If one of you wants to come and work at Parallax then we could have these ready within a week! The problem is that we're short on staff right now.
Honestly, it's nearing the top of our project list and I'm working on it today. I've got a lot of pressure to finish that project up, more than you guys can imagine so I expect to wrap it up really soon.
The Penguins are growing restless at Parallax, too.
Working at Parallax is fun but the adjustment to California is more than some people are willing to deal with. Rocklin is a very built-up place with many thousands of tract homes. The traffic is increasing and everything seems a bit more expensive than other places. A year or two ago I read that it is one of the top-10 "bad places" for income/housing ratio. We're more or less stuck here now since our staff is established and has families and friends. Not sure what made me think about this exactly. Maybe it's because I've seen this corner of California change from rural to urban in a period of five years. Come visit us and I'll show you the place.
My brother came out of the electrical engineering dept. at UC Davis in the mid 90s, so I know the area. The pretty parts are really pretty... the built up tracts are just that. But that's happening everywhere. Everybody needs to live *somewhere*. And next time we're out visiting we'll definitely make an effort to drop by Parallax. You guys and gals are the best!
If it helps inspire you -- I'm not sure I'll have the budget for one of those gas-hybrids in R&D but a Penguin to go with our Barbie Boe-bot would be great...
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST
I spent a year in Southern California about 13 years ago, and now only come back to visit, so I'll have to respectfully decline the offer..my wife and daughter are Florida natives, so they might have an issue with moving...[noparse]:)[/noparse]
And after enjoying a 14 month "retirement", I have this other job that seems to take up a few hours of my time..
There's a possibility they'll be a limited run promotional product that are given away in some fashion, or that they will be sold for $195. It's not clear yet, but it will be very soon.
Ken..are you saying there is a chance that they will not·be made available to the general buying public?
Not sure what is meant by "limited run promotonal product that are given away in some fashion"...but I thought it had already been determined it would be a limited product, first come first served, but available to everyone...
This is potentially distressing news! Here I have been waiting all of this time (how long now ) with money saved, patiently awaiting for the Penguin's release to find that it may only be available as a limited promotional material. I really hope that Parallax thinks carefully about this avenue as there a number of us that have been drooling for the long pending release of this product.
5 more years, and parallax can expect me to be putting in a job application. You're right though, it will be a big change living in california. Pennsylvania is a whole lot different.
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Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Microsoft: "You've got questions. We've got dancing paper clips."
Mr. Gracey here. Thank you for the clarification Mr. Baker. Now even I'm confused!
Penguin uses the BS2px. All I/O lines are in use, except for one. The I/Os are for photoresistors, IR LEDs and receiver, a seven-segment display, compass, button, and speaker. The free I/O line goes to the 3-pin header on top where it can be used for our RF modules, Ping))), or PIR sensors.
Ken Gracey (Parallax) said...
If one of you wants to come and work at Parallax then we could have these ready within a week! The problem is that we're short on staff right now.
How about a part time temp position? I'm just up the hill in Nevada City.
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Thought I'd better post an update on the Penguins. We've got all the parts in stock and we're in the final stages of preparing kits for sale. All that's left is some documentation review, more source code examples and a box sleeve.·Barring unforeseen circumstances, mark your calendar for July 16th, 2007.
I'll attempt to get a video posted next week (going to the Sensors trade show in Chicago), but for now at least I have·a few photos.
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 6/8/2007 8:27:06 PM GMT
That's great news Ken! I've been needing a kick in the pants to get my robotics hobby going again. These should do the trick! Thanks Bruce for keeping me in the loop.
Actually, you can adopt one from as near as South America. Magellanic penguins always return to the same nests near the tip of SA and there are study organizations that will allow you to adopt one and they will provide you with pictures of its progress. My daughter's (Fluffy) recently had two eggs hatch. Since it is frowned upon to 'tag" penguins, their "returning instinct" makes them ideal for this arrangement (not to mention their habitat making it easier to photograph them). They may not be as pretty as the Emperors or the Macaronis, but I like the support effort.
...and I'm waiting on the Parallax Penguins as well...:^)
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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...
Comments
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST
If one of you wants to come and work at Parallax then we could have these ready within a week! The problem is that we're short on staff right now.
Honestly, it's nearing the top of our project list and I'm working on it today. I've got a lot of pressure to finish that project up, more than you guys can imagine so I expect to wrap it up really soon.
The Penguins are growing restless at Parallax, too.
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Wasn't hassling you -- just curious. So they are still in the works? Cool!
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST
Working at Parallax is fun but the adjustment to California is more than some people are willing to deal with. Rocklin is a very built-up place with many thousands of tract homes. The traffic is increasing and everything seems a bit more expensive than other places. A year or two ago I read that it is one of the top-10 "bad places" for income/housing ratio. We're more or less stuck here now since our staff is established and has families and friends. Not sure what made me think about this exactly. Maybe it's because I've seen this corner of California change from rural to urban in a period of five years. Come visit us and I'll show you the place.
I could use the Penguin pressure, so keep it on!
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
If it helps inspire you -- I'm not sure I'll have the budget for one of those gas-hybrids in R&D but a Penguin to go with our Barbie Boe-bot would be great...
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST
And after enjoying a 14 month "retirement", I have this other job that seems to take up a few hours of my time..
Do we have any idea of what the unit price of the pengins will be??· Or is it·premature at this point.·
T-man·
There's a possibility they'll be a limited run promotional product that are given away in some fashion, or that they will be sold for $195. It's not clear yet, but it will be very soon.
- Ken
Not sure what is meant by "limited run promotonal product that are given away in some fashion"...but I thought it had already been determined it would be a limited product, first come first served, but available to everyone...
I suppose we can all continue to drool in anticipation a while longer.·
Regards,
T-man·
(aka Penginless)
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Respectfully,
Jay K. Jeffries
Hold on to your money for the time being. The adoption papers have to get finished. Got the hardware, just no papers!
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Thanks Ken!
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Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.
Microsoft: "You've got questions. We've got dancing paper clips."
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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...
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lets see what this does... KA BOOM (note to self do not cross red and black)
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Paul Baker
Propeller Applications Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Penguin uses the BS2px. All I/O lines are in use, except for one. The I/Os are for photoresistors, IR LEDs and receiver, a seven-segment display, compass, button, and speaker. The free I/O line goes to the 3-pin header on top where it can be used for our RF modules, Ping))), or PIR sensors.
Mr. Gracey
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lets see what this does... KA BOOM (note to self do not cross red and black)
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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST
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OS-X: because making Unix user-friendly was easier than debugging Windows
links:
My band's website
Our album on the iTunes Music Store
I know this is off topic, but thats defiantly true SSteve.
Go Apple!
Joshua T.
Thought I'd better post an update on the Penguins. We've got all the parts in stock and we're in the final stages of preparing kits for sale. All that's left is some documentation review, more source code examples and a box sleeve.·Barring unforeseen circumstances, mark your calendar for July 16th, 2007.
I'll attempt to get a video posted next week (going to the Sensors trade show in Chicago), but for now at least I have·a few photos.
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Ken Gracey (Parallax)) : 6/8/2007 8:27:06 PM GMT
Paul
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Whit+
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
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Whit+
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
You asked "How much money should I save?". As opposed to buying a real penguin and having it shipped from a polar reqion?
Regards,
Bruce Bates
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Whit+
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
...and I'm waiting on the Parallax Penguins as well...:^)
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Truly Understand the Fundamentals and the Path will be so much easier...