Phantom Now on Sale.

[Vyzov]

We all new it would happen eventually, and here it is. Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/15/phantom-lapboard-now-on-sale-suckers-rejoice/#comments) is reporting that the Phantom Lapboard is now on sale. (http://www.phantom.net/content/products/index.html)

At this point we're pretty certain Phantom's shady, vaporous history is warning enough to anyone thinking about giving cash to the company, but the risk-takers out there might want to take note: Phantom's oft-delayed Lapboard is now available for purchase. Of course, there's no ship date listed and -- true to Phantom form -- the site's SSL certificate is a little shady, but come on, you know you want to pony up your credit card number and let us know what happens.

I wonder if it will take as long to get it as it did for it to come out?

[Dr.Finger]

I'd love to meet the first person to actually buy this product. If in 6 months they've shown that they mean business, great. But their track record is so bad that I couldn't imagine buying one until I have those assurances.

[rein]

I will buy one when they have them available in legitimate retail channels. No way in hell I am giving that company a CC number.

[Slowpc]

I would buy it for when I game on the HT. ... and when I have it stocked at best buy.

[divinechaos]

Uh, what's a Phantom? I remember hearing about it way back but I can't remember now. Someone explain please?

EDIT: So it's pretty much a wireless keyboard?

[Kamalot]

ld buy it if it were wireless. In all actuality, a wireless Phantom Lap board would be perfect for my home setup.

[J Arcane]

Uh, what's a Phantom? I remember hearing about it way back but I can't remember now. Someone explain please?

EDIT: So it's pretty much a wireless keyboard?
The Phantom is a non existent entity designed to suck cash out of gullible venture capitalists.

[WastelandDan]

I will buy one when they have them available in legitimate retail channels. No way in hell I am giving that company a CC number.

Amen to that.

[LongStepMantis]

Awesome! I bet this will be one of it's launch titles! ;)
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/dukenukem_1.jpg

Also, I can never get over the irony dripping from the fact that the most famous vaporware of this era is called "Phantom"

[Albinobees]

So this horrible excuse for technology went from being a set top box like gaming system type deal (with unreal tournament being on of its system specs if i remember correctly) to being a "combination wireless keyboard, laser mouse and hard surface"?

Seriously?

I mean not that i wanted to buy it or anything but... the whole thing just bottles the mind. You know, when things are so crazy it gets your thoughts all trapped, like in a bottle?

[Vyzov]

Awesome! I bet this will be one of it's launch titles! ;)
http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/dukenukem_1.jpg

I actually have like 80$ In a box labeled "Duke Nukem Forever Fund" Money I saved up when it was first announced. It's packed away in storage somewhere.

[LongStepMantis]

I actually have like 80$ In a box labeled "Duke Nukem Forever Fund" Money I saved up when it was first announced. It's packed away in storage somewhere.

Maybe you can leave it to your great-great grandchildren in your will. :p

[carnage11]

Umm.....anyone who wants a Phantom....shouldn't they just buy a PC? I'm pretty sure that that's all it was, was a PC. I remember them tearing one apart and finding out that it was just a PC dressed up as a console.

[Voodoo]

Yay for expired SSL certs! Yay! Chocolate milk for the Phantom!

[LongStepMantis]

Yay for expired SSL certs! Yay! Chocolate milk for the Phantom!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/485802057_de7245630d.jpg

[Sloth]

as much as I despise Infinium Labs, i must admit to being amazed at how much money they've fleeced out of investors. I mean they didn't just make millions off initial hype, they made even more millions after the original millions were flushed down the toliet and everyone in the industry knew they were frauds...AND THEY STILL convinced another round of suckers to dump money into their snake oil business.

You got to admit, that is impressive huckstering.

[Heretic Machine]

Umm.....anyone who wants a Phantom....shouldn't they just buy a PC? I'm pretty sure that that's all it was, was a PC. I remember them tearing one apart and finding out that it was just a PC dressed up as a console.

It would be difficult to tear apart something that has never existed. Anyhow, yes, it sounded like it was going to turn out to be a PC; hence the lapboard. Basically a next-gen Commodore 64, a computer you use on your TV.

Too bad the company was ran by scam artists.

[Crimson]

ld buy it if it were wireless. In all actuality, a wireless Phantom Lap board would be perfect for my home setup.

It is wireless... Also, it looks like Alienware has purchased a bunch for their Media Center PCs. Make the keyboard black, have it on sale at a Best Buy... and it would be pretty cool for an HTPC I think...

[johnperkins21]

How comfortable is a keyboard used at that angle? It looks like an ergonomic nightmare. I couldn't imagine that having the keyboard at that angle is a good idea. Why wouldn't I just us a TV tray? Or a lap desk-type thing: http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/738.htm

[Micasa]

Pretty funny that under the "required to use" they list PC or Mac, but not the Phantom...

[J Arcane]

OK, I really hate to do this, because they really are a bunch of crooked fuckers, but I feel the need to dispense some actual information here, despite my earlier joke.

The Phantom itself was, supposedly, a gaming console/PC, that works by on-demand downloading games over the internet. It is complete and utter vaporware and as far as I understand it, no working prototype has ever even been completed.

THe Phantom Lapboard is a peripheral developed by the same company, ostensibly for the console. It is designed to allow comfortable usage of both mouse and keyboard in a single lap-comfortable unit, to allow one to play PC-style games from their couch. The Lapboard actually got a working prototype, and when it was demonstrated to the press, it got a lot of positive feedback, as apparently it's quite a joy to use and really does work pretty well. As a result, probably in a desperate attempt to actually produce some positive cashflow and thus be able to continue to sucker more investors with dreams of great wealth, they announced they'd release it for standard PCs.

Meanwhile, the console project itself was totally axed, while they continued working on trying to get the Lapboard finished and ready to ship. Instead, theyabandoned the actual hardware, and are supposedly working to move the on-demand service to regular PCs.

Now, it would appear, they are nearing ready to ship, assuming that page actualyl will sell you one, as opposed to putting it on some kind of indefinite pre-order that will never come, which given their track record, is pretty likely.

For fuck's sake, the tech on the lapboard is pretty spiffy, but it's been like 2 fucking years since they announced the thing, and it's still only a keyboard with a swivel mount and a pretty decent laser mouse.

[Micasa]

OK, I really hate to do this, because they really are a bunch of crooked fuckers, but I feel the need to dispense some actual information here, despite my earlier joke.

The Phantom itself was, supposedly, a gaming console/PC, that works by on-demand downloading games over the internet. It is complete and utter vaporware and as far as I understand it, no working prototype has ever even been completed.

THe Phantom Lapboard is a peripheral developed by the same company, ostensibly for the console. It is designed to allow comfortable usage of both mouse and keyboard in a single lap-comfortable unit, to allow one to play PC-style games from their couch. The Lapboard actually got a working prototype, and when it was demonstrated to the press, it got a lot of positive feedback, as apparently it's quite a joy to use and really does work pretty well. As a result, probably in a desperate attempt to actually produce some positive cashflow and thus be able to continue to sucker more investors with dreams of great wealth, they announced they'd release it for standard PCs.

Meanwhile, the console project itself was totally axed, while they continued working on trying to get the Lapboard finished and ready to ship. Instead, theyabandoned the actual hardware, and are supposedly working to move the on-demand service to regular PCs.

Now, it would appear, they are nearing ready to ship, assuming that page actualyl will sell you one, as opposed to putting it on some kind of indefinite pre-order that will never come, which given their track record, is pretty likely.

For fuck's sake, the tech on the lapboard is pretty spiffy, but it's been like 2 fucking years since they announced the thing, and it's still only a keyboard with a swivel mount and a pretty decent laser mouse.

Whether or not it's a decent product, would you willingly give those people your money for the promise of product in return?

Keep in mind that they've burnt quite a few people with that line already - investors.

[J Arcane]

Whether or not it's a decent product, would you willingly give those people your money for the promise of product in return?

Keep in mind that they've burnt quite a few people with that line already - investors.
Oh fuck no. They aren't getting a red cent from me until I see signed affidavits from at least a few hundred customers stating they paid their cash, and got their product, and were not otherwise ripped off or gouged.

And even then, I'd probably not bother. It's a neat concept, but I don't have much use for it ATM, and even if I did, I'd rather wait until someone else more reputable rips off the concept and does it better.

I just felt the need to elaborate, as there seemed to be a lot of confusion in this thread as to what the news was even about.

[Vyzov]

Words

If you look on the site, they still have that games on demand listed there. It just seems like it's going to be a program like steam though

[J Arcane]

If you look on the site, they still have that games on demand listed there. it just seems like ti's going to be a program like steam though
Yeah, I edited my Big Informative Post (tm) to compensate, as I'd forgotten about that.

For some reason I tend to follow all the news about the Phantom, largely because it amuses me deeply on so many fucked up levels.

[Shodan2020]

I actually have like 80$ In a box labeled "Duke Nukem Forever Fund" Money I saved up when it was first announced. It's packed away in storage somewhere.

Heh, I'm totally gonna bargain bin that title, IF it ever comes out.

[51|RandoM]

I just don't see this keyboard/mouse combo doing anything better than competing products. No side buttons on the mouse? Look how fat the keyboard is.

...unless you need something that looks like a prop from a Space 1999 episode.

[beefyjr]

"Phantom Now On Sale" is a poor and extremely misleading headline when the only thing that came to market was the lapboard which is decidedly not the Phantom.

[Vyzov]

"Phantom Now On Sale" is a poor and extremely misleading headline when the only thing that came to market was the lapboard which is decidedly not the Phantom.

That Phantom console thing is never going to be coming out. There are two things they are producing, the Lapboard, and the game client which is pretty much just going to be a steam/gamefly hybrid thingy.

[dirtbag]

Come on, somebody has to preorder one of these things just to be able to report the experience back to the community. They can buy a Visa gift card, so there won't be any risk of ID theft. Somebody has to be willing to bite the bullet to satisfy our curiosity.

Of course, I'm not 'somebody', so I nominate bap to be our investigative journalist.

[Hive]

I came here expecting something comparable to the Vii, but I was sadly mistaken. Still though, half of me hopes to hear they created something successful, but the other half won't be at all surprised if it's just another scam.

[Xerxes]

They should totally get the Unreal 3 engine and supe up a quick down and dirty Duke Nukem game. And just slap the Forever name on it just to say "THERE, WE DID IT." I think just cause the title has been what, 15 years in the making, it might sell on that alone.

[Shodan2020]

Hearing about the Phantom still makes me laugh.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I came here expecting something comparable to the Vii, but I was sadly mistaken. Still though, half of me hopes to hear they created something successful, but the other half won't be at all surprised if it's just another scam.


I really want a Vii, but those suckers are so hard to find in stores!!!!!! :p


drunk posting ftw~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[emjoi]

They did have a prototype of the console, and it was just a PC with standard PC components and a vaguely X-Boxish front stuck on it. From the photos it looked like a hack job by one guy in a garage, which of course needs hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment.

The plan was to setup a sort of Steam system for buying and downloading games... but then Steam does that now anyway.

[bstiff]

as much as I despise Infinium Labs, i must admit to being amazed at how much money they've fleeced out of investors. I mean they didn't just make millions off initial hype, they made even more millions after the original millions were flushed down the toliet and everyone in the industry knew they were frauds...AND THEY STILL convinced another round of suckers to dump money into their snake oil business.

You got to admit, that is impressive huckstering.


Wasn't this the company that had produced nothing and went bankrupt even though the owners had 2-3 ferrari's apiece?

[beefyjr]

That Phantom console thing is never going to be coming out. There are two things they are producing, the Lapboard, and the game client which is pretty much just going to be a steam/gamefly hybrid thingy.
I understand that the Phantom is never going to come out. I think that was a given for all of us within a couple months of it being announced, particularly when Infinium Labs publicly gave up on the idea of releasing a set-top box. That's why the headline "Phantom Now On Sale" is misleading.

I wasn't trying to say that I was fooled by it; my point was that seeing as "Phantom Now On Sale" is 100% incorrect, it's a misleading, click-grabbing headline.

[mkelehan]

I understand that the Phantom is never going to come out. I think that was a given for all of us within a couple months of it being announced, particularly when Infinium Labs publicly gave up on the idea of releasing a set-top box. That's why the headline "Phantom Now On Sale" is misleading.

I wasn't trying to say that I was fooled by it; my point was that seeing as "Phantom Now On Sale" is 100% incorrect, it's a misleading, click-grabbing headline.

I agree. It's misleading, and should be changed.

Also, $130? No.

[cppcrusader]

OK, I really hate to do this, because they really are a bunch of crooked fuckers, but I feel the need to dispense some actual information here, despite my earlier joke.

The Phantom itself was, supposedly, a gaming console/PC, that works by on-demand downloading games over the internet. It is complete and utter vaporware and as far as I understand it, no working prototype has ever even been completed.

THe Phantom Lapboard is a peripheral developed by the same company, ostensibly for the console. It is designed to allow comfortable usage of both mouse and keyboard in a single lap-comfortable unit, to allow one to play PC-style games from their couch. The Lapboard actually got a working prototype, and when it was demonstrated to the press, it got a lot of positive feedback, as apparently it's quite a joy to use and really does work pretty well. As a result, probably in a desperate attempt to actually produce some positive cashflow and thus be able to continue to sucker more investors with dreams of great wealth, they announced they'd release it for standard PCs.

Meanwhile, the console project itself was totally axed, while they continued working on trying to get the Lapboard finished and ready to ship. Instead, theyabandoned the actual hardware, and are supposedly working to move the on-demand service to regular PCs.

Now, it would appear, they are nearing ready to ship, assuming that page actualyl will sell you one, as opposed to putting it on some kind of indefinite pre-order that will never come, which given their track record, is pretty likely.

For fuck's sake, the tech on the lapboard is pretty spiffy, but it's been like 2 fucking years since they announced the thing, and it's still only a keyboard with a swivel mount and a pretty decent laser mouse.

Hey there was working prototype, I touched it when it was unveiled at Full Sail. Of course, by working prototype I mean a giant, and I'm talking bigger than ten breadboxes giant, custom case with a pretty blue light and a Cat5 cable connected to....something.

[toranaga]

Wasn't this the company that had produced nothing and went bankrupt even though the owners had 2-3 ferrari's apiece?

maybe you're thinking of Gizmondo and the swedish dude that crashed his ferrari?

[Purple Santa]

I'd love to meet the first person to actually buy this product. If in 6 months they've shown that they mean business, great. But their track record is so bad that I couldn't imagine buying one until I have those assurances.

For the EvAv community I will be the first to buy one. I'll use a CC...it's expired but hey i'm willing to take one for the team buying an almost existing product :).

[KarmaGhost]

The title here is a little misleading. The Phantom isn't on sale. The Phantom Lapboard is. The Phantom will never be on sale.

[phantomhitman]

suing them as i type...

[vodka_mike]

Pretty funny that under the "required to use" they list PC or Mac, but not the Phantom...

or the 360.....or a PS3.... or a Wii.....

Aren't they missing a large chunk of people that need a wireless setup to type something in an online session?

[J Arcane]

or the 360.....or a PS3.... or a Wii.....

Aren't they missing a large chunk of people that need a wireless setup to type something in an online session?
How many times does the text of a website have to repeat that it's wireless for people to stop making this statement?

The Phantom® Lapboard is a combination wireless keyboard, laser mouse and hard surface that makes it easy for you to work or play games from your couch, easy chair or any comfortable setting in your home or workplace. The Lapboard includes wireless technology, ergonomic design, one-touch features, and a wireless laser mouse.

...

• Innovative design and wireless technology frees you from desktop settings

...

• Wireless 2.4GHz RF range of 32.8 feet or 10-meters

[Kamalot]

How many times does the text of a website have to repeat that it's wireless for people to stop making this statement?

Yeah, I get that it is wireless now. But that's not what vodka_mike was talking about...

[J Arcane]

Yeah, I get that it is wireless now. But that's not what vodka_mike was talking about...
Fair enough, I just figured I'd point that out, as several people had made similar statements upthread.