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Of course the QED is real! There's no question that it exists, and I would assume it even performs decently. The only question is, WHEN?
Quite some time ago I was asked to describe the independent development efforts being made with gold detectors. My employers had gotten wind of a couple of "killer designs" and naturally wanted to know if they were real. I labeled my report "Promised Ultimate Detectors," or PUDs for short. (Ironically, sometime after my report another PUD came along, advertised as the "Ultimate Detector." Is that funny or what?)
The problem with PUDs isn't with the U or the D, it's with the P. History shows, over & over, that they never happen. They get massively hyped, then fade away. My analysis as to why this keeps happening is:
1. Grossly underestimating the complete picture. An impressive result on the lab bench doesn't equate to impressive results in Australian dirt. Or any dirt. Once you've got good results on the bench, you're 5% of way there.
2. Ego gets in the way. Wanting to prove yourself before the proof is ready to serve is the part that really damages the effort. Bold performance claims naturally produce skepticism with folks who want to see the evidence. When the evidence doesn't happen, skepticism turns to disdain. And as this process stretches out over years, disdain becomes outright ridicule. The designer then spends an inordinate amount of time responding to the doubts and ridicule. This problem is massively amplified if the hype is coupled with contempt for the competition.
3. Wanting complete control. This is a combination of 1 & 2. The development of a new metal detector is not a one-man job, especially if it's your first one. Think you want to also manufacture the detector? This is a purt-near-guaranteed failing proposition. The turf is littered with dead metal detector companies.
Despite the fact that I work for a major manufacturer of beepers, I'm personally a proponent for independent efforts. Heck, that's why this web site exists! I'd love to see a Titan, Pulse Devil, QED, Goldsweeper, or Ultimate Detector released. But in every case so far, the developers have taken horribly wrong paths. Here are a few suggestions for a better path:
1. KEEP YER TRAP SHUT. Unless the project is a public effort, as many are here on Geotech. While premature public hyping doesn't necessarily break a project, it does incredible damage to the reputations of the design and the designer when things don't work out, as is the case 95% of the time.
2. Get help. Competent help. Preferably by someone who's been there done that. You can't do it all alone.
3. A day in the field is worth a month in the lab. Get it off the bench ASAP, you will quickly see whether that great idea is worth a crap.
4. Focus on the things that matter the most. Performance is #1. A talking detector is #1000. When you have the level of performance that will definitely sell, STOP THE DESIGN PROCESS and move on to making it producible. You'll get to implement that Next Great Idea in Version 2.
5. Forget about building detectors. Ain't gonna happen, at least on a scale that will pay the rent. Find someone else to do that. Again, someone who knows how. Also lets you move on to Version 2, which is more fun than potting coils all day.
6. Forget about patents. Unless you get the Partner Production Company (#5) to deal with them. That $5,000 patent ain't worth squat unless you've got the $100,000 to back it up.
7. Respect the competition. Like it or not, they are already successful, have lots of satisfied users, and are making lots of money. Focus on beating them with a better product, not with public displays of contempt. And never ever ever criticize a user of a competitor's product. That's one lost sale, or more.
Quite some time ago I was asked to describe the independent development efforts being made with gold detectors. My employers had gotten wind of a couple of "killer designs" and naturally wanted to know if they were real. I labeled my report "Promised Ultimate Detectors," or PUDs for short. (Ironically, sometime after my report another PUD came along, advertised as the "Ultimate Detector." Is that funny or what?)
The problem with PUDs isn't with the U or the D, it's with the P. History shows, over & over, that they never happen. They get massively hyped, then fade away. My analysis as to why this keeps happening is:
1. Grossly underestimating the complete picture. An impressive result on the lab bench doesn't equate to impressive results in Australian dirt. Or any dirt. Once you've got good results on the bench, you're 5% of way there.
2. Ego gets in the way. Wanting to prove yourself before the proof is ready to serve is the part that really damages the effort. Bold performance claims naturally produce skepticism with folks who want to see the evidence. When the evidence doesn't happen, skepticism turns to disdain. And as this process stretches out over years, disdain becomes outright ridicule. The designer then spends an inordinate amount of time responding to the doubts and ridicule. This problem is massively amplified if the hype is coupled with contempt for the competition.
3. Wanting complete control. This is a combination of 1 & 2. The development of a new metal detector is not a one-man job, especially if it's your first one. Think you want to also manufacture the detector? This is a purt-near-guaranteed failing proposition. The turf is littered with dead metal detector companies.
Despite the fact that I work for a major manufacturer of beepers, I'm personally a proponent for independent efforts. Heck, that's why this web site exists! I'd love to see a Titan, Pulse Devil, QED, Goldsweeper, or Ultimate Detector released. But in every case so far, the developers have taken horribly wrong paths. Here are a few suggestions for a better path:
1. KEEP YER TRAP SHUT. Unless the project is a public effort, as many are here on Geotech. While premature public hyping doesn't necessarily break a project, it does incredible damage to the reputations of the design and the designer when things don't work out, as is the case 95% of the time.
2. Get help. Competent help. Preferably by someone who's been there done that. You can't do it all alone.
3. A day in the field is worth a month in the lab. Get it off the bench ASAP, you will quickly see whether that great idea is worth a crap.
4. Focus on the things that matter the most. Performance is #1. A talking detector is #1000. When you have the level of performance that will definitely sell, STOP THE DESIGN PROCESS and move on to making it producible. You'll get to implement that Next Great Idea in Version 2.
5. Forget about building detectors. Ain't gonna happen, at least on a scale that will pay the rent. Find someone else to do that. Again, someone who knows how. Also lets you move on to Version 2, which is more fun than potting coils all day.
6. Forget about patents. Unless you get the Partner Production Company (#5) to deal with them. That $5,000 patent ain't worth squat unless you've got the $100,000 to back it up.
7. Respect the competition. Like it or not, they are already successful, have lots of satisfied users, and are making lots of money. Focus on beating them with a better product, not with public displays of contempt. And never ever ever criticize a user of a competitor's product. That's one lost sale, or more.
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