[Elecraft] K3 in the marketplace

[Rick Tavan N6XI]

Charles said:
>
>
> Elecraft designers had K2-its....  thinking they were mostly evolving a
> K2.... Big mistake as I said in an earler message....


This is incorrect. The K3 designers had a "clean sheet of paper." As I said
in my NCJ article,

"Not at all an upgraded K2, this is an entirely new radio and a new
manufacturing concept. Whereas the K2 is an inexpensive,
digitally-controlled, analog radio in kit form, the K3 is a mid-priced,
manufactured, digital radio with some interesting analog stages. While the
K2 was born out of the QRP movement and later acquired an add-in 100 watt
amplifier and DSP, Elecraft is introducing the K3 with a full complement of
bells and whistles. Although it is available as a semi-kit – a box of
manufactured boards and cabinetry that the purchaser assembles without a
soldering iron – the factory-built and -aligned boards assure that every
radio will have identical performance and reliability expectations."

The K3 has jumped
> Elecraft into the areana of the ORION 2, FT-9000 and IC-7800


This is correct.

and great
> specs are great, but the human factor... so often ignored by purist
> engineers...
> is left out.


This is incorrect. Please see my comments on user interface that I posted a
few minutes ago in response to another post. Elecraft spent lots of time
with cognitive science experts, world-class contesters and dedicated DXers
optimizing the user interface and they did an excellent job. The rig excels
in human factors.

This means they can still be beaten in the marketplace when their specs
> indicate they should be the only hi end rig of choice.


Any product can be beaten in the marketplace despite better specs. Specs
aren't the only success factor. Elecraft also excels in support and has the
most powerful online user community in the industry, but those do not
guarantee success either. Marketing is also important and Elecraft does not
have the deep pockets of Yaecomwood. Only time will tell just how successful
the K3 becomes. But a lot of very smart, very talented operators and
engineers are betting on it. It's going to be a fun ride.

73,

/Rick N6XI