@AMT (long open letter here that I think reasonably sums up the overall community perspective of AMT as a company at the moment) I have posted known criticisms (sans the excessive crap) and potential solutions so hopefully the feedback is at least helpful (I have run 4 successful businesses of my own into prosperity and sold them off so I do have some qualified experience in business advice here)
-snip just to save space, use the link to get the whole thing -
+10!
You hit all the nails on the head.
Somewhat like AMT, BFL, etc. my company make bleeding-edge equipment, in our case laser micro-machining systems for the semiconductor and LED lighting sectors. Difference is, while we are constantly under pressure to push the envelope of what is technically possible and economically feasible we do NOT promise our customers anything we cannot deliver on-time or at least close to it.
Once we see the market is there and I see that the latest (laser) technology may give a possible way to address it WE are the ones who foot the bill for the R&D needed to produce viable systems. WE are the ones who get the build processes in motion so we can deliver either on-time or at worst, very very close to it.
Yes we have customers clamoring for what we can provide and yes, we'd LOVE for some of them to directly finance prototypes with pre-orders ala' the AMT, BFL, and other companies models but - even if they could be talked into it (fat chance), it is just pure wrong to work that way. This kind of thing is what either company deep-pockets or investors are for!
As for me, Order# 1565 for a single 520GHs unit, still have a couple weeks left to meet the expected ship date.
Being older tech, here's to hoping they come through. EDIT: just relooked again and it has the A1 28nm chip.... Poop & Cheers!