Notion Ink Adam delayed, this time investors are to blame (updated!)
By Joanna Stern 
posted August 10th 2010 11:09AM
posted August 10th 2010 11:09AM
The last time we brought you news of Notion Ink's long awaited Adam things weren't looking good, but we had some hope since its CEO Rohan Shravan assured us that it would hit some markets in Q3. He also promised that a pre-order page for the Tegra 2-powered, Pixel Qi-sporting slate would launch soon. It really does pain us to say this, but it doesn't look like any of that's going to be happening anytime soon -- we've received word that the company has lost a great deal of cash and that some of its major investors walked away a few weeks ago. As we've heard it, the company missed its July / August timeline to ramp up manufacturing because of a very big loss from an early investor. As such, the India-based company had to look for new funding, and apparently seek out a new manufacturer. We're told they've secured more cash now, but things are on shaky ground. Shravan wouldn't comment on the news, but he did tell us that he still plans to bring the Adam to market before the end of 2010. We admire that persistence and certainly believe the Adam is one of the more innovative tablets out there, but we're gonna hold on to these tissues until we see an order page and some real evidence that things are turning around for the start-up.
Updated: Slashgear has an in-depth rundown of Notion Ink's saga. We've still been told that the company has been delayed in bringing the Adam to market because of funding issues, though it has now acquired more cash. Apparently, if all goes as planned, it will begin manufacturing in November and ship later that month or in December. That lines up with what Shravan told us, but again, we will believe it when we see it.
Update 2: Here's Shravan's official statement...
"We will have the device before the year ends. It will be introduced at a major event after which you can order it online. It has to be placed strategically, as this is our maiden effort. Whatever has happened cannot be changed, but with the support we are getting from all, we might just become a part of the history. Also on the pricing, all the 3 devices will be lower than even the basic model of iPad."
C'mon, Notion Ink! you've got to keep this up! If you fall, then who's left to fight Apple in the tablet war? Well, Motorola and Archos (maybe). but anyway, Apple can't be allowed to take this market and time is short.
@Joanna Stern
You made it seem like a new delay was being announced. It was known for a while that Adam would not be released before later this year. The only thing new here is Rohan gave the media some inside information as to why they weren't able to release before now. I understand the need for keeping one's expectations low when it comes to startups. However voicing those (conjecture based) thoughts on a respected tech blog like Engadget carries the danger of turning it into a self fulfilling prophecy. Considering the fact that these people have several months of hard work and dedication (and a great deal of money) on the line, a little bit of emotional investment doesn't seem that much of a risk.
@Xyned
Totally Agree.
As Eric Cartman once said......
Screw you guys I am going to Slashgear!
it was over hyped ! What is innovative there ? Its using a standard OS, its built on pixel Qi, thats great .. but it is not adam that is great .. i mean the way it was shown like .. well you can read it in sunlight , you can control back light etc etc .. all are not ADAM features, they are all pixel Qi features please. So basically the point is if all start adopting pixel Qi screens, then there is no differentiator , except that trackpad in the back.
I mean this is a crowded market and if you are not delivering on time , it is a huge huge impact because everything gets outdated now in a month. I am scared to buy a smartphone .. why ? I know it will get outdated in a month , so i am in always waiting loop. So unless i see and i like a product which is made much ahead of its times, i will take it .. and for that delivery is critical, CEO;s can talk in lenghts about their plans .. but it is delivery that is important. Moreover this was expected .. they will soon be bankrupt for sure.
@konfused (username is about right) Your argument makes no sense at all. Lets put aside the comments about the hardware having no innovation (which is patently false). We'll focus on what really sets this or any other computer apart (even Jobs knows): Software. If you've done even a small amount of research you'd realize that software is what really makes a piece of technology worthwhile. The Adam has the goods when it comes to software. Even the prototype displayed some outstanding, and brilliant ides. Do a youtube search in between troll sessions.
Crowded market? Really, where is the crowded market you're talking about? You mean the one 'crowded' by the iPad and...nothing else (maybe the upcoming hp slate)?
Not buying an electronic device because it's not ahead of the curve is possibly the single stupidest reason not to buy Newsflash, technology will always be outdated shortly after the release. Just the nature of the beast, deal with it. Buy what you need right now, be happy with it and buy the newer and better one later.
Also, you really suck at trolling, I had a rough day and felt like letting off some steam, which is the only reason I replied to your feeble attempt at a post.
Rohan did just say all 3 versions of Adam will be available for "lower than even the basic model of iPad." Wow! I love it when someone takes another bite out of Apple, especially when it's another Android-powered device.
Say what you want about start-up's, but these guys have persevered through a lot of hiccups to get to this point. The end result will be phenomenal and, obviously, very inexpensive!
@Copier IT Guy are you foolish enough to believe that dual screen, one lcd one pixel-qui screen, touch screen, hdmi , 3g radio, bluetooth, wifi, 16 hours battery life, dual camera (front-rear), tegra 2, touch sensitive back, all can be had under 500 dollars?
@memeslayer If it's made in India by workers that get paid US $0.03 per day, yes I am that foolish! :) C'mon, that was an easy one! How many US jobs have been lost to outsourced Indian markets?
Bottom line: let's all wait for the announcement at the "major event" coming up, then we can all order our Adam for less than 5 big ones!
@Copier IT Guy
Yeah, and that Joojoo guy said it would have Flash in a couple of months.
@memeslayer What are you talking about moron? This is not a dual screen device. It has one screen which is fairly comparable in price to the current LCD screens that are currently out. The only major change in the manufacture process is the creation of a reflective layer that has tiny holes in it. You don't know what you are talking about at all. Also, as an Indian startup, they are probably willing to achieve a smaller profit margin to cannibalize some of the iPad sales and make a name for the company.
@NikAmi
You make it sound like taking a smaller profit margin than Apple is a choice!
This tablet is already a failure. We all know it, it's just we're not quite ready to admit it yet.
Notion Ink Adam is a joke. If history has taught us anything, do not put your faith in india-based startups.
Standard Indian timing! I'm sure iPad 3 will be out before it
I'm a bit disappointed. There are no alternatives in the US for a tablet.
There's Archos and that's about it. Archos is nice an all but definitely not great. Well I hope all the optimism coming from NotionInk and Slash Gear is right. I just think its going to end up like Courier. Or even if it gets off the ground it wont make enough money and end up collapsing in on itself. Commenters are right, you see so many crappy tablets come out like that Augen one and you wonder how the hell do they pull it off. Yet a product that outclasses it cant even come close to touching the market.
Wasn't this supposed to have been released before the iPad? I thought like the JooJoo/Crunchpad, that it had already been released but just forgotten about.
I remember reading about it in 2008 and seeing the official concept in 2009.
@Narutogrey The Adam's planned release was for April, but that was before any real decisions were finalized (software, Tegra 2 platform, etc.). Thus, that date is pretty much a non-issue. NI never publicly announced that date so there was no true delay...it was an internal delay which, as the Slashgear article notes, would have happened anyways because of Nvidia's Tegra 2 delay. Oh, and I'm calling bullshit on your comment about seeing the Adam in 2008. Post a link or STFU.
@NikAmi
Of course I can't remember the exact article I read in 2008. However, even slashgear itself talks about Notion Ink's 2007 concepts, so maybe I read about it in 2007 and not 2008.
http://www.slashgear.com/notion-ink-adam-hands-on-0969281/
What are the "3 devices"
@delgadilloaaron What he is referring to are the multiple configuration that the Adam will be available in. I know for a fact that two of the configurations will be the Adam with and without the PixelQi screen.
@NikAmi Pixel Qi, Non-Pixel Qi, and I assume Wi-Fi/3G maybe...
Still want.
JooJoo 2?
And this is why after I'm getting an ipad, not because it's automatically
the best but because it exists. The words android and tablet seem to cancel each other out like matter and antimatter. :(
Screw it - I'm going to build my own.
HP should have bought them instead of Palm :(
The biggest problem right now for early adopters of Android tablets is that until Gingerbread is released later this year any version of android they use will be just be a hack. For those not in the know Android as it stands right now with ver 2.2 is missing a few things for a that make the tablet experience work (like proper screen rotate). I would love to get an Android tablet but Im happy to wait for something with Android 3.0 is released before I open my wallet.
Three words for everyone...
Made-In-India
You guys really want to buy a tablet made by a company that is based in the nation that has the worst tech support in the world, produced the Joojoo and cars that spontaneously burst into flames?
Yeah, have fun with that.
@Liquidmark As opposed to everything that is made in China? The same China that puts lead paint in to children toys? I see no point in your statement.
@Liquidmark
Apple hardware is made in a similar country. STFU.
@Kazmo
the chinese have way more experience making consumer products than India does. Also, the Chinese workers work for actual corporations from hong kong and Taiwan.
Don't tell me that you think an Indian startup is as good at making tech as an actual corporation from hong kong or Taiwan. India is the Mexico of technology.
@Bozster
First off, I didn't say anything about Apple. So yeah, take your butt hurt someplace else.
Secondly, India is probably closer to Mexico when it comes to consumer technology than to hong kong, Taiwan or China. I don't see ANYONE rushing to manufacture their computers in India. The entire country can't even produce one tech support agent that isn't worthless.
@Liquidmark
Hey Asshole do your research before bitching.
Adam will be manufactured (in China) by a corporation from Taiwan (like my iphone or MBP). And speaking of softwares most of the codes for most of the softwares we use daily are written in India. Almost all the of the softwares my company are selling are written in India :). So STFU.
@EagleEye
First off jackass, it doesn't really matter where it is made. The fact is that it will be made to fit INDIAN standards, which are some of the lowest hardware standards in the world next to Zimbabwe. Also being made in a similar place doesn't magically make a product of the same quality as one made by a reputable manufacturer. China produces some good products but they also produce a lot of poor ones too. Depends on who your manufacturer is and what you're WILLING to pay.
Don't like what I said about the impending vaporware of the month? Want me to shut up? Too bad, I'm gonna talk and you're gonna sit there and act MAD over it.
@Liquidmark Adam is being made in CHNA not India & Notion Ink will be selling ADAM first in US not India.
Its only their office & their crew are located in India.
@sam249 Like I said a comment ago. Where it's made isn't very important. Where it is sold isn't important either.
The joojoo wasn't manufactured in India either and it can be bought in the US. Does that make it a fantastic product? No, it doesn't.
Notion ink is simply an Indian startup that's hoping to cash in on the recent tablet craze. Can you or anyone name 5 Indian companies that have managed to release a device that captures the American market? India is full of promises with no payoff at the end.
you guys want to rest your hopes on some potential cash and dash? Ok, I'll just have to laugh harder when it fails.
@Liquidmark just as China manufacturers goods but does not own many known brands India manufacturers lots of stuff though not as much as China. For eg. CDs/DVDs - worlds largest manufacturer. Approximately 30% of worlds denim is manufactured in a single factory. Every SMS sent through the web to a phone requires a patent held by an Indian company. Almost all ERPs in the world use an electronic parts library owned by an Indian company. Antarix corporation a govt body sells $20 million worth of satellite imagery to NASA every year. Timken, Bosch, source from India. Citicorps Datawarehouse tools were developed in India and spun off as a seperate company. All this is over and above the nearly $100 billion+ software services exports that take place every year and still growing at 20+% every year.
Make fun while you can same as you did in the 70s about Japan 90s about Skorea recently about China. After India you will make fun. Arab or African countries till they come to buy your ports and toll roads.
@gc72 Clothing and being a glorified routing station is not the same as having savvy when it comes to the technological realm. India is pretty much brain dead when it comes to consumer devices.
Do you understand what a consumer device is?
There's always the innoversal lattice.
Sure the CPU is not as good, bits not a bad device as a whole.
Sweet, I can get this for christmas!
Come on guys.. I'm waiting for Adam for a while now.. it's absolutely stunning piece of technology. .with Android on there, it's the best touch device ever made.
I hope it come in december. I'm buying it immediately.
When aren't investors to blame?
The story is clear. one can twist as their wish. But as a major tech site engadget should post RIGHT news or keep quite.
I'm a big fan of ADAM & I'm also hurt by delays.
These start ups have to learn & act faster if they want to compete with tech bigwigs
@sam249 They can't act faster. Releasing a consumer product isn't an easy or fast process. That's why startups tent to fail. They think that stepping into an established market is easy until they actually try it out for themselves. Then they find out that it takes a lot of planning to release a product.
The iPad was announced in late January, and not one viable competitor looks like shipping any product in 2010(JooJoo doesn't count)? By the time any credible rival products arrive, iPad 2 will have been announced and will probably be ready to ship, with it addressing a lot of the issues the original has(lack of cameras, higher res, etc).
Notion Ink Adam: The Duke Nukem Forever Edition
I am very disappointed the way Engadget has presented the story.
Even after reading Rohan' comment they deny to accept an error without a reason.
Thanks very much @Nikami for her/his comments.
I bet Liquidmark is a beutiful stick-in-the-mud in his/her company ;-)