seanadams;147461 Wrote: > //I can't blame you for doing this, but i too am very worried. > > When we first started down this road, I was worried too! However, > Logitech has an extremely good track record with the very few > acquisitions that they've done. I've been very impressed by the fact > that those companies have not only prospered, but maintained their > personality, their autonomy, and their key people. > > // So please now please dispense with the vague PR speak, and please be > as up front and honest as you can - how is this actually going to work? > 1) Will Logitech just own the company, with Slim Devices operating as a > separate entity? > > Slim Devices will become a wholly-owned subsidiary. > > //Or will the Slim Devices brand name be phased out and the next model > (SB4?) with a 'Logitech' device? i fear the latter. In fact it pretty > obvious really, in the long term anyway > > We haven't nailed down all the naming specifics yet. However, > Logitech's brand is of enormous value to us, and it will appear on our > products as we get into their channels. > > //2) Will Logitech leaving the Slim Devices team alone to carry on > their great work? After all, Logitech effort in this sector have been > less than amazing. Much Logitech software is a dog in my experience. > The setpoint crap was terrible last time i used it. > > I would say that their hardware strengths complement our software > capabilities. The plan is to combine only the best aspects of both > companies. > > //Will Slim Server remain open source? Be honest now, I Fear not in the > long term. Please dont lose sight of what made Slimserver so popular > and won so many people over. > > Absolutely. And furthermore, we will continue to lead its development. > > // I hope this is a positive move for us consumers. I am sure it will > be one for SD and Logitech (financially anyway). But the ethos of both > companies is so different Logitech = Mass market, bang em out. > Dumbed down and closed systems Slim Devices = Consumer centric, its > ready when its ready listening to the customer and responding in a > personal way, open source. > > We're actually not all _that_ different, but again this is a point > where we will complement each other, not a conflict. > > // The response I got when I mouse was faulty was a totally different > experience to what I got when my SB3 screen failed. Are they REALLY > compatible in their current forms? Again, I doubt it. > > Tech support will by handled by our team, as it is a completely > different animal than supporting a single-function device such a > mouse. > > //Let not forget the edgy cool factor that the Slim Devices products > have. Im sorry, but Logitech just dont have that, no matter how hard > you pretend I will always associate Logitech with low end PC speaker > systems and horrible keyboards. Just assimilating Slim Devices could be > a disaster for the SB and its fans. > > Hmmm... personally I have been very happy with their keybaords and mice > for many years. I don't know if your position is widely held, but you > are cetainly entitled to it. > > //This could be sooooo right for Slim Devices, more money could mean > even better products. But Logitech is a large corp and I fear they just > want a cash cow like every other large corp. > > I think their track record with previous acquisitions demonstrates that > they know how to invest appropriately to grow new divisions quickly. We > are really looking forward to being able to expand our engineering > team. > > //Sorry for being so negative, but we have seen this before, no matter > how chipper the PR releases are.
It's quite alright. You've made some great points, and they are concerns that we all raised very early in our discussions with Logitech. Personally, I am feeling very good about this, but I've had a lot longer to get to know their people. Thank you Sean, i very much appreciate you taking time in responding to my points. I was only worried about the product i like so much. This has helped. I'm not totally convinced, but time will tell. Just don't let those corporate monkeys ever push you around and continue making products as good as the SB range and Tranporter! Good luck to you Sean. -- autopilot *SlimServer Version:* 6.5 - Windows XP. *Amp:* Cambridge Audio 640a (living room) / Denon MD30 (bedroom). *Speakers:* Mission 701's (living room) / Kef Cresta 1's (bedroom). *Remote:* T-Mobile MDA Vario / Sony PSP / Cambridge Audio Explorer (IR). *Clients:* 1 Squeezebox3 + Softsqueeze. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ autopilot's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1763 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
