Slashdot Mirror
Phantom Lapboard On Sale August 15th
MBraynard writes "No idea when they are launching the actual console, Infinium Labs has announced that in under a month, they will start selling the Phantom Lapboard from their online store. They have even found a partner to help sell the Lapboard in Europe." From the article: "The Company has commissioned Touchwood, a solutions-oriented, technology- based strategic marketing communications firm based in St. Louis, to plan and implement major revisions to the design and content of the [Phantom] website. The website revisions will incorporate direct marketing capabilities including an online merchant store to support business to consumer and business to business transactions with credit card banking services."
When I first tried to view this article, I got the famous "Nothing to see here. Please move along." message. Has this ever been more apropos?
Phantom Lapboard on sale? August 15th. Purchased by me? Never. I don't care how super nifty kewl Infinium makes their products out to be, they're still not getting any of my money.
Thank you, drive through.
"Apparently so, but suppose you throw a coin enough times. Suppose one day, it lands on its edge."
Okay, so I did RTFA. This is a press release that they have a new web designer that's good at ecommerce. Oh, and they happen to need this new website because they've got this keyboard they want to sell. Yeah.
I'm stuck between a healty WTF and a "who gives a shit?"
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
"the Company will launch its online merchant store on Tuesday, August 15 to support the marketing and sales of the Phantom® Lapboard"
So, they announced that they are going to have a website that supports the marketing of the Lapboard. Nothing here actually tells us that they will sell the Lapboard on 8/15, just that they will show us their website.
The whole press release reads like an ad for Touchwood, and certainly has the requisite number of buzzwords, but if you can buy a Lapboard from www.phantom.net on August 15, 2006 I will be very surprised.
Yes, the company's main product may be beaten to the punch by XBox live arcade at best and vaporware at worst, but they found a real problem and attempted to create a real solution. Every wireless keyboard/mouse combo I've ever used is totally unsuitable for gaming while sitting on a couch.
If this thing ever comes out, and it's priced right (under $100,) I'll think about picking one up only because there are no good alternatives. Erm, the lapboard, not the Phantom.
Let's dissect this...
"...solutions-oriented, technology-based strategic marketing communications firm..." Translation: A high-tech advertising firm.
"...to plan and implement major revisions to the design and content of the website." Translation: redesign their website.
"...incorporate direct marketing capabilities including an online merchant store to support business to consumer and business to business transactions with credit card banking services." Translation: Add a web store.
Wow. That is one of the most marketing-driven statements I have seen in a long time. Hurrah to Phantom! They're finally going to release.... Uh... Something.
Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
The purpose of that site was not known.