Gert Board Discontinued?

[raven_squire]

I was lucky enough to receieve my gertboard from Element 14 in australia yesterday and I noticed that there was a note on the invoice that the Gertboard will not be stocked in the future.

I thought that I had better get a few for presents before they run out. So I went to

http://au.element14.com/jsp/bespoke/bes ... irect=true

and found the following message

"""
Thanks for your interest in the Gertboard.

Due to overwhelming popularity, we have sold out and will no longer be accepting orders. However, we will have additional new and exclusive products coming very soon. We will be announcing the details as soon as they become available on the element14 community's Raspberry Pi group which can be found at www.element14.com/raspberrypi. To see additional Raspberry Pi Accessories, please visit us at: au.element14.com/pi
"""
Does anyone know what is going on?

[jamesh]

At the moment, even Gert isn't quite sure WTH is going on I'm afraid.

General consensus from the other GB threads is that Farnell are finding the GB too expensive to make in kit form, and it sound like they are moving to fully populated boards, which will be cheaper (or same price).

[Grumpy Mike]

My guess is that they are going to produce a ripoff clone using surface mount parts and nudge Gert out of it.
Mind you there will be hell to pay if they do.

[Dweeber]

My guess is that they are going to produce a ripoff clone using surface mount parts and nudge Gert out of it.
Mind you there will be hell to pay if they do.

That statement doesn't make sense. If they go to an assembled version, using surface mount components would be cheaper and would have not effect on the result. The board would work the same. How would this nudge Gert out of it? Gert is not assembling or packaging the boards now, they are.

[Grumpy Mike]

Gert is not assembling or packaging the boards now, they are.

No but he is being paid a premium on each PCB they make is he not? With another board they would not have to pay him.

[domesday]

Mike I think that is unlikely, It is more than likely that Gert has updated the board design in such a way that it is easier to be made by machine and is being payed a royalty for each one produced for using the design and Gertboard name. I know Farnell have seemingly made life hell for Gert due to their apparent incompetence but any move by them to make a clone board without Gert would be suicide.

[Grumpy Mike]

Given that Gert did not know anything about them stopping supplying the board it sounds unlikely he is involved in any modification.

but any move by them to make a clone board without Gert would be suicide.

I know that and you know that but I suspect that they do not.

[alexeames]

My guess is that they are going to produce a ripoff clone using surface mount parts and nudge Gert out of it.
Mind you there will be hell to pay if they do.

I find that quite hard to believe - it wouldn't make business sense on any level.

[paultnl]

From everything we have seen, Farnell have no sense let alone the business kind.

[jamesh]

Gert owns the name Gertboard and I think the copyright of the board design.

[Grumpy Mike]

Gert owns the name Gertboard and I think the copyright of the board design.

As Gert is a name then it can not be registered as a trade mark. The Arduino people found that out.

Anyway they would not be stupid enough to call it a Gertboard would they. As they said it will be new and exciting and just happen to include all the functions of the Gertboard.

Time will tell.

[Gert van Loo]

The name "Gertboard" has been filed for trademark and has been accepted.

[domesday]

While 'Gert' is a name 'Gertboard' is a made up word by combining two words and therefore qualifies as unique for the purpose of trademarks.

[Dweeber]

Gert owns the name Gertboard and I think the copyright of the board design.

As Gert is a name then it can not be registered as a trade mark. The Arduino people found that out.

Was easy enough to locate...
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/domestic?domesticnum=2628208

Electronic circuit board, either as printed circuit board stand alone or as assembled product or as self assembly electronic kit.

[higgins-demack]

Is it possibe the original Gertboard design has been invalidated by the revision of the Model B design - extra pins etc.?

[Mortimer]

Is it possibe the original Gertboard design has been invalidated by the revision of the Model B design - extra pins etc.?

No, a couple of the GPIO assignments to the GPIO header were changed, but this would only affect software. The additional GPIO connections were placed elsewhere on the board, so the original header is in the same place and electrically compatible.

[RaTTuS]

Is it possibe the original Gertboard design has been invalidated by the revision of the Model B design - extra pins etc.?

no

[higgins-demack]

Lucky me! Through sheer dumb luck I own a rare and collectable item!

[higgins-demack]

Hmmm ... Maybe the Model B revision was a mistake anyway. How many after market products have been trashed? Especially cases!

[piglet]

The name "Gertboard" has been filed for trademark and has been accepted.

When/if you're able to comment it would be good to have your take on what's been happening. You've been conspicuously absent from this thread up to this comment...

[Dweeber]

Hmmm ... Maybe the Model B revision was a mistake anyway. How many after market products have been trashed? Especially cases!

Hmmm basically none...

It is the same form factor as before. If you had a case with access to the GPIO pins, you should be able to access the new additional pins without much trouble. If you have a case that doesn't allow for access to the GPIO pins nothing has changed..

The new mounting holes actually provide enhanced case mounting possibilities...

If you have an older board, you most likely already have a case so why would you need to change?

[Gert van Loo]

The name "Gertboard" has been filed for trademark and has been accepted.

When/if you're able to comment it would be good to have your take on what's been happening. You've been conspicuously absent from this thread up to this comment...

Because I am also trying to find out what is going on which is impossible in weekends when all companies are closed.
I was hoping to get info today but the meeting is tomorrow.

[MuddyDogs]

Because I am also trying to find out what is going on which is impossible in weekends when all companies are closed.
I was hoping to get info today but the meeting is tomorrow.

Good luck Gert! We're with you in spirit!!

Jamie

[intelligentheating]

For those interested/frustrated with Newark/element14 here is an update on the 'experience' that has been my Gertboard ordering experience with them.

1.) September 12 - I placed the order for the Gertboard. Newark/Element14 website has a a notice saying Gertboards would start shipping in the middle of September.

I then receive an Order Confirmation email saying the expected shipping date is November 20th.

2.) I'm in the middle of writing a book and hoped to use the Gertboard in it. I contact Newark and explain the situation and ask if they can expedite the order. I get response saying yes they can.

In this period I've been reading the docs on the Element14 website and am looking forward to receiving my kit

3.) An Order Confirmation email comes through saying it will be shipped November 1st

4.) October 5th - I contact Newark to see if there is any possibility of an earlier shipping date. Newark explain to me that the kit is due to ship 'mid next week'.

Kit never arrives.

5.) October 22nd - I contact newark wondering where it is. Newark email me to say the kit shipped on 10/19 and it will take a week to be processed and the kit should be shipped to me 'early next week'

6.) October 31st - I log into my Newark account and see the shipping date pushed off until November 20th again and a note saying "No Longer Available".

Notice on Element14 forum says back orders will be filled.
http://www.element14.com/community/docs ... tboard-faq

I contact Newark and I'm told they have no timeframe on resolving the issue and that the support person believes the whole Gertboard has been discontinued.

I'm obviously guessing it hasn't been discontinued and the Newark staff member hasn't been given any solid information on what is going on?

So that has left me high and dry. I now will have to write the Gertboard out of the book and re-work some chapters. I'm really sad about this as it looked like an awesome piece of kit and perfect for the projects I had in mind.

Good luck to anyone else on the ordering list!

[mparrott82]

Because I am also trying to find out what is going on which is impossible in weekends when all companies are closed.
I was hoping to get info today but the meeting is tomorrow.

Any update on the availability of Gertboards? Will they ever be available again as a kit? As an assembled board? Inquiring minds want to know...