Registered: Jun 2000
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 52

I just came home to find my snail-mail letter from Innogear informing me that the minijam is on back order and giving me the opportunity to cancel. They offered no expected shipping date at all. It's one thing to see that it's on back order when you check your online account. But to get a snail mail apology suggests that there's no hope in sight!
This is a bad sign. What happened? Did millions pre-order --like I did --leaving Innogear unprepared? If I hadn't seen the minijam at PC Expo, I might wonder if it actually existed at all!
Has anyone got any inside scoop on when they might ship? And will the first person to receive one please let us know?
--dianeholly

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 219

diane, I got the letter & I'm really dissapointed, too. I've been waiting for MiniJam really anxiously. I wish they would have explained the cause of delay & expected shipping date....I guess the situation is not very good since they didn't. When did you order yours? I ordered 2 days after I got the pre-order e-mail(7/12). Was I too late to receive the first shipment, or they haven't shipped at all?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Actually, Innogear displayed the MiniJam at Internet World last October. That's how long some of us on VC have waited for the product. Displaying prototypes doesn't really count for much. I wouldn't recommend ordering the MJ to anyone that expects it to be shipped in the next two months.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 52

taki: I pre-ordered around the same time you did. I'm dying to hear from the first person who actually receives one.

gameboy: I had no idea! Was the Internet World device actually working? I was eagerly awaiting mine because I held and touched a fully functional device at PCExpo and I figured they had a warehouse full of 'em ready to send out. Now I know better!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

I don't know. But I do remember a post from Innogear on these board from late last year describing the MiniJam having "great" sound, so presumably that comment was based on a working model.

VC's Internet World coverage doesn't make any mention of the MiniJam in operation.

To clarify: Innogear announced the MiniJam in September and displayed it at IW a month later, claiming it would be out in Q4 1999, then it was Q1 2000, then "Summer" -- a deadline which I doubt they'll make.

Innogear claims that worldwide component shortages, due to the high demand for cell phones, are the reason for the long delays. Many springboards and other consumer electronics products are behind schedule this year for the same reason.

[This message has been edited by Gameboy70 (edited 08-13-2000).]

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

I too have been anxiously awaiting the Minijam player. I preordered on July 11th and, according to the folks I talked to last Friday, the product is supposed to ship by the end of August. They sounded pretty positive that they were going to make the deadline.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: planet earth
Posts: 55

I got the letter also! still waiting. My order number is in the 1600 range I don't think they could have made less them 5000 or so on the first production run, so its not A BACKORDER its a not READY YET!!

Come one Innogear we are waiting!!!!!!!!!!!

Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, Ohio 44067
Posts: 242

I think InnoGear has been playing us all along. This stringing us out a couple of weeks at a time is just a ploy to keep us from buying a stand alone.

As much as I believe they have wanted to get the unit out sooner, I don't believe they didn't know their timelines were going to be impossible to meet.

They tell us 3 weeks, we say, 'Oh, I can hold out another 3 weeks". Then four weeks later they say "end of the month, we promise, in fact we are taking pre-orders". We all say "great, I can wait". Then they send a letter delaying again.

They are playing us for suckers. I am in the manufacturing business and I wouldn't pull this on my customers. I know how long it will take me to bring a product to market (even a year in advance)...and then I pad my release date by a couple of months.

I bet we will be lucky to see the MiniJam by the holiday season.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

Everyone waiting should show innogear who's boss, and buy a Rio 600. Then wait for a large memory expansion springboard to come along (from another company hopefully). I don't understand innogear's logic (is there?) at all. pathetic really.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 98

I think this is pretty funny. I joined many others back in February commenting how bad Innogear has been about product delivery and suggested not to buy anything from them. Now here we are in August and some people still just don't get it. Innogear wants to be a player but can't. They can not bring a product to market. They can make a great sales and string along pitch, but as for actually delivering a product you can put in your hands, I say AGAIN, don't hold your breath.

And for the lame excuse they are handing out about parts not being available because of cell phones, if there is a shortage why can you still get cell phones for a penny? I think someone forgot to tell cell phone manufacturers about the shortage!

I said it before, I say it again: Innogear SUCKS!

[This message has been edited by Slacker (edited 08-15-2000).]

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I too am one of the pre-order folk out there. I got this response from them last night via email as to when the minijam is shipping...

quote:

---

Thank you for your recent contact.

The MiniJam will be available for
shipping mid-August to late-August.

---

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

I'll say one thing. If I don't hear that they are shipping by the last day of August, I'll have to cancel my order. I like the company and the products they are developing, but I can only be strung along for so long.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 24

Innogear has some great ideas - they just can't deliver. As a matter of fact, not many companies are delivering, but Innogear has played us and lost a patient customer.

I'm buying a Rio this weekend!

------------------
iceman
VDX-aholic

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: New York, New York, USA
Posts: 27

I think it's ironic that there always seems to be an innogear rep. piping in on this mesage board when they want to hype their products or pick our brains, but when we have issues with them, conveniently, they are nowhere to be found. Frankly, I get the impression that visor users are a pretty strong consumer group, product manufacturers and retailers should not feel that they can behave in the manner Innogear currently is without consequences.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beverly, MA
Posts: 125

Well, I certainly haven't ordered a MiniJam, but I will say this - save yourself trouble both now and in the future, and buy a standalone.

I'm the happy owner of both a Visor Deluxe and a Rio PMP-500. Cancel your MJ orders, go out and buy a Rio (or a Yepp, or a Nomad, or whatever - I'm partial to my Rio). Show Innogear that you don't like being screwed over.

The only reason I can think of to get a MJ over a standalone is to get the extra memory for use w/your Visor. But let me tell you this - from my experience with the Rio, you'll be wanting to fill up the whole 64 megs with mp3's, leaving no room for Visor storage.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 20

I called Innogear to *****, but they were actually quite nice and and said that the MJ is shipping by the end of August and everyone who is currently on order will get one in the first wave of shipping.

I struggled with my decision to buy the MJ over a standalone, but I am tired of lugging my discman or any other music only device onto an airplane to travel with. I wan't to consolidate the gadgets in my life and the springboard platform is a great way to do that. Now if someone would just do a cell phone module....

hcw3

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

at this rate the M100 will have an MP3 player first
http://www.pocketpyro.com/

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:

---

Originally posted by hcw3:
Now if someone would just do a cell phone module....

---

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 75

Isn't the price of the minijam rather high for an mp3 player ? Think I'd rather do a standalone that I can actually use today for less money. Besides, I would use mine when I was mowing the lawn or working out, not times when I really want to have my Visor with me.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool idea, but it's not a good fit for every Visor owner.

How does battery life compare for minijam compared to a stand-alone ?

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 106

I ordered a minijam, found out about the reduced functionality, cancelled my order and purchased a Rio 500 with 64Mb, added a 64mb card and now have a 128mb MP3 player with case and cassette adapter (for playing over car stereo) for under $320. Clearly money is no object here - just availability!

Innogear's loss! Sigh!

[This message has been edited by Kupe (edited 08-16-2000).]