Phantom attracts "interest," delays Lapboard yet again

Apparently these guys just don't know when to quit, and rather than ditching the Lapboard in the same way the gaming service was dismissed, the seemingly bogus company is making waves (and probably little more) yet again. Although Alienware has reportedly handed over an order for the firm's yet-to-be-seen wireless gaming keyboards, we still maintain little faith in the notoriously unreliable company to actually come through, and today its, um, brave CEO announced another unsurprising delay. This time, the delay is actually being attributed to an overwhelming "demand," as Phantom claims that "major manufacturers of media center PCs and distributors" are throwing down so many orders that the company won't be able to "begin air shipments to the US" until February 2007. While you can place your order now through its online webstore (not recommended), only orders received through October 31st are "promised" in that first wave of shipments. But for those who are rightfully gun shy about handing over your credit card info to a company with such an incredibly undependable track record, you can surely count on just picking one up from "major retail locations" in Q1 of next year.

[Austin @ Nov 7th 2006 6:42PM]

This thing looks nice... not sure about the mouse but I'm happy to see that they support Macs... if this thing actually comes out I might get one

[dbell @ Nov 7th 2006 6:43PM]

WOW that lapboard's awesome. I'm gonna buy 50,000 shares tomorrow - got a friend tells me their stocks down right now, but it's gonna blow up! At least the e-mail said he was my friend...!

[pyro @ Nov 7th 2006 7:11PM]

wtf is so great about that thing anyway?

[russdogg @ Nov 7th 2006 7:52PM]

Quick, whats 50,000 shares times zero? and don't tell me its zero!!!!

[Kiteless @ Nov 7th 2006 7:54PM]

I am not too hot on the mouse too, but I think I can get the range I need out of my existing Logitech and use it with this Lap Board. I would love to pick one of these up so I can play games on my TV from my couch. Hope they follow through, but I am not holding my breath. I will feel a lot better once Alienware actually startes getting them from Phantom. (If that even happens.)

[Rick Person @ Nov 7th 2006 7:54PM]

This company needs to die. It's THE best boiler room scam ever. They went from a console they hyped for years and never produced to a flipping keyboard which they can't seem to produce. After they fail to produce this product, they'll come up with an idea for a new and improved squishy flex ball for the avid computer user. GMAFB!

[Sqube @ Nov 7th 2006 8:08PM]

I don't get how people keep falling for this company.

I mean, it must have been some kind of slick talking to get Alienware to actually put in an order for a product from the company.

Phantom their name, phantom their products.

[tekdroid @ Nov 7th 2006 8:55PM]

what's funnier is that nobody has bothered to update their press release:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-07-2006/0004468638&EDATE=

" Phantom Entertainment is an industry-leading global entertainment and
interactive game company. Phantom Entertainment has developed and is
marketing the Phantom Lapboard, a combination wireless keyboard, laser
mouse and hard surface. The Company is in the development of the Phantom
Game Service, anticipated to be the first end-to-end, on-demand game
service for delivery to the living room. For more information, please visit
http://www.phantom.net."
-------------------------
The game console is long gone. And you don't make games, Phantom.

[Spinfusor @ Nov 8th 2006 9:47AM]

Phantom Entertainment is talking about a games download service they're "developing". It has nothing to do with the console.

[Rivendale @ Nov 7th 2006 9:22PM]

Screw the PS3, Wii, and 360... I want the Phantom gaming console... lol

[Rivendale @ Nov 7th 2006 9:22PM]

Screw the PS3, Wii, and 360... I want the Phantom gaming console... lol

[Scott @ Nov 8th 2006 7:13AM]

Infinium Labs is a bunch of scam artists.



That is All

[Isaac @ Nov 8th 2006 9:07AM]

Ack, sarcasm overload! Hah. I like that article tekdroid posted; "industry-leading"? How can you lead an industry when you're not actually *in* the industry? Or maybe they're talking about the scam industry? 'cause you have to give them credit, they really are good at that, apparently.

[tekdroid @ Nov 9th 2006 1:36PM]

oh, I see. Honestly don't know how they can keep going given their record...

[Baffled @ Nov 8th 2006 1:43PM]

I still remember the first time I read about the Phantom console. I was filled with such hope and promise. That day, my life changed. I knew that my Phantom console would be the best thing in my life.

Luckily, my parents got me the console for Christmas in 2003. Since then, I have experienced nothing but happiness.

I don't know what the rest of you guys are talking about.
---
What's so amazing about the "Lapboard" anyway? Its just a keyboard on a swivel, with a place to use a mouse. That's what passes for revolutionary these days?

[Jebby Deringer @ Nov 9th 2006 4:24PM]

A long time ago I realized a lot of these companies are just set up for the tax breaks. Someone sets up these companies, provides false promises (so at least they look like they are working), and then reaps the benefits of writing off expenses. That Gizmondo thing was much the same.

[JDH @ Jan 4th 2007 2:22PM]

phan·tom /ˈfæntəm/
–noun
1. an apparition or specter.
2. an appearance or illusion without material substance, as a dream image, mirage, or optical illusion.
3. a person or thing of merely illusory power, status, efficacy, etc.: the phantom of fear.