

Could you imagine the killing an even slightly harder working group of people other than Infinium could achieve with this type of ballsy venture capitalism?

Re:I wish I had the balls these guys had

[ivan256]

Actually, I want to meet these guys so I can get said venture capatalist's business card.

VC's Still fund em

[Nazmun]

Phantom will be the laughingstock of this community until Venture capitalists realize that phantom is nothing but a black hole.

Invisibility

[blackraven14250]

Not being able to see it is a nice feature, though.

Waiting for a bundle

[9mm Censor]

They are just waiting to bundle it with Duke Nukem Forever...

Anyone else trying to make a Lapboard?

[Xenolith]

Any rumors if a reputable company like Logitech or Razer coming out with a lapboard similar to this?